On ear bluetooth headphones running

The 5 Best Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out — Summer 2023 Reviews

While most people prefer earbuds for sports, many find over-ear headphones more comfortable for light and moderate exercise. Finding the best over-ear headphones for the gym can be hard, though. Most over-ear headphones aren’t designed to fit securely enough to stay in place while training and make you sweat more than usual. Regularly working out with them could also result in issues not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, so take extra care if you use them while working out or running. Keep an eye on their performance, and give them lots of time to air out between training sessions. That said, there are still a few Bluetooth options that could be decent for working out or running.

We’ve tested over 350 over-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones for running and working out. If you want more fitness audio options, check out our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for running and working out or the best headphones for running.

Best Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out

Beats Studio3 Wireless

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are the best over-ear headphones for working out that we’ve tested. These over-ears have good stability, meaning you won’t risk them moving around much during a moderate workout. They also have a W1 chip, which lets you seamlessly pair them with your Apple devices. Their ANC performs decently and will isolate you from the ambient chatter of gym-goers nearby and high-pitched noise like a squeaky treadmill. Their physical controls are decent too, and give you good tactile feedback when changing between songs. However, the controls are completely flush with the body of the ear cup, so there’s no way to differentiate between buttons, which can lead to misclicks. Out of the box, they have a warm sound profile with extra bass, making them a solid choice for genres like hip-hop and EDM. However, vocals and instruments are veiled in the mix, and even though they have a companion app, it lacks an EQ for sound customization. If you don’t mind their default sound, they’ll last you through repeat workouts, thanks to their 23-hour continuous battery life. They even come in several different color schemes to help you find the right one that matches your style.

Best Mid-Range Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out

Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless

The Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless are the best over-ears for workouts we’ve tested in the mid-range. These headphones have a clamping force that keeps them stable on your head during moderate exercise without feeling too tight. Their earpads are deep and decently comfortable but have a faux-leather lining prone to trap heat. Fortunately, their battery lasts around 44 hours on a single charge, so you’re likely to get through many workouts before meeting to charge them. These headphones have a very excited, V-shaped sound profile. There’s lots of extra bass and treble to make genres like pop and rock shine, but you may find this mix overwhelming if you prefer a more neutral sound. Since they lack any sound customization features, you’re also stuck with their default settings. They also lack ANC and don’t do a good job of passively cutting out background noise, like nearby traffic or chatty gymgoers. However, this is an advantage if you’re trying to stay aware of your surroundings while running down a busy street. If you want a more durable pair of mid-range over-ears, check out the TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless. They’re more expensive than the Skullcandy, but they have an IPX4 rating for protection against water splashes—a rarity among over-ear headphones that makes them better-suited for outdoor excursions.

Best Budget Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless

If you need something simple and cheap for the gym, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless are the best over-ear workout headphones for budget-minded users. While they’re less stable on your head than the Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless, they’re more comfortable and can stay in place during moderate exercise. Their bass-heavy sound profile also adds a lot of thump and rumble to your audio, which you might like to help keep you pumped up during workouts, but they don’t have customization features for people who want a more balanced sound. They have a long 32-hour continuous battery life and decent controls that let you change the volume and skip tracks on the fly. They have an ANC feature but aren’t ideal for reducing the sound of workout machines or traffic. Still, they help cut down on mid-range noise like background conversations. Unfortunately, they have a somewhat plasticky build and are prone to damage if they fall off your head during a more intense workout.

Best Over-Ear Workout Headphones For Bass

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

If your pump-up playlist consists mainly of EDM or hip-hop, you want a pair of headphones that can deliver heavy thump and punch in the bass range. The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best headphones we’ve tested for heavy bass delivery. Fortunately, they’re also well-suited for use while exercising as they’re very comfortable and don’t move around during moderate movement. They’re also very well-built and durable enough to survive a few accidental drops on the gym floor. Their battery lasts around 38 hours on a single charge, meaning they’ll get you through several workouts without needing to top them up. While their sound is bass-heavy by default, you can change how you’d like the mix to sound by using the companion app’s graphic EQ and presets. You can also use their app to activate transparency mode, which allows you to hear your surroundings better while you have these over-ears on. If you’d prefer peace and quiet, you can also activate their ANC, which does a fantastic job of cutting out background noise across the range, from low-rumbly bus engines to high-pitched PC fans. They’re much more expensive than the Beats Studio3 Wireless and lack their W1 chip for seamless pairing with Apple devices.

Best Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out

Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

What sets the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless apart from other picks on their list is their amazingly comfortable and lightweight fit. Plush padding around the ear cups and on the headband reduces the chances of fatigue if you wear them for a long workout. They’ll stay in place while lifting weights or riding a stationary bike, but they aren’t as stable as other picks on this list, like the Beats Studio3 Wireless, and can fall off easier during moderate exercise. On the upside, their physical control scheme is easy to use. Like most other Bose headphones, they have an excellent ANC system that can help cut down noise at the gym and an ‘Aware Mode’ that plays background noise alongside regular audio content for better environmental awareness during a workout outside. With the ANC on, they last over 21 hours continuously, and they have an auto-off timer if you forget to turn them off. Their neutral sound profile is well-suited for different audio content, but you can tweak them using their companion app’s graphic EQ and presets. However, they leak audio at high volumes, which may bother others around you. They’re also the most expensive pick on this list, and while they have a premium feel and performance, they aren’t in everyone’s budget for over-ears.

Notable Mentions

• Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless: The Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless have a stable fit that’s suitable for tough sessions at the gym. While discontinued, they’re still sold via some retailers but won’t be as easy to find as the Beats Studio3 Wireless. Still, they’re worth considering if you care about stability and a great ANC system. See our review
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless: The Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless are similar in build and comfort to the Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless but are more expensive due to their ANC feature. It’s not super effective, but it can still isolate you from background chit-chat at the gym. See our review
• Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless: The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are Bluetooth-enabled over-ears that improve on the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless in most areas, with longer battery life, more effective noise isolation feature, and better build quality. However, they’re also bulkier and not as stable on the head. See our review
• Jabra Elite 85h Wireless: The Jabra Elite 85h Wireless are well-built noise cancelling headphones with easy-to-use physical buttons. However, they aren’t as comfortable as the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless. See our review

Recent Updates

1. Jun 21, 2023: We’ve validated the article’s picks and confirmed that they’re still the best picks for this category.
2. May 24, 2023: We’ve updated our article to ensure product availability and text accuracy. However, we haven’t changed our picks.
3. Apr 21, 2023: Checked that the picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are available.
4. Mar 13, 2023: Moved the Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless and the Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless to Notable Mentions, replacing them with the Beats Studio3 Wireless and the TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless, respectively.
5. Feb 10, 2023: Replaced the Razer Opus Wireless 2021 with the Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless as the ‘Best Mid-Range’ pick because the Razer aren’t available.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best wireless over-ear headphones for working out to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews of over-ear headphones, ranked by their suitability for sports and fitness. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and where you use the headphones will matter more in your selection.

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