The 4 Best Workout Earbuds and Headphones of 2025

We’ve tested more than 250 pairs of headphones for this guide. That’s a lot to cover, so we’ve listed only the most recently tested competitors here. However, if you’re curious about a specific model, we’ve archived many of our more recent testing notes in a spreadsheet.

AceFast AceFit Air FA002: These earbuds sit on top of the ear canal, not in it, so they are not good for blocking out gym sounds, and they cannot handle playing bass notes. When we boosted the low end using volume controls or the set’s bass-boost preset, the earbuds vibrated against our faces, and the sound distorted.

Beats Studio Buds +: The upgraded version of the Studio Buds, this pair offers better battery life, Android customization, and noise cancellation compared with the original. What hasn’t changed is the IPX4 rating and the overall earbud design (the shell is transparent, though). These earbuds share a lot of iOS-friendly features with the Beats Fit Pro set, but we like the Fit Pro earbuds better because they’re more secure in the ears, they still offer better noise cancellation, and their button design is more ergonomic. We think that’s worth spending a little extra.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: The open-ear, cuff-like design of this pair is surprisingly comfortable and good for outdoor runners who want to hear their surroundings, but it’s not good for blocking out noise at the gym. This pair has more low-bass representation than other unsealed and open-ear designs we’ve tested, but the microphone quality is incredibly disappointing. Even in a quiet room, voices sound reedy and hissy on phone calls. Add any background noise, and the roaring, static-like cacophony that will greet your caller is distracting (in the case of one tester, it was bad enough for their conversation partner to request a call back with a different device). If Bose could improve the microphones, we might consider recommending this pricey pair for runners, but for $300, we expect a more well-rounded set of earbuds.

Cleer Arc 3: This open-ear, hook-over-the-ear pair fits well, is IPX7 water-resistant, and has hands-free call answer/rejection with a nod or shake of the head. These earbuds are recommendable for people who like to keep their ears uncovered, but the $220 asking price is steep, and the open-ear design isn’t ideal for gym use. The smart case has a screen that essentially performs all the functionality of the phone app and has UV sterilization inside (though we still suggest you wipe down your earbuds after use). The sound is a bit sibilant out of the box, but you can adjust the EQ settings to your liking. However, like all open-ear designs, this pair doesn’t deliver as much bass as sealed earbuds can. Also, in a quiet room, others will be able to hear what you’re listening to.

EarFun OpenJump: This under-$100 pair of open-ear, hook-over-the-ear buds is a good alternative to our budget pick for runners, the Baseus Eli Sport 1, but is not ideal for blocking out gym noise. This pair has a similar amount of bass representation, is equally secure in fit, and has a higher IP rating (IPX7 compared to the Sport 1’s IPX4). However, the Baseus set includes an optional earbud tether, lights up for better visibility at night, and is generally $20 to $40 cheaper than the OpenJump.

H2O Audio Ript Lite: We like that the case that comes with these earbuds has a clear digital battery indicator, but that’s where the compliments end. The ANC is ineffective, the sound is dull and coarse, and (most surprisingly for a company focused on swimming headphones) the IP rating is only IPX5.

LG Tone Free Fit TF8: We like this pair’s various sizes of wings and tips, as well as the charging case, which doubles as a Bluetooth transmitter. Out of the box, the sound wasn’t our favorite. But with some patience, we were able to dial in EQ settings (via the app) that made us happy. The noise cancellation is middle-of-the-road; it’s useful, but it is not a compelling reason to purchase this pair. Unfortunately, the touch controls are fussy and incredibly difficult to use while you’re in motion; it takes time to get a sense of the proper cadence of double and triple taps.

OpenRock X: This open-ear pair will not block out noise at the gym. The earbuds feel solidly built, with metal accents. However, they are heavy, and the hook-over-the-ear design doesn’t hold them in place as securely as we’d like. The sound quality is good in the mids and highs, and there is a surprising amount of bass representation for an open-ear design. But lower bass notes cause the earbuds to rattle, especially when you turn up the volume.

Philips Go TAA7607: If you like bone-conduction headphones and want a little extra visibility when training outdoors at dusk, this pair has a red LED strip across the cable in the back that can glow solid or flash so you’re easier to spot. Performance-wise, this set is similar to the less-expensive Shokz OpenRun, which we recommend for outdoor runners who don’t like to wear earbuds. But bone-conduction headphones won’t block out noise at the gym, because they leave your ear canals open.

Shokz OpenDots One: This open-ear pair clips on your ears and rests over the ear canal, rather than inside it. The design is comfortable and sounds quite good, with a solid amount of bass and only a slight coarseness to the higher frequencies. However, the design is not good for blocking out gym sounds, the controls are limited, and this pair lacks bonus features.

Shokz OpenFit Pro: This pair is very comfortable, and it has a small charging case. That’s why we were so disappointed that the bass distorts like crazy when you turn the volume up even to moderate levels. If you bring down the volume to the level where it doesn’t distort, the highs are still somewhat harsh. We also wish the OpenFit Pro had more controls than play/pause and skip/reverse.

Shokz OpenRun: This set (and its counterpart for smaller heads, the OpenRun Mini) is the best-performing pair of bone-conduction headphones for the price, which is why we recommend it for outdoor runners who don’t like to wear earbuds. But bone-conduction headphones won’t block out noise at the gym, because they leave your ear canals open.

Shokz OpenRun Pro: This pair is nearly identical to the OpenRun set but adds quick-charge capabilities and two more hours of battery life. However, it’s less dust- and water-resistant, so unless you need an upgraded battery, we think the OpenRun set is the better choice.

Soundcore AeroClip: This is one of the most comfortable ear-cuff designs we’ve tried, but it’s not ideal for blocking out sounds at the gym. The optional silicone gloves add stability, and this pair feels like it won’t come loose during workouts. However, the controls are limited, and we often heard a faint, whiny phantom tone in quieter music passages. The fewer instruments playing, the more it stood out. Soundcore is working on a firmware fix to address this, and we will update our thoughts if it works.

Soundcore AeroFit 2: This open-ear, hook-over-the-ear pair can be angled up or down in four different positions to adjust to the size of your ear. Although the earbuds initially feel loose, they stay secure when you’re in motion. But the open design is not good for blocking out gym noise. The touch controls are customizable, and a tone sounds to indicate when your tap has been received. Unfortunately, loud volume levels and bass-heavy songs can cause the earbuds to vibrate, which tickles like crazy. We tried every EQ setting in the app, and none of them alleviated this issue. If you have sensitive ears, this won’t be a good match.

Soundcore Sport X20: We liked the fit of these earbuds, specifically the soft earhooks that retract and expand to accommodate ear height as well as width. The sound is quite good for the price, too. Sadly, the control buttons are infuriatingly small and so close to the ear that the buttons are hard to activate. The ANC is middling and effective only on very low-pitched sounds.

Soundpeats Pop Clip: This affordable pair doesn’t include any stability adapters but nonetheless feels secure in the ear. The physical buttons provide a full suite of controls that you can customize in the app. If you primarily listen to podcasts or audiobooks, the Pop Clip set is fine, as these earbuds sound best when reproducing spoken words. However, the low bass notes are barely perceptible, and even the bass-boost preset doesn’t help. The highs are shushing and painfully sibilant, so while the overamplification of small details like acoustic guitar fret noises are tolerable, strings, cymbals, and high-pitched piccolo notes become harsh and fatiguing. And over calls, the microphones are muffled — this helps reduce background noise but makes you difficult to hear when you’re speaking at a normal volume.

Suunto Wing: We appreciate that this bone-conduction set includes a snap-in-place dock that charges the Wing on the go, much like the cases that come with true wireless earbuds. It’s bulky, but useful if you run out of battery life away from a power outlet. However, the bone conduction is less successful here than on the Shokz OpenRun. Despite the Suunto app’s indoor/outdoor EQ settings, at volume levels sufficient to use outside, the Wing buzzes and vibrates, tickling your face annoyingly. And in quiet settings, people nearby can easily hear what you’re listening to, as well as your phone calls.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.