The Ultras have three levels of noise cancellation, which includes your basic noise-cancelling, a transparency mode, and finally, an immersion mode, where you feel like you might have just been teleported into whatever you’re listening to. Yeah, the listening experience is that good. Plus, spatial audio is a great way to make you feel less like you’re somewhere you don’t want to be—i.e. the gym—in lieu of somewhere far more exciting, i.e. Beyoncé’s upcoming tour. And in terms of its workout abilities, these are super snug, with stability hands—replacing the usual dorky-looking ear hooks—that contour to your ear for a fit that’ll make the most aggressive headbanger blush.
The Best Headphones for Swimming: Shokz OpenSwim
Swimmers want to listen to music, too, and Shokz’s OpenSwim headphones are fully waterproof (up to two meters deep) for underwater tunes. Just know that these are not Bluetooth headphones, and that they’re instead an MP3 player that lets you store up to 1,200 songs on it (think: an iPod shuffle, but they won’t go on the fritz just because of a little liquid). These open-ear headphones use bone conduction for you to hear through them, which essentially means that the speaker pads rest on your temples instead of going in or around your ears—it’s not the best-quality sound, but it does allow for a pretty decent listening experience. The fit is good, and they’re designed to stay put no matter how many flips and turns you’re doing in the pool. They’re also really light and don’t feel like they’re squeezing your head. Plus, the brand threw in a sleek neoprene case and a pair of earplugs to complete the underwater experience.
The Best Headphones for Walking: Apple AirPods Pro
AirPods, Pro or otherwise, aren’t generally our favorite workout headphones. Something about the fit, like that little tail, just doesn’t feel very secure, which is why we recommend them for someone who partakes in the occasional power walk to cross off “exercising” from their to-do list. Apple’s second-generation AirPod Pros added an extra set of ear tips so that more people could get a more tailored fit, and the in-ear fit can be tested directly on your phone to make sure you opted for the right size for your ear canal.
Even the second-generation Apple AirPods Pros with their new extra-small silicone tips feel like they might jump out of your ear while you’re mid-stride. Their IPX4 makes them sweat- and water-resistant, so they can hold up against a less-rigorous workout, but if you’re already an Apple user, go ahead and stick with brand loyalty. On the other hand, as regular wireless headphones, these are great with much better active noise cancellation than the OG AirPods Pros and an adaptive transparency mode that feels somewhat like witchcraft.
The Best Over-Ear Headphones for Working Out: Beats Studio Pro
Most people will prefer earbuds for working out because they’re light and less likely to shift around during an aggressive sweat sesh, but you can find the occasional gym buff audiophile rocking a pair of over-ear headphones while doing their damndest to deadlift. We found the new Beats Studio Pros to be an excellent pair of headphones because of their stability and overall excellent sound quality. We were hesitant to even try running in these, or honestly any over-the-head headphones, but these managed to stay in place even during full-body exercises like a burpee or mountain climber. And if you have long hair, these could even double as a headband (OK, maybe not).
These are essentially the successors to the Beats Studio3, which we liked for their ANC capabilities, and these perform even better, so you can ignore the guy on the weight bench next on you over-exerting himself on a chest press. Another reason we like the Studio Pros is because of their tactile buttons. While a pair like the Bose 700 headphones utilize touch, the actual buttons on the Studio Pros make it easier to change the volume or switch songs if you’re trying to do it mid-move. Also, the bass-heavy of the Beats are apt at boosting your favorite rap or rock socks, which are typically the bops you blast while working out.
The Best Workout Headphones for Running: Shokz Openfit
If you’re a runner, then wearing noise-cancelling headphones when you’re clocking those miles can be a dangerous sometimes. Maybe you don’t realize there’s a car coming or someone’s about to come past you on the sidewalk. The best way to avoid this is one, by not wearing headphones, or two, wearing headphones that still let you stay tapped in to the outside world.