The best headphones for working out in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

As far as value goes, no brand is beating Nothing and its impressive lineup of earbuds that deliver amazing sound, long battery life, and prices that are nearly unbelievable when we think of brand quality. I can see this most clearly with the new Nothing Ear (open) earbuds that are as comfortable as can be and deliver supreme sound (even though it’s an open earbud, a type of earbud that historically tends to sacrifice volume and audio strength for situational awareness), an eight-hour battery life in the earbud and a 30-hour battery life in the case, and a form factor that you can truly wear anywhere. 

I took the Nothing Ear (open) out on a run, wore them in the office and on commutes to and from, on calls, and on strolls, and was pleased with its unobtrusive design, which made the earbuds feel nearly invisible, the audio strength, which kept things loud and the bass booming while also keeping me aware of the noises around me, Nothing’s thoughtful touch controls, and its substantial battery. 

These are the earbuds you’d want to exercise in, whether you’re working out at a busy gym, going on a silent stroll, or running on a car-packed street, because of how they deliver a lightweight, comfortable build and audio that is loud yet aware. 

At its highest level, the earbuds get crazy loud (and experience some sound leakage, I’ll be honest). But while you’re listening with these, you probably won’t need to raise the volume up all the way because the sound is substantially loud, clear, crisp, and bass-forward at mid-level volume. Keep in mind that these earbuds don’t have noise cancellation because they are open earbuds that prioritize awareness, so you’ll want to consult the other noise-canceling picks on this list if silence is what you’re looking for during your workouts. 

Lots of the choices on this list also have the aforementioned qualities, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a pair that retails for $150. These do. 

Nothing Ear (open) specs: Weight:  4.8g | Battery life: 8 hours in earbud, 30 in case | Bluetooth version: 5.3  | Waterproof: IP54 | Noise cancellation: None

Finding the right earbuds to work out in is challenging, especially if you sweat a lot. Bone conduction headphones might be the perfect solution. By wrapping around your head and sitting near instead of entirely in your ear, the H2O Audio Tri 2 bone conduction headphones transmit sound through the bone architecture, allowing your ears to breathe. This is great for anybody who exercises for a long time, like people training for a half marathon or cyclists going on hours-long bike rides. 

The headphones deliver a 9-hour battery life and a waterproof rating of IPX8. You can swim with these on for up to 12 feet. But let’s say you aren’t a swimmer: the waterproof and dustproof rating is strong enough to withstand a sweat-drenched workout at the gym or on the bike path.

One downside to most bone conduction headphones is the fact that you’re sacrificing audio quality and volume for environmental awareness. ZDNET’s Jack Wallen, who reviewed the headphones, says this isn’t the case with the Tri 2. “Up until the H2O Tri 2, I just assumed bone-conducting headphones would never be able to deliver anything close to punchy bass. I’m not saying you’re going to feel the kick drum in your chest, but you’ll certainly hear it with more clarity than your other bone-conducting headphones,” he writes.  

Also: One of the best bone conduction headphones I’ve listened to is also waterproof

There’s also a memory mode feature that becomes essential while you’re swimming laps in the pool or opting for a phone-free exercise session. You can load songs onto the memory of the bone conduction headphones to play them in your ears while you’re in the water or far from your phone. It’s pretty handy. 

Bone conduction headphones aren’t for everyone, but if you love exercising outdoors, rain or shine, want environmental awareness, decent sound for your music and podcasts, and long battery life, the H2O Audio Tri 2 headphones are the platonic ideal of a workout headphone. 

“Not only do they allow you to enjoy your music without having to carry your phone with you (which could be disastrous in a pool), but they produce some of the best sound I’ve heard from bone-conducting headphones,” Wallen writes.

H2O Audio Tri 2 bone conduction tech specs: Type: Open ear | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IPX8, waterproof up to 12 feet | Weight: .08 pounds | Battery life: 9 hours 

I loved these earbuds so much while I was training for my half marathon that out of all the many earbuds I tested for my job, these were the only ones I used the day of my race. 

The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds are the best workout earbuds for most people for these three reasons. First is the price: They’re only $100. Second is sound: They sound incredible, with the perfect amount of noise cancellation that takes you away from distracting environmental noise without forcing complete unawareness. Third is touch controls: The Nothing Ear (a)’s touch controls mimic those of the AirPods Pro 2. They use pinch controls on the bottom stem of the earbud instead of touch controls near the top. 

Review: Nothing Ear (a)

As I write in my spotlight, I always run with earbuds in. When my ears get too sweaty and whatever pair of earbuds I wear begins to slip out, I accidentally touch and activate the pause button when attempting to press the bud back into my ears. Having pinch controls on the stem of the earbud negates this annoying issue. 

The three reasons above justify the Nothing Ear (a) as one of the best workout earbuds. But one extra feature that sweetens the deal is how cool these look in your ears. The transparent design is unique and creative, and the earbuds come in this sunshine yellow color (although you can also pick them up in white or black if you’re looking for a less flashy earbud). 

The ear tips are super tactile and stick to your ears as you run and move, making them great for working out. They come with IP55 waterproofing, a solid and long battery life, and will work for Android and iOS users. All in all, these are a joy to use and exercise with, and it’s refreshing to see technology packed with every feature you want, designed thoughtfully, and priced competitively. Apple should be scared. 

Nothing Ear (a) specs: Weight:  4.8g | Battery life: 9.5 hours in buds and 42.5 in case with ANC off | Bluetooth version: 5.3  | Waterproof: IP54 | Noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation

These open earbuds can be considered a dupe for the $300 Bose Ultra Open earbuds. While its look is slightly less refined than the Ultra Opens, they share many of the same specs. That includes a 7-hour battery life in the buds, an IPX4 waterproof and dustproof rating, and Bluetooth 5.3. I’d recommend the Bose Ultra Open to anybody with $300 to spend on a pair of earbuds, but if that’s not you and you’d rather spend a healthy $40 instead, the JLab Flex is for you. 

They clip onto the rim of your ear and stay put no matter what, which makes them ideal for exercise — whether you’re running in a park, biking on a trail, or weightlifting in one place. 

They produce sound that is good and loud enough for an outdoor run or a workout in a busy gym. Plus, with an IPX4 rating, you can run in light rain or sweat in them without water damage. 

The touch controls are pretty finicky; I paused my music using the touch feature, only to have it continue to play a few minutes later. For this reason, I’d recommend using your phone to control the music over the earbud’s touch controls. 

They aren’t perfect, but at $40, you’re getting what you pay for. I’d recommend purchasing these specifically for running and exercise and using another pair for listening to music at the office or at home. And if you like the idea of a clip-on, open earbud, but wouldn’t mind spending more money on them, I’d definitely recommend the Bose Ultra Open. 

Also: I swapped my favorite $300 Bose earbuds for these $50 budget earbuds. Here’s how they compared

JLab Flex specs: Weight: .13 pounds | Battery life: 7 hours in buds, 21 hours in case | Bluetooth version: 5.3 | Waterproof: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: N/A 

Headphones tend to be bulky while you exercise, but these fan-favorites from Sony pack a comfortable punch; Sony’s WH-1000XM5 delivers superior sound, a comfortable form factor, and a lightweight design, all features that gave them ZDNET’s title as one of the over-ear headphones. These are also Virginia Wooten’s, CEO and founder of Dawn Fitness, favorite headphones for whenever she hits the gym or goes for runs outside. “[They have the] best sound quality I could ask for, and I love how they look and feel as an over-the-ear headphone,” said Wooten. 

Powered by the QN1 Sony HD Noise Cancelling Processor, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelation is not only top-notch but customizable thanks to the Auto NC Optimizer, which automatically adjusts to the noise in your workout environment. Plus, the headphones pack in up to thirty hours of continuous music playback, so you can focus on supercharging your workouts instead of your headphones. 

Review: Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony WH-1000XM5 specs: Weight: 8.8 ounces | Battery life: 30 hours | Bluetooth version: 5.2 | Waterproof: No | Noise cancellation: Sony HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1 

I can understand why people wouldn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on headphones that they sweat in every day. That’s where a good pair of affordable earbuds, like the JLab JBuds ANC 3, come in. These are $60 with competitive ANC, a marathon battery life in the earbuds plus 33 hours in the case, multipoint Bluetooth, and a tight and comfortable fit in my ears. I used these while training for my half marathon and loved how long I could go without charging them, especially as I was pounding pavement day in and day out. 

Review: JLab JBuds ANC 3

JLab JBuds ANC 3 tech specs: Connectivity: Bluetooth Multipoint | Battery life: 9 hours in the earbuds and 33+ hours in the case | Noise cancellation: Yes | Waterproof? IP55