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For most of us, music is a key part of any good workout. There’s hardly a better feeling than standing in the squat rack in between sets or hauling through a long run and hearing your favorite song come on. That song can make you push a little harder or stick it out a little longer and push one extra mile. Music makes workouts pass by faster, keeps us happier and focused.
One of the easiest ways to enjoy music in a busy gym or on the trail is with wireless gym headphones. Untethered to a corded phone cable, we’re able to focus on our workouts and get into the swing of things. Whether you prefer earbuds or over-ear headphones, there’s no shortage of options on the market. We looked at the best options for a variety of users, testing and using the headphones through a variety of workouts.
We were looking for earbuds that wouldn’t fall out during the most grueling Crossfit workout. Headphones that would block out that annoying gym music using active noise canceling technology so we could listen to our own soundtracks. High-quality speakers so we could pick up a mid-workout call during a long walk outside and still experience good audio. We also needed headphones with a decent battery charge, so we wouldn’t have to recharge them every other day.
Things to consider
Like pretty much anything else in the gym, headphone style and fit is largely a matter of personal preference. Whether you’re a chill soundtrack listener or like to bang out reps to Metallica, here are a few things to keep in mind while you’re wireless headphone shopping:
Over-ear or earbud: You’ll see plenty of both in most gyms. Some argue that over-ear headphones provide better noise cancellation and feel more secure, while others remain loyal to earbuds because they are less sweaty and less cumbersome.
Noise cancelation: If your workouts are primarily in the gym, noise cancelation might be a good idea to drown out clanking plates, mouth-breathers and ambient gym music. If your workouts tend toward sunshine and city streets, however, it’s a good idea to ensure your choice of headphones have an ambient noise cancellation setting — allowing you to still hear cars, street noises as well as your music.
Battery life: If you are logging day-long trail runs or working out several times in a row without the chance to charge your gear, consider a set of headphones with extended battery life. Many wireless earbuds will charge a few times from their case before the case itself needs to be recharged, essentially extending the amount of time between “plug in and wait” recharges.
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