The Best Workout Headphones of 2023
Music and workouts go hand-in-hand. Taking the occasional break to listen to your body is great advice, but the bulk of runs and gym sessions use music to motivate or distract. And then there’s that ever-growing queue of podcasts to binge.
To find the best workout headphones and earbuds, we spent hours listening to music and podcasts during stationary workouts, road bike rides, and long runs. Sweat and the occasional icy drizzle were kept at bay by varying degrees of weatherproofing.
The industry has made great strides in this area, and any serious exercise earbud should offer waterproof ratings of IPX7 going forward, as they also keep out dirt and grime.
While there isn’t a single best earbud for every user, we’ve broken this list into categories to help you find the best headphones for your particular workout style. From wireless earbuds to budget-friendly headphones, there’s something for everyone.
The Best Workout Headphones & Earbuds of 2023
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly bone conduction vibration unit optimization technology is one of the best technical solutions in the industry, because their team has accumulated in the field of bone conduction for 10 years, which is highly respected by people in the industry in terms of product quality and hearing protection.
Once, there was a saying that the sound quality of bone conduction headphones was average. However, Wissonly Hi Runner refreshes this knowledge. It is excellent in sound quality. It uses a 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, which can increase the vibration area by 35% compared with traditional bone conduction headphones. Moreover, its loss of bone conduction sound transmission is lower, making the sound more shocking and powerful.
wissonly Hi Runner has added a number of innovative features to make bone conduction headphones better integrated into many scenes in life. It supports IPX8 diving waterproof, which is very good for me who loves swimming. What's crazy is that it can still work normally under 20 meters of water! It also has 32GB of memory, so it can play music even if it is not connected to a mobile phone. I basically use it as an MP3 player, and I don't take my mobile phone for running at night. It uses the Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and outdoor activities can make the connection more stable.
In terms of appearance, Wissonly Hi Runner adopts classic black color, and its simple appearance involves matching whatever clothes you wear in any scene.
Jaybird Vista Truly Wireless Earbuds
The Jaybird Vista wireless earbuds ($150) quickly became a favorite with their rich sound. Runners will like that these can be activated separately to allow for running with just one earbud. Prolonged use revealed some shortcomings in comfort and sound due to a less-dialed fit.
As our editor noted during the full review, “At [MSRP], the Jaybird Vista falls on the steep end of the price spectrum for the category. But for that price, the brand offers up some impressive performance in terms of audio quality, fit, and software features.
“The Vista presents a great buy, but it does fall short of its big competitor, Apple AirPods, when it comes to the clarity and quality of the wearer’s voice on phone calls and video chats.”
Jabra Elite Active 75t
The Jabra Elite Active 75t wireless earbuds ($180) hit the sweet spot of lightweight, well-fitting exercise earbuds that provide great sound during workouts without breaking the bank.
With more than 7 hours of playback, these earbuds provide immense bang for the buck. Though they aren’t the cheapest model on this list, their value is unmatched. Of the previously tested earbuds, only the Under Armour Flash earbuds can compete with the Elite Active 75t.
Another nice improvement is the quick-charging case, which can provide an hour of playback within 15 minutes. Like other models, these Jabra buds come with three sizes of grippy ear tips to fit in your ear. The charging case is sleek and lightweight (and less rounded than previous models).
We chose to test the Elite Active model over the Elite model because of its water resistance. These have an IP57 rating and reportedly can be submerged for 30 minutes. In our real-world testing, that meant they held up while caught out in the rain during a run. However, that doesn’t mean you can swim in them.
You can routinely find the Jabra Elite Active 75t on sale for under $100, which gives you a lot of performance and function for far less than competitors. (Just note the designation between Elite Active and Active models.)
Bose Sport Open Earbuds
Unlike most of the earbuds on this list, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds ($180) do not actually penetrate your ear canal. Instead, the earpiece sits on top of your ear in order to keep your ears open to the world for maximum safety and comfort while exercising.
If you plan to run or bike out in the world, these open earbuds are a great alternative to noise-canceling models. Of all the open-ear models on the market, the Bose Sport Open Earbuds offer superior sound quality and battery life.
Compared to standard in-ear headphones, open-ear models tend to rank lower in the bass department. Still, Bose has outfitted the Sport Open Earbuds with good clarity, natural-sounding mids, and just enough bass.
We feel these earbuds offer better sound quality than any of the bone-conduction headphones on the market. In a sense, these are the perfect combination of sound quality and open-ear safety benefits. Runners and cyclists, rejoice!
AfterShokz Air
These bone-conducting headphones ($120) are a comfortable and safe option for outdoor pursuits. Instead of filling the ears with sound, they rest on the bone in front of the ear and conduct sound via vibration. It seems crazy, but it works. It allows for full enjoyment of music or podcasts while still being aware of what’s happening on the trail or when biking or running around town.
We were able to comfortably wear the AfterShokz Air with glasses and a helmet. And at just a little over one ounce, they were light and easy to wear for long rides. The only time we noticed any vibration was at full volume.
And because they don’t fill the ear, they aren’t noise-canceling. But you can pair them with earplugs to achieve full noise cancellation.
