It’s a common sight to see élite athletes to fitness enthusiasts wearing a pair of wireless headphones for their workout.

Gone are the days of wires wildly flailing and sticking to the clammy skin during our high-intensity interval (HIIT) workouts. Gym, for the most parts, is a noisy place — from the clanks of weight plates and the thud of landing dumbbells to the loud groans and grunts of other gym-goers.

Worst of all? The generic EDM music on replay from the gym speakers.

All these might be too distracting for one to get into the workout “flow“. Hence, a pair of wireless workout headphones is a perfect fit for those who take their workout time seriously.

Before we show you the best wireless workout headphones on the market today and the detailed buyer’s guide, let’s have a clear sense of what a pair of wireless workout headphones is.

What Are Wireless Workout Headphones?

Wireless workout headphones are wireless headphones that are specifically suitable for a workout. These ergonomics of such headphones allows it to stay snug while the wearer is active and resistant to the ruggedness of their physical activities.

Different Class of Wireless

In the headphones industry, we classify wireless headphones into “True Wireless Headphones” and “Wireless Headphones“.

True Wireless Headphones

For true wireless headphones, they are in-ear monitors (IEM) or earbuds that have no cord connecting between them. All the controls, mic, and battery are built into their housing.

Wireless Headphones

As for wireless headphones, they can be further classified into wireless IEM or earbuds and wireless over-ear headphones.

A pair of wireless IEMs or earbuds has cables that connect them in the form of a neckband. The cables contain the mic, volume rockers, playback button, and battery.

More often than not, wireless in-ear headphones are nano-coated to protect them against water and sweat. More on this later.

The Bose QC35 and Sony MDR 1000X are classic examples of wireless over-ear headphones. They are usually headphones with over-the-ear ear cups and operates wirelessly with Bluetooth.

Buyer’s Guide For Wireless Workout Headphones

Not all wireless headphones are cut out for workouts. There are certain important qualities that come into play when choosing the right pair of wireless workout headphones.

Consider asking the following questions:

• Does it fit comfortably and stay on well?
• Is it sweat/water-resistant?
• How long is the battery life?
• Does it have built-in mic and controls?
• How is the sound isolation?

So why are these questions important? We have explained them in details below. Click on the title below to expand.

12 Best Wireless Workout Headphones 2020

1. Jaybird X3

Key Features For Workout

• Form: In-ear with wingtips
• Battery Life: 8hrs
• IP Rating: Not rated. But has hydrophobic nano-coating.

Jaybird is a well-known purveyor of excellent Bluetooth headphones for sport so it’s no surprise that it’s a popular option in athletic and fitness circles. The Jaybird X3 wireless in-ears, in particular, are a common pair because it’s extremely comfortable. Even with tiny 6mm drivers, its excellent sound produces a booming bass.

Customizable EQ Presets

Jaybird X3 is compatible with the Jaybird MySound app which allows you to create or customize EQ presets. Basically, you get a hand on how much bass, mids, and treble you want to hear. You can save them to your buds so no matter which music devices you’re pairing with, you can use your EQ presets.

Bluetooth 4.1

In comparison to its predecessor, Jaybird X2, this pair is beefed up with support for Bluetooth 4.1, which is a huge upgrade from X2’s Bluetooth 2.1, to optimize battery usage. Note that there are some models of Jaybird X3 that sometimes suffers from intermittent Bluetooth dropouts. You should look at this thread for more discussion.

In terms of sound isolation, Jaybird X3 completely seals off your ear canal thereby muffling noise very well even without active noise-cancellation. For optimum comfort and fit, you can choose from a variety of silicone ear tips and ear fins.

Whether you’re an average or power sweater, Jaybird X3 doesn’t cave in as it’s protected with a hydrophobic nano-coating which is responsible for wicking away moisture.

Bulky Inline Remote

On the negative side, the inline remote is rather bulky; when dangling, it could be a nagging feeling on your neck.

Proprietary Charging Clip

But the biggest drawback there is would have to be the proprietary charging clip. Apart from it being cumbersome, it restricts your charging options; if you lose it or leave it somewhere, there’s no way you can recharge your headphones with a regular USB cable.

Find “Jaybird X3” on Amazon

2. AfterShokz Trekz Air

Key Features For Workout

• Form: Bone conduction
• Battery Life: 6hrs
• IP Rating: IP55 (Sweat-proof)
• Only weight 30g

AfterShokz is on a whole lot of new level playing field for wireless workout headphones. It specializes in bone conduction headphones that are uniquely designed to keep ears free from buds for maximum situational awareness.

Bone Conduction

In essence, bone conduction headphones play music through your cheekbones (using bone conduction transducers). AfterShokz Trekz Air is ideal for outdoor sports. In fact, AfterShokz is the sole brand of headphones approved for use in all road races in the U.K.

Bluetooth 4.2

It might be a newcomer, Trekz Air doesn’t fall short of features you would look for in great wireless workout headphones. It uses Bluetooth 4.2 which has a range of up to 33 feet (10 meters). It delivers crisp sound, rich bass and toned down vibrations to inspire you to move.

Lightweight And Secure

Weighing merely 30 grams, Trekz Air is very easy to carry around and feels like you’re not wearing a pair of headphones. With its flexible wraparound design and secure headpiece perched on top of your ears, AfterShokz Trekz Air gives you a good grip even in extreme sports like parkour, CrossFit, and off-road racing.

Sweat-proof And Dust-proof

Trekz Air is IP55-certified which means it’s protected from sweat, dust, and moisture. It’s guaranteed to endure through most weather conditions.

Dual Noise-Canceling

The dual noise-canceling microphones enhance speech quality during calls and blocks out ambient sound at the same time. Unfortunately, low volume remains an issue in AfterShokz headphones and Trekz Air is no exception.

While it’s liberating to rock an almost weightless pair of headphones for all-day use, Trekz Air’s battery life can’t fare well on long-drawn-out workouts. It’ll get you 6 hours of nonstop music and calls on a single use but takes 2 hours to fully charge.

Find “AfterShokz Trekz Air” on Amazon

3. Jabra Elite Active 65t

Key Features For Workout

• Form: True Wireless
• Battery Life: 5hrs
• IP Rating: IP56 (Sweat-proof)
• 4-mic technology
• Built-in motion sensor

Elite is Jabra’s most popular line of wireless headphones. The Jabra Elite Active 65t true wireless sports earbuds are a common sight around the gym.

Sweat-Proof And Dust-Proof

It’s identical to Elite 65t in every way, except that it has an IP56 rating. This means you can sweat your heart out while wearing Elite Active 65t coz it’s waterproof. You can take them out in the rain and never have to worry about blowing a hole in the headphones.

Elite Active 65t is what you would want for in true wireless workout headphones — stylish, great sound quality, fine sound isolation, exceptional fit, and a decent battery life of up to 15 hours with the aid of the charging case.

Customizable EQ Presets

Unlike most sports headphones that focus on bass, Elite Active 65t has well-balanced levels of highs and lows. Like Jaybird, Jabra also has its own Jabra Sound+ app that allows users to customize the sound. That’s pretty awesome if you want to take control of your sound experience.

4-Mic Technology

In terms of Bluetooth connection, the headphones have fewer dropouts as promised but pairing can be a hit-and-miss sometimes. Nevertheless, its 4-microphone technology makes sure you get the best quality calls.

Motion Sensor

The built-in motion sensor comes in very handy if you are hard on your workout goals; it can track your activity progress through the mobile app.

Virtual Assistants

And if you want to maximize the support for virtual assistants, use either Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant as your right hand to play music, ask something, or launch an app with just a single touch.

Apart from the $190 price tag, the only common complaints about this pair are the inconsistent pairing and the uncomfortably tight fit for some ears.

Find “Jabra Elite Active 65t” on Amazon

4. Plantronics BackBeat Fit

Key Features For Workout

• Form: Earbuds
• Battery Life: 8hrs
• IP Rating: IP57 (Water-proof)

Plantronics is held in high regard owing to its impressive line of budget wireless workout headphones. The robust BackBeat Fit in-ears could go down as one of the best wireless workout headphones under $100.

Lightweight, Sturdy, Flexible

The ear hooks and the wraparound design guarantee a snug fit even during intensive workouts. They’re lightweight, sturdy, and flexible enough to not cause discomfort.

The earbuds don’t go too deep into your ear canal so the chances of fatigue are quite slim even if you’ll wear them for longer periods. A caveat though: the ear hooks could be too tight for some ears.

In-line Controls And Mic

The controls are on ears and not inline, which works pretty straightforward when adjusting the volume, mute and playback, as well as when taking incoming calls. The support for Siri along with Google Voice should be a decided plus for iOS device owners. However, controls are overly sensitive to touch.

In terms of sound quality, BackBeat Fit delivers a pretty decent performance with surprisingly deep bass and crisp highs.

Waterproof And Sweatproof

They’re nano-coated and IP57-rated so they’re water-resistant and sweat-proof, which makes it a better option than the Jabra Elite Active 65t and AfterShokz Trekz Air in this category.

Open Ear Tip

The neon green, blue, and red colors are great options for runners who usually run after dark so they’d stand out on the road. The open ear tip allows for more awareness of your surrounding.

In terms of battery, it’ll last for up to 8 hours of playtime on a single use which is way above and beyond the 4-6 hours standard in wireless headphones.

Find “Plantronics BackBeat FIT” on Amazon

5. Bose SoundSport Wireless

Key Features For Workout

• Form: In-ear with ear tips
• Battery Life: 6hrs
• Auto-off mic to save battery
• NFC pairing

For the best wireless workout headphones, it used to be (it still is) a toss-up between Jaybird and Bose. Before Jaybird released the X3 in 2016, Bose had enjoyed a great success at putting the SoundSport Wireless in-ears on the market.

SoundSport Wired Upgrade

The hype owed it to the fact that SoundSport Wireless was a substantial upgrade from the original SoundSport wired in-ears.

Bose is recognized as the industry leader when it comes to noise cancellation; however, the SoundSport Wireless headphones don’t fit the mold. But for good reason.

It’s loose — just enough to let the right amount of ambient noise to get in your ears so you’re not totally shut from the outside world. It’s tight, but not too tight to make your ears feel sore within a couple of hours.

Large And Bulky

Design and fit aside, SoundSport Wireless are too large and bulky for in-ears that they’d stick out of your ears as if they’re going to fall out. Ear tips with soft silicone fins are available in different sizes to make sure you get the right fit for your ears.

For a pair of wireless IEMs, Bose did a pretty good job at making SoundSport Wireless an audio powerhouse with excellent booming bass for that extra pump to get yourself cracking.

Auto-Off Mic

Battery life can last up to 6 hours. The mic has an auto-off feature to maximize battery consumption. The cable, which houses the mic and remote for calls and music, doesn’t stick to your wet skin.

NFC And Bluetooth Pairing

Bluetooth connection is also pretty decent and can go as far as 33 feet (10 meters). And with the support of NFC (near-field communication), the pairing has never been simpler and easier.

Sweat-Induced Damages

The headphones were made of hard plastic which is understandable to protect them from sweat; however, they ain’t foolproof. Some sweat-induced damages had been reported which prompted the company to offer a pair of replacement at no cost to the consumer.

All in all, the SoundSport Wireless is still one of the best out there.

Find “Bose SoundSport” on Amazon

6. AfterShokz Xtrainerz

Key Features For Workout

• IP68 rating (You can swim with this!)
• 4GB memory, 8 hours battery life
• MP3 player/headphone combo
• Only 30g (As light as the Trekz Air)

If you have an eye on the Trekz Air and you have the budget for it, you should highly consider the AfterShokz Xtrainerz. 

Tough and truly waterproof

With an IPX rating of IP68, the Xtrainerz is one of the toughest headphones you will find on this list. In fact, you can even swim in this – diving up to 2 meters for 2 hours.

8 hrs of playback time

The Xtrainerz is a mp3/headphone combo. It can store up to 4GB worth of songs and has a playback of up to 8 hours. It should be able to last a few training sessions on a single charge.

Super lightweight

Despite improving on its battery life, Aftershokz amazingly manages to cut down the weight to only 30g which is the same weight as the Trekz Air.

Find “AfterShokz Xtrainerz” on Amazon

7. Sennheiser CX Sport

Key Features For Workout

• Form: In-ear with ear fins and adapters
• Battery Life: 6hrs
• IP Rating: IPX4 (Sweat-proof)
• Adjustable neckband

Sennheiser is best known for its high-caliber professional headphones, and rightfully so. Being in the industry for over seven decades, it’s one of the brands that propelled the wireless audio technology into what it is today.

The CX Sport in-ear headphones, in particular, deliver the right levels of highs and lows, with a solid bass presence and sculpted highs both executed with power.

Quick Charge

From 1.5 hours of charging, it’ll give you a decent 6 hours of battery life, enough to get you through the day. A 10-minute quick charge will give you 1 hour of battery life.

CX Sport comes with four sizes of silicone ear tips and three sizes of ear fins to you get the optimum fit and ambient noise reduction during arduous workouts.

Sweat-Resistant

It’s IPX4-rated, which means it’s sweat-resistant, and it’s light enough even if the inline mic and remote control a little chunky.

Flat Neckband

It has a flat neckband to avoid tangling up, but it’s not as flat as BeatsX’s. Unlike BeatsX though, CX Sport has a cinch so you can just the neckband’s grip to your head’s size. It’s a tiny detail that will actually make a sizable difference when you’re moving so much.

Find “Sennheiser CX SPORT” on Amazon

8. Bose SoundSport Free

Key Features For Workout

• Form: True Wireless
• Battery Life: 5hrs
• IP Rating: IPX4 (Sweat-proof)

Having no cable in between the headphones can be a liberating experience. But it ain’t all without a hiccup. True wireless headphones face three biggest issues: sound quality, fit, and battery.

Props to Bose for pulling off an impressive pair of true wireless earbuds in the name of SoundSport Free, the successor to SoundSport Wireless. In fact, it’s one of the best high-end options in the cable-free department today.

Signature Bass

For a set of true wireless headphones, the sound quality of SoundSport Free is pretty damn good, with Bose’s signature soft bass delivery that’s just perfect for a range of music genres.

Decent Battery Life

In terms of battery, some might worry that SoundSport Free’s 5-hour life is a major bummer, but it’s actually an acceptable length for a pair of true wireless headphones. Despite that, the charging case can support them up to an extra 10 hours.

Bulky

Fit-wise, it’s debatable. SoundSport Free looks bulky since they stick out of your ears a bit too much, and it’s counter-intuitive to its cable-free design.

Noise Isolation

Like SoundSport Wireless, noise isolation is a bit of a letdown here. Though you have various ear fins to choose from, they don’t entirely seal off your ear canal. You’ll notice its significance when you’re running or cycling; the wind noise will just swoosh right beneath your ears.

If you’re worried about losing these tiny earbuds, fret not! You can use Bose’s Connect App to track them.

Bluetooth Signal

In terms of wireless connection, SoundSport Free does a pretty good job at receiving Bluetooth signal from the source so you’re guaranteed a stable, close-to-perfection connectivity. Although we’re looking at workout sessions here, just to let you know that SoundSport Free can sometimes have high latency if used with video streaming.

But all in all, this pair is a great choice with incredible sound quality and sturdy design. And it’s IPX4-rated so it is sweat-resistant.

Find “Bose SoundSport Free” on Amazon

9. Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500

Key Features For Workout

• Form: On-ear
• Battery Life: 18hrs
• IP Rating: IP67 (Water-proof)
• Class 1 Bluetooth

If you’re looking for an upgrade from BackBeat Fit, BackBeat Fit 500 is a palpable choice that has a robust design and an excellent sound profile at just the same price range under $100.

Noise Isolation

BackBeat Fit 500 is ideal for those who want a consummate noise isolation on top of deep, rich sound experience during workouts. Thanks to their 40mm audio drivers and the closed-back on-ear design.

The headphones have a memory foam headband and comfortable ear cups, the latter being responsible for muffling ambient noise very well.

Water Immersion

BackBeat Fit 500’s nanocoating is IP67-certified which means they are not just protected against moisture, sweat, and water but they can actually be immersed in the water down to 1 meter (3.9 feet) for 30 minutes. You might be wondering if the ear cups are protected too. Apparently, they are. Using “P2i military-grade nano-coating“, the entire headphone is water-proofed.

Class 1 Bluetooth

Talk about extended workouts, BackBeat Fit 500 can last up to 18 hours on a single use. It uses Class 1 Bluetooth, allowing you to go as far as 33 feet (10 meters) from the source without a hitch.

Discreet On-Ear Controls

The playback controls are discreetly located on the right ear cup while the volume rockers are on the side of the right ear cup. The mic on the left ear cup allows you to accept/reject calls and even access Siri, Cortana, or Google Now.

3.5mm Backup Jack

The headphones come with a 3.5mm backup jack which you can plug at the bottom of the right cup. This is very handy if you run out of battery; you can still use the wire to listen to music.

Slightly Loose Fit

The fit might be a little loose for people with smaller heads. The fit is comfortable and snug for most users but there are some who find that the headphones slightly shifted during rigorous exercise.

Find “Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500” on Amazon

10. Anker Soundbuds Curve

Key Features For Workout

• Form: In-ear with ear hooks
• Battery Life: 12.5hrs
• IP Rating: IPX4 (Sweat-proof)

If you’re tapped out or you’re simply not willing to shell out over a hundred bucks for a set of wireless workout headphones, Anker Soundbuds Curve is the best budget option. For $26, the headphones got you covered with everything you need in wireless workout headphones.

Decent bass-heavy sound quality? Check!

Sweat-resistant? Check!

Secure fit? Check!

Great battery life? Check!

Powerbeats Look-A-Like

Anker Soundbuds Curve is reminiscent of Beats Powerbeats 2 and Powerbeats 3 but costs a fraction of their prices. They have comfortable ear hooks; as if those weren’t enough, the additional ear wings on top of the various-sized ear tips are available to keep the headphones in place during tough workouts.

The headphones guarantee up to 12.5 hours of music time, plus 1 hour for a 10-minute charge.

In-Line Controls

You only have three buttons on the inline remote control to work with. The volume rockers and playback button have multiple jobs.

Apart from its play/pause function, the main button will activate Siri or Google Assistant when pressed longer. Pressing it even longer will turn it off.

Aside from its volume increase/decrease function, the + button will skip forward while the – button will skip backward when pressed longer.

Noise Isolation

But of course, it has its share of flaws as well.

Its noise isolation is below average despite the manufacturer’s noise-cancellation claim. The noise-cancellation works best with phone calls only.

Thin Cable

On top of that, the audio cable connecting the headphones is thinner than most wireless in-ears. And with that, you might want to take extra precaution during handling because you don’t want it cut up, do you?

Overall, the value you get from Anker Soundbuds Curve is way, way above its price.

Find “Anker SoundBuds Curve” on Amazon

11. Jaybird X4

Key Features For Workout

• Form: In-ear with redesigned ear fins
• Battery Life: 8hrs
• IP Rating: IPX7 (Water-proof)
• Comes with a speed cinch for cable management

Released in 2018, the Jaybird X4 does everything the X3 can and then more. With a proper IP rating, it lends stronger credentials as a pair of wireless workout headphones.

IP-rated

Unlike the Jaybird X3, the X4 actually has a IP rating to prove that it is indeed waterproof. With a redesigned ear fins (Jaybird calls it Sport Fit Plus), it aims to give wearers a better fit while exercising without giving up comfort.

Better cable management

Jaybird X4 now comes with an adjustable speed cinch to manage your cable. You don’t have to worry about cable flapping around your neck or getting them entangled.

Monotonous color selection

Unlike the X3, the X4 only has two color selection – Black Metallic and Storm Metallic. Not sure why Jaybird did not retain the more vibrant color palette of the predecessor and chose a serious-looking tone for X4.

Find “Jaybird X4” on Amazon

12. AfterShokz Aeropex

Key Features For Workout

• Form: Bone Conduction
• Battery Life: 8hrs (2hr longer than Air)
• Weight: 26g (Even lighter than Air!)
• IP Rating: IP67 (More waterproof than Air)
• Bluetooth: V5.0

AfterShokz is not resting their laurels after their successful Trekz Air. They know exactly what the consumers want-  something lighter and with longer battery life. To accomplish that is no simple feat and the AfterShokz Aeropex did just that. 

Longer battery life

At 8hrs of battery life, the wireless bone conduction headphone has 2 hours more continuous playback time than the Air.

Super lightweight

Despite the longer battery life, the Aeropex weighs only 26g, shaving off 4g (~13%) from its original weight.

Better waterproofing

The Aeropex has an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP67.  You can immerse it up to 1 meter of water depth, at a duration of 30mins or less.

Comfortable and good fit

Due to its lightweight, the Aeropex feels very comfortable on the head. The light clamping force gives no pressure to the temporal bone but yet still can fit snugly during exercises.

Great for outdoor workout

With the open-ear form factor, I can run comfortably without having anything inserted or on my ears, keeping it nice and airy. It also allows me to hear incoming cyclists or runners from the back. However, if you are exercising near a noisy environment, it will distract you from your listening experience.

Find “AfterShokz Aeropex” on Amazon

Summary

Scoping the best wireless workout headphones out for your needs isn’t a walk in the park. But hopefully, this guide has taken some burden off your shoulders. And with the items on this list, we hope we’d narrowed down your choices.

Have you decided yet which wireless workout headphones above you’re looking at? Let us know in the comments below!