Luxurious over-the-ear cans are plush and comfortable, and they sound great. But for working out, traveling, and wandering around town, you might want to consider a pair of durable, wireless in-ear buds. I've been trail running, hiking, working on my yard, rock climbing, lifting weights, and watching mildly embarrassing barre and yoga videos on my laptop, all while testing the best wireless workout headphones around. If you like listening to music while scrambling up stony slopes or mowing your lawn, I've rounded up 10 of WIRED's favorite pairs. Hopefully, one of them will be yours too.
Be sure to check out our favorite completely wire-free earbuds, cheap headphones, Bluetooth speakers, smart speakers, and other great buying guides.
Updated December 2019: We removed several picks and added some new ones, like the AirPods Pro.
Best Overall
These are our new favorite workout buds (read our glowing review here). They performed excellently in every way. Music sounds crisp and clear, they can't be shaken out of your ears, and the button controls are easy to use.
That's not all. They're waterproof and have
stunning nine-hour battery life. And they also have a few other distinctive features to make them easier to use with a phone, like smart play-and-pause when they're out of your ears and smart call routing if you don't have them on. They also easily pair with iPhones because Apple owns Beats.
Best Runner-Up
For workouts, I prefer an over-ear clip, because it feels more secure, but Jaybird's rock-solid Jaybird Vista is also one of my top picks. At 6 grams per bud, they're ridiculously light, tiny, and comfortable.
They're one of the most rugged headphones available. Jaybird's EarthProof encapsulated construction seals the components inside a tiny plastic bubble, so unlike many buds on this list, they can even withstand full immersion. Their battery life is excellent, they have a sterling Bluetooth 5.0 connection, and the controls are simple enough for even an exhausted trail runner to remember. Oh, and they sound great.
An Affordable Pick
JLab's affordable, wireless sports buds also offer great value for the money. They have a very comfortable over-ear clip and Cloud Foam tips and are IP66 rated. (I ran in the rain with these with no problem.) They have a crisp, clear Bluetooth 5.0 connection and decent 6-hour battery life. I can wear these for up to two weeks of working out without having to recharge the case, which also has its own convenient included charging cable.
As is typical with JLab's workout buds, the signature EQ is bass-heavy and upper ranges can sometimes sound a little frizzy. But as I'm running or hiking, I sometimes forget I'm even wearing them.
The Simplest Headphones
Our favorite workout headphones got better with the 2018 update to the Plantronics BackBeat Fit. You can now connect the headphones to the PLT BackBeat app and choose each function for the sleek, stylish metallic earpieces.
A full seven hours of battery life means that you won't be tapping out midway through a long run. Plantronics' "Always Aware" feature lets you hear ambient noise so you don't get run over, and a bigger driver means bigger sound. They're also extremely durable and waterproof. I also tested the Backbeat FIT 3100, but I prefer the ease (and price) of the connected headphones.
The Audiophile Pick
I love these headphones. Like our reviewer Parker Hall, I’ve always wanted to try Master & Dynamic’s beautiful headphones, but I’ve never had an excuse to recommend them when cheaper workout buds were available.
The MW07 Go, however, are only slightly more expensive than some of our other picks and fit securely enough for me to rock climb, do pull-ups, and sprint around my neighborhood without fear. They're IPX6-rated, so can withstand a quick rinse if you've gotten really sweaty. The buds have a very good battery life of around 10 hours, and because M&D makes them, they're also among the most attractive ones I've tested.
Another Audiophile Pick
I was pleasantly surprised by what headphone company Status is able to offer for the money. The BT Structure is its sports headphones—IPX5 rated to protect against sweat, with a comfortable over-ear clip. They also have a dual-driver system, which is unusual for sporty headphones in this price range.
Most sports headphones tend to emphasize the bass, but the BT Structure sounded very balanced and expansive—the highs of "This Is What You Came For" sparkled against the heavy bass beats. The 10+ hours of battery life is pretty spectacular, too.
Another Option for Apple Users
The AirPods Pro isn’t my favorite headphones for working out. Although they fit much more securely than the AirPods, I still wouldn’t take any headphones that don’t have an ear fin or over-ear clip on an outdoor run.
However, if you’re an iPhone owner who wants only one set of headphones, the Pro Pods are rated IPX4, which means they’re sweat-resistant (don’t wear them in the shower, though). The sound quality and noise-canceling are also excellent, and you can long-squeeze the stem to let in ambient sound if you need to cross the street or say hi to a fellow gym-goer.
A Discreet Pair
Our reviewer, Parker Hall, very much likes the Elite 75T, which are even more compact and comfortable than their predecessors, the Elite 65T. Although again, I would not pick a pair without secure ear fins or wingtips if you enjoy outdoor activities, these are IP55-rated, which means that you can wear them at the beach without worrying about sand or sea spray. They also have clearer sound, better mics, and a longer-lived battery than the 65T, for a total of 7.5 hours outside the case.
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