It’s obvious to think “wireless” once you mention workout headphones. The last thing you want when you go running is a wire that distracts your movement. It’s only logical to opt for a wireless option. What’s even smarter is making sure the pair you choose come with ear hooks, fins, or any type of clips that ensure that your sports headphones are securely in place regardless of how active you get. Since there are endless over-ear headphones available on the market, it might get extremely confusing and frustrating to choose the right pair for your needs. To limit your confusion, we put together the ultimate guide to choose from some of the best workout headphones available.
Do You Really Want Over-Ear?
Personally, we think over-ear headphones offer the best experience in almost any situation due to a few benefits that set them apart from other options. Here are some of the most important pros to expect with over-ear headphones.
They are more comfortable: Finding comfortable over-ear headphones is a lot easier than going through endless in-ear options to find the one that fits best.
Better sound quality: With a bigger design, you can expect much more packed in the sound department. What’s even more important than a good base and low distortion levels is the noise-cancellation feature that sets a lot of over-ear headphones from the competition.
More Convenient: the use of headphones is generally more convenient than constantly losing your EarPods or finding a place to hang the in-ear headset when it’s not being used. Going with headphones means you are rarely going to lose them and can easily leave them around your neck when you are still creating the perfect workout playlist.
Size and Fit
The vertical distance and the one between our ears and the top of our heads differ. Considering this variation, you would want to get headphones with an adjustable headband. Going through different pairs, you will notice there is a longer and shorter adjustment span. Some people with smaller head sizes might find the smallest adjustment to be too big, and the opposite case is also true. Thus, you need to make sure of the size and fit of your choice of headphones.
Comfort is another factor to consider if you are planning on wearing the headphones for long workout sessions. You need to consider the pros and cons of padded and unpadded headphones. Make sure the earcup and cushioning are suitable for your comfort. Even during short workout sessions, comfort can be a crucial factor to avoid unnecessary distractions.
Closed Back or Open Back?
The main difference between open-back and closed-back headphones is how sealed the back is. In closed-back headphones, the back is carefully sealed to stop any noise from creeping in. This surely enhances the listening experience, but it takes away from how natural the sound is. Open-back headphones, on the other hand, sound more natural but they don’t offer the best noise-canceling experience.
For outdoor workout sessions, it’s preferred to go with a closed-back pair to be able to block gym and street noise and focus on your training. One thing to bear in mind is that closed-back headphones are more prone to store heat which might make your ears sweatier. To get the best of both worlds, you can opt for a pair of semi-closed back headphones.
Water Protection
When you are picking workout headphones, water-resistance/ protection is an important factor to consider. With a lot of movement, you should expect your headphones to be at a higher risk of getting subjected to a lot of accidents. Even if you are super careful, you still want to make sure that long workout sessions will not ruin the headphones with sweat. Thus, it’s always better to consider headphones with a water-protection level to ensure you won’t quickly ruin your sports headphones.
If you want to be able to use your headphones at beaches and pools, it’s essential you consider headphones with higher levels of water protection. Make sure to read the instructions and use the headphones accordingly to avoid damaging your headset.
However, if you are only planning on working out with your set, it’s fine to resort to high-quality sweat-resistant/proof headphones. Make sure the headphones you choose have a certified IPX rating. An IPX is less than is sweat resistant while sweatproof is IPX4. On the other hand, if you are planning on swimming with your headphones on, then you need to choose a solid IPX7 one.
Build Quality
Considering build quality when you are a regular gym-goer is essential. You don’t want to pick a set that will break in two months. Even if picking a high-quality durable pair will stretch your budget, it will still save you a lot of money in the long run. Since it’s almost impossible to tell how durable the headphones are without giving them a test first, it’s essential to take a look at online reviews. This will give you an idea of what to expect and make it easier to narrow your options to those with low failure rates. You also need to make sure of their water resistance, which can easily be done through a waterproof test.
Noise Cancellation
This is an important factor to consider in your hunt for the perfect workout headphones. Do you want to cancel all gym noises or have better awareness? After all, this is a personal preference. Overall, wireless options outcompete wired headphones. So, finding a pair with the perfect isolation level for your taste is not that hard.
In our experience, it’s best to choose something in the middle that can reduce ambient noise and block others from listening to the music you are listening to without completely blocking your senses from the outside world, especially if you are going to wear your set in situations like running in the city.
There are lots of factors involved in finding the perfect workout headphones. When you are defining your preferences and narrowing down your choices, it’s essential to go through online reviews to know what to expect with the pair of headphones you choose. After deciding on your budget and checking every box on your list, make sure to give your choice a test run and a waterproof test to be more comfortable with your decision.
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