5 Best Wireless Earbuds For Working Out Of 2019 (2023)

We buy our own products and put them under the same testing methodology so that you can easily compare them. Unlike most websites, we do not get our products directly from the manufacturers, which means our units aren’t handpicked and actually represent what you would buy yourself. We spend a lot of time comparing the products side-by-side to validate our results, and we keep them until they are discontinued so we can continually go back and make sure our reviews are always accurate.

If you work out or run a lot, wireless headphones are usually a better option since you don’t have to worry about cables. In-ears and earbuds are also preferred since they don’t trap heat, won’t make you sweat more and are compact enough to keep on you at all times. We’ve reviewed 288 headphones and below are our top recommendations for wireless sports earbuds for working out to buy in 2019.

Jabra Elite Active 65t: Best overall sports in-ears

Type: In-ear

Enclosure: Closed-Back

Wireless: Truly wireless

Noise-Cancelling: No

The best wireless earbuds for working out we’ve reviewed so far are the Jabra Elite Active 65t. They’re the more sports-oriented variant of the truly wireless Elite 65t and feel a bit more premium overall. They’re also rated IP56 for better sweat resistance and have a more secure case which comes in handy if you're often traveling with them in your pocket.

They have a good companion app that gives you a lot of customization options. You get a nice 5-band EQ with presets to change the sound profile to your liking and a simple step counter. They have a 5-hour battery life, and their case provides 2 additional charges for a total of 15 hours of playback, with breaks in-between for charging. They also have a nice quick charge feature that gives 1.5 hours for a quick 15 minutes of charge, which is great for last minute workouts.

Unfortunately, they are on the bulkier side for earbuds and might not be as comfortable for everyone. They also don’t have as many sports features as the Samsung Gear Icon X, which offers health data and an exercise coach when running, on top of an EQ and presets. On the upside, the Elite Active 65t have great noise isolation which can be useful in a crowded gym, are stable enough for sports, and their truly wireless design is very portable and convenient.

Shop Now

Jaybird X4: A traditional wireless design with good customization options

Type: In-ear

Enclosure: Closed-Back

Wireless: Yes

Noise-Cancelling: No

If you prefer traditional wireless in-ears over truly wireless designs, get the Jaybird X4. They won’t be as portable as the Elite Active 65t or the Gear Icon X since they have a cable that goes behind your head, but their earbud-like fit, thanks to the new tip options, is more comfortable than typical in-ears designs. They have an easy-to-use control scheme, they’re stable for sports, and have an IPX7 rating for sweat and water resistance that makes them a suitable option for running and working out.

They have good sound quality that you can also customize to your liking thanks to the good companion app that offers a parametric EQ and presets. They have a decent 7-hour battery that should last you for a few workouts and since they barely leak, you’ll be able to blast your music at high volumes to help you push through your hardest exercises.

Unfortunately, they have a cumbersome proprietary cradle. It is unique to the X4 and you always need it to charge your headphones instead of finding a more common and universal charging cable like a micro-USB one, which is limiting. Nevertheless, the X4 are great headphones for sports and they are also quite versatile for everyday casual usage as well.

Shop Now

Bose SoundSport Wireless: Earbud alternative with better default sound quality

Type: Earbuds

Enclosure: Semi-open

Wireless: Yes

Noise-Cancelling: No

If you prefer a real earbud fit over the semi-earbud design of the Jaybird X4, then get the Bose SoundSport Wireless. They don’t isolate as much noise as other the headphones on this list, but they have a more balanced and neutral sound that is suitable for a variety of music genres without the need of an EQ. They’re very comfortable since they don’t enter your ear canal and are portable enough to fit in your pockets, even in the included soft case.

They have great audio reproduction and are one of best sounding wireless earbuds we’ve tested so far. They also have an okay 6-hour battery life, which should be enough for a couple of workouts, but might not be enough for some who want to use these headphones for other use cases. Outside runners might also like the semi-open design to stay aware of their surrounding since they don’t isolate noise well.

On the downside, they won’t be ideal for a crowded gym if isolation is important to you and their companion app is lackluster. You don’t get sound customization options and their build quality isn’t as sweatproof as expected but on the upside, they are stable enough for running and exercising and their sound quality will please most listeners.

Shop Now

Anker Soundcore Spirit X: Best budget sports earbuds

Type: In-ear

Enclosure: Closed-Back

Wireless: Yes

Noise-Cancelling: No

If you’re looking for budget sports headphones that still offer great performance, get the Anker Soundcore Spirit X. These wireless in-ears have an ear-hook design that is great for added stability and their sound quality is quite surprising for such a low price point, which makes them quite versatile for a variety of music genres, especially bass-heavy music since they have overemphasized bass.

They have a nice 12-hour battery life, which is the longest continuous playback for headphones on this list. Even if the ear-hook design makes them a bit bulkier than typical in-ears, they are still easy to store in your pockets or gym bag. They are also quite comfortable and come with multiple tips and fins options for you to find the best fit possible.

Unfortunately, these headphones do not have a companion app and don’t have any way of enhancing your listening experience with an EQ or presets. They don’t isolate much noise so they might not be the best option for a crowded and loud gym, and they also have thin cables that don’t feel very durable, but they are more sweat resistant than the similar Anker Soundbuds Curve. Nevertheless, the Spirit X offer one of the best value for your money and are great sports headphones for people on a budget.

Shop Now

JBL Endurance Sprint: A budget, flashier and sport-looking alternative with great sound quality

Type: In-ear

Enclosure: Closed-Back

Wireless: Yes

Noise-Cancelling: No

If you like the ear-hook design of the Anker Soundcore Spirit X but find them a bit bland and slightly too bass-heavy then get the JBL Endurance Sprint instead. They have a typical in-ear fit so they won’t be as comfortable as the Spirit X. They also have bigger and flashier ear-hooks that some may like but won’t be for everyone. On the other hand, their sound signature is fairly even and balanced, and they have a decent 9-hour battery life with a good auto-off feature.

They are versatile for a variety of music genres and have a good design that looks more high-end than their price would suggest. Their ear hooks are very stable for physical activity and are also rated IPX7 for sweat and water resistance, although we couldn’t confirm this in our current test bench. They also have a touch-sensitive control scheme, which is quite rare and a nice addition at this price range.

However, the control scheme is fairly hard to use while running and working out as it’s very sensitive and may register unwanted commands, which gets frustrating after a while. On the upside, they have good isolation performance, low leakage, and we consider them one of the best sports headphones in the budget section.

Shop Now

This guide may have been updated. To see all our measurements and our current recommendations for the best wireless sports earbuds, please go here.