What makes good workout headphones?
A word to the wise: when it comes to the best headphones for fitness, inear, wireless pairs are usually the best bet. There’s no risk of your arms getting tangled in cables midsession, and they’re inserted directly into your ear canal, so they’re more likely to stay put during vigorous workouts.
Sweat and water resistance are musthave features (look out for an ingress protection rating of IPX4 and above), while ear hooks or wings can help keep your headphones secure while running.
For runners, consider bone conduction headphones, which transfer sound vibrations along the cheekbones, and help you stay aware of your surroundings, are worth considering.
The best open earbuds are also a great shout for exercise, offering a wirefree listening experience so you don’t have to cut yourself off from the world while you work up a sweat.
What headphones don’t fall out when running?
If you’re after reliable running headphones that won’t slip out as you pound the pavements, look for a pair with ear hooks, wing tips or wraparound frames, which help keep them securely in place as you go.
Openear and boneconduction headphones, like the Shokz OpenRun Pro2 and Sony LinkBuds Open, are particularly secure, as they remain stable without relying on the ear canal alone.
Look for designs with multiple ear tips to ensure you find the perfect fit, and consider a sweatresistant construction to prevent them slipping out.
How to stop headphones falling off at the gym?
As with the best running headphones, the key to stopping them falling out midgym session is choosing a design with secure ear hooks or wing tips that keep them in place during movement.
Using the correct eartip size will also help with grip, and resistant materials will prevent slipping during dynamic workouts. We’ve clearly listed which earbuds and headphones performed best for stability during our testing.
