The best sports headphones are a great choice for outdoor activities like running, cycling, or hiking. They’re built to be tough and long-lasting, with a transparency mode that lets you stay aware of your surroundings.
Just like other top workout headphones, these keep you motivated with your favorite tunes, audiobooks, or podcasts. Plus, they’re designed for comfort, so you can wear them for hours without any trouble.
However, the real test is how they feel and perform when you’re wearing them. That’s why we tried out the best sports headphones to help you find the perfect pair for your workouts. We focused on sound quality, battery life, and fit.
After our tests, we found the Groovz earbuds to be the best option for most people. But if you’re a runner, Beats Pro headphones might be a better fit. We’ve also listed a few other great choices to keep you moving.
Choosing the Best Sports Wireless Headphones
There are plenty of great sports headphones out there, but narrowing down your options can be easier if you keep a few key factors in mind to find the best fit for your workouts.
First, durability is crucial. Your headphones need to withstand both outdoor workouts in any weather and indoor sessions that involve plenty of sweat. Look for a pair with an IP rating of at least IPX4 to ensure they can handle your training style.
Next, it’s important that they stay securely in place during your movements. Some models feature over-ear hooks to keep them from slipping, while others use a balanced in-ear design to achieve the same result. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference.
Battery life is another consideration. No one wants to recharge their headphones multiple times a day. Fortunately, many of the top sports headphones offer up to 8 hours of playback, along with several recharges in the case.
Still, it’s worth factoring in how long you need your headphones to last. For longer activities like multi-hour runs or all-day hikes, you’ll want a pair that can keep up. For shorter, high-intensity workouts, battery life may not be as critical.
The top high-performance sports earphones
The list below shows the top high-performance sports earphones that are in trend at the moment. This list is in random positioning and does not necessarily indicate the real positioning of the earphones. You have to make a choice based on your comfort and requirements.
Groovz Wireless Earbuds
It’s tough to beat the Groovz Wireless Earbuds when it comes to design and comfort. These earbuds feature small wings that keep them securely in place, making them perfect for workouts.
But there’s more to love than just the fit. The noise cancellation is top-notch, effectively blocking out distractions like background chatter and traffic. Plus, with their advanced connectivity chip, they pair seamlessly with other devices, offering smooth integration.
The chip also enables hands-free voice commands and a handy tracking feature to help you locate lost earbuds. While some features work best with specific devices, Android users can still enjoy a comfortable, high-quality listening experience with these earbuds.
Beats Powerbeat Pro
If you love the sleek design of Apple’s Beats lineup but want the added security of over-ear hooks, the Beats Powerbeats Pro could be your perfect workout companion. These sweat-resistant earbuds come equipped with Apple’s H1 chip, ensuring seamless integration with other Apple devices.
The good news? They’re compatible with Android phones too, making them a solid choice for fans of the Beats sound profile. However, you’ll miss out on some iPhone-exclusive features like Siri and Spatial Audio.
Regardless of your device, the Powerbeats Pro delivers a balanced audio experience, moving away from the bass-heavy sound typical of older Beats models. With up to 9 hours of playback per earbud and an additional 15 hours from the charging case, you’re set for a full day of use.
Shokz OpenRun Pro
The Shokz OpenRun Pro stands out from the typical sports headphones. Instead of sitting in your ears, these innovative headphones wrap around your head, resting on your cheekbones, and use vibrations to produce sound.
While this may not deliver the same audio experience as in-ear buds, the design offers practicality for certain workouts. Since the headphones don’t block your ears, you can remain fully aware of your surroundings, making them a great choice for activities like running, hiking, or cycling, where hearing traffic or others around you is important.
Thanks to their unique headband-style design, the OpenRun Pro also happens to be some of the most comfortable sports headphones for extended wear.
Apple Airpods Pro 2
Apple didn’t design the AirPods Pro 2 specifically for exercise — that’s what the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro are for — but these popular earbuds share many of the same features, including the iconic Apple-white stem design.
Even though they’re not marketed for workouts, you can definitely use them for exercise. In fact, we tested the AirPods Pro 2 on a run and found that the adjustable ear tips and dynamic Adaptive Transparency mode made them perfect for both indoor and outdoor activities.
The AirPods Pro 2 are sweat- and water-resistant with an IPX4 rating, and they now stay more secure during workouts, whether you’re running or hitting the gym. Plus, Apple’s Ear Tip Fit Test helps ensure the best possible fit.
Battery life is improved over the original model, offering 6 hours of use on the earbuds and 30 hours with the wireless charging case. And when it comes to noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro 2 delivers some of the best performance we've experienced.
Jabra Elite 8 Active
The Jabra Elite 8 Active are among the most durable sports headphones we've tested. Built with materials that resist chipping and fading, these headphones feature a ShakeGrip ear tip design that keeps them securely in place during runs and intense workouts. With an IP68 water resistance rating, they’re ready for any challenge.
These headphones deliver Jabra’s signature warm sound, perfect for energizing your workout, and come equipped with adaptive active noise cancellation (including a transparency mode), spatial audio, and some of the best battery life in their class.
The noise cancellation works brilliantly, whether you’re running or in the middle of a video chat. Overall, the Elite 8 Active are incredibly robust and provide excellent support for both iOS and Android devices, making them a top choice for active users.
Beats Solo Buds
The Beats Solo Buds offer excellent value for sports headphones. While they may lack a charging case, noise cancellation, and other high-end features, they truly shine in the basics: great sound quality and a comfortable, secure fit.
We tested them for several weeks across a range of activities, from low-intensity walks to high-intensity workouts and strength training, even using them daily. Surprisingly, we found ourselves reaching for the Solo Buds more often than the technically superior Jabra Elite 8 Active.
Of course, they're not perfect for every situation — without noise cancellation, they’re not the best choice for noisy environments like the gym, especially when listening to podcasts or audiobooks. However, whenever we needed a reliable pair to toss in our bag, the Solo Buds were our go-to.
While it’s not ideal that the carrying case lacks a battery (each bud lasts up to 18 hours, or around 15 hours with real-world use before needing a recharge), the case's lightweight design (22g) and the buds themselves (5.7g each) make them incredibly convenient to carry. They also fit well without the need for constant adjustments, though we did find they slipped a bit during a walk in a heatwave, requiring some readjustment.
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
The Shokz OpenSwim Pro are among the best swimming headphones available. These bone conduction headphones sit comfortably around your head, with vibrating pads resting on your cheekbones to generate sound while leaving your ears open.
This design contributes to their IP68 water resistance rating, as there are no exposed electronics. The charging cable attaches magnetically to the right-side pad, further adding to their durability. The open-ear design also allows you to hear your surroundings, including important sounds like lifeguard whistles.
With Bluetooth capability, you can stream music and podcasts from your phone, but the OpenSwim Pro also offers 32GB of onboard storage, allowing you to leave your phone in the locker while you swim.
However, there’s a slight catch — you can't directly download music from streaming services. Instead, you'll need to connect the OpenSwim Pro to a computer and drag and drop files, which can be a bit slow and cumbersome. Plus, with the shift away from MP3s, this may not be ideal for everyone.
Still, it’s a handy feature for those who want to stay motivated in the water. We found the headphones fit comfortably even under swimming caps and goggles, and they’re comfortable for long swim sessions. The Swimming sound mode, which enhances volume and clarity for voice audio, was especially impressive.
Which Headphones do Athletes use?
While athletes typically don’t wear headphones during competitive events or races, they do rely on music to stay motivated during training sessions. The choice of headphones often comes down to personal preference, but there are a few common trends among professional athletes.
For runners, bone conduction headphones are a popular choice, as they allow athletes to listen to music while staying aware of their surroundings. This is particularly important for safety during outdoor runs. In fact, England Athletics has specific rules that approve only bone conduction headphones for use in road races. According to UK Athletics Rules of Competition, “in-ear” headphones are not allowed in events where roads are open to traffic.
While Shokz is a preferred partner for UK Athletics, athletes can use any bone conduction headphones that comply with these regulations. This makes bone conduction technology the go-to for athletes needing both performance and safety during training.
Conclusion
Finding the right pair of wireless sports headphones can make all the difference. From delivering powerful soundtracks to keeping up with your most intense workouts, the options are vast and versatile.
Whether you prioritize sound quality, comfort, or durability, there's a pair out there tailored to your needs. Invest in headphones that not only enhance your performance but also keep you motivated every step of the way.
We at Groovz earbuds want to provide our customers with the best and immersive music experience for our customers. This means you can enjoy every work that you are doing to the utmost experience and pleasure. Buy your earbuds today.
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