The Best Headphones for Exercise (2026), Tested in the Gym and on the Road
Compare the best Headphones for Exercise
How to Keep In-Ear Buds from Falling Out
To some extent, how headphones sound is important if they fit well. They might be the best sounding headphones in the world, but I’d find them annoying if they wouldn’t stay put during a run. So how? do do you keep your headphones from falling? Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve tried over the years.
Call it. To insert your buds, pull your ear slightly and give it a slight twist to fix it in place. If they don’t fit, don’t be afraid to change or match the sizes of the ear tips—one ear may need a medium tip and the other a small one, for example, or one may need a foam tip while the other needs a plastic tip.
Accessorize it. Still can’t find the right fit? There is a healthy market for aftermarket clips and fins to get your earbuds or AirPods to fit more securely.
Check the IP rating. Ingress protection ratings give you a quick indication of the headphones’ dust and water resistance. If you’re running outside in the rain, you need a higher IP than if you’re doing calisthenics in the gym.
I wear headphones while I exercise, which I do every day. I run 3-5 miles every other day, ride my bike every day, and lift weights at home or at the gym 3-4 times a week. Naturally, I test the headphones for swimming in the pool.
I listen to the sound quality with songs in various registers (am I kidding myself to say that my standards include Mariah Carey in the upper registers and Beyoncé Beyoncé for bass). I test durability by dropping them and sweating through them. I test the water resistance by sweating while wearing it and dousing it with water (or on my head while wearing it). I also check the battery life by looking at how long it takes for a single charge to last while I’m wearing them.
Honorable Mentions
We try every new workout bud that comes out. Here are a few of our favorites that didn’t make it to the top.
Shokz OpenFit Pro for $250: The most interesting headphones I tested last year were the Shokz OpenFit Pro. Shokz aims to create the world’s first open-ear noise reduction system. The sound quality is excellent; beautiful and free buds; and I love the body buttons. Ultimately, though, the noise reduction system only dampens outside noise rather than blocking it out, so I don’t really understand the value proposition being offered here.
Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro for $180: The same goes for the AeroFit 2 Pro, which essentially changes shape from open earbuds to noise-cancelling buds. The case is oddly large and the noise cancellation is not very effective. Still, it’s an interesting idea and I like being able to change the angle of the ear hooks to make them fit more securely.
Nwm Go for $99: Japanese style brand Nwm has just launched these ear-opening headphones that seek to reduce sound leakage, so that not everyone can listen to your bittersweet audiobook on the train. This works, sounds great and is incredibly easy, but they use a proprietary charger and my husband thinks they look like a weird dental tool.
Skullcandy Crusher 540 Works for $130: The BlueAnt headphones are the best buy of all, but I really enjoyed them. The noise cancellation isn’t very good, but these headphones are lovely and the bass is incredibly powerful—my whole head was vibrating while listening to Jay-Z at the gym.
Photo: Adrienne So
Chamelo Music Shield for $260: Chamelo’s audio sunglasses have electro-chromic lenses; you can change how dark they become with a finger slide on the arm. This is very cool and these glasses are very attractive. However, the music isn’t as loud, it’s more expensive, and the battery life is worse than the Vanguard.
JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 for $100: This is an improved version of the Go Air Sport above, with dual hybrid drivers for better sound, a higher IP rating, better battery life, and active noise cancellation. You need a fully closed balance for the ANC to function properly, which they don’t have; I can still hear people in the gym when I lift weights. Still, in every other way these headphones live up to their promises and feel incredibly secure.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport for $200: This is a huge improvement over the first iteration of the brand’s waterproof headphones, with a better fit, better buttons, and a better silicone finish. I love the charging case too! However, they are more expensive than the Shokz and use a proprietary charger instead of USB-C, which is annoying.
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Photo: Adrienne So
Nothing Unlocks Earbuds for $100: These are some of the smallest buds I’ve tested and fit well under layers of hoods, hats, and hats.
JLab JBuds Mini for $40: If I had my own money, I would buy JLab workout buds and be done with it. I fell in love with these cute, slim buds last year and they’re in our Best Wireless Earbuds guide.
Suunto Sonic for $79: If you want to try a neckband-style headphone like the Shokz above, but at a lower price, Sawh also likes these lightweight headphones with a balanced sound profile.
Shokz Openrun Pro for $160: These headphones still work well and are smaller than the new version. There is also a small version ($130) where the neck strap is about an inch shorter, which I like, because I’m smol.
Speck Gemtones Sport for $70: These are cheap and fit well. The buttons are a little sensitive, and the sound sounds fuzzier than many of our picks, but they’re not. it’s bad.
Disrespectful Speeches
There’s nothing more annoying than carving out some time in your day to exercise, heading out the door, and realizing you can’t listen to your favorite podcast because your headphones are falling out. These are the ones I hated.
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Raycon Bone Conduction Headphones for $80: I don’t know if these feel good, because they pressed right over my ear canal, where they hit the flesh of my eardrums and not my bones. It was unbearable.
Skullcandy Method 360 ANC for $100: The case is big, the buds are big and generic, and the noise cancellation doesn’t work at all.
Anker Soundcore C40i for $60: This fulfilled all my worst thoughts about open ears; they fell before I ran a block down my street. I put them in my pocket and didn’t wear them until the run was over.
1More Fit Open for $90: Don’t buy these. They sound GREAT, but the buttons are so sensitive that I couldn’t run more than five minutes without a song skipping or the music turning off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do teenagers plug headphones into their phones?
The earbuds are incredibly convenient, but Bluetooth pairing can be wonky, and I always seem to pull one out at the most awkward moments. To connect your headphones, you will need a headphone jack adapter or a phone with a headphone jack.
Why can’t I use my normal headphones?
You spent hundreds of dollars on your Sony WH-1000XM6, why not just wear them to work out? Sweat contains salts and minerals that can corrode ear cups, especially if they are made of quality materials, such as leather. You’re also out in the world, encountering rain and other cold, hot, or humid environments that aren’t ideal for delicate drivers and other headphone components. No one tells you I won’t use regular headphones, but if you value yours, it’s worth getting another pair that you won’t mind damaging.
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