Which workout headphones should you buy in 2026? In this complete buyer’s guide, I compare the best headphones and earbuds for running, gym training, cycling, HIIT, HYROX training, yoga and Pilates—with lower-cost and premium recommendations for every activity.
The best workout headphones depend on how you train. Open-ear awareness can make more sense for running and cycling, noise cancelling is useful in a busy gym, and secure hooks or wings become increasingly important during HIIT and HYROX-style training.
As a qualified personal trainer, I’m looking beyond sound quality to the features that actually matter during exercise: stability, comfort, sweat protection, awareness, controls and battery life.
HEADPHONES COVERED:
• JBL Endurance Zone
• Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
• Soundcore Sport X20
• Sony WF-1000XM6
• Soundcore AeroFit 2
• Shokz OpenFit Pro
• JBL Endurance Race 2
• Powerbeats Fit
• JBL Endurance Peak 4
• Powerbeats Pro 2
• JLab Go Pop ANC
• AirPods Pro 3
• Shokz OpenFit Air
I also explain the important HYROX race-day headphone rule and why the recommendations in that section are intended for HYROX-style training.
Use the chapters to jump directly to your preferred activity:
🛒 HEADPHONE LINKS:
💪 TRAINING PROGRAMMES:
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Where are the “headphones”?