Tired of having your headphones fall out while you’re working out? I’ve been there – it’s one of my biggest pet peeves.
Luckily, technology has made great improvements to headphones and we are finally getting what we need for workout headphones.
I’m picky when it comes to my workout headphones – I want to be able to run on the treadmill and not have them fall out and I don’t want any cables to get caught when I’m lifting.
I know most of the popular headphones on the market and it’s actually pretty straightforward when it comes to finding the best headphones for lifting.
Here are the top options on the market:
The Best Headphones For Lifting
1. Mpow Flame Bluetooth Headphones
No products found.
These are some of the best selling earbuds on the market today. You’ve probably seen them at your gym already.
They are incredible for the price. They are completely waterproof (amazing at this price point.)
They are wireless and have a playtime of between 7-9 hours.
They have the wrap around for the ear (essential if you are running) and are light enough that you won’t notice wearing them.
They have a single flange silicon earpiece – not amazing when it comes to noise isolation but it’s still industry standard.
Overall, if you don’t feel like paying over $50 for a new set of headphones this is the best choice on the market right now.
2. Phaiser BHS-790
- HD SOUND - Dual 8mm Graphene Speakers combined with Bluetooth create ultra accurate HD sound with powerful bass. The bullet-shaped Comply T-400 M memory foam tips provide Total Isolation from external noise.
- MAGNETIC - Easily stow your Earbuds by wearing them around your neck. Instantly access your Earphones anytime without searching your pockets. Looks cool as well!
Next, another one of my favorites – the Phaiser BHS-790.
The main difference here is the wing-tip. This style of headphone is a little more comfortable compared to the wrap-around option.
It also tends to look a little more discrete.
The ear-tips are memory foam so the sound isolation is going to be a little better than the silicon alternatives.
They have an interesting feature of being nano-coated with a hydrophobic material – this makes them 100% sweat proof. Essential if you’re someone who sweats as much as I do.
The sound quality is also going to be a step up from the Mpows – something to keep in mind if audio quality is important to you.
A great value option for those who want a stylish headphone that will take a beating and sound great at the same time.
3. Jaybird Tarah Wireless
- 6 hours of playtime - rechargeable battery provides 6 hours of wireless play time on a single charge; plenty of power for a full training session or a day outside
- Sweat & Waterproof - sweat-proof and waterproof (IPX7) protection for gym and fitness workouts and running in all weather conditions
If you’re familiar with the headphone scene you’ll know that Jaybird has been taking a beating lately. I’m not exactly sure why – I still think these are great headphones.
They are very similar to the Phaisers except the sound quality is slightly better.
You can wear these in all types of weather if you like to workout outside.
The other interesting feature is they come with an EQing app. If you’re an audiophile who knows how to EQ their headphones for different styles of music this may be appealing to you.
They also come with a mic – important if you need to take calls during your workout.
I see no reason why Jaybird is getting such a bad rep, these are great headphones.
4. Powerbeats3
- High-performance wireless earphones
- Compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Beats is another infamous headphone company. You’ll be happy to hear that the quality of their headphones has gone up significantly after Apple took over.
These are another headphone you’ll often see at the gym. They aren’t significantly better than the other headphones on the list – it’s just their branding is a little better.
The major difference here is going to be in battery life. These headphones can last up to 12 hours. Ideal for those who forget to charge their devices.
They have also invested in fast charging. So if you tend to forget to charge your headphones you can get at least a workouts amount of battery life (1-hour) in 5 minutes of charging.
Other than that, these headphones have everything we want in lifting headphones and the sound quality is there.
A great option if you like the Beats brand and have a bad habit of forgetting to charge your headphones.
5. Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones
- Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ears
The best sound quality headphones on the list. They sound fantastic. Exactly what you can expect from Bose (I’m a big fan of Bose.)
My only complaint is they look a little goofy! I don’t know about you, but I can’t really get over how they look when someone is wearing them.
You’ll seem the at the gym a lot – and for good reason. They are fantastic workout headphones.
The eartips provide decent sound isolation and the wingtips are secure enough for our needs. If you’re going to be running in addition to lifting you probably want to go with wrap around earbuds.
The other issue here is the lack of battery life. They only have 6 hours, that’s half of what Beats has.
Only buy this option if you prize sound quality over functionality. They also happen to be the most expensive headphones on the list.
Tips For Buying Headphones For Lifting
There are 4 things you need in a headphone for lifting:
- Wireless
- Sweatproof
- Sound isolation
- Secure fit
Have you ever had your earbuds ripped out when you were standing up from a squat? Sucks doesn’t it?
Well, not more! Don’t buy headphones with wires for working out – just don’t do it.
Wireless headphones have come a long way. You can get up to 12 hours of battery life off a single change and some headphones (Beats) are offering fast charging.
The other thing that bothers me when working out is the music playing in the gym. Does your gym blast music? I hate having to turn my volume almost to max just to drown it out.
You need in-ear headphones. You can’t buy the headphones that sit loosely in your ear, you just won’t be able to hear the music.
You can find out about the different
There are plenty of reasonably-priced headphones that offer full IPX-7 waterproofing. This means they are essentially 100% waterproof.
So if you sweat, run/workout in the rain, you need to have at least an IPX rating of IPX-6 (ideally you’ll have 7.)
Fit is my last tip – find earbuds that fit your ears! You may have to try different eartip sizes until you find the right fit for you. You may even have to have different tip sizes for different ears!
If you have struggled to find earbuds that have worked in the past you may want to check out my article on earbuds for small ears here.
Conclusion
The best value headphones on the market right now for lifting are the Mpow Flames. What you get for that price point is just incredible.
If you want the best overall headphones then I’d recommend the Phaiser BHS-790s. They are a great balance between functionality and quality.
Want the best sound quality? Check out the Beats or the Bose headphones – either one will satisfy the inner audiophile.
I hope this has been helpful. If you have other suggestions drop them in the comment section below!