The right music can really help you push through a tough workout. But what if the tunes your gym pumps out for everyone to “enjoy” don’t quite hit the spot? The answer is simple: stick on a pair of headphones and enjoy your own personal playlist, or your choice of radio station or podcast.
Not all headphones are ideal for a gym environment, though, or for extended exercise sessions. Here’s our guide to the top gym headphones, to suit whatever your favourite style of workout and budget is, along with all the key questions you need to asking when buying a pair.
How to buy the best gym headphones for you
The first question is what you’re going to be doing in the gym - whether you’re going to be moving around a lot, and how sweaty you expect to get. If you’ve fully embraced the HIIT hype, for example, you’ll want lightweight headphones that can shrug off sweat and won’t fall out when you jump around. If you’re more into slow weights workouts, your muscles might be screaming but you won’t necessarily be moving or sweating very much, so you can go for heavier on-ear headphones, should you so desire.
What type of headphones do I want?
Wireless headphones give you more freedom to move about without worrying about getting snagged or tangled, but they’re generally more expensive than wired models – and you have to remember to top up the battery from time to time.
As for design, over-ear or on-ear headphones usually have better sound quality than in-ear, but can quickly come to feel hot and heavy during an intense workout. In-ear headphones also give you the choice of an ear-plug or a more open design. The former is great for getting in the zone and shutting out the outside world – but that won’t make you popular if someone’s shouting at you for hogging the squat rack and you don’t hear them.
How much do I need to spend?
Perfectly good wired headphones can be had for less than £30, and you can find decent-sounding wireless models for under £50. But it’s worth paying a bit more – perhaps up to £100 – for a well-made, durable pair that you can be confident will survive the exertions of exercise, and being tossed around in your gym bag. If you’re tempted by the latest truly wireless earbud designs, plan to pay £130 or more – go below that mark and you’re liable to sacrifice battery life, sound quality or durability.
What else should I look out for?
Ideally, look for headphones that are waterproof, or at least water-resistant – you want to be sure they’ll survive your sweatiest gym sessions in tact. If you opt for in-ear headphones, check that they come with a good selection of different-sized buds to make sure you get a good fit. Finally, and crucially, if you go wireless, check the battery life before you buy, and whether the headphones have a quick-charge function. The latter can be a godsend if you only discover that you’re out of juice as you’re about to leave for the gym: some headphones can eke out an hour of use from just 10-15 minutes of charging.
The best gym headphones to buy
Aukey Latitude: Best budget gym headphones
Price when reviewed:£24 |
A price this low is usually a red flag for wireless headphones, but Aukey’s Latitudes are an impressively solid pair of cans. The sound quality doesn’t match more expensive pairs, but it’s solid enough to keep you pumping, and with three differently sized ear-tips in the box you should be able to get a good, secure fit. You also have the choice of three different EQ sound signatures, so you can pick the one that fits your favourite music best - although don’t expect this to make a massive impact on overall sound quality. A final nice touch is that the headphones snap together with magnets, so you can hang them securely around your neck when they’re not in use.
Key specs – Style: Wireless; Type: In-ear; Battery life: 8 hours
Sennheiser PMX 686G: Best gym headphones under £50
Price when reviewed:£35 | Buy now from Amazon for £39.00
If you don’t want the hassle of regularly recharging a pair of wireless headphones, this wired set from Sennheiser is a great value option. The neckband helps them stay in place during even the most vigorous workouts, and they’re durable enough to wash, so you can be sure they’ll stand up to sweat as well. The sound quality is very good, giving far more expensive headphones a run for their money, and the slightly open design helps you stay aware of what’s going on around you, which is ideal if you also run or cycle outside.
Key specs – Style: Wired; Type: In-ear; Battery life: N/A
Jabra Sport Coach: Best gym headphones for live coaching
Price when reviewed:£50 | Buy now from Amazon for £87.99
Jabra’s Sport Coach headphones don’t just sit in your ears and play music – they get fully involved in your workout. Link them with the companion smartphone app (available for both Android and iOS) and they’ll provide live coaching through your training sessions. Even better, they also keep track of your activity: a built-in movement sensor monitors your rep count if you’re doing weights or bodyweight exercises, and records stats like your distance covered, step count and cadence if you wear them while running. It’s all very impressive, and Jabra hasn’t skimped on audio quality either: the Sport Coach headphones sound great, especially when you pick the right earbuds and tips to ensure a tight fit.
Jabra Sport Coach Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headphones for Cross Training -Multi Color( Red/Grey)
Key specs – Style: Wireless; Type: In-ear; Battery life: 5 hours
Plantronics BackBeat Fit: Best gym headphones under £100
Price when reviewed:£85 | Buy now from Amazon for £82.99
If your headphones keep falling out in the gym, Plantronics has the answer. The BackBeat Fit features a flexible strap and ear-hook design that ensures they stay in place no matter what you’re doing – from treadmill sprints to jumping jacks or the most furious round of burpees ever seen. They also feature an eight-hour battery life, with a handy little voice that announces how many hours of charge you have left each time you turn them on. And if you still find yourself running out of juice, you can get an hour of playback out of 15 minutes of charging.
Read our full review of the Plantronics BackBeat Fit
Key specs – Style: Wireless; Type: In-ear; Battery life: 8 hours
SOL Republic Amps Air: Best gym headphones for battery life
Price when reviewed:£120 | Buy now from Amazon for £119.99
These truly wireless headphones come with a battery case that can completely recharge them a remarkable 15 times before it needs recharging itself. The buds themselves can hold three hours’ worth of charge, which should be more than enough for most workouts, and if you just pop them back in the case when you’re done, you won’t need to worry about the battery for weeks at a time. The sound quality is also great, and while the Amps Air units don’t have any wings, wires or hooks to secure them in place, they’re so lightweight they’re very unlikely to fall out.
Key specs – Style: Truly wireless; Type: In-ear; Battery life: 3 hours (45 hours total with case)
Urbanears Hellas: Best on-ear gym headphones
Price when reviewed:£70 | Buy now from Amazon for £74.99
Wireless on-ear headphones normally feature a bigger battery than in-ear buds – so they don’t need recharging as often – and they often have a more natural, open sound to them. The disadvantage is that they tend to get hot and sweaty during workouts, and not all models are built to cope with that. The Urbanears Hellas, however, are perfect gym companions: not only are they fully sweat-resistant, you can even remove the headband and ear cushions and wash them. They last 14 hours on a single charge, and feature clever swipe controls on the outside of the ear cup so you can adjust volume and skip tracks easily.
Key specs – Style: Wireless; Type: On-ear; Battery life: 14 hours
BOSE SoundSport Free: Best truly wireless gym headphones
Price when reviewed:£180 | Buy now from Amazon for £179.95
If you’re looking for the ultimate freedom of truly wireless headphones, but don’t want to compromise on quality, the Bose SoundSport Free are the perfect pick. They sound fantastic, while the soft silicone StayHear+ Sport tips are comfortable to wear for long periods, and ensure the earphones won’t shake loose during vigorous exercise. Battery life is five hours, which is excellent for a pair of truly wireless buds, and the case can top them up with ten additional hours of charge. They do stick out a little bit, but that’s a small price to pay for such superb sound quality – and the luxury of being completely rid of wires.
Read our full Bose SoundSport Free review
Key specs – Style: Wireless; Type: In-ear; Battery life: 5 hours (15 hours total with case)