The Best Earbuds for the Gym: What to Look For

Gym earbuds live a hard life. They get soaked in sweat, knocked out by barbells and dropped on rubber floors. The best pair for your commute may not be the best pair for leg day.

What matters

• Secure fit: ear hooks or wing tips keep buds in during jumps and sprints. Powerbeats Pro 2 are a classic example.
• Sweat resistance: look for an IP rating such as IPX4 or higher. The second digit refers to water protection.
• Physical buttons: easier to use with sweaty fingers than touch controls.
• Transparency mode: lets you hear trainers, spotters and announcements.
• Battery: enough for a full session plus your commute.

Fitness features

Some earbuds now measure heart rate, including AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2, feeding data into fitness apps. Handy if you don’t wear a watch.

Our picks

• Most secure: Powerbeats Pro 2.
• iPhone users who want one pair for everything: AirPods Pro 3.
• Samsung users: Galaxy Buds4 Pro with the right size wing tips.
• Budget: CMF Buds 2 Plus or similar sweat resistant budget buds.

Care tips

• Wipe buds and the case after each session.
• Let them dry before putting them back in the case.
• Clean ear tips regularly to avoid infections.

Protect your hearing

Gyms are loud, and it’s tempting to max out the volume. Use noise cancelling instead to keep the volume at safe levels.

Sources

• SoundGuys, best true wireless earbuds
• International Electrotechnical Commission, IP ratings explained