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Best over-ear headphones for working out in 2025


Working out is a great way to relax from your everyday activities. But it would be even more fun if you listened to your favorite tunes or maybe a motivational podcast while exercising. For these reasons, it's crucial to find the best headphones for working out.

With the diversity of technology nowadays, there are many different types of headphones. You may go for earbuds or choose an even more comfortable solution – over-ear headphones. Finding the right option is not always easy, though; you need to consider factors such as sweat resistance, comfort, durability, and, of course, sound quality.

Based on these aspects, we curated a detailed list of the best over-ear headphones for working out. So, let’s go ahead and discover those options!

Top 5 best over-ear headphones for gym – our shortlist

How to choose headphones for the gym?

In the realm of various headphones, choosing the best ones may be tricky. If you want to get the best option that will suit all of your needs, you need to examine a few different features. So, let’s have a better look at our list:

  • Sound quality. The first important thing you should consider before choosing the best over-ear headphones for the gym is their sound quality. The best option is to find a pair of headphones that has a well-balanced sound profile, which comes with heavy bass and provides clean sound. However, if you prefer hearing sounds from the surroundings, you should also check the soundproofing. In this case, you need to look for headphones that offer customizing options on the default sound profile.
  • Comfort and fit. What’s also important when you’re working out is the comfort of your headphones. By choosing headphones that cause irritation or pain, you will not be able to enjoy your workout experience. So, it’s best to find headphones with soft earbuds that won’t remind you they’re always in your ears.
  • Durability. The life of your headphones is crucial. In other words, you wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money on a pair of headphones that will stop working in a few months. So, before making a choice, we recommend reading user reviews, as well as looking for a guarantee that will support you in case of a failure.
  • Battery life. Another important criterion is the battery life. If you need to charge your headphones every day, you may find yourself in a situation where you’ve accidentally forgotten. Therefore, always go for over-ear headphones with great battery capacity.
  • Wireless connectivity. Wires can only be an obstacle when you’re exercising. You may pull the wire and cause damage to the headphones. So, that’s why you may need to find a pair that has wireless connectivity.
  • Sweat/water resistance. Ultimately, sweat or water resistance is necessary. When you’re in the gym or running outdoors, you are excessively sweating. So, imagine damaging your headphones because of this. To avoid such an issue, you should look for over-ear headphones that are sweat/water resistant.

The 10 Best over-ear headphones for working out – our detailed list

Finally, we’ve come to the part you’ve all been waiting for. In this section, we’ll go over the list of the best over-ear headphones for working out, which is based on our thorough tests. To do this, we’ve followed criteria such as sound quality, comfort, durability, battery life, wireless connectivity, and sweat/water resistance.

Here is the list of the best overhead headphones for working out:

1. Beats Studio Pro Wireless – overall best over-ear headphones

Sound quality:Good
Comfort:Great
Battery Life:28h
Sweat/water resistance:Good

The Beats Studio Pro Wireless headphones come with a versatile sound for most kinds of audio content. But they also offer different features, regardless of whether you’re using them wired or not!

Sound quality. The Beats Studio Pro Wireless headphones have a neutral sound for different audio content. Their sound offers high value and is also beneficial if you want a more balanced sound profile.

Comfort and fit. These over-ears are comfortable and will indeed stay in place unless you move your head too much during your reps. This will allow you to enjoy your workout and save you from the discomfort that could distract you.

Durability. The Beats Studio Pro Wireless headphones are pretty durable, as they come with higher grades of memory foam and faux leather in the pads.

Battery life. With a decent battery capacity, you can use these headphones for more than 28 hours on a single charge. The long battery life comes in handy if you have long workout sessions or you simply want to avoid frequent charging.

Wireless connectivity. As stated in the name, these headphones work without any wires, making your experience a lot better.

Sweat/water resistance. Beats Studio Pro headphones are equipped with soft ear cushions that prevent sweat from entering and damaging them.

2. Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless – budget-friendly headphones for the gym

Sound quality:Good
Comfort:Good
Battery Life:44h
Sweat/water resistance:Low

Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless are pretty affordable headphones that won’t cost you a lot if you need to repair them. But let’s see what else they offer!

Sound quality. These wireless headphones for working out come with decent sound quality. However, they do not offer unique features that make them stand out from the crowd.

Comfort and fit. Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless headphones come with deep and decently comfortable earpads. However, they have faux leather that traps heat. Still, they’re pretty stable for moderate exercise and don’t feel tight.

Durability. Although affordable, these headphones might not be the most durable ones we’ve come across. However, you can repair them quite cheaply.

Battery life. The Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless headphones have a battery life of around 44 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent if you have longer workouts.

Wireless connectivity. As they don’t have wires, you won’t have issues while exercising.

Sweat/water resistance. While it isn’t clear whether these headphones are water resistant, the fact that they have faux leather that keeps heat may cause you to sweat more.

3. TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless – over-the-ear headphones with water resistance

Sound quality:Great
Comfort:Great
Battery Life:37h
Sweat/water resistance:Great

TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless are durable headphones that are also sweat-resistant. Therefore, they might be the perfect pick for the gym!

Sound quality. The TREBLAB Z7 Pro headphones have a great sound profile that encompasses extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes. They also come with great noise cancelation, but they lack EQ customizations.

Comfort and fit. With these headphones, you will enjoy their well-padded ear cups that won’t clamp on your ears too tightly. Therefore, you’ll be able to wear them longer without feeling discomfort.

Durability. The TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless headphones are more durable than the Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless. This durability can even withstand hard workouts without resulting in damage.

Battery life. Their battery capacity supports over 37 hours of continuous playback time, making them suitable for mid to long exercises.

Wireless connectivity. The wireless design of these gym headphones saves you the hassle. More precisely, there is no wire that will interfere with your workout.

Sweat/water resistance. The TREBLAB Z7 Pro Wireless headphones offer an IPX4 rating for protection against water splashes. This feature makes them better suited for tough workouts and outdoor excursions. It’s also beneficial for users who engage in intense workouts or outdoor activities, as it protects the headphones from potential damage caused by sweat or water.

4. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless – comfortable over-the-ear workout headphones

Sound quality:Excellent (for bass intense music)
Comfort:Good
Battery Life:32h
Sweat/water resistance:Good

If you’re looking for comfortable yet affordable over-ear headphones, we recommend using Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless.

Sound quality. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless headphones come with a bass-heavy sound profile that adds a lot of rumble to your audio, which will keep you pumped up during workouts. Unfortunately, they don’t provide customization features for a more balanced sound. This feature can be beneficial for those who enjoy listening to high-energy music during their workouts, as the enhanced bass can make the music feel more powerful and motivating.

Comfort and fit. While they are less stable than the Skullcandy Hesh Evo Wireless, they’ll still stand in place during moderate movement. This feature will prevent discomfort or the need to adjust your headphones constantly.

Durability. Unfortunately, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless headphones have a plastic design and are prone to damage if they fall off your head during a workout. This could be a concern if you have high-intensity workouts.

Battery life. Thanks to the long 32-hour continuous battery life, you will be able to enjoy your long workout sessions without worrying about charging them very often.

Wireless connectivity. Due to their wireless nature, you will avoid dealing with cords during your workout sessions.

Sweat/water resistance. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones are waterproof, which means sweating or rain won’t damage them.

5. Sony WH-1000XM4 – gym noise canceling headphones with great bass

Sound quality:Excellent (for bass intense music)
Comfort:Great
Battery Life:38h
Sweat/water resistance:None

The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are the perfect solution for the gym if you want to cancel outdoor noises.

Sound quality. The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are most suitable for genres like EDM and hip-hop. They provide intense thump, punch, and boom. However, the boosted low bass can make some songs too rumbly and muddy the vocals.

Comfort and fit. If you’re worried about damaging your headphones while working out, don’t be. The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are very comfortable and don’t move around during moderate movement.

Durability. Because of their compact design, you won’t damage the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones even if you drop them while exercising.

Battery life. Their battery lasts around 38 hours on a single charge, meaning they’ll get you through several workouts without needing to top them up.

Wireless connectivity. Because these headphones are wireless, they are perfect if you want to avoid wires all over you.

Sweat/water resistance. Not only are they not sweat-resistant, but SONY doesn’t cover such damage.

6. Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones – over-ear wireless headphones for working out with excellent battery life

Sound quality:Great (for bass intense music)
Comfort:Great
Battery Life:22-23h
Sweat/water resistance:None

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are over-ear headphones that come with a stylish design and a fantastic noise-cancellation system. So, what else will you get?

Sound quality. From an audio perspective, Beats Studio3 headphones are known for heavier bass tones and a high volume range but less fidelity on vocal-focused tracks. This makes them great for blasting music to push you through a hard workout.

Comfort and fit. These over-ears come with well-padded and well-distributed pressure. Therefore, you’ll be able to wear them for quite a while.

Durability. The Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones are pretty durable, as they won’t be damaged by a simple fall on the ground.

Battery life. The battery life of Beats Studio3 is 22-23 hours, which is significantly extended if you switch off noise cancellation. As a result, they will push you through several workouts before you need to recharge them.

Wireless connectivity. As wires can cause a lot of issues in the gym, you won’t experience this with the wireless design of Beats Studio3.

Sweat/water resistance. Unfortunately, if you’re sweating excessively, you can easily damage the Beats Studio3 headphones.

7. Bose Quiet Comfort 45 – gym noise canceling headphones

Sound quality:Great
Comfort:Excellent
Battery Life:24h
Sweat/water resistance:Great

Bose Quiet Comfort 45 headphones have some of the best noise-cancellation systems on the market. But do they have the necessary finish? Let’s find out!

Sound quality. While you can customize the sound profile of these headphones, they don’t provide the best sound. However, they have excellent noise cancellation, which is suitable for those who want to avoid all surrounding noises.

Comfort and fit. The Bose QC 45s are extremely comfortable. They don’t squeeze your skull, and the headband is rather thin.

Durability. Another perk of these headphones is that they are pretty durable. So, if you are looking for such an option, you should give them a try.

Battery life. With noise canceling on, the Bose QC 45 lasts slightly more than 24 hours. Therefore, you shouldn’t have any interruptions while exercising.

Wireless connectivity. What’s great is that you can use these headphones, both wired and wireless. So, you can even use them for other activities aside from working out.

Sweat/water resistance. If you’re excessively sweating, don’t worry. The Bose QC 45s won’t be damaged from sweat, as they are water resistant.

8. Jabra Elite 85H Over-Ear Headphones – stylish on-ear headphones for working out

Sound quality:Great
Comfort:Great
Battery Life:34h
Sweat/water resistance:Excellent

The Jabra Elite 85H Over-Ear Headphones allow you to be stylish and exercise at the same time. Let’s see if they’re really worth it!

Sound quality. Like with Beats Studio 3, you will receive heavier bass tones and a high volume range. Therefore, you can be sure that Jabra Elite 85H will provide you with excellent sound quality.

Comfort and fit. The Jabra Elite 85H Over-Ear Headphones are designed for movement and have a significantly better fit than any other headphones on the list. This makes them suitable for running or other long-duration cardio.

Durability. What we also like about these headphones is their durability. Not only are they stylish, but they are also resistant to minor falls.

Battery life. If you don’t like to charge your headphones very often, you can get this with the Jabra Elite 85Hs. They have a battery capacity of around 34 hours, making them suitable for longer workouts.

Wireless connectivity. The Jabra Elite 85H wireless headphones are among the best wireless headphones. They provide excellent call and music experience.

Sweat/water resistance. These headphones are fully waterproof and dustproof with an IP68 rating, so workout sweat won’t bother them.

9. Sony WH-1000XM5 – over-the-ear gym headphones with superb sound quality

Sound quality:Excellent
Comfort:Great
Battery Life:30h
Sweat/water resistance:Low

Sony WH-1000XM5s are an intriguing set of headphones among gym enthusiasts. They have perfect sound quality and superb ANC.

Sound quality. Sony WH-1000XM5 has superb audio performance, which gives you an excellent balanced sound. They also offer a clear bass slider to add a little extra to the bass response when your workout calls for it.

Comfort and fit. The headphones are comfortable to wear for many hours without causing fatigue. They are not so tight and don’t cause irritation while exercising.

Durability. While they are pretty durable, users criticize these headphones because of the plastic headband.

Battery life. Sony WH-1000XM5s allow you to use them for 30 hours. Therefore, you’ll be able to go to the gym or jog without worrying that they’ll run out of battery.

Wireless connectivity. The lack of wire allows you to work out freely without worrying whether the wire will cause you any issues.

Sweat/water resistance. Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones can tolerate a little bit of sweat or rain. However, they can be damaged due to larger amounts of humidity.

10. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 – over-the-ear Bluetooth headphones for working out with extended playtime

Sound quality:Excellent
Comfort:Great
Battery Life:40-60h
Sweat/water resistance:None

If you want to save money yet enjoy long battery life, Anker Soundcore Life Q30 may be the right headphones for you!

Sound quality. Regarding sound quality, you will benefit a lot. These headphones come with an outstanding noise canceling system and can reduce loud noises, such as bus or plane engines.

Comfort and fit. Anker Soundcore Life Q30s are built with lightweight ear pads and a flexible headband. Due to this, you won’t feel any discomfort while being active.

Durability. Thanks to being built well, these headphones will serve you for a long time. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about damaging them while being at the gym.

Battery life. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones have a battery life of up to 40 hours with ANC enabled and up to 60 hours when ANC is off. This feature allows you to use the headphones for multiple workouts without needing to recharge. Additionally, the headphones have a quick charge feature, providing four hours of playtime after just five minutes of charging.

Wireless connectivity. Another perk of these headphones is that they have consistent Bluetooth connectivity, even if you are in a different room away from your phone. Enables you to move freely during your workout without worrying about losing connection.

Sweat/water resistance. The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones do not have any certifiable protection from water or sweat. This could be a potential drawback if you sweat a lot during workouts.

Comparison of workout headphones

Since the contenders come with so many great features, it’s important to compare the best among themselves. Below, you can find a table that summarizes the key differences in features of the top three over-ear headphones for working out.

Model:Beats Studio Pro WirelessSkullcandy Hesh Evo WirelessTREBLAB Z7 Pro WirelessAnker Soundcore Life Q20 WirelessSony WH-1000XM4
Sound quality: GoodGoodGreatExcellent (for bass intense music)Excellent (for bass intense music)
Comfort: GreatGoodGreatGoodGreat
Battery Life: 28h44h37h32h38h
Sweat/water resistance: GoodLowGreatExcellentNone
Additional information:
  • Balanced sound profile
  • Higher grades of memory foam and faux leather in the pads
  • Soft ear cushions
  • Deep and decently comfortable earpads
  • Low sweat resistance
  • Faux leather
  • Lack EQ customizations
  • Sweat resistant
  • IPX4 rating for protection against water splashes
  • Bass-heavy sound profile
  • Plastic design
  • Waterproof
  • Stay in place
  • Don’t move around during moderate movement
  • Not sweat resistant

How we selected these over-ear headphones for working out

Aside from first-hand testing, we also evaluated the headphones mentioned above based on a few different criteria. Let’s learn more about this:

  • Examining sound quality. In order to pick the best products, we searched for headphone companies that offer the best sound quality. Later on, we picked a few products and tested their audio performance. This step is crucial as the sound often motivates you to exercise better.
  • Exploring their comfort. Long workouts require you to be always comfortable. The only way to achieve this is to find the headphones that fit best. Therefore, we focused on their design and breathability.
  • Checking out the battery life. You wouldn’t want your music to stop while you’re in the gym or running, right? So, we went for headphones from some of the companies that provide products with the most robust battery capacity.
  • Researching their sweat/water resistance. Last but not least, working out requires a lot of sweating. Therefore, we’ve chosen only those headphones that are sweat/water resistant so that you can have the best experience.

Also read:


How to maintain over-ear headphones

To maintain your over-ear headphones you need to clean them regularly. Here's how to do that:

  1. Remove the ear pads (if removable).
  2. Wet a cloth or a sponge and dry out the excess water.
  3. Gently wipe the ear cushions.
  4. Clean the rest of the ear pads (use a gentle toothbrush if necessary to remove the dust).
  5. Expand the headband and wipe the rest of your headphones.
  6. There you go! Your headphones are now clean and ready for your next workout.

What kind of headphones are best for the gym?

On-ear headphones have smaller cups, and they basically sit on the ear instead of covering it. Due to this, you can be aware of what’s happening around you and take them anywhere. Unfortunately, they are not the best with noise canceling.

On the other hand, over-ear headphones come with bigger cups and cover the entire ear. They are bigger and might take more space in your workout bag, but they definitely come with incredible noise cancellation systems.

So, if you’re working out in the gym, you may want to go for over-ear headphones that will isolate all other sounds. However, the decision is still based on your personal preferences.

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