Skip to main content
Hamburger Menu Close

Advertisement

Accessories and Gear

Headphones for working out: 9 essential picks to amp up your next training session

Looking for new gym headphones and earbuds to raise your workouts to a new level? Here are some worthy options for your fitness arsenal.

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.

Headphones for working out: 9 essential picks to amp up your next training session

Listening to your favourite music can help make your workouts more enjoyable and distract you from the burn of pushing your body. Photo: Amazon.sg

If you think nothing of working out before heading to the office, you deserve serious respect for your superhuman dedication to fitness. But for us mere mortals who sometimes need that extra push to hit the gym, blasting our favorite tunes can provide the added motivation we need.

When scouting for any headphones, your first priority should be sound quality. Look for headphones with balanced bass, mid-range, and highs for clear sound and vocals. Cheaper options might overdo the bass and high frequencies, sacrificing vocal clarity and sounding harsh.

Workout headphones need to tick a few more fitness-specific boxes. Here are a few key factors to consider:

Fit: This is crucial so your headphones don’t fall out mid-session. Look for earbuds with different-sized tips and ear fins/hooks for a secure fit. Some even have liquid silicone coatings for extra grip.

Go wireless: Why are we only recommending wireless or true wireless models for exercise? Because you don’t want to worry about tangled cords in the middle of your set.

Weight matters: Skip on-ear or over-ear headphones – they are relatively heavy and can get uncomfortable when you're moving around. Plus, their earcups trap heat and can start to disintegrate quickly when constantly exposed to heavy perspiration.

Battery life: Look for a set that lasts at least five to six hours on a single charge with Bluetooth, ANC (active noise cancelling) and other features activated. That should cover your workout and commute.

Water resistance: Check the IP (ingress protection) rating for dust and water protection. The first number refers to its ability to keep out dust, the second number refers to how well it keeps out water. If there's an X in the rating (like IPX8), it hasn't been tested for dust ingress, only water.

We've rounded up some workout headphones and earbuds that could help you amp up your fitness game.

CONTENTS

  1. JBL Endurance Race
  2. Anker Soundcore Sport X10
  3. Creative Outlier Free Pro+
  4. Sony LinkBuds
  5. Shokz OpenRun
  6. Jabra Elite 8 Active, Navy
  7. Beats Fit Pro
  8. Bose Ultra Open
  9. Sennheiser Momentum Sport

1. JBL Endurance Race (S$122.92)

Photo: Amazon.sg

JBL says these IP67-rated earbuds can be submerged in up to 1m of water (but can’t be used for swimming). If you often exercise near the beach, that’s a definite plus point. Quick charging is also supported – a 10-minute charge gives up to an hour of playback. They also help with work calls, thanks to dual beamforming microphones that help to filter out background noise while picking up your voice loud and clear.

  • IP67 rating
  • 10 hours play back time on single charge
  • Charging case gives additional 20 hours of playback time

Shop here

2. Anker Soundcore Sport X10 (S$89.90; Usual Price S$189.90)

The rotatable hooks on these Bluetooth 5.2 open-ear buds help keep the Sport X10s in place during vigorous workouts. Test their fit to ensure the hooks don’t interfere with the grip of your spectacles or sunglasses. The IPX7-rated earbuds can be submerged in up to 1m of water for up to 30 minutes – though you can’t swim or shower with these.

  • IPX7 rating
  • Eight hours playback time on single charge
  • Charging case gives additional 24 hours of playback time

Shop here

3. Creative Outlier Free Pro+ (S$137.69)

Wireless and waterproof, the Creative Outlier Free Pro+ headphones hook around your ears. It uses bone conduction technology to transmit sounds to your inner ear bones. This leaves your ear canals unblocked, so you’re always aware of your surroundings.

Creative says you can swim with the IPX8-rated headphones in freshwater up to a depth of 1.5m for up to 40 minutes. Just remember to seal its built-in microphone with the supplied plug. It connects to your devices via Bluetooth 5.3 and can pair up to two devices simultaneously. It also features a built-in 8 GB MP3 player, so you can tune in while perfecting your butterfly stroke.

  • IPX8 rating
  • Up to 10 hours of playback time
  • 10-minute charge gives up to two hours of play back time.

Shop here

4. Sony LinkBuds (S$189; Usual Price:S$279)

Photo: Sony.com.sg

Sony has designed these doughnut-shaped Bluetooth 5.2 earbuds to be ergonomic and match the shape of the human ear for a more stable fit. The LinkBuds are IPX4 rated, so they’ll shrug off perspiration and while you tune into your music. Both the case and earbuds are made from recycled plastic, hence the mottled look. Its Adaptive Volume Control feature automatically lowers volume in quiet places and raises it in noisier environments.

  • IPX4 rated
  • Up to 5.5 hours of playback, case gives additional 12 hours’ playback time
  • 10-minute charge gives up to 90 minutes of playback time.

Shop here

5. Shokz OpenRun (S$199)

These bone conduction headphones sit in front of your ears leaving them unblocked, so you’re always aware of what’s happening around you. Its light weight (26g), silicone coating and neckband helps it stay securely on your head. It’s IP67 rated, making these Bluetooth 5.1 headphones resistant to perspiration and rain, although they aren't suited for swimming.

  • IP67 rated
  • Up to eight hours of playback time
  • 10-minute charge gives up to 1.5 hours of playback time.

Shop here

6. Jabra Elite 8 Active, Navy (S$228; Usual Price S$308)

These exercise-oriented earbuds don’t use ear fins thanks to JBL’s ShakeGrip technology. This is a grippy liquid silicone rubber coating that JBL says offers a secure grip without the need for ear fins. We suggest testing the fit yourself, especially if you engage in more rigorous activities. The IP68 rated earbuds use adaptive hybrid ANC and offer spatial sound which is said to offer a wider soundstage. For clearer phone calls, an array of six microphones help to filter background noise while capturing your voice clearly. Connect to up to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth 5.3.

  • IP68 rated
  • Up to eight hours of playback with ANC, charging case gives up to 24 hours of additional playback time
  • Five-minute charge gives up to one hour of playback.

Shop here

7. Beats Fit Pro (S$271.45)

Photo: Apple.com/sg

These earbuds use Apple’s H1 chip, which offers improved pairing speed, lower latency and more stable Bluetooth connections. They also work with Android devices, but some features – like Siri support and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking – require pairing with an Apple device.

  • IPX4 rated
  • Up to 6 hours of playback time (with ANC and Transparency mode)
  • Charging case gives up to 18 additional hours of playback time

Shop here

8. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (S$379)

If ear cuffs hit the gym to bulk up, they’d probably look like this. Bose’s IPX4-rated open ear headphones clip around the side of each ear for a more secure grip during workouts. They rest on the outer part of your ears, using air conduction to transmit sound. This leaves your ear canals open, so you can still hear ambient noise. They support Bluetooth 5.3 and its Immersive Audio feature creates a wider soundstage.

  • IPX4 rated
  • up to 7.5 hours of playtime (up to 4.5 hours with Immersive Audio activated).
  • Additional 19.5 hours of playtime with charging case

Shop here

9. Sennheiser Momentum Sport (S$449; Usual Price S$479; currently available with additional 5 per cent discount)

These earbuds integrate the sonic goodness of the Momentum range with its party piece – built-in heart rate and body temperature sensors that help track your fitness. The earbuds have an IP55 rating and will keep perspiration at bay. Ear fins and ear tips are available in multiple sizes to help you get a secure fit. They support Bluetooth 5.3 and can be be paired with the Polar Flow app so you can easily track your fitness metrics.

  • IP55 rated
  • Up to six hours of listening time on a single charge with Bluetooth, adaptive ANC and sensors switched on
  • Charging case gives up to a total of 24 hours of overall playback time

Shop here

The Creative Outlier Free Pro+ headphones are IPX8 rated, making them pool-friendly. Their built-in MP3 player offers hassle-free use without a phone connection. The IPX55-rated Sennheiser Momentum Sport incorporates built-in sensors so you can track performance metrics, without an additional fitness tracker.

The IPX68-rated Jabra Elite 8 Active have a liquid silicone coating that is  supposed to provide a grippier surface without ear fins or ear hooks. The IP67-rated Shokz OpenRun bone conduction headphones and IPX7-rated Anker Soundcore Sport X10 Bluetooth Earbuds offer a more secure fit that should make them suited for more vigorous activities.

For gym or light workouts, the IPX4-rated Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, Beats Fit Pro and Sony LinkBuds are light, compact, sweat-resistant options that also don’t look out of place on your daily commute.

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.

Prices are accurate as of the time of publication. Discount codes for some products are available for eligible Prime members.

Not a Prime member yet? Join Prime or start a 30-day free trial at Amazon.sg/prime. Prime members enjoy free one-day domestic delivery and free international delivery on eligible items.

Source: CNA

Advertisement

RECOMMENDED

Advertisement