Compare Top Workout Headphones
How to Keep Your In-Ear Buds From Falling Out
To a certain extent, how the headphones sound matters less than if they fit correctly. They can be the best-sounding headphones in the world, but I will find them irritating if they won’t stay in mid-run. So how do you keep your headphones from falling out? Here are a few tips and tricks that I’ve tried over the years.
Dial it in. To put on your buds, pull open your ear a little bit and give it a little twist to fix it in place. If they don’t fit, don’t be afraid to switch or mismatch ear tip sizes—one ear might need a medium tip and the other a small, for example, or one might need a foam tip while the other needs a plastic tip.
Accessorize. Still can’t get it to fit quite right? There’s a healthy market for aftermarket clips and wings 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 pouring rain, you need a higher IP than if you’re doing gentle calisthenics in the gym.
I wear headphones while working out, which I do every day. I run 3-5 miles every other day, ride a bike every day, and lift weights at home or in the gym 3-4 times a week. Naturally, I test swimming headphones in the pool.
I listen for sound quality with songs in a variety of registers (is it dating myself to say that my standards include Mariah Carey for higher registers and Beyoncé’s Beyoncé for bass). I test durability by dropping them and sweating in them. I test water resistance by sweating while wearing them and pouring water on them (or on my head while I’m wearing them). I also test battery life by checking how long it takes for one charge to last while wearing them.
Honorable Mentions
We try every pair of new workout buds that come out. Here are a few that we also like that didn’t quite earn a space above.
Shokz OpenFit Pro for $250: The most interesting headphones that I tested last year were the Shokz OpenFit Pro. Shokz purported to create the world’s first open-ear noise reduction system. The sound quality is excellent; the buds are beautiful and comfortable; and I like the physical buttons. Ultimately, though, the noise-reduction system just blunts outside noise rather than blocks it, so I don’t really understand the value proposition on offer here.
Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro for $180: The same goes for the AeroFit 2 Pro, which actually transform shape from open earbuds to noise-canceling buds. The case is weirdly big and the noise cancellation is not really that effective. Still, it’s an interesting idea and I like being able to toggle the angle on the ear hooks to get them to fit more securely.
Nwm Go for $99: Stylish Japanese brand Nwm recently launched these open-ear bone conduction headphones that purport to reduce sound leakage, so not everyone can listen to your spicy audiobook on the train. This works, they sound fine and are incredibly light, but they use a proprietary charger and my husband thinks they look like some weird dental device.
Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active for $130: The BlueAnt headphones are just a better buy in all regards, but I enjoyed these a lot. The noise canceling doesn’t work very well, but these headphones are attractive and the bass is astoundingly powerful—my whole head vibrated while listening to Jay-Z at the gym.
Photograph: Adrienne So
Chamelo Music Shield for $260: Chamelo’s audio sunglasses have electro-chromic lenses; you can change how dark they get with a finger slider on the arm. This is very cool and these glasses are very attractive. However, the music isn’t very loud, they’re very expensive, and the battery life is much worse than the Vanguard.
JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 for $100: This is the upgraded version of the Go Air Sport above, with hybrid dual drivers for better sound, a higher IP rating, better battery life, and active noise canceling. You need a fully-sealed fit for ANC to be effective, which these don’t have; I can still hear people at the gym when I’m lifting weights. Still, in every other way these headphones meet their promises and they do feel incredibly secure.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport for $200: These are a huge improvement of the first iteration of the brand’s waterproof headphones, with a better fit, better buttons, and a better silicone finish. I also like the charging case! However, they’re pricier than the Shokz and they use a proprietary charger instead of USB-C, which is annoying.
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Photograph: Adrienne So
Nothing Open Earbuds for $100: These are some of the slimmest buds I’ve tested and they fit well under layers of hoods, helmets, and hats.
JLab JBuds Mini for $40: If I were spending my own money, I would buy a pair of JLab workout buds and be done with it. I raved about these cute, tiny buds last year and they are also in our Best Wireless Earbuds guide.
Suunto Sonic for $79: If you want to try a neckband-style headphone like the Shokz above, but for cheaper, Sawh also likes these lightweight headphones with a balanced sound profile.
Shokz Openrun Pro for $160: These headphones still work perfectly well and are smaller than the new version. There’s also a mini version ($130) where the neckband is almost an inch shorter, which I like, because I am smol.
Speck Gemtones Sport for $70: These are cheap and fit well. The buttons are a little too sensitive, and the sound is noticeably fuzzier than most of our other picks, but they’re not bad.
Dishonorable Mentions
There’s nothing more annoying than carving out some time in your day for a workout, getting out the door, and realizing that you can’t listen to your fun podcast because your headphones are glitching out. These are the ones I hated.
Courtesy of Amazon
Raycon Bone Conduction Headphones for $80: I have no idea if these sound good, because they pressed directly on top of my ear canal, where they buzzed the flesh of my eardrums and not my bones. It was unbearable.
Skullcandy Method 360 ANC for $100: The case is huge, the buds are big and awkward, and noise canceling works not at all.
Anker Soundcore C40i for $60: These fulfilled all my worst imaginings about open-ear buds; they fell out before I’d run a block down my street. I put them in my pocket and didn’t wear them again for the rest of the run.
1More Fit Open for $90: Don’t buy these. They sound OK, but the buttons are so sensitive that I couldn’t run for more than five minutes without a song skipping or the music turning off.
FAQs
Why are the young ones plugging their headphones into their phones?
Earbuds are amazingly convenient, but Bluetooth pairing can be wonky, and I always seem to drop one out at the most inconvenient times. To plug your headphones in, you’ll either need a headphone jack adapter or a phone with a headphone jack.
Why can’t I work out in my regular headphones?
You spent hundreds of dollars on your Sony WH-1000XM6, why wouldn’t you just wear them to work out? Sweat has salt and minerals that can corrode ear cups, especially if they’re made from premium materials, like leather. You’re also out and about in the world, encountering rain and other cold, hot, or humid environments that aren’t great for delicate drivers and other headphone components. No one’s telling you you can’t work out in regular headphones, but if you consider yours precious, it’s worth getting another pair that you won’t mind getting damaged.
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