After trying so many sports and wireless headphones or earphones, we’ve found that when it comes to exercising or jogging, some are definitely better than others. Surely you are wondering what this depends on. So let’s start with the basics: the best headphones for people who like to train and especially go running should be wireless and, preferably, without cables of any kind, the so-called true wireless, as this type of devices. Second, and more importantly, the earbuds should give you a secure and comfortable fit, be it the ear-covering models or the wireless earbuds placed inside. Other requirements are decent sound quality, good battery life, durability, noise cancellation, and reliable performance (with minimal signal loss). Lastly, they must be sweat resistant, for obvious reasons. That is why the extraordinary Sony WF-1000XM3 headphones are not on this list. With those criteria in mind, we’ve put together a selection of the wireless headphones we’ve tested that we think are suitable for running. In this video we have the five best devices at the moment, according to our selection, although below we give you a more extensive list.
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The best headphones to exercise in 2020
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Water resistance: Yes (IP55 — resists strong jets of water). At first glance, the Elite 75t looks more like an evolutionary upgrade from the highly rated Elite 65t. But the updates to these Bluetooth headsets turn out to be a little more substantial than I thought. The Elite 75t’s smaller size will allow more people to get a comfortable and secure fit, and its longer battery life and USB-C charging are significant improvements. And then there are the smaller changes, such as the new charging box design with magnets inside that makes it easier to open and close and keep the earphones inside. While the Elite 75t is not as comfortable to use as the AirPods Pro and it has no active noise canceling features, they sound better. They have a clearer overall sound and better bass definition, as long as you get a tight seal. There is a HearThru setting in the app that allows ambient noise input, but even with it turned on, you must turn down the volume of your music to hear traffic noise.
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Jaybird got off to a rather bumpy start in the world of true wireless (ie, AirPods-like) headphones when it launched its Jaybird Run wireless training headphones in October 2017. That model, which the company updated earlier this year with The Jaybird Run XT had a good design, but had small performance problems that prevented them from being excellent. But its successor, the Jaybird Vista model, includes design, battery life, and audio quality enhancements that make it the product we all expected the Jaybird Run to be. Priced at $ 180, the Jaybird Vista are a little more expensive than they should be, but they are among the best true wireless headphones to hit the market in 2019. The Jaybird Vista model will appeal especially to those looking for a pair of discreetly designed true wireless headphones that are completely resistant to Water.
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The AfterShokz bone conduction wireless headphones transmit sound to your ear through your cheekbones. The great benefit of this technology is that, thanks to its open design, you can hear what is happening around you while listening to music or talking on the phone through headphones. This allows runners to hear the sound of traffic, an important safety feature. In addition, some race coordinators do not allow runners to wear anything inside the ears, and it is in these circumstances that ear covers such as this model are useful, especially for those who need to listen to music while running. One of the novelties of 2019 is the Aeropex over-the-ear headphones ($ 160), which AfterShokz describes as its “lightest and highest quality headphones to date.” From my initial tests, I found that the sound quality of this pair of headphones is definitely superior to that of the company’s previous flagship model, the Trekz Air (or Air as they are currently called). They’re also slightly easier to wear as they provide a comfortable fit. However, although AfterShokz continues to make minor performance improvements with each new version of its wireless headphones, the sound quality still fails to match that of a traditional pair of headphones.
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Yes, the huge charging case of the Beats Powerbeats Pro is a major disadvantage of this model. But the idea of combining all the features that make Apple AirPods great with richer sound quality and longer battery life in a wireless headphone design that won’t fall out of your ears is a winning headphone proposition for to run. Just make sure you buy them from a place that has a good return policy, as there are a small minority of people who have trouble getting these earphones to fit their ears.
Read our review of the Beats Powerbeats Pro.
Read more: Powerbeats Pro: 9 tips and tricks to master them
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The true wireless Jabra Elite Active 65t is the sporty version of the Elite 65t. These wireless headphones offer slightly higher sweat resistance, so I recommend that runners spend the additional $ 20 for the Active version. It may look like it will fall out of your ears, but it doesn’t. Although they may not fit all ears equally, these noise-isolating headphones seemed quite comfortable to wear. In the headphones app there is an option called HearThru that allows the entry of ambient noise, but even when it is activated, you must turn down the volume of the music to be able to hear the traffic noise.
Sarah Tew / CNET
If you are someone who is comfortable with adjusting the AirPods, Apple’s true wireless headphones have some advantages in terms of performance, especially when making calls. But these headphones sound just as good, and maybe better, than AirPods, and they fit better and more securely in my ears. In short, as long as you are not bothered by noise-isolating headphones, true wireless Anker Liberty Air are an excellent alternative to AirPods and cost half. They’re also sweat resistant, so you can go jogging with them.
Read more: This alternative to AirPods cost half and are very good
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If you don’t want to spend $ 160 on AfterShokz’s new Aeropex Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones, the Trekz Airs (or Air as they are currently called) sell for about $ 40 less. This pair of noise-canceling headphones has some design and performance enhancements, and it’s still pretty good for a bone-conduction headphone (as I said before, please note that the sound produced by this technology is not up to the headphone standards. traditional).
Read our evaluation of the AfterShokz Trekz Air.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Apple AirPods are truly excellent wireless running headphones because they’re so light and also have an open design that lets you hear traffic noise. The only problem, and it is a major problem, is that to run with them they have to fit perfectly to your ears. In my case, unfortunately, I can’t use them to run (they fall out of my ears), but many people do. Other manufacturers offer adapters for AirPods to fit snugly over your ears, but you have to remove them from the headphones every time you put them in their charging case. And that is a nuisance.
Read our review of AirPods (2019).
Read more: The best alternatives to AirPods for less than US $ 100
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The true wireless SoundSport Free headphones from Bose (the true wireless version of the SoundSport Pulse) are comfortable to wear and deliver great sound for true wireless. Although they have a few minor drawbacks (both the earbuds and their case are a bit large), their fit is secure, they work reliably, and they are waterproof. Keep in mind that Bose will unveil its next-generation true wireless headphones, the Earbuds 500, early next year.
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Bose Frames Built-In Audio Sunglasses are surprisingly good wireless headphones for running, with decent sound quality from their built-in micro-speakers. Another good thing about them is that since they don’t invade your ears, you can hear the sound of traffic and chat while using them. While his arms are slightly bulky, the glasses don’t feel heavy and are comfortable to wear. They also work well for making calls. If it is very windy, the audio quality is not that good. The wind factor also makes them less suitable for cycling. They are available in two versions, Alto and Rondo (smaller), for $ 200 and are compatible with Bose’s AR (augmented reality) audio platform. You can buy additional lenses for $ 20-30, and Glassesusa.com sells. Discount measure lenses for these glasses.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Water resistance: Yes (IPX4 – splash proof). Companies like Under Armor (with the help of JBL) have launched over-the-ear sports models designed for people who want that kind of secure fit training headset that covers their ears . Personally, I prefer the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 6100 and these Adidas RPT-01, which I think looks and fits better than Under Armor headphones, I found them comfortable for this type of hearing aid, but those with larger heads can feel them being squeezed. too much on the head and ears. This set of headphones is sweat resistant with IPX4 certification. Also, the ear cushions and inner headband are removable and washable (there are instructions on how to do this, but Adidas should make a video to guide us). As far as I’m concerned, the more ways you can combat sweat odors, the better when it comes to exercise headphones – these were designed by the same Swedish company that makes the Urbanears headphones, and they sound good, with a balanced sound that don’t push too hard on the bass. They are a bit expensive, because they cost $ 150, but UA headphones cost the same or more.
Water resistance: Yes (IPX55 – can withstand powerful jets of water) Some people, particularly weight lifters, like to exercise with full-size headphones, and the BackBeat Fit 6100 wireless headphones are a very solid choice for both the gym as for daily use. The adjustable headband has an IPX5-rated sweat and water resistant design, 40mm angled drivers and noise-isolating earphones with a “conscience” mode. The battery life is 24 hours. They sound pretty good and really stay securely on your head (you can adjust the tension on the headband, which is innovative and great for exercise headphones).
