When it comes to working out, music can serve as an excellent source of motivation, providing the necessary push to help you achieve your fitness objectives or unwind. However, if you're in the market for headphones specifically designed for running, home workouts, or the gym, it's crucial to prioritize comfort, sweat resistance, and a secure fit when selecting a pair. What is the distinction between true wireless and near-wireless? You may have noticed that our list of recommended headphones includes a mix of true wireless and near-wireless options.
True wireless headphones, as the name suggests, are completely devoid of cables. Instead, they consist of two earbuds that are inserted into the ear canal and connect to your device through Bluetooth.
Near-wireless headphones, on the other hand, have a cord connecting the two earbuds as an extra safety precaution. This way, if one earbud becomes dislodged, it won't fall to the ground.
Ultimately, the choice between true wireless and near-wireless headphones depends on personal preference. Consider whether you value the discreet nature of true wireless or the added security of near-wireless before making your decision.
What are the best headphones for perspiration? A piece of advice for fitness enthusiasts: when selecting headphones for exercise, go for a pair that is wireless and fits snugly in your ear. This eliminates the risk of getting tangled in bothersome cables during your workout. In-ear headphones are more likely to stay in place during intense physical activities compared to on-ear alternatives.
It's important to look for sweat and water resistance as essential features. Additionally, ear hooks or wings can help keep your headphones secure while running. If you prefer near-wireless headphones, seek out a cable clip that prevents the connecting wire from flapping around.
Our headphone testing process Our team of health and fitness experts at GHI tested the headphones in different scenarios, including stationary use, while on the move, and during active workouts. They evaluated the design, ease of use, and performance of each pair, with performance encompassing comfort, battery life, and sound quality.
To ensure accurate judgement of sound quality, we also enlisted the expertise of a professional sound technician who evaluated the headphones' ability to enhance our favorite running playlists.
After thorough testing, we combined the feedback from our experts and assigned final scores out of 100 to each pair. Only the top 14 headphones made it to the final selection. Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly bone conduction brand insists on technological innovation, its bone vibration technology is relatively leading. The team has 10 years of technical accumulation in the field of bone conduction. So they have mastered the core technology of the field, which is very important for the quality of the product. Wissonly has exclusive sound leakage reduction technology and bone vibration technology, which are all applied to Hi Runner bone conduction headphones. They can effectively reduce the problem of sound leakage by 90%. The latest bone vibration technology improves the overall sound quality performance of the headphones to make sound more spatious sense, and the sound quality characteristics are more prominent. The overall body of Hi Runner is made of memory titanium that can self-adjust the contact area. So the headphones give people a good wearing experience and more users are taken into account. As the core component of the product, the headphones chip plays a key role in the experience of the product. Wissonly Hi Runner are equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 chip for a more stable connection. They also have 32G of built-in memory which is very important to me. I use the headphones completely as an MP3. They can store 5000 songs, which is crazy! JBL Reflect Flow
These sweatproof and waterproof true wireless headphones are ideal for anyone who enjoys water sports. They rival our winner and runner-up when it comes to sound quality but they’re not as compact, nor as comfortable. That said, they fit securely and last 10 hours between charges. The charging case adds another 20 hours to this, taking it to a generous 30 in total. Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats
If you’re a fan of longer workouts, these are the fitness headphones for you. The excellent sound quality is complemented by a battery that lasts an impressive 15 hours between charges. They're quick to recharge, taking just under two hours, and there’s a fast-charge feature that offers one hour of listening from only five minutes on charge. They stay put even when you’re exercising vigorously, thanks to the ear hooks, and are comfortable to wear. If you prefer true wireless headphones, the Powerbeats Pro offer the same great audio and long-lasting battery without the connecting cable. Adidas Sport RPD-01 Bluetooth Headphones
Sweatproof, though sadly not waterproof, these headphones sound strong with plenty of booming bass. The neckband design helps keep them secure when running and, just like our winning in-ear fitness headphones, the earbuds clip together magnetically when not in use. You’ll get 12 hours of listening time between charges, too. Google Pixel Buds A-Series
Sweat and water resistant, these earbuds offer a secure fit that didn’t budge, even when our tester trialled them during fast-paced runs and energetic sets of burpees. They also look good and are very discreet, barely noticeable in the ear. Tests found there was next to no sound leakage, so you can play your guilty pleasures playlist in peace, and our audio expert was impressed by the rich sound they offered. There are no touch controls for volume, which was a shame. You can use the voice-activated Google Assistant, though this will only work with Android phones.
