You shouldn’t start to exercise with the goal of getting a six-pack; it takes too long, and more often than not, our dedication dwindles before we can see those washboard abs. There’s no shame: we’ve all been there. When it comes to fitness, we recommend starting with an attainable goal to feed you that dopamine hit, and with the SoundGuys way, you don’t even need to do a single crunch. Instead, all you need is a good pair of workout headphones.
What makes a good pair of workout headphones?
There are a few factors to consider when looking for headphones to bring to the gym. The first thing to consider is what kind of headset you actually want. Do you want wired or wireless? Over-ear headphones or wireless earbuds? Everyone has their own preferences, but in this list, we’re going to be going over the best over-ear and on-ear headphones for working out. If you prefer earbuds, don’t worry; we have you covered there too.
Now that we’ve narrowed that down, some other important factors you should keep in mind are cost, sweat resistance, comfort and fit, durability, and battery life. We go into each of these in greater detail further down in the article, but if you just want to know what the best workout headphones are, then let’s get into it. For most people, you should go with the Wissonly Hi Runner.
Most people should get the Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly bone conduction headphones, the product I use the most, is the first brand I started to contact. When they were crowdfunding online, I participated.
The sound quality is what I am most satisfied with. I am not a professional music player, but from my personal experience, Hi Runner is the best sound quality bone conduction headphones I have ever used. It uses a large-sized 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, and through structural optimization, the sounding area is increased by 35%, so that the sound range is wider, and the stereo feeling and shock of sound are stronger. Its anti-sound-leakage treatment is also very good. The whole body is completely sealed, and the algorithm is optimized to minimize the leakage of sound. I have tested it myself, and at a distance of 2 meters, the volume is turned on at 60%, so I can't hear the sound at all.
wissonly Hirunner’s body is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area. It can ensure a good wearing experience of the earphone at any time, taking into account more users and usage scenarios.
Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the connection is more stable. It also has IPX8 professional sports waterproof +32g internal memory to swim in the water. The battery performance is also good, and it can play music continuously for 8-10 hours.
The sound quality is what I am most satisfied with. I am not a professional music player, but from my personal experience, Hi Runner is the best sound quality bone conduction headphones I have ever used. It uses a large-sized 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, and through structural optimization, the sounding area is increased by 35%, so that the sound range is wider, and the stereo feeling and shock of sound are stronger. Its anti-sound-leakage treatment is also very good. The whole body is completely sealed, and the algorithm is optimized to minimize the leakage of sound. I have tested it myself, and at a distance of 2 meters, the volume is turned on at 60%, so I can't hear the sound at all.
wissonly Hirunner’s body is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area. It can ensure a good wearing experience of the earphone at any time, taking into account more users and usage scenarios.
Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the connection is more stable. It also has IPX8 professional sports waterproof +32g internal memory to swim in the water. The battery performance is also good, and it can play music continuously for 8-10 hours.
If you like bass, go with the Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are an excellent choice for workout enthusiasts looking for bass-focused performance. While not ideal for intense physical activities or rainy conditions due to their susceptibility to moisture, these headphones shine in varied listening situations. They offer a comfortable fit, high-bitrate Bluetooth audio, and exceptional bass, creating an immersive workout experience.
With improved active noise cancelation (ANC), they effectively block out distractions in busy gyms or bustling outdoor environments. The headphones also provide clear call quality, making them suitable for hands-free workouts or virtual coaching sessions. Their exceptional battery life, offering up to 30 hours with ANC on, also ensures you have enough juice for extended workout sessions or even a week’s worth of commutes.
It’s worth noting that the only reason we didn’t select the newer Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones is that they do not have an IP rating, so they are not officially rated for water or sweat resistance. This means they may not be the best choice for outdoor activity or very intense workouts where exposure to moisture is a concern. The predecessors do carry an IPX4 rating, making them suitably sweat-resistant.
Outdoorsy folk, get the Shokz OpenRun
The headphones offer comfort and durability, with a design that rests on your cheekbones, and they come with IP67 dust and water resistance. With up to 8 hours of battery life and quick charging, they are reliable for extended outdoor sessions. While not audiophile-grade, their sound quality is decent, making them a great choice for those who prioritize safety and situational awareness during outdoor workouts.
The Under Armour Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones by JBL review is a favorite among athletes
JBL and Under Armour often collaborate on workout headphones and earbuds, and one of its latest iterations ropes in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The Under Armour Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones by JBL is an over-ear noise canceling headset with an IPX4 rating. These bulky headphones have large button controls and removable ear pads that make it easy to maintain the headset.
Battery life is ridiculously long, and this clocked in at 41 hours and 13 minutes of playtime with noise canceling on. You can fast charge the headset with the included USB-C cable: 5 minutes of charge provides 120 minutes of battery life. If the battery does happen to deplete, you can use the integrated headphone jack to connect to your phone.
As with many JBL headsets, the Project Rock Over-Ear has a bass-heavy response by default, which is made even bassier when you enable “The Rock’s Project Rock EQ.” With the default setting, bass notes are approximately two times louder than mids, which subjects some vocals and strings to auditory masking, but nothing too egregious.
Don’t want to spend too much? Get the JLab Rewind Wireless
For the rest of us, this is just a solid pair of wireless on-ears that only cost $20. If you know you’re going to destroy your workout headphones anyway, then there’s no point paying a crazy amount of money for a pair.
The battery in this will last you around 11 hours of constant playback, which is great for most gym-goers. The Rewind Wireless is about as lightweight as Bluetooth headphones come, and you’ll barely notice you’re wearing it. Sound quality isn’t great as the ear pads do little to isolate you from the environment. But that can be spun as a positive if you prefer to hear what’s going on around you at the gym.
What you should know about the best workout headphones
As with any kind of headphones, there are a few things you should keep in mind when perusing your next pair of workout headphones. We’ve broken down the key points for you; think of it as a cheat sheet of sorts.
The bulk of the cost goes to durability
Workout headsets withstand a lot of wear and tear, and that’s okay. You may be wondering why you should pay for something you’re just going to destroy, and well, if you buy the right set of workout headphones for you, you won’t break it (at least not immediately).
Most workout headsets include durability features like flexible, robust headbands, replaceable ear pads, and even the occasional modular design. It’s this kind of thoughtfulness that you pay a premium for, and it extends the life of your product.