Best Earbuds for Workouts

When it comes to workouts, the best earbuds are the ones that stay securely in your ears, survive sweat and weather, and keep you motivated with great sound. Here are some top picks in 2025 for fitness enthusiasts, along with what makes them excel for exercise:

• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 – Ultimate Sport Earhooks. Recently released in late 2024, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are built for serious training. They use an earhook design that locks in place during movement, and they’re 20% lighter than the previous model for better comfort. These Beats are made for fitness: they introduced heart-rate monitoring via in-ear sensors (syncs with Apple Fitness and other apps), so you can track your pulse without a chest strap. They also added Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode in this version – a rarity in workout buds – allowing you to hush gym noise or hear your surroundings as needed. With an IPX4 rating, they handle sweat and rain, and their battery lasts up to 9 hours (45h with case). If you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, the Powerbeats Pro 2 include the H2 chip for hands-free Siri and seamless pairing. For athletes who want secure fit plus cutting-edge tech (heart-rate, ANC, spatial audio), these are a top choice.
• Jabra Elite 8 Active – Rugged and Secure. Jabra’s Elite 8 Active (Gen 2) are arguably the toughest earbuds on the market in 2025. They carry IP68 protection – meaning they’re fully dustproof and can be submerged in water (and even the case is IP54 rated) – basically, sweat or rain is no issue at all. These buds have a special “ShakeGrip” rubberized coating that keeps them stable in your ears even during vigorous movement or when wet. In fact, Jabra tested them with hundreds of athletes to perfect the fit. The result is an extremely comfortable yet secure fit that won’t budge, without needing ear hooks. They also feature excellent noise isolation – a combo of strong ANC plus passive seal – useful if you want to focus during a workout. Sound-wise, the Elite 8 Active have a balanced, energizing sound (with a slightly emphasized bass kick) that you can EQ via the Jabra app. Battery life (~8 hours, 32h with case) is enough to outlast a marathon, and physical buttons make controls easy mid-workout. For cross-platform users (Android or iPhone), Jabra’s work equally well. Overall, they’re excellent workout earbuds for anything from daily runs to intense cross-training – built to “keep up or get through your workday” as one review put it.
• Skullcandy Push Active – Budget-Friendly Gym Buddy. If you want a workout-focused earbud under $100, the Push Active is a fantastic option. These buds have a flexible over-ear hook design (similar to the Beats) to ensure they won’t fall out during workouts. They’re rated IP55, so they’re protected against sweat, dust, and light rain – you can confidently take them on runs or to the beach. Battery life is a strong suit: over 9 hours per charge, which is among the best in class, plus ~3 extra charges via the case (total ~40 hours). The Push Active have a bass-rich sound profile to keep you pumped, and with the Skullcandy app you can tweak EQ or use built-in Tile tracking to find a lost bud. They don’t have ANC (at this price, not expected), but their noise isolation is decent for gym environments. One cool feature is hands-free voice control (using “Hey Skullcandy” commands) to adjust volume or tracks without touching your earbuds – useful when you’re in the zone. For the price, the Push Active deliver on the core needs of a workout earbud: secure fit, durability, long battery, and punchy sound.

(Other notable workout earbuds: Sony LinkBuds S for a lightweight ANC option (if you prefer no hooks), Beats Fit Pro for a wingtip design and Apple features, and Shokz OpenRun Pro (bone-conduction headphones) if you need open-ear safety for outdoor training. However, the three above cover a range of budgets and features and are highly rated for exercise.)*

Workout Earbud Tips: When choosing earbuds for exercise, consider these factors in addition to the models above: water/sweat resistance (look for at least IPX4 or higher), fit stability (ear hooks or wing tips help, as do multiple ear tip sizes to get a tight seal), and controls (physical buttons can be easier with sweaty hands than touch sensors). Also, if you do a lot of outdoor running or cycling, you might want earbuds with a good ambient sound mode (or use one bud at a time) to stay aware of traffic for safety. Fortunately, many of 2025’s best earbuds address these needs – letting you enjoy your workout playlist without worry.