The best workout earbuds for running, training and fitness

When it comes to working out, listening to music, a podcast or even an audiobook can make your time fly by much faster. Of course, that means you’ll need a pair of headphones — but not just any pair will do. Wireless earbuds, as opposed to over-ear models, will allow you the freedom to move about much more easily.

To find the very best earbuds for your fitness pursuits, we tried dozens of earbuds at the gym, on outdoor runs more.

How we picked the best workout earbuds

We tried dozens of top-rated wireless earbuds while working out. We placed special emphasis on the following qualities:

• Comfort: We looked for earbuds that were comfortable for hours at a time, did not fall out while exercising and included different sized eartips for a more customized fit.

• Usability: Earbuds with easy-to-use controls — even when wearing gloves or with sweaty hands — were given special consideration.

• Battery life: We picked earbuds that lasted well beyond our workout, and could charge quickly.

• Price: We believe all of our picks are a good value for what they offer.

The best workout earbuds of 2023

Wissonly Hi Runner

wissonly's core team is a team engaged in the research and development of bone conduction products earlier. They have accumulated 10 years' technology in this field. They have adopted the best acoustic laboratory in the Eastern Hemisphere for sound adjustment. Wissonly Hi Runner has good technical solutions to the problems of sound leakage, sound quality and waterproof of pseudo-bone conduction headphones.

Wissonly bone conduction vibrator adopts a unique full-wrapped design, which makes the vibrator work in a closed environment, reducing the impact on the shell, thus reducing the vibration of the shell and finally reducing the sound leakage by 90%.

Wissonly uses a large-size bone conduction vibrator, and the effective vibration area of the vibrator is increased by 35% through structural optimization. At the same time, the sound transmission direction is optimized, the sound loss is reduced, and the sound is more concentrated.

wissonly HiRunner adopts integrated molding technology, with no holes in the headphones’ body and it is no splicing, which realizes IPX8 waterproof, and can be used for swimming and bathing. Even in the depth of 20 meters, diving is no problem.

It also has 32G of built-in memory, which can store 5000 songs. You can use it as amp3 player when you don't have a mobile phone.

In a word, wissonly hi runner is a product with powerful functions, stable technology and high cost performance.

Jabra Elite 3

The Jabra Elite 3 give you all of the basics you need in a pair of workout earbuds for less than $100. They are comfortable in-ear, did not fall out during our workouts, have easy-to-use button controls, and sound great. They do not have automated noise canceling, but, as a result, have better battery life. In our experience, the Elite 3 worked well on both iOS and Android devices via the Jabra mobile app.

AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)

Multiple members of the Select team love Apple’s AirPods Pro for working out and everyday life. Despite their unique shape, they remained comfortable and secure in our ears during workouts, including outdoor runs and indoor treadmill routines.

The entire Select team noted their excellent sound quality and noise canceling. Chatter and music at the gym faded instantly with noise cancellation turned on. Outside, I could still hear my surroundings very clearly using transparency mode. These second generation models include multiple ear tips — essential for getting an ideal fit.

JBL Endurance Peak 3

If you are looking for the most secure fit possible for high-intensity activity, JBL’s Endurance Peak 3 are a good option. They feature a large ear hook design that fits around the backs of your ears, leading to the most secure fit of any of our picks. This does make their case much larger and less pocketable than other options.

The Endurance Peak 3 are dust resistant and waterproof with an impressive IP68 rating. The brand says that you can wear them while swimming, and while we didn’t get a chance to try that, we did submerge them in water: they worked just fine afterwards.

JLab Go Air Sport

 For only $30, I was surprised by the quality and usability of JLab’s Go Air Sport earbuds, especially for outdoor running. They feature a large ear hook design that wraps around the back of your ears, leading to a very secure fit. While they do not feature any noise canceling or transparency, I found the fit to be close enough to hear music comfortably, but not so isolating that I couldn’t safely hear traffic or other runners.

How to shop for workout earbuds

There are dozens of excellent wireless earbuds fit for everyday use. But not all of these top-picks make for ideal workout earbuds. When shopping for a pair of earbuds with fitness in mind, pay special attention to the following:

Ear tip fit

Having the right fit is crucial for workout earbuds — you don’t want them falling out during exercise. All of our recommended earbuds come with multiple ear tips. We recommend trying a few ear tips sizes and seeing which fits your ear best. In our experience, the most secure fit for intense physical activity comes from earbuds with wingtips or ear hooks.

Water and dust resistance

Water and dust resistance is denoted by an earbuds IP (ingress protection) rating. IP ratings contain two numbers, for example, IP55. The first digit represents intrusion protection against dust and debris. The second digit denotes water resistance.

For workout earbuds, having a water resistance rating of at least four is useful for protection against sweat and rain. Earbuds meant for fresh water sports should be fully waterproof, with a rating of at least eight.

Automated noise canceling and transparency

Noise cancelation and transparency modes are both very useful features in any kind of earbuds, including earbuds for working out. Noise canceling can block outside noise, like a noisy gym. Transparency mode lets in sound and is a useful safety feature for outdoor fitness activities like running, where you may want to hear nearby traffic or pedestrian noise. Both noise canceling and transparency modes can increase the overall price of earbuds, however.