Best Workout Headphones for iPhone and Apple Watch
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What're the best workout headphones? Here are our picks!
Music moves you — sometimes literally. But if you don't have the right pair of headphones, then moving can be a drag.
Don't suffer in silence — grab a kickass pair of sport headphones and crank your tunes while you tone.
- Vi: Personal Trainer
- Jaybird X3
- JLab Audio Epic2
- Bose SoundSport Wireless
- Plantronics BackBeat Fit
- TaoTronics
- Yurbuds Inspire 300
Vi: Personal Trainer headphones
For a complete workout training within a set of headphones, you're going to want to look into Vi. It's a set of in-ear headphones, complete with a personal trainer right in your head. It's also got a load of workout sensors to track heart rate, elevation, cadence, speed, time, and location. It's ideal for runners. Vi is designed specifically to help you meet your running goals. The personal trainer companion app does also have support for walking and cycling and will support more workout types in the future, but those are a little hands-off (less of a full trainer and more of a support system for your workout stats).
I've been using Vi for nearly a year now. I started with the running training, but failed miserably because I hate running. When Vi was updated with support for walking, I got back into it and love using the headphones to track my pace, heart rate, and distance. The earbuds are the most comfortable I've ever worn. The sound system is designed by the award-winning audio team at Harman Kardon, so your music listening experience is absolutely impeccable.
Vi comes in at a hefty price tag of about $250, so I don't recommend it for everyone. If, however, you're a runner, Vi is the perfect companion for listening to tunes while tracking your stats.
Jaybird X3
Jaybird's been making excellent earbuds for a while and the X3s are phenomenal. Jaybird's fantastic at marrying great sound quality with comfort, style, and durability (it's a polyamorous relationship).
You can get a full week of workouts on a single charge and a quick 15 minutes of charging will get you a full hour at least. If you rely on your tunes to get you through a workout, check out the Jaybird X3 wireless earbuds and enjoy.
These headphones come in Blackout or Sparta (white) colors, and they're sweat- and rain-proof, so you can pour your heart and soul into every workout without worrying about frying them. Grab 'em for $130 on Amazon.
JLab Audio Epic2
You don't name a pair of earbuds "Epic2" and then have it be anything but. JLab's wireless earbuds combine bombastic sound with sweat-proof durability that'll last you throughout the toughest workouts. It's no wonder these earbuds are the Wirecutter's top pick.
"This great-sounding pair is sealed to block out distractions and able to take a beating, and it fit all of our panelists equally well." [sic]
In the box, you get a hard travel case, all the silicone gel tips you could possibly need, in different sizes, and a USB to Micro-USB charging cable.
You can control your music with the in-line switch, and you have your choice of black, blue, or teal for $100 apiece.
Bose SoundSport Wireless
Ask someone the first name that comes to mind when they think of top-notch audio, and they'll likely say Bose. Bose has built a reputation on superior sound quality, no matter the device, and its foray into the realm of sporty headphones is welcome and wonderful.
The SoundSport Wireless earbuds are sweat- and weather-resistant, and the gel tips are wholly designed with comfort and stability in mind. Though battery life isn't the greatest in these (about 6 hours on a single charge), they still pack an aural wallop and the mic and music controls are handy.
Comes in Aqua, black, Citron, and Power Red, which has a heart monitor. A little pricy at $200, but that's Bose for ya.
Plantronics BackBeat Fit
If minimalism and comfort are what you're after in a pair of sport earbuds, then the Plantronics BackBeat Fit is for you. Instead of a flimsy headphone cable, these feature a sturdier rubber connection that keeps them secure on your head. CNET was impressed with the overall feel and design of the headset,
"Plantronics BackBeat Fit is a lightweight wireless stereo headset (with integrated microphone) that features a sweatproof design and decent sound. It stays in your ears and most people should find it comfortable to wear." [sic]
The play controls are on the earbuds themselves, with a button for play/pause/skip and a button to answer and end calls. You get 8 hours of playtime, as well as your choice of blue, black, green, or red. $88.
TaoTronics
If you're on a bit of a budget and you also happen to need some headphones that stay more securely in place than most, then check out TaoTronics' wireless Bluetooth headphone. They feature a piece that wraps around most of your ear, with a snug-fitting earpiece that ensures stability while you run, jump, or whatever it is you do to work out (we won't judge).
You get up to 8 hours of playtime, great audio, noise cancellation, and a price that's hard to beat in this class (about $27).
Yurbuds Inspire 300
It's yer bud, Yurbuds, with some neat sport earbuds that actually twist into place so that they don't fall out of your ears once you start to sweat. They may look like the headphones you get on a plane, but they're sweat- and weather-resistant, feature a button for playback control, a mic for calls, and they let in ambient noise so that you can remain aware at all times.
They come in aqua, black, pink, purple, and red/black. These are a great option if you prefer a wired pair of earbuds and are on a budget ($23).
Work it out
What's your favorite pair of sport headphones? Let us know in the comments below!
Updated September 2017: Added Vi: Personal Trainer headphones to the list.