Best sports headphones 2024: keep active with the best workout earbuds (2024)

If your New Year resolution is to boost your fitness levels and finally get in shape, a perfect set of sports headphones is just as important as a fresh new pair of trainers.

You can't beat your favourite tunes when it comes to finding that extra motivation to finish whatever your workout of choice happens to be, and a good pair of headphones is critical.Our best running songs playlist will help too, of course.

The best sports headphones offer great sound while also offering sweat resistance, comfort, security and durability into the bargain. There are plenty of new sports-specific earbuds being announced with nifty features, too – CES 2024 saw the launch of fitness-focused Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds that include body and heart rate trackers and Shokz's OpenSwim Pro waterproof buds have MP3 storage built in so you can listen to your tunes underwater. We'll update this guide as and when we get these new pairs in for testing in due course.

We've tested and reviewed all the models below in this guide already, so whether you're looking for the best fit, versatility and sound quality to soundtrack your fitness sessions, you know you'll be getting a genuine recommendation that suits your needs.

How to choose the best sports headphones for you

The first thing to consider is battery life. Longer is better, as you're less likely to run out of juice mid-run and be stranded in silence for the next 10km.

If you're exercising in the great outdoors, you'll want some kind of waterproofing in case of a downpour. IPX4 is the minimum you should demand (all of the below have at least this rating), as that means they'll withstand water splashing without risking damage. Some models can be fully submerged for swimming or just a post-workout shower.

Noise-cancelling will neutralise background noise and help you focus, and be better for your hearing as you can hear the detail of your music without cranking up the volume. But it could be a hazard if you're out exercising as it makes you less aware of approaching cars, so buds that serve up more sophisticated noise cancelling profiles, such as Transparency Mode, can be a really smart choice.

As a pair of sporting all-rounders, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro are top of the table. As a pair of workout companions to suit most people in most cases most of the time, these would still be our number one recommendation.

The rugged, comfortable buds are made exceptional courtesy of their strong battery life of 28 hours, with a near-peerless IP68 waterproof rating keeping them safe no matter where you go or what the weather does. Noise cancelling, along with ambient and TalkThru modes are perfect for adjusting how much of the busy world you let in, working competently to give you proper isolation when needed.

The Reflect Flow Pro sound excellent, too, offering up strong levels of energy and forthrightness to power you through your toughest workouts. They're not quite as refined as a dedicated music pair, but these sports-focused buds still tick all the right boxes.

Read the full JBL Reflect Flow Pro review

In their own right, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a very fine pair of wireless earbuds indeed, but their workout potential only sweetens the deal.

With a very comfortable fit that's aided by some subtle in-ear wings, there's a good chance you'll never have to suffer the irritation of the Ultra Earbuds getting dislodged or coming out of your lugs. They're on the bulkier side, sure, but rarely are the Ultra Earbuds cumbersome or intrusive.

Sonically, they're very well suited to making your workouts better. Bose's flagship wireless buds overflow with personality and substance, made more sonically interesting with the introduction of deep, probing levels of detail. That's all great news for runners and athletes truly looking to feel their music.

It's a shame there's no support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such asLDACoraptX HD, nor is there wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint. What you do get, though, is some of the best noise cancelling in the business, not to mention high-performance features such as Bluetooth 5.3, decent call quality and an IPX4 waterproof rating, the latter of which should keep your buds safe from splashes and light rain.

Anyone looking to workout with a premium pair of wireless buds will find the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds to be a medal-winning delight.

Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

When it comes to wireless earbuds, Sony has sewn up the high end with the WF-1000XM4 and the WF-1000XM5, yet the Japanese powerhouse is doing similarly impressive work at the opposite end of the market with the WF-C500. They're also pretty decent as a pair of cheap, easy-to-use workout buds.

The C500 have picked up multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards in their price category, impressing us with their expert handling of all the basics you could ever need from buds at this price, including Bluetooth 5.0 and a very respectable 20 total hours of playtime.

The comfy C500 pair with Sony's comprehensive Headphones Connect app for in-depth control, offering extra features, such as the brand's Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, as standard. Voice controls come via Google Assistant and Siri, and while they're not a dedicated sports model, the buds' IPX4 rating means they're resistant to water splashes on those rainy rambles.

Sonically, they're even-handed and nicely balanced, with well-shaped bass notes that don't become lost in a sea of flabbiness or poor definition. In short, they offer a lot of what makes Sony's high-end buds so compelling without cutting too many corners.

Definitely one for the shortlist, especially if cash is a little tight and you want a pair of wireless earbuds to handle tough workouts alongside the everyday strain of working life.

Read the full Sony WF-C500 review

Panasonic isn't a brand that immediately springs to mind when you think of sports headphones - the RZ-S500W are here to show you what you're missing.

These former Award winners are the brand's first true wireless models, and they're a very impressive debut. Specs are thorough, with noise-cancelling tech, an Ambient Mode, twin mics for voice calls and a battery life that totals 19.5 hours, not to mention a 15-minute USB-C quick-charge for up to 70 minutes of playback. The touch controls on each bud are responsive and easy to use, letting you tweak your music and switch between noise-cancelling modes without hassle.

You also get five sizes of ear tips to help with fit, something that really matters for runners and athletes alike. We found this area of performance a little hit-and-miss, so we would definitely experiment and consider mixing sizes, or else try the buds out first before committing to a purchase.

Both noise cancelling and sound quality are excellent. Music sounds clear and there's a great deal of refinement on show, while bass is deep and detailed. To sum up, these Panasonic sports headphones are superb for the money, and a great budget alternative to the Sony WF-C500 or the EarFun Air below.

Read the full Panasonic RZ-S500W review

Quite possibly our favourite Sony headphones of them all can seemingly do everything. The Award-winning C700N wireless earbuds aren't explicitly designed for sport, but their small-form, lightweight design, plus their comfortable, secure fit, makes them a very decent candidate as your gym companion elect. Battery life is competitive at seven and a half hours, helping to keep your athletic endeavours going the full distance.

For the money, they're great sounding buds that will keep you entertained as the miles go by. The general profile is balanced and refined, with deep, detailed bass, expressive mids and engaging highs. Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches listening modes depending on your location, while Sony's DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales low-res digital audio files to higher quality with impressive results.

Downsides? That lack of support for aptX HDandLDAC is disappointing, while the charging case only provides one extra charge which seems a little mean. Still, for a pair of buds you can use at home, at work or on the track, the C700N are exceptional sporting all-rounders.

Read the full Sony WF-C700N review

If you've got a decent-sized budget to play with but can't stretch to more premium options like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra above, then these JBL earbuds could be a happy middle ground.

For the money, you get all the features you could wish for, including ANC, IPX5 water resistance, a thorough control app, a good user experience and a comfortable enough design. A few more ear tip options to help get the perfect seal would've been nice, so maybe a "try before you buy" approach would be prudent here.

Battery life is a solid eight hours with Bluetooth and noise cancelling on, while the wireless charging case will top the total combined time to 30 hours. Touch controls are included at the top of each stem and you also have Multipoint Bluetooth so you can connect two sources simultaneously and switch between them.

The excellent sound quality is the icing on this cake, with the JBLs favouring a lively and entertaining sound that's so conducive to getting your sweat on. Bass weight is nicely judged and there's good extension too, while detail levels and dynamics are similarly excellent.

If you're looking to make the step up from a cheap pair of earbuds to a slightly more premium pair for sports, these JBLs have to be on your list.

Read the full JBL Live Pro 2 TWS review

If you want cheap and cheerful wireless sports headphones, we've found the perfect buds for you.

For such an inexpensive pair, the EarFun Air are jam-packed with features, and while you don't get noise-cancelling (see the Earfun Air Pro instead), the Earfun Air will give you great noise isolation while feeling comfortable at the same time. They're also waterproof to IPX7 standards (submersible in one metre of water for up to 30 mins), support virtual assistants and include Qi wireless charging.

Battery life is a respectable seven hours from the buds and a further 28 hours from the charging case, a startlingly solid showing for the outlay. Better still, they feel fairly premium in terms of build and finish, with a Bluetooth 5.0 connection keeping your listening solid and stable.

Calls sound clear and for the money, while the cheap and cheerful headphones offer an energetic and spacious sound that really surprises you when you consider the price. We were thinking they'd sound like a pair of rough, dodgy knock-offs, but we're glad at how wrong we've ended up being.

If you’re after a pair of affordable and entertaining sports headphones, the Earfun Air are certainly worth a look.

Read the full Earfun Air review

Sennheiser has a couple of new wireless buds on the way, including a sequel to the Momentum True Wireless 3 and a dedicated sports pair, but right now, the current Momentum 3 are your best bet if you want the German brand's signature sound to accompany your quest for those sweet, sweet gains.

They're a step up from the old True Wireless 2, with support for the aptX Adaptive codec (up from standard aptX on their predecessors). That means transmission of up to 24-bit music files, lower latency, and more robustness to eliminate drop-outs when you're taking your phone out of your pocket or bag. Sound Zones and profiles also help create a more bespoke sonic performance, tailoring your experience just the way you like it.

The noise-cancellation is effective, rendering background sounds a dull murmur, while sonically they're some of the most sophisticated earbuds you can find for the price, offering clarity, refinement and spaciousness with heaps of detail and insight.

A stunning pair of earbuds, and a classy alternative to the class leaders and rugged, sporty offerings found elsewhere on this list.

Read the full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 review

How we choose the best sports headphones

Here atWhat Hi-Fi?we review hundreds of products every year – and that includes plenty of headphones. So how do we come to our review verdicts? And why can you trust them?

We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Reading where our team of expert reviewers do all our testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency and impartiality across the board.

Of course headphones – especially sporty ones like the above – are tested out in the field, how we would use them as if we had bought them ourselves. That gives us a chance to test the wireless performance, noise-cancelling, fit, water-resistance and more, as well as a good excuse to get out there and set some new PBs.

All products are tested in comparison with rival products in the same price category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.

TheWhat Hi-Fi?team has more than 100 years' experience of reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics.

From all of our reviews, we choose the best products to feature in our Best Buys. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended above, or on any other Best Buy page, you can be assured you're getting aWhat Hi-Fi?approved product.

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