The best headphones for working out in 2024

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Adding music to your fitness routine can boost your motivation, help you keep pace, and block out unwanted distractions. However, not all headphones are suited for active use. The best headphones for working out are designed specifically for vigorous activity, with key features like sweat resistance, a secure fit, and quality audio.

The Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds are our top pick. These are not only the best-fitting pair we've tested but they also deliver crystal clear audio, HearThrough tech so you can let in outside noise, and long battery life. If you're looking for a budget pair, we also recommend the Skullcandy Mod. They lack active noise cancellation (ANC) but are an excellent value at under $60.

To select picks for this guide, our product reviewers tested multiple earbuds and consulted with two experts for added insight. Below are the best headphones for working out, as well as details on how we tested everything and answers to some FAQs.

Top picks for the best headphones for working out

Best overall: Jabra Elite 4 Active - See at Amazon

Best noise-canceling: Bose QuietComfort Ultra - See at Amazon

Best on a budget: Skullcandy Mod - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds are our pick for the best headphones for working out. They're a solid all-around option that provides high-quality music playback, a secure fit, and excellent active noise cancellation with HearThrough, all at a reasonable price.

During testing, the earbuds stayed securely in our ears even when jumping rope or running on the treadmill. The outer part of the earbud did seem a little larger and heavier than the inner ear tip, but that didn't compromise fit or comfort even after a few hours. The buds have a waterproof rating of IP57, so don't worry if you get sweaty during a workout.

The ANC is fairly good, though not the best we tested. However, the HearThrough technology is a nice bonus. This feature amplifies outside sounds via built-in microphones so you can stay aware of your surroundings.

Jabra's mobile app provides a lot in terms of specific features like walking you through your headset, teaching you how to use ANC and HearThrough, and showing you how to activate mono earbud mode. It also updates the earbuds quickly and easily, and has settings for what type of music you listen to (neutral, speech, bass boost, etc.).

Other than their comfy fit, our testers' favorite feature was the ability to pause/play, turn up the volume, and turn on ANC right from the earbuds themselves, not only via a phone.

Best noise-canceling

Bar none, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds deliver the best noise-canceling performance we've come across on any pair of in-ear headphones. They're a lot pricier than our other picks, but if you want to exercise without distractions, the QuietComfort Ultras are worth the extra money.

We also love the QC Ultras' transparency mode, which uses the earbuds' microphones to let in outside noise when you want to hear your surroundings. This feature is similar to the HearThrough mode on the Elite 4 Active, but Bose's implementation is among the most natural-sounding we've tested. There's even an option to reduce sudden loud noises to protect your hearing.

The QC Ultra earbuds also impress in design and fit. They fit comfortably in the ear and include three different-sized ear tips. A stability band rests on the contour of your ears to help create a better, more secure seal. The earbuds are rated for IPX4 water resistance, which is sufficient for sweat from a typical workout.

The earbuds' sound quality is great, too, with a clean, detailed, and energetic audio profile. But if you don't love the default settings, Bose's mobile app lets you adjust the sound to your liking with a three-band EQ. The QuietComfort Ultra are also the only earbuds on this list to include spatial audio support with head tracking. This feature can create a surround sound effect that mimics what it would be like to listen to music with multiple speakers circling you. We prefer standard stereo playback, but it's cool to have this as an option.

When it comes to drawbacks, we don't love the charging case. It's a bit bulky and doesn't support wireless charging unless you buy a $50 case cover. It's also a shame that the earbuds lack support for multipoint pairing, which is something we'd like to see in a pair this expensive.

But ultimately, these minor cons are easy to overlook given everything the Bose QuietComfort get right. These are the best headphones for working out if you want high-end noise-canceling performance.

Check out our guide to all the best noise-canceling headphones.

Best on a budget

The Mod True Wireless Earbuds from Skullcandy are a favorite among our testers thanks to their compact size, minimalist design, and fantastic price. Every reviewer felt as though these could easily be $80 or more, but they're sold for less than $60.

Although these earbuds don't have active noise cancellation, they do have some great extra features, like a customizable listening experience, button settings, and multi-device pairing. That latter feature is something that our top pick actually lacks.

One thing to note is that they require you to turn on both earbuds separately with a press of a side button. This also means you can listen with just one earbud easily, but we often put them in our ears expecting them to turn on automatically, only to wonder why music hadn't started playing.

Like others in this guide, the Mod buds use a companion app. The app lets you set up certain customizations, like skipping tracks when you press the button on the buds or switching to Skullcandy's hear-through mode, called Stay-Awake. However, this didn't function nearly as well as similar features found on the Jabra Elite 4 Actives and Bose QuietComfort Ultras.

You can also change up the listening experience with customizable equalizers. Presets include music, podcasts, movies, or a fully customizable mode. Considering their cost, the Skullcandy Mod are quality budget earbuds that work great for the gym and offer a lot despite a modest price tag.

What else we considered

We previously included the Zygo Solo as our pick for the best workout headphones for swimming. However, Zygo no longer sells that model on its site and has replaced it with the Zygo Z2. The new model should work similarly, and Zygo says the headphones will offer improved sound quality, a longer range, better battery life, and a few other perks.

We haven't tested the Zygo Z2 yet, but expect it to be a solid successor to the Zygo Solo. Like its predecessor, the Z2 headphones use bone conduction at your temples to play music via vibrations, so your ears are open (you can still use earplugs) while the headset rests at the top of your neck. The package also includes a charging case that works as a transmitter, earplugs, and a USB-C cable.

Unlike many other swimming headphones, which download music to an integrated MP3 player, Zygo's buds are a little different. To use them, you just pair your phone with the included transmitter via Bluetooth, and you're good to go.

One nitpick we had with the Solo model was that the sound quality was a bit underwhelming. We're hoping the Z2's improvements offer a nice upgrade. You can order the Z2 now from Zygo's website.

How we test workout headphones

To choose the best headphones for working out, our testers racked up tons of sweaty minutes with many popular earbuds in a variety of gyms and settings (on treadmills, outside, etc.). While testing, we compared headphones across these five categories: Price, comfort and stability, sound quality, controls and buttons, and active noise cancellation.

Here's how each category factored into which headphones ultimately made the cut:

Price: Headphones aren't cheap and can be easy to lose in the gym. The higher-end headphones we tested did have slightly better features, but they didn't differ greatly from the lower-priced headphones. That is, with the exception of active noise canceling and hear-through performance (see below).

Comfort and stability: Fit and stability are among the most important factors (and potentially the most annoying) when it comes to headphones. We only included headphones that didn't slip out or around and stayed put even when working hard on the treadmill or during particularly sweaty routines.

Sound quality: We focused on sound quality, including bass and clarity, for headphones that are used in the gym or for a pumped-up workout.

Controls and buttons: Having to take out your phone to adjust volume is not ideal, but that was the case with a few of the pairs we tested. Almost every brand tested had an accompanying app to use with the headphones, too. With some, you had to use the app to adjust some controls and features like noise cancellation, while with others, the app wasn't necessary.

Active noise cancellation: Having active noise cancellation isn't a must persay, but wow, is it nice. When using a pair with high-quality ANC, almost 100% of the extra noise simply goes away, and all you hear is your music — not the treadmill, not your breathing, and not the rest of the gym goers, so you can focus on your workout.

What to look for in a pair of workout headphones

For such small gadgets, earbuds pack a surprising amount of features, yet you have to consider more than just the extras. Our testers say the most important elements to consider when shopping for the best workout earbuds include:

• Long battery life and in-case charging capabilities, so you aren't left having to recharge every time you go to the gym.
• Active noise canceling options, for if you're using the headphones at a loud gym or other noisy places.
• Extra features, like the ability to listen from one earbud at a time, support for changing the volume from the buds rather than on your phone, and a sweat- or waterproof design.
• Fit and style, because some headphones are made for more high-impact movements, like running, and some are made for lower-impact workouts, like strength training.

If you're shopping for new earbuds for use outside working out, check out our general guide to the best wireless earbuds for more top picks.

Workout headphones FAQs

How often should I clean my headphones?

You should clean your headphones once a week with typical use. Do not use water, as this can degrade the headphones' electronics. Instead, use an alcohol pad or a specially designed product. Cleaning them often will not only prevent them from getting gross but also keep them working longer.

Do workout headphones need to be waterproof or sweatproof?

Ideally, yes. Thankfully, most headphones that are marketed for exercise are also sweatproof or waterproof. These ratings are listed as IP ratings, with IPX4 being a solid choice for active headphones (can withstand splashes from any direction), but anything above IPX2 should be good (protected against dripping water of about three millimeters per minute). All of our recommendations for the best headphones for working out include some level of water resistance.

How do I know if the earbuds fit well?

When you buy in-ear buds, you'll often get small, medium, and large ear tip options. Try each and see how they feel. The ear tip should ideally create a sort of seal within your ear so that the sound stays clear and the buds don't bounce around and become loose.

Some in-ear buds also use a hook that goes over the ear for extra support.

Our experts

• Caroline Grainger, ISSA Certified Personal Trainer at FitnessTrainer Online Personal Trainers
• Candice Ortiz-Hawkins, AuD, ABAC, CCC-A, Clinical Audiologist