A workout is not the same for everyone. You could be working out in a gym, going for a long run, or riding a bike, and having the best headphones for your workout can add to your motivation to keep going. All of these options are capable of inspiring you when you are pushing yourself. Here are some of the best headphones for working out.

Wearing the Jaybird Vista 2.

Source: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central (Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)

The Jaybird Vista 2 is one of the best for audio and durability. The original Vista earbuds were a big step in this direction, but this second attempt gets a lot of the missing pieces right.

These are well suited to any run or workout because of their higher water and sweat resistance level. Jaybird considers them to be waterproof, crushproof, drop-proof, and sweatproof, so it is reasonable to expect them to sustain a certain level of punishment. They are not made for constant submersion so you may want to draw the line at swimming. Do you want to run in the rain? It's best to keep them out of the pool and tub. You should keep them clean after every exposure.

You will want to keep going because there is a lot to like. Jaybird added active noise cancelation and improved passive isolation. The performance should be agreeable if the fit is ideal for your ears. The bass in the Vista 2 is enough to satisfy anyone looking for a little rumble in their tunes. You can expand on that through the Jaybird app.

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The app has a lot of features and controls, but it also has a community of fellow users who create and contribute their own preset. You can sample and apply these to the earbuds at any time. If you like deeper bass to get pumped up in the gym, but prefer a more neutral sound signature, you can just select the preset to give you that. These earbuds are among the most customization available.

Good battery life is enough for working out or running. You can expect up to six hours with ANC on (eight hours when off), and the earbuds get closer to those numbers because the default volume is pretty loud. The case has its own rating. It does, giving it a certain level of resilience, including a lanyard built into it. You can use the app to track it. The earbuds have an additional two full charges because of the extra 16 hours in battery life. You can either lay them down on a wireless charging pad or quickly charge them.

Jabra Elite 7 Active

The Jabra Elite 7 Active outside.

Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central (Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)

The Elite Active 75t and Elite 85t are still available, but they are not as feature-packed or ruggedized as these are. You get better comfort when working out. The Elite 7 Active has a rating that is high enough to get you that extra bit of sweat and water resistance necessary to push harder while trying to meet a goal.

The combination of fit, comfort, and audio quality makes them exceptional. The 85t had some design flaws that were addressed by Jabra. You could wear them for hours and not notice. You still get a smooth, bass-heavy audio profile by default. You can change the sound through the Sound+ app and also use the onboard EQ to personalize the sound for you.

ANC performance benefits from the excellent passive isolation you get from the snug fit. The idea is that you get a more personalized form of noise cancelation with ANC. It is pretty good, though you may have to work on your mileage if you are trying to drown out the background during a workout. The onboard controls are not touch-sensitive. It makes a difference when you skip tracks or access a voice assistant.

The battery can last up to eight hours with ANC on. You can leave it off for 10 hours. There are three charges in the included case for a total of about 30 hours. Place them on a wireless charging point.

Treblab X3 Pro

Wearing the Treblab X3 Pro.

Source: Beats By Dre (Image credit: Jaclyn Kilani - Android Central)

The Treblab X3 Pro is essentially what you get if you don't have to spend a lot. The ear hook design is great for stability, especially when you are active and don't want the earbuds to fall out at the wrong time. You get better comfort with stability, and the two do go well here.

The IPX7 rating is great for both water and sweat resistance, and the veneer makes it easier to manage and clean. You should have these playing for some time after you wipe them down. If you are looking for earbuds that stay in place while you work out or go for a run, these will do the trick.

If you like heavier bass, you will feel at home with the audio quality. There are no special audio treatments beyond that, so what you hear is what you get. The bass is thick and well suited to active listening. When you see fit, you can't block out or let in the outside world, because there is no ANC or ambient mode.

Depending on the volume level, the battery life can last up to 9 hours. The case is going to be larger than most and has four charges inside for up to 45 hours. If you only use these for workouts, you can go for weeks before you need to replenish. It takes just two hours to fill them up again.

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC

Close up view of JLab Epic Air Sport ANC.

Source: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central (Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)

There are two things that JLab Audio got right. The ear hooks suggest that stability is as important to the overall design as comfort is. The number of ear tips in the box tries to cater to different ears.

Ear hooks aren't for everyone, but it's hard to argue with their ability to maintain a good seal since the weight and pressure are mostly allocated to the hooks. Even if the fit doesn't feel perfect the first time, these are flexible enough to find a happy medium. Silicone tips are molded for taller inner ears. Medium sizes are doing the same thing. There is a CloudFoam pair included that will truly fit into your inner ear for the tightest seal yet.

You will want to be careful not to expose them to too much water, as they have a good level of durability from the start. If you keep your workouts clean after you sweat all over them, you shouldn't have any issues. It's a shame that the touch controls aren't as good as physical buttons, since they're more suited for dry or sweaty conditions.

The default sound signature is a good starting point if you want to listen to music with them. You can make your own preset for whatever sound you want. You can expect the battery to last a long time. The earbuds can play for up to 15 hours per charge, or 11 hours with it on. At this stage, those numbers are truly impressive. Depending on where ANC is set, the case adds another 55 or 44 hours.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

Close up view of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

Source: Daniel Bader / Android Central (Image credit: Daniel Bader / Android Central)

The right time was when it was time for the earbuds to be ruggedized. The combination of the features and the extraDurability that goes with it all makes these earbuds stand out in the crowd. The IPX7 rating is the highest of any earbuds to date, allowing you to get in a solid run or workout without much fuss.

These are the best ones for running or working out because of the design that takes a lot from previous models. They are small and quick, and have some extra girth to pack in ANC and other tech inside, plus more significant drivers to produce a bigger and clearer sound profile from the get-go. ANC has two settings to drown out background noise, and four Ambient mode settings, both of which can work together in unique ways.

If you need to talk to someone for any reason, Voice Detect lowers the volume of whatever you are listening to and turns up the Ambient mode once you start talking. The audio comes back after 15 seconds. If you want to change the sound of your music, the best option is to use the six preset equalizer in the app, even though there is no custom one.

You won't get a lot of battery life with all that. If you keep ANC off, you can expect up to eight hours per charge. The included case gives you three additional charges, which you can use to charge your phone or computer. A quick five-minute charge can get you up to an hour of music.

Anker Soundcore Life Q35

Man wearing Anker Soundcore Life Q35.

Source: Anker (Image credit: Anker)

If you prefer over- ear headphones, then the Soundcore Life Q35 may be the one for you. You can use them while working out or being active if you choose. The larger earcups do a nice job of staying in place. They should stay in the gym, even if it's not ideal for runs.

The Soundcore Life Q30 is very similar to the Soundcore Life Q30, with the only difference being that they support the LDAC codec, which makes it possible for any device to play it. One of the features that sets the Q35 apart is that they auto-pause when taking them off. You can cut off the world around you and focus on the work you need to do with ANC on board. It's already good to be passive isolation, so the ability to drown out background noise is just a button away.

They sound good, too. The soundstage is vibrant and you can find it through the Soundcore app. You can use it to adjust the sound according to your needs, and it has over 20 preset to use on top of that. The ANC has three settings within the app, giving you more control over what the headphones can do.

You will not be charging them all at the same time. The headphones last up to 40 hours when ANC is on. Plug them in for five minutes and you can listen to music for up to four hours.

Adidas RPT-01

Adidas RPT-01 hanging from tree.

Source: Joe Maring / Android Central (Image credit: Joe Maring / Android Central)

It is unique that Adidas made a pair of headphones, but even more so that they are good enough to be on this list. The headband and earcups are covered in fabric to give them a softer feel. The rubber headband and ear cushions are easy to remove, but it is difficult to put them back on. It is not often that you can take pieces off your headphones and clean them in this way.

Adidas doesn't engineer the best sound by default, but they do get loud, and there is plenty of bass, which is perfect for a workout. The companion app has a bunch of preset you can choose from, as well as the ability to create your own sound. If you feel the sound is right, you can change the existing preset to make it sound better.

The RPT-01 is not known to be the most comfortable headphones. If you only wear them while working out, you should be fine, but if you wear them for long periods, they may wear on your ears. If you work out for an hour or so, you will probably not notice.

You can get a good battery life of up to 40 hours per charge. You can charge via theusb-c for the odd time.

Powerbeats Pro

Beats Powerbeats Pro outside.

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Joe Maring / Android Central)

If you are an Apple user looking for something sporty, start with the Powerbeats Pro. It is not just because Apple owns all things Beats but because these earbuds are better designed for activity. The ear hook design gives them an edge in practicality for running so you don't have to worry about them falling off. The more exposed AirPods have a more modest IPX4 rating, but they still have greater sweat and water resistance.

Better sound can be delivered by the secure fit. It should be easy to find a fit that creates a tighter seal with multiple ear tip sizes. You will find these have a nice sound signature with richer and cleaner output once you do. If you are looking for bass, it is even better if you find the proper seal.

If you have a charging cable for your phone, you can use it to charge the earbuds. It is not a small case, making it less portable than others, but there is a sizeable battery inside. You can expect up to nine hours per charge, with 24 hours coming from the case. You can squeeze out about 90 minutes with a five-minute charge.

The H1 chip inside is Apple-made, so you get super-fast pairing and always-on Siri for hands-free access. The onboard buttons can be used to control things with relative ease.

Man wearing Otium Bluetooth Headphones.

Source: Otium (Image credit: Otium)

They are not true wireless earbuds, as you do have a cable connecting the two sides, but this affordable pair from Otium is all about value when you need to break a sweat. The IPX7 rating provides a higher level of sweat and water resistance than you might expect, but they are meant to be sporty, so you shouldn't be concerned about working hard when wearing them.

As the tips nestle into your ears, Ear hooks ensure a snugger fit. The audio fidelity should be in your ears if the seal is tight. If you like music that sounds better when there is some thump to it, you can definitely enjoy these because Otium made them with more of a bass-heavy sound profile.

Once you learn the inboard controls, they stay consistent in doing what they are supposed to. You will have to charge them up using a Micro-USB cable, which is one of the drawbacks you will have to accept before you wear them for a run or workout.

Shokz OpenRun Pro

Wearing the Shokz OpenRun Pro.

Source: Shokz (Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)

Shokz changed its name to AfterShokz, so the OpenRun Pro is a successor of the previous Aeropex lineup and aimed at an active crowd. If you want to free your ears entirely, these are worth a look. You can hear audio through your jaw and skull if you wear bone conduction headphones. Shokz is a significant player in this category, and these are among the best.

It made these with good water and dust resistance so that you can stay active. The open design of the headphones makes it hard for runners to not wear them. They spread out across the entire pad to help the skull absorb some audio output, and Shokz added bass to give the OpenRun Pro a thicker sound. The Shokz app can be used to use the onboard EQ. It is often the toughest part of the audio spectrum to produce with bone conduction headphones.

The battery can last up to 10 hours per charge. The onboard buttons are not bad when it is time to play or bring up the internet. Shokz addressed the design of the buttons, making it easier to manage when turning them off or making a call.

Finding a pair of headphones to wear when you want to wear them casually is easier than finding a pair that you want to use while working out or exercising. They need to fit comfortably, and can't wiggle around too much. They need to repel as much sweat and water as possible.

This list has something for everyone. The Jaybird Vista 2 is our top recommendation for sheer balance. They aren't the best in every category, but when you look at the combination of physical design and audio performance with customization, it's hard to find that kind of value somewhere else. The Vista 2 are among the most ruggedized earbuds you can find and offer audio customization that few others can match.

The other options are still worthy. You can still find great performance and comfort when wearing the Jabra Elite 7 Active or the SAMSUNG GALAXY Buds Pro, so your options are varied and effective here.