The Best Workout Headphones

We analyzed 14,603 reviews from 19 websites to find the best workout headphones. Sources included:
WalmartBest BuyB&H Photo Video
+16 More

Top Workout Headphones

Best for Most People
Best Workout Headphones Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 Headphones
$68 from 8 stores
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Why Consider This:
Weightlifting at the gym means a lot of repping-in, spot requests, and plate borrowing, which also means you need to talk to the people around you. Earbuds can be a pain to put in and take out, so many weightlifters prefer the convenience of traditional wireless headphone design. The Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 fits comfortably but stays put and it’s sweat-resistant and easy to keep clean.
People Like:
  • Lightweight
  • Affordable
  • Easy controls for running
People Dislike:
  • Poor noise isolation
  • Slide off when head tilted back
  • Cheap materials
82
Owner Score
429 Reviews from 4 Sites
83
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Buy On Amazon.com
Best Value
Best Workout Headphones Aukey Latitude EP-B40 Headphones
$26 from 3 stores
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Why Consider This:
The Aukey Latitude EP-B40 is the only sub-$50 pair of Bluetooth earbuds we tested that sounded pretty good and fit comfortably while still being able to take some abuse.
People Like:
  • Dirt cheap
  • Surprisingly good sound for the price
  • Sweat and splash resistant
People Dislike:
  • Poor passive noise cancellation
  • Extra EQ settings don’t do much for their sound
  • Short, tacky cable tugs as you turn your head
78
Owner Score
1,467 Reviews from 2 Sites
90
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Buy On Amazon.com
Top Performance
Best Workout Headphones Jabra Elite Active 65t Headphones
$115 from 9 stores
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Why Consider This:
The Jabra Elite Active 65t Bluetooth earbuds are our choice for the best workout headphones because they combine great sound, a durable build, a secure fit, and easy-to-use controls in a completely wireless design.
People Like:
  • Sweat proof
  • Good battery life
  • Reliable connection
People Dislike:
  • Small amount of connection noise
  • Fairly tight fit
  • Charging case is annoyingly difficult to open
82
Owner Score
6,523 Reviews from 8 Sites
90
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Buy On Amazon.com

How Critic.ly Saves You Time

When it comes to reviewing the best workout headphone, critic.ly is different than other sites. How?
Unbiased & Unsponsored: Critic.ly aggregates and analyzes reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
Our reviews of the best workout headphones were based on 14,603 reviews from 19 websites.
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How to Find the Right Workout Headphone

Workout headphones are for people who want to listen to music or podcasts at the gym and need headphones that prioritize durability and comfort. Generally, the gym-goer wants to block out external distractions to get in the zone with their favorite tunes, so sealed headphones and earbuds are best. The majority of the picks in this guide are wireless. These days, most people prefer the convenience of Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth models make the best workout headphones because they allow you to keep your phone tucked away and your hands free, and they eliminate the possibility of a cable snagging on equipment. Sweat and water resistance is a must for workout headphones. Standard headphones aren’t built to withstand the beating that gym headphones can take, so their warranties likely won’t cover moisture damage. Comfort is also always important, but especially with workout headphones. If they bang against your head, fall out, or chafe, you won’t want to use them. The best workout headphones are the ones that stay on and out of your way. Noise isolation is a valuable feature in a gym pick, not only so you can ignore the dudebro dropping his weights unnecessarily but also so you don’t have to crank your music’s volume up to dangerous levels to drown out the general din. Avoiding hearing damage is just as important as avoiding any other injury.

Workout Headphones We Eliminated

We research and analyzed 7 workout headphones. Here's what we concluded about the ones that didn't make the cut.
Underwater Audio Swimbuds Syryn Headphones
Runner Up
Highly rated (83 owner score, 88 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Aftershokz Aeropex Workout Headphones
Runner Up
Highly rated (90 owner score, 85 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Adidas RPT-01 Sport On-Ear  Workout Headphones
Runner Up
Highly rated (86 owner score, 75 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Adidas FWD-01 SPORT IN-EAR Workout Headphones
Runner Up
Highly rated (85 owner score, 70 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.

Sources & Methodology

Critic.ly uses a combination of machine learning and human editors to help you find the best products.
We start by aggregating and analyzing reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
We convert every review to a weight average score from 0 to 100.
For this article, we analyzed 14,603 reviews from 19 sites to find the best workout headphone.