The Best Workout Headphones in 2025, Tested by Trainers and Gear Experts

The AirPods Pros have undergone significant improvements over the past few updates, with the latest version, the AirPods Pros 3s, becoming what we believe to be the best do-it-all workout headphones. These earbuds deliver excellent comfort, premium features, and high-quality sound. Apple has systematically addressed every pain point we experienced with earlier models, transforming these wireless earbuds from casual earbuds into essential fitness companions.

The fit is a significant reason why the AirPods Pro are so great during workouts. After putting them through dozens of reps, we found they don’t budge. The multiple silicone ear tips allowed our testing team to find their perfect seal during burpees and box jumps. Despite wearing them for multiple training sessions (and in the office), we experienced no ear fatigue thanks to their lightweight design.

The improved ergonomics also contribute to better passive noise isolation, working in tandem with the active noise cancellation to block out excessively loud gym music. For athletes who rely on music for motivation during workouts, the secure, comfortable fit eliminates the constant annoyance of readjusting loose earbuds. Their IP54 rating provides additional peace of mind, ensuring they can handle the sweat that comes with serious workouts.

MH Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM, found the most exciting new feature of the AirPods Pro 3s to be their ability to monitor your heart rate through your ear canals, a feature that is more often associated with devices that wrap around your wrists or chest. They aren’t the first headphones to do so, but having this added to Apple’s already impressive offerings only strengthens their case.

Battery life exceeded our expectations, with up to six hours of continuous playback and a charging case that extends total listening time to over 30 hours. The case supports wireless charging, making it easy to replenish the battery by placing it on a charging pad. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 3 support several advanced features like adaptive audio, conversation awareness, and transparency mode, the latter of which lets outside sound in, so you can be aware of what’s going on around you during a run.

Using the touch controls is intuitive during workouts—you can play/pause, skip tracks, answer a call, and adjust the volume either by pressing the stem or using head gestures. For iPhone owners, the AirPods are a cinch to set up. Simply open the case next to your phone, tap connect, and you’re ready to go. This combination of comfort, performance, and ease of use make the AirPods Pro 3 the best overall workout headphones, setting a high bar for others to match.

Read More: Our Review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3s

SHOP THE APPLE AIRPOD PRO 2S ON SALE

While the Beats Studio Pro aren’t specifically designed for working out, they’re by no means out of place in a gym. The headphones maintain the sleek, recognizable Beats aesthetic and bass-heavy sound the brand is known for, while offering premium features that make them great for training and office use.

The over-ear design provides top-notch sound isolation through plush memory foam ear cushions, while the adjustable headband distributes weight evenly across your head. They balance comfort with stability—the headband applies just enough pressure to keep the headphones secure without becoming uncomfortable during extended wear. During testing, the Studio Pro remained firmly in place through moderate workouts like weightlifting and walks, though they’re not ideal for high-impact exercises.

Battery life is fantastic, topping out at 40 hours with noise cancellation turned off (24 hours with ANC turned on). When the battery does get low, you can get up to 4 hours of playback with just 10 minutes of charging via USB-C. The Studio Pro offer excellent cross-OS compatibility, including quick pairing and Find My capabilities. However, features like spatial audio and dynamic head tracking are exclusive to iPhone owners.

That said, the Studio Pro do omit some features that are all but standard in other premium models, like ear detection, so they don’t automatically pause the music when you remove them from your head. Still, the headphones provide impressive performance wrapped in the brand’s iconic style.

Read More: Best Workout Clothes For Men, Tested by Us

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 hold the top spot among the best bone conduction headphones and were featured in the 2025 Men’s Health Tech Awards, so it’s no surprise they’re a favorite here. The classic wraparound design and open-ear style is incredibly comfortable, particularly during longer runs. The lightweight titanium frame rests against your temples rather than in your ear canals, eliminating the discomfort and ear fatigue you might experience with traditional earbuds. The design is funky at first, but once you get used to the sensation, you’ll appreciate not having something in your ears.

After testing the OpenRun Pro 2 on both long and short runs, we found the design goes beyond comfort. Perhaps the most significant advantage is the enhanced safety it provides. Unlike traditional earbuds that can block external sounds, these headphones leave your ear canals completely unobstructed, allowing you to remain fully aware of your surroundings. This is crucial for runners who need to hear approaching vehicles and other hazards.

Despite the open-ear design, the OpenRun Pro 2 produces high-quality sound. Shokz’s DualPitch tech helps eliminate unwanted vibrations, so audio comes through clear—something bone conduction headphones struggle with. Even in noisy environments like busy streets or gyms, we didn’t have to max out the volume to hear our favorite tunes. In addition to its lightweight design, the headphones offer up to 12 hours of battery life and an IP55 rating, so they’ll hold up to your toughest workouts.

Read More: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Review

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds offer a departure from traditional in-ear designs, with a clip-on style that rests against your ear rather than inside it. The unconventional approach ensures you’re always aware of your surroundings while still offering premium features and sound quality. For runners or cyclists, they’re a compelling alternative to conventional earbuds and bone conduction headphones.

Setup is straightforward with quick pairing to both Android and iOS devices, with a Bose Music app that lets you customize EQ settings and update the firmware. While the design takes some getting used to, particularly getting them just right on your ear, the lightweight design is comfortable, with little to no ear fatigue. We had concerns the clip-on style would slip from quick head movements, but they were secure enough that they never jostled loose.

Sound quality is impressive considering the open design, with Bose’s OpenAudio technology directing sound toward your ears. They don’t match the experience of noise-canceling earbuds, but the audio performance strikes an impressive balance for anyone who needs to remain aware of their surroundings. Meanwhile, the dual microphone array provides excellent call quality even in noisy environments.

Battery life reaches about 7.5 hours per charge, with the case providing two additional full charges. IPX4 water resistance protects against sweat and light rain, making these suitable for most outdoor activities. For users who find traditional earbuds uncomfortable, the Bose Ultra Open is a refreshing alternative while delivering the quality we’ve come to expect from the brand.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 by Beats are a fresh addition to the workout headphone market, quickly becoming our top choice among models with ear hooks. Nearly six years have passed since the original version, allowing Beats to introduce significant upgrades such as active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and heart rate monitoring—a feature typically found in smartwatches. Setting up these headphones was a breeze, with the same seamless connectivity with an iPhone that you’d expect from AirPods.

We prefer the fit and look of the Powerbeats Pro 2 compared to the first generation. The previous model’s ear hooks felt awkward, but the new design is much more comfortable, with five different ear tips for a secure fit. During testing, these headphones felt glued to our ears—even during a windy run—and didn’t flinch after getting drenched in sweat thanks to the IPX4 rating. The softer plastic avoids that slimy feel after intense workouts, allowing them to quickly transition from the gym to the office.

In addition to a comfortable fit, the sound quality has seen significant improvement, with a balanced bass that enhances the listening experience without being overpowering. We appreciated the intuitive controls, with a button on each earbud for volume control—clicking the right to increase and the left to decrease. For pausing and skipping tracks, simply touching the sides of each earbud was convenient. Making calls was straightforward, with excellent sound quality, and the battery percentage displayed more precisely on our phone than other headphones, which often rounded to the nearest 10 percent.

Each earbud features a built-in sensor—the same tech found in the Apple Watch—for heart rate monitoring. It’s a nice feature to have, providing valuable insights into your performance during workouts. However, if you already own an Apple Watch, this feature might feel redundant.

While there’s a lot to like about the Powerbeats Pro 2, the side buttons can be overly sensitive. During runs, we occasionally found ourselves accidentally pausing or skipping tracks while adjusting the fit or changing the volume. If you own an iPhone, you’ll get the most value from these earbuds, benefiting from features like dynamic head tracking, automatic device switching, and Find My integration. However, Android users can still enjoy the earbuds with one-touch pairing, customizable controls, and the Locate My Beats feature available through the Beats app.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 may not be the most up-to-date version of the brand’s flagship headphones (that would be the WH-1000XM5), but they remain our top choice for athletes who want studio-grade audio. Outside of the gym, our editors also consider them to be one of the best pairs of travel headphones. These premium over-ear headphones deliver class-leading noise cancellation, impressive sound quality, and all-day comfort.

The plush ear cups provide excellent comfort for extended wear, and pairing with any device is remarkably straightforward. One standout feature is “wearing detection,” which utilizes a sensor in the left ear cup to automatically pause your music when you remove the headphones. We did notice a slight rattling in that cup and a somewhat weaker noise-cancellation seal compared to the right side. However, this minor quirk became less noticeable with continued use.

The intuitive touch controls on the right ear cup are responsive once you learn the proper gestures. Swiping up or down adjusts the volume, while forward and backward swipes change tracks. A simple double-tap handles play/pause functions and call management. These controls prove particularly handy during workouts when you don’t want to reach for your phone.

While the XM4s perform well during strength training and moderate cardio, they do shift slightly during more aggressive movements. The over-ear design also adds noticeable warmth during intense sessions, though we found this less problematic than expected. Interestingly, sweat doesn’t significantly impact the fit beyond making them marginally less secure. For athletes who prioritize audio quality and noise isolation over workout-specific features, the WH-1000XM4 offers an excellent balance of premium performance and reasonable workout functionality at a price point that’s become more attractive since the release of their successor.

Android users have no shortage of options to choose from, including the many choices on this list. But it’s Samsung’s extremely lightweight Galaxy Buds 3 Pro that stand out, offering excellent features and performance for both everyday use and workouts. Their AirPod-like stem design is more comfortable and secure than the Buds 2 Pro, with silicone ear tips (available in 3 sizes) that create an effective seal without causing discomfort during extended wear. They’ll stay firmly in place through running, HIIT workouts, and strength training sessions.

The IP57 rating provides excellent protection against both dust and water, making these earbuds capable of surviving temporary submersion up to 1 meter. If you really like to rough it while working out, these earbuds are plenty durable. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro also deliver high quality sound, with support for lossless audio and an adaptive mode that blends ANC and transparency based on your surroundings. These features work seamlessly, ensuring you always know when first responders are in the area.

Powerful voice controls elevate the hands-free experience, allowing you to manage playback, adjust volume, and toggle between listening modes without a specific wake phrase—simply say “volume up” and the earbuds will increase the volume. While these earbuds get just about everything right, they lack true multipoint connectivity, meaning they can’t maintain active connections to multiple devices simultaneously. However, Samsung users benefit from Auto Switch technology, which automatically transitions the earbuds between your Galaxy phone, tablet, and laptop whenever you start media on a different device.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are the earbuds to get if you own a Pixel phone, offering an integration experience that rivals the seamless connection between AirPods and iPhones. Google’s second-generation earbuds build on their predecessor with improved ANC, a more comfortable design, and enhanced sound quality, making them an easy choice for Google users.

The silicone ear tips create a secure seal, while a small “stabilizer” (basically a tiny fin) on each earbud ensures they don’t fall out when you’re moving around. With an IP54 rating, the Buds Pro 2 handle sweat without issue, allowing you to use them during a rainy day run. The matte finish on both the buds and the case resists fingerprints and maintains a premium feel even after extended use.

Sound quality has received an upgrade thanks to new 11mm dynamic drivers. Google’s spatial audio delivers an immersive listening experience for compatible content, while the Tensor-powered adaptive EQ automatically adjusts to your environment. The improved noise cancellation is particularly impressive, effectively blocking noise. Touch controls on each earbud are responsive without being overly sensitive, and the conversation detection feature automatically pauses music when you start speaking.

Battery life is around 8 hours with ANC enabled, with the case providing an additional 30 hours. A quick 5-minute charge delivers about 1.5 hours of listening time in a pinch. Overall, the Buds Pro 2 are the best wireless earbuds for Pixel phone owners, offering excellent comfort, sound quality, and durability. Plus, you get access to powerful features like Live Translate and Gemini support, elevating them beyond mere workout headphones.

Other Headphones We’re Testing

• Suunto Wing 2s: “I am really impressed by the sound quality and found them easy to set up. I wish there were additional sizing options, but given this isn’t typical in the market, I can’t blame them too much.” – Marty Munson
  
• Shokz OpenDots ONE: “I’ve been a long-time fan of the Shokz brand, with their OpenRun Pro 2s already making it onto this list. Like many other open-ear options, they don’t fit everyone perfectly, but when they do they are a joy to wear on a jog.” – Charles Thorp

What Headphones Are Best for the Gym?

Apple’s AirPods Pro 2s are our favorite pair of headphones for the gym and for all other types of workouts. They have a secure fit and long battery life that works well for everything from running to HIIT workouts, and they have a beautiful sound quality that’s great at blocking noise within a loud gym setting.

Shokz’s OpenRun 2s are our favorite headphones for outdoor runs and long-distance races, as we mentioned in our best marathon gear guide.

Does Sweat Ruin Over-Ear Headphones?

Sweat puts a lot of wear and tear on over-ear headphones, specifically on the ear pads. We recommend only using over-ear headphones for moderate activity like lifting and light cardio. You don’t really want to wear over-ear headphones for HIIT workouts and anything high cardio, as the more sweat you create the higher the chance your headphones will start slipping and slidiing around on your head.

Over-ear headphones do provide sweet sound quality, and if you are strategic in how you workout with your over-ear headphones you likely won’t see sweat being an issue until much far later down the road. In one specific case, one of our editors was a big fan of his Beats Studio Pro headphones for weight lifting. It took about 3 years for his ear pads to wear down from sweat and regular use, to which he then bought replacement ear pads for those headphones.

How to Read Dust and Water Resistance Rating (IP Rating)

You won’t have any problems with sweat and water resistance on the running headphones we curated above, however, some are scored with a higher rating than others—which means they’re going to be more durable.

When you see an “IP” rating what you are really reading is the Ingress Protection rating. A rating can be read by each number, the first being its dust protection and the second being its water protection. Some of the headphones above have an “X” as the first number. The X means there was no data collected on the dust protection. Sometimes it helps to know the dust protection, especially if you’re running in trail environments. If you’re a trail runner it’s probably worth paying attention to the more rugged running headphones that have been given a dust rating too.

The second number can be read on a scale of how waterproof the headphones are. Zero is the lowest while 9K is the highest (you’re unlikely to see a 9K on headphones because this level is only given to materials that can handle direct, high-temp, and high-pressure water).

So what’s a good number range to look for? We recommend anything between a four and six, but seven and higher would be a premium rating and capable of withstanding full water submersion. Most of what you will see are “IPX4”, which is solid, but if you’re really wanting a pair of running headphones that are made to handle high activity then look for a second number of seven or above.