Listening to some of your favorite tunes is a fantastic way to boost your energy and mood, feel more motivated, and train harder. Whether you typically train in a gym, at home, or outdoors, music will always make the entire process a lot more enjoyable.
To that end, we have put together this post. First, we will discuss what makes listening to music beneficial and what to look for when buying a pair of workout headphones. Then, as an added benefit, we will review some of the best headphones on the market.
What to look for when choosing Workout Headphones
The most expensive headphones out there do not guarantee quality or usefulness. Similarly, the cheapest headphones might cost you more in the long run if you often replace pairs due to malfunctions. So, what should we look for if the price is not what matters most?
Most importantly, they should not fall off when you are doing something active. Your headphones should fit snugly and be comfortable enough to wear for at least an hour. Think of activities like running or lying on a bench for pressing - your headphones should feel secure, and you should not worry if they might fall out.
Battery life is also essential, as some pairs score incredibly low and could barely last through two workouts. After all, you do not want them to die in the middle of a good workout. Plus, having to recharge them often can become burdensome. Ideally, your pair should offer at least three to four hours of listening time before you have to recharge them. For most people, that will be enough to go through a typical training week, assuming they do not use the headphones outside the gym.
The third important thing to watch out for is ease of use. You do not want to be spending ten minutes before every workout pairing them to your phone and configuring them. Some models are better at pairing and are easier to use than others.
And, since we are looking at workout headphones, the pair you choose also must be sweatproof. If not, sweat will inevitably get inside and mess them up in no time.
Another factor worth considering here is the ease of transportation. For example, investing in a high-quality set of headphones might be better if you often travel. This is because cheaper headphones often break during transport. Smaller headphones might come in handy as they do not typically take up much space. In addition, the quality pairs usually come in a rigid case that protects them during transit. On the other hand, bigger headphones tend to be better for long-haul flights because you can have them on your ears for a long time without feeling discomfort.
The best Workout Headphones for 2023
There are a ton of workout headphones on the market, so picking a good pair can be challenging and frustrating. To make it easier for you, we have put together a list of ten fantastic models to consider:
- EarFun Air Pro
- Bose SoundSport Wireless
- Apple AirPods Pro
- Plantronics BackBeat Fit 6100
- Jaybird X3 In-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Sports
- Mpow X30
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
- Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear
- Jabra Elite 75t
- Jaybird Vista
I started with the Apple AirPods, but they did not work for me because they did not fit well and kept falling out. So then I moved to the Apple AirPods Pro, and they have done a fantastic job since. I use them even for cardio or other intense workouts. So let us do a more in-depth review of three awesome models of workout headphones in the following segments: best in-ear, best over-ear, and best sweatproof.
A deeper look at three fantastic Workout Headphones
Apple AirPods Pro - Best In-Ear Model
A remarkable feature of the AirPods is that you can squeeze them to play and pause your music, so you do not have to keep your phone on you as you train. You can also double-squeeze to change to the next song and do a long squeeze to turn on noise cancellation. The only drawback with everyday use is that you cannot control the volume of the buds.
Beats Solo3 Wireless - Best Over-Ear Model
The Beats Solo3 is easily one of the best over-ear headphones today. A notable benefit is their staggering 40+ hours of battery life, which means you can use these while you train, commute, and walk around without worrying about charging all the time. In addition, if you plan on only using them during workouts, these will easily last you for over a month with a single charge.
Pairing the product happens quickly, especially for Apple users because they have the W1 chip that allows for quick pairing. Beyond that, the Solo3 are durable and incredibly comfortable, allowing you to have them over your ears for long periods without feeling discomfort.
Jabra Elite 75t - Best Sweatproof Model
While the Apple AirPods Pro is fantastic, cancels noise, and delivers the ultimate listening experience, they are not rated water or sweatproof completely, so we had to look for another model to fit the role.
The Jabra Elite 75t are certainly not the most affordable model on the market, but they come close to Apple's AirPods thanks to their excellent design, quality, and durability. These buds are also completely sweatproof, making them a fantastic option for people who sweat a lot during training or find themselves doing activities outside that can get them wet. The company has also made its most recent models smaller and more elegant while improving battery life, which is a considerable achievement and benefit for the customer.
The benefits of listening to Music as you train
At first, listening to music while training might not seem all that important. After all, why would it matter? However, putting your headphones on and listening to your favorite songs boasts numerous physical and psychological benefits.
For example, listening to music as you train helps you get in the zone more quickly and focus better on your training. It also prevents distractions from grabbing your attention and lowering your training intensity. We have all had to deal with overly chatty people at the gym, and we know how it can worsen our workouts' quality. By putting some headphones on, you can tune out distractions and focus on what is important: getting your workout done.
Listening to music as you train is also a fantastic way to increase your effort. While it may seem superficial, the right songs can elevate your mood and boost your motivation, which will tune out fatigue and help you push yourself a bit harder. Over time, that extra effort can add up to significantly better results. Plus, there is something to be said about enjoyability and how music makes you associate training with positive feelings. So, instead of linking your workouts to grueling work, you connect it with the positive feelings you derive from listening to your favorite tunes. As a result, you will find more joy in your training, push yourself harder, and stay more consistent.
How do you find new refreshing tunes?
If you are using Spotify, they have a solution for you - Soundtrack your Workout. With this interactive website, you can create a playlist according to your needs by simply answering a few questions. When you start the wizard on their website, you first select the duration of your playlist, which can be as long as two hours. Next, you can choose if you want to listen to music, podcasts, or a mix of both.
You have to select from eight different workouts, including Yoga, cardio, weightlifting, or running/biking as the next step. Then, you only have to tell Spotify what workout vibe you want and the genre you want to listen to; it is that simple. Then, it takes less than 1 minute to create your workout playlist.
