Who wouldn’t want earbuds that stay in your ears despite the aggressive movement, have long battery life, and are sweat-resistant? These are the necessary qualifications for the best sports earbuds.
But what if you could get more features to get an ultimate workout experience? Yes! Definitely!
Different sports require specific features that any athlete or enthusiast is looking for. It should also come with features that provide you with the best workout experience.
Therefore, we’ve listed the 6 best sports earbuds for 2022 that will meet all the necessary qualifications and guarantee to keep you focused on your fitness routine rather than fiddling with your pesky earbuds!
How to Determine the Best Sports Earbuds for You
When looking for the best sports earbuds, you must know your priority. For example, what sport or activity are you mostly going to use it with? Are you an avid runner or a cyclist? Do you spend a lot of time at the gym? Make sure to buy workout earphones that have been designed for the specific activity you’re most interested in.
Most consumers who are eyeing buying earbuds already have something in mind. It’s good practice to research the earbuds’ reviews and customer photos. You may simply do this by browsing on Amazon or BestBuy.
You may also want to choose the best Bluetooth sports earbuds that fit your style. It’s worth considering earbuds that will not fall out of your ears while you are working out but are also wireless, so they don’t dig into your head or neck.
Lastly, it’s worth trying them out first. Head to the nearest store and get wired in! Sound quality is essential when it comes to workout headphones.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the 6 best sports earbuds you need for your sweaty days:
1. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is a great option for working out. Its water resistance feature makes sure that your device stays safe whenever you sweat or when it gets splashed with rain. The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro has an IPX7 rating which means that it is waterproof and can be submerged in water as deep as 1 meter for 30 minutes. But no, Samsung recommends that you don’t take them swimming. Although, it’s still commendable since IPX7 is the highest water resistance rating given among all earbuds.
Furthermore, this product has an Active Noise Cancellation feature which is helpful for those who want to be in the zone when they are working out. Conversely, you can switch to ambient sounds. It also offers a feature where your buds automatically adjust to ambient mode and lowers the volume when you are talking to someone then revert to normal once you’re done.
Another commendable feature is the variety of actions through its touch controls. You can even activate a voice assistant! Moreover, it has 8 hours of listening time and can reach up to 28 hours with the charging case.
Just a tip, wear it properly before starting your workout as it could fall out by twisting the rubber part of the buds. It needs to fit snugly inside your ears.
A good option especially if you sweat a lot during a workout, you get earbuds with an IPX7 rating, decent audio quality, good battery life, ANC feature, and a good fit. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro sells for about $170 and has 4.4 stars on Amazon.
2. Apple AirPods Pro
For iOS users, one of the viable options is the Apple AirPods Pro. It has an IPX4 rating which means that it is sweat and water-resistant for non-water sports and exercise. However, unlike the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, it cannot be submerged in water.
The Apple AirPods Pro has five-hour battery life. It can last more than 24 hours with multiple additional charges in the charging case. However, battery life heavily depends on device settings, environment, usage, and many other factors.
It has a minimalistic design and offers a customizable fit with three sizes of silicone tips. The vents in the tips ensure that the pressure on both sides of your ears is equalized. This allows for a snug fit so that it will not fall during physical activities.
It also has an active noise cancellation that blocks out external noise. But if you need to listen to your surroundings, you can switch to transparency mode.
The Apple AirPods Pro is available for $220. It has a BestBuy rating of 4.8 stars.
3. Bose Sports Earbuds - True Wireless
The Bose Sports Earbuds have three sizes of StayHear Max tips to keep your earbuds on your ears comfortably and snugly. The rubber tips securely rest the earbuds on you even during rigorous activities.
The Bose Sports Earbuds are claimed to have 5 hours of continuous listening time and can last up to 15 hours with the charging case. You also have the quick charge option where you get 2 additional hours with a 15-minute charge. Relatively lower than the others, it’s still decent for a quick run.
It also offers touch controls but can be quite limiting as you can skip forward a track but are unable to move back. Also, you cannot adjust the volume of your music through your earbuds’ touch controls. Instead, you need to pull out your phone to make minor adjustments.
You can get the Bose Sport Earbuds - True Wireless earbuds for $145 with an Amazon rating of 4.4 stars.
4. Jabra Elite 85T True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
The Jabra Elite 85T is an improved version of the Elite 75T and 65T. The Active Noise Cancellation and the HeartThrough features are now both adjustable. It also now uses 6-microphone technology for crystal clear calls.
The earbuds are built with a semi-open design instead of plugging your ears with rubber tips. This design ensures that you can wear the Jabra Elite 85T for extended periods comfortably. Additionally, its toggle controls are intuitive and designed especially for an active lifestyle. It has the option to switch between Active Noise Canceling or HearThrough, adjust the volume, and skip and reverse tracks.
The battery of these earbuds can last up to 5 hours with the Active Noise Canceling turned on and can even last up to 25 hours with the charging case. It also has the quick charge feature where 15 minutes of charging can provide 1 additional hour of use.
The Jabra Elite 85T has a water-resistance rating of IPX4 which is good against water splashes from the rain. However, sweat that goes inside the ear may cause problems or issues for the device especially because it has a semi-open design. Furthermore, the design does not fit securely on your ears, making it difficult to use in rigorous outdoor activities.
The Jabra Elite 85T True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are available for $200 with an Amazon rating of 4.3 stars out of 5.
5. Sony WF-SP800N
The Sony WF-SP800N has one of the best fits among the Bluetooth sports earbuds on this list. It is tight and secure yet it remains comfortable even after a long period of use. It lasts for around 9 to 13 hours of listening time and up to 26 hours using the charging case. It can be charged quickly for 10 minutes which will provide an additional 1 hour to the device’s power.
The earbuds also have the Active Noise Cancellation feature and the Ambient Sound for more awareness of your surroundings. Furthermore, the level of ANC and Ambient Sound are customizable through the Sony Headphones Connect App. However, the Active Noise Cancellation does not work against wind noise, especially during calls.
The Touch Control options include Ambient Sound Controls, Quick Attention, Google Assistant, and Volume control. However, only two of these options can be active at a time. The Quick Attention feature allows the user to touch the earbuds and instantly lets external sound be heard through the earbuds.
Furthermore, the Sony WF-SP800N has an IP55 rating which makes it resistant to dust and water. It is ideal for users who prefer to exercise outdoors.
The Sony WF-SP800N costs $90 and has an Amazon rating of 4.2 stars.
6. AirBuds Pro / Air Pro 3
The AirBuds Pro also known as the Air Pro 3 is the cheapest Bluetooth sports earbuds we’ve found. Its features and design can almost compare to the AirPods but are way cheaper for about $70. It’s even on promotion at Joom for only $9.
Its Bluetooth technology is comparable to the AirPods as well as the pairing. It also has a smart sensor that detects when your earbuds are in the ear. It also offers touch control panels to answer or reject calls.
It also didn’t miss the necessary detail for the best sports earbuds which are sweatproof, dustproof, and waterproof. Therefore, given the cheap price, it matches the other mid-end and high-end earbuds that have an IPX4 rating.
It also features good noise isolation, however, not ANC alike.
Verdict
Music is now part of the game. A growing number of people are turning to sports earbuds when they want to be in the mood or hyped up during a workout or an exercise routine. Hence the need for lightweight and comfortable earbuds are a must. Also, athletes and enthusiasts now want a considerable sound environment when they are on the move.
Among the 6 best sports earbuds that we have on this list, the Sony WF-SP800N has the best combination of features and durability. It is water and dust resistant has highly customizable controls and is tight and secure on the ears which are perfect for outdoor activities. But considering the price that could match the features needed for Bluetooth sports earbuds, we’d say the AirBuds Pro is the runner-up.