Intro
Let’s face it, no workout is complete without the addition of a perfect playlist. In fact, it’s scientifically proven that the right playlist can put you right in the zone.
If you’re serious about breaking a sweat, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of a good pair of headphones. The advantages are plenty and the last thing you want is cheap poor quality pair.
Earbud Vs Over Ear
While this generally comes down to personal preference, Earbuds offer a huge number of advantages over traditional bulky over ear headphones when it comes to working out.
Materials
Given that you’ll be working up a sweat in them, that last thing you want is a pair of headphones that absorbs all that sweat and grime. Unfortunately, the majority of over ear headphones contain porous materials that attract this like a magnet.
Fortunately, earbuds generally aren’t porous and far less prone to absorbing unwanted fluids. This makes them the perfect choice for a grueling workout routine.
Weight
The other thing to consider here is weight. Over ear headphones can clock in at up to 4x the wright of earbuds making them a poor choice for activities that involve lots of movement. That last thing you want is a big bulky pair of headphones jiggling around on your head while you get your sweat on.
Portability
Finally, earbuds offer superior portability. You can toss a pair of earbuds in your backpack or locker and forget about them. There’s little risk of damage through normal use and generally, require far less maintenance.
Waterproof
Depending on the level of workout you plan on doing, you’re going to want to consider whether or not they’re waterproof. While the majority of the headphones in this list will be water resistant to some degree, many of them will be IP rated.
This is an external testing body which will guarantee a certain level of waterproofing. While the scale itself is somewhat complex with a number of variables, we’ll be looking for a minimum of IPX5 or IPX6 for light rain and sweat resistance and IPX7 for full resistance against submersion in water – this will cover you against torrential rain if you’re a particularly hardcore fitness buff.
It’s worth noting that products don’t need to legally carry an IP rating to claim they’re waterproof, however, you’ll be relying on their internal testing. There’s no guarantee as to exactly how waterproof the product wil be if it isn’t IP rated.
Design
The overall design of the headphones will be very important. Given that you’ll be moving around a lot, you’ll want to ensure that the headphones stay securely in place. This is often achieved through special hooks that fit the shape of your ear.
Over Ear hook
This will be a hook that goes around the outside of your ear. These are a great option for those who plan on doing lots of rigorous activities such as push-ups or jumping jacks.
It adds extra security ensuring the earbud stays in place. That said since this behind the ear area is prone to sweat build up, you’ll want to sure they remain clean and you may need to wipe away excess liquids mid-workout.
In Ear Hook
This hook is much smaller but slightly more intrusive. This hook fits the shake of your inner ear, hooking into the contours and holding it in place. This does, however, give slightly less support which may not be adequate for more rigorous workout routines.
This design might not be for everyone, especially those with sensitive ears. However, it does provide extra support and since the inner ear ins’t prone to sweating, there’ll be no need to wipe any unwanted fluids away.
You can, of course, get a combination of both in some of the options in this list too, so feel free to opt for the one you think works best for you and your workouts.
Wired Vs. Wireless
This is another factor to consider when purchasing. Both come with their pros and cons and it’ll really depend on the exact environment you’ll be using them in.
Wired
While wired options have fallen out of fashion lately, they still offer many advantages. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones you can just leave at the gym in your locker and forget about, a wired option may be great for you.
Without having to worry about charging them constantly, you can leave them behind and not having to worry about being left without music if you forget to charge them.
You will, however, need to compete with a dangling cable which could become troublesome if you’re in the middle of a particularly active workout. You definitely don’t want your flow to be interrupted by a tangling cable!
You’ll also need to pay special attention to the jack you have on your listening device. Given the industry is currently struggling to make a decision on which jack is best right now, you’ll need to make sure the headphones you buy will be compatible with your device.
Wireless
Cutting the cord adds valuable freedom to your workout routine. You’ll be able to move around without having to worry accidentally yanking them out or getting caught in them.
As previously mentioned, however, you’ll need to make sure you keep them charged. This can be unwanted hassle for some, however, providing you feel comfortable keeping on top of this, you should be fine.
Truly Wireless
Turly wireless options come with all the benefits of wireless headphones with the additional advantage of a truly free listening experience.
Since even wireless solutions require a small wire attaching the two headphones, this still could pose a problem during more active workouts.
There are, however, a number of options that don’t have any wires attached at all. These are great for true freedom during your workout.
That said, these do generally have a much smaller battery life and some people don’t like the feeling of a completely wireless experience as they can’t shake the feeling of them falling out, so again, bear this in mind when making your decision.
Audio Quality
Just because you’re working out, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve high-quality audio. Fortunately, most manufacturers have taken this to heart. We’ve paid close attention to this during our selection process to make sure that users are actually satisfied with the audio quality and aren’t just settling for second-rate sound.
Working Out to music
Working out to music comes with an incredible number of benefits.
Experts recommend you pick a playlist that consists of tracks between 120 – 140 BPM. This has been proven to get you in the mood and make your workout a success.
While the majority of streaming services offer customer made workout lists feel free to have a go at creating your own. You can use this awesome tool to analyze your favorite tracks and find out which of them would fit in well with an uptempo playlist.
Our Top Picks In The
Best Earbuds for working out Category
Our #1 Pick Dudios Bluetooth Headphones
COST
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Long Battery Life
✓ Wireless
✓ In-Ear Hooks
✓ IPX5 Rated
✘ No Over Ear Hook
✘ Not Submersable
Dudios offer up a superb pair of headphones here. They offer everything you’ll need for a hardcore workout. Their wireless designe offers fantastic freedom during hardcore workouts and their long 16 hour battery life leaves you with minimal downtime for charging.
Their IPX5 rating makes them great for working out in the rain. Bear in mind this won’t cover you against full submersion, however, this should be more than enough for the average workout.
Their in-ear hook should secure them in place just fine and users seem to be more than satisfied with it, although it does lack an over-ear hook for the more grueling workouts.
Our #2 Pick Geekee Wireless Earbuds
COST
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Truely Wireless
✓ IPX5 Rated
✓ In-Ear Hook
✘ Battery Life
✘ Price
These headphones offer unparalleled freedom. Their truly wireless design is perfect for those who want to put on a pumping playlist and forget there’s anything even in their ears. The in-ear hooks should hold them firmly in place too.
Their IPX5 rating has you covered against seat and rain showers, although once again not against full submersion.
The drawback here, however, is that they have a somewhat poor battery life. A single charge will only get you around 3-3.5 hours of playback, however, they do come with a charger carry case. If you keep this with you, you’ll get a total of 15 hours playback between DC Mains charging.
Our #3 Pick TAIR Wireless Headphones
COST
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ In-Ear Hooks
✓ Wireless
✓ IPX5 Rated
✘ No-Thrills Design
Next, we have a no-thrills pair of workout headphones that will be sure to please the budget conciese among us. Their lightweight, IPX5 design makes them great for working out in the rain and their wireless connectivity gives you freedom for your workout.
The in-ear hook should hold them firmly in place and their excellent audio quality makes these a great all around pair.
Our #4 Pick Sony Active Sports Ear Bud
COST
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Wired
✓ Splashproof
✓ Choice of Color
✓ Over Ear Hook
✘ No IP Rating
✘ No connectivity options
MINI REVIEW
Our #5 Pick KEYWING Bluetooth Sports Earphones
COST
QUALITY
OUR VERDICT
✓ Over Ear Hooks
✓ Wireless
✓ IPX7 Rating
✘ No In-Ear Hook
Our last entry makes for a very good contender if you want to take these out into extreme weather conditions. Their IPX7 rating covers them against full water submersion.
Their over ear hooks and wireless connectivity make them a great companion for hardcore workout routines, although the over ear hooks could prove a pain point for sweat build up so you may want to keep this in mind.
Overall though, we have a very capable pair of headphones here!
Conclusion
It’s safe to say the competition is fierce when it comes to earbuds for working out in. Given that people have become increasingly involved in their fitness, it’s no surprise that manufacturers have stepped up to the mark to provide all the features you need for a successful workout.
We believe Dudios offer everything you need, water resistance for rain, wireless connectivity for freedom and a long battery life meaning you won’t have to keep them constantly plugged in!