Best sports headphones 2023: keep active with the best workout earbuds

If you're looking to up your fitness levels, a new pair of sports headphones is a great way to give yourself a boost. 

You can't beat your favourite tunes when it comes to finding that extra motivation to finish your run, ride or gym workout routine – and a good pair of headphones is critical. (Of course a best running songs playlist will help too.)

The best sports headphones will deliver great sound while offering sweat-resistant designs that stay in place. All of the below are four- or five-star pairs, so are guaranteed to perform brilliantly.

How to choose the best sports headphones for you

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

The first thing to consider is battery life. Longer is better, as you're less likely to run out of juice mid-run. 

If you're exercising in the great outdoors, you'll want some kind of waterproofing in case of a downpour. IPX4 is the minimum you'll want (all of the below have at least this rating), as that means they'll withstand water splashing. But some models can be fully submerged for swimming or just a post-workout shower.

Noise-cancelling will neutralise background noise and help you focus, and be better for your hearing as you can hear the detail of your music without cranking up the volume. But it could be a hazard if you're out exercising as it makes you less aware of approaching cars.

Best sports headphones: JBL Reflect Flow Pro

Even so-so noise-cancelling can't hold these back from the top spot. (Image credit: JBL)
JBL elevates its successful Reflect sport headphones to ‘Pro’ status – and pro they are.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 28hrs (buds: 8hrs; case: 20hrs)
Waterproofing: IP68
Weight: 7.5g each

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable, lightweight, secure fit
+
Likeably lively, detailed sound
+
Decent battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Noise-cancelling is only OK
-
No aptX support

Until they were discontinued, the original Reflect Flow were a mainstay on this list. JBL's successors replicate that success admirably.

They add active noise cancellation to the mix, along with ambient and TalkThru modes that make you more aware of your surroundings (handy while you're out running). They're dust-tight, and can be fully immersed in water, so won't be troubled by even the heaviest of downpours.

They sound pretty great too, with plenty of bounce to power you through that fifth mile. They're not quite as refined as a dedicated music pair, but for sports-focussed buds, they tick all the boxes.

Read the full JBL Reflect Flow Pro review

Best sports headphones: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

An IPX4 rating makes these non-sports earbuds actually quite good for sport. (Image credit: Future)
What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022 winner. Bose's flagship wireless earbuds sound the business.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 24hrs (buds: 6hrs; case: 18hrs)
Waterproofing: IPX4
Weight: 6.2g each

Reasons to buy

+
Exceptional noise-cancelling
+
Fantastic sense of refinement
+
Beautifully balanced sound
+
Excellent detail levels

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life can be bettered
-
Call quality is nothing special
-
No Bluetooth multipoint
-
No wireless charging

Say hello to the 'Best wireless earbuds over £200' at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022. As the title of the award suggests, these premium Bluetooth in-ears sound amazing and set a new benchmark for wireless earbuds at this level.

They're not a sports pair, but they are rated IPX4 water resistant. Which is good enough for most activities on dry land.

Smaller and lighter than the original QC Earbuds, the Earbuds II provide a comfortable fit and lots of features. Bluetooth 5.3 is a big bonus, and the Bose app allows you to alter the amount of noise-cancelling on offer via a number of customisable presets.

Speaking of noise-cancelling, the Bose are at the top of their game. They can automatically adjust the amount of ANC on offer so your music isn’t drowned out by particularly loud noises and the effect is deeply impressive. As for sound, it's balanced and neutral and overflowing with fine detail. 

It's a shame there's no support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD, nor is there wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint. But we don't think this is the end of the world when you consider that these classy buds ooze such sophistication.

Read the full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II review 

Best sports headphones: Sony WF-C500

It's not all high-end – Sony puts in a strong performance at the budget end too. (Image credit: Sony)
What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022 winner. Genuine contenders for the best sports headphones on a budget.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: No
Battery life: 20hrs (buds: 10hrs; case: 10hrs)
Waterproofing: IPX4
Weight: 5.4g each

Reasons to buy

+
Compact and comfortable design
+
Spirited, well-balanced sound
+
Fine control app

Reasons to avoid

-
Ordinary battery life
-
Slightly small-scale sound
-
Numerous serious rivals

When it comes to wireless earbuds, Sony has sewn up the high end with the WF-1000XM4. But can it do the same at the budget end of the market with the WF-C500?

Last year, the C500 won a 2022 What Hi-Fi? Award, so we would have to say the answer is yes. They handle the basics very well, with Bluetooth 5.0, and compatibility with SBC and AAC codecs. Battery life is a healthy 10 hours from the earbuds themselves, and another 10 from the charging case, making a total of 20.

They pair with Sony's consummate Headphones Connect app for sublime controls, and numerous extra features (like the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine, which upscales audio files to something approaching ‘hi-res’ quality). Voice controls come via Google Assistant and Siri, and while they're not a dedicated sports model, the IPX4 rating means they're resistant to water splashes. 

Sonically, they're even-handed and nicely balanced, with well-shaped bass notes. In short, they offer a lot of what makes Sony's high-end buds so compelling, without cutting too many corners. Definitely one for the shortlist.

Read the full Sony WF-C500 review

Best sports headphones: Sony WF-1000XM4

Sony's ace wireless earbuds are the best you can buy, and a great sports pair too. (Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)
What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022 winner. A premium pair of sports headphones with style and serious substance.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 24hrs (buds: 8hrs; case: 16hrs)
Waterproofing: IPX4
Weight: 7.3g each

Reasons to buy

+
Clear, detailed bass performance
+
Wonderful sense of musicality
+
Comfortable
+
Class-leading battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Missing Sony’s Multipoint feature
-
Lacking ear tip choices
-
No aptX HD

If you're looking for premium sports headphones to slip into your ears, these sweat-resistant, 2021/2022 Award-winning Sonys need to be at the top of your list. They have dynamics and detail in spades and deliver a balanced performance, with taut and weighty bass and sophisticated mids and highs. You can't help but be carried away by their sense of musicality. 

Those who prioritise battery life in sports headphones should find the eight hours promised by the Sonys more than sufficient for any activity. The wireless charging case also extends this by a further 16 hours.

The Sonys are comfortable to wear too, with touch-sensitive controls and ear tips that provide excellent noise isolation. Combine this with brilliant noise cancelling courtesy of Sony's Integrated Processor V1 and the WF-1000XM4 are difficult to fault.

Clever features like Quick Attention and Speak-To-Chat both allow you to have a conversation without removing the earbuds – great for a mid-run chat. If you've got the budget for a premium pair of sports headphones the WF-1000XM4 need serious consideration.

Read the full Sony WF-1000XM4 review

Best sports headphones: Panasonic RZ-S500W

Panasonic's first true wireless earbuds are a great option for sports as well as everyday listening. (Image credit: Panasonic)
A hugely talented and affordable pair of sports earbuds.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 19.5hrs (buds: 6.5 hours; case: 13hrs)
Waterproofing: IPX4
Weight: 7g each

Reasons to buy

+
Expansive detailed presentation
+
Excellent noise cancelling
+
Superb touch controls

Reasons to avoid

-
Fit could be an issue for some

Panasonic isn't a brand that immediately springs to mind when you think of sports headphones. But perhaps it should be.

These 2021 Award-winners are its first true wireless models, and they're very impressive. Specs are thorough, with noise-cancelling tech, an Ambient Mode, twin mics for voice calls, and a battery life that totals 19.5 hours (6.5hrs from the buds and 13hrs from the charging case). And a 15-minute USB-C quick-charge can deliver 70 minutes of playback. The touch controls on each bud are responsive and intuitive, allowing you to control your music and switch between noise-cancelling modes with zero fuss. 

You also get five sizes of ear tips to help with fit. We found this a little hit and miss, so we would definitely experiment and consider mixing sizes.

Both noise cancelling and sound quality are excellent. Music sounds clear and there's a great deal of refinement on show, while bass is deep and detailed. To sum up, these Panasonic sports headphones are superb for the money. A great buy on a budget.

Read the full Panasonic RZ-S500W review

Best sports headphones: Sony WF-C700N

Sony's new midrange wireless earbuds are a great middle ground between its high-end and budget models. (Image credit: Future)
Five-star wireless earbuds combine comfort, ANC and sensational sound quality.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 7.5hrs (+7.5hrs from charging case)
Waterproofing: IPX4
Weight: 4.6g each

Reasons to buy

+
Very comfortable fit
+
Refined presentation for the money
+
Detailed, dynamic and musical sound

Reasons to avoid

-
No Multipoint Bluetooth (yet)
-
Charging case doesn't add a lot to battery life
-
No aptX or LDAC support

Sony's newest wireless earbuds slot neatly between the budget WF-C500 and premium WF-1000XM4.

And they're a brilliant option that more than justify their price tag. The buds are impressively small, and their lightweight design helps make them even more comfortable than Sony's XM4. Battery life is competitive at seven and a half hours. Both these factors make them excellent for sports.

They lack aptX HD and LDAC but do feature noise-cancelling tech, which the WF-C500 lack. Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches listening modes depending on your location, and Sony's DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales low-res digital audio files to higher quality.

The sound quality is superbly balanced too, with deep, detailed bass, expressive mids and engaging highs. They're a very musical listen for the money.

Downsides? The lack of support for aptX HD and LDAC is disappointing, while Multipoint – which lets you switch seamlessly between devices – won't arrive until later in the summer. And the charging case only provides one extra charge which seems a little mean. But the superb sound and great feature set make these easy to recommend as some of the best sports headphones available.

Read the full Sony WF-C700N review

Best sports headphones: JBL Live Pro 2 TWS

All the features you could want for a price that's more than reasonable. (Image credit: Future)
Great sound quality and packed with plenty of useful features.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 8hrs (+22hrs from charging case)
Waterproofing: IPX5
Weight: 4.8g each

Reasons to buy

+
Punchy, lively sound
+
Solid, meaty bass
+
User-friendly app and set-up

Reasons to avoid

-
No aptX HD or LDAC
-
Control customisation could be better
-
Only three ear tip choices

If you've got a decent-sized budget to play with but can't stretch to more premium options like the Sony WF-1000XM4 or the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, then these JBL earbuds could be right up your street.

For the money, you get all the features you could wish for, including ANC, IPX5 water resistance, a thorough control app which offers some customisation, a good user experience, and a comfortable enough design. A few more ear tip options to help get the perfect fit wouldn't go amiss, though.

Battery life is good at eight hours with Bluetooth and noise-cancelling on, while the wireless charging case will top the total combined time to 30 hours. Touch controls are included at the top of each stem and you also have Multipoint Bluetooth so you can connect two sources simultaneously.

The excellent sound quality is the icing on this cake, with the JBLs favouring a lively and entertaining sound. Bass weight is nicely judged and there's good extension there too. Detail levels are excellent at this level as are the dynamics on offer. If you're looking to make the step up from a cheap pair of earbuds to a slightly more premium pair for sports, these JBLs have to be on your list.

Read the full JBL Live Pro 2 TWS review

Best sports headphones: Earfun Air

Some of the cheapest headphones going, and one of the best sports pairs around. (Image credit: EarFun)
Wallet-friendly and feature-packed sports headphones.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: No
Battery life: 35hrs (buds: 7hrs; case: 28hrs)
Waterproofing: IPX7
Weight: 5.35g each

Reasons to buy

+
Punchy, expansive sound
+
Great feature set
+
Classy build and finish

Reasons to avoid

-
Treble needs more refinement

If you want cheap and cheerful wireless sports headphones, you need to give the Earfun Air a try.

They're packed with features. You don't get noise-cancelling at this price point (you need the Earfun Air Pro for that), but the Earfun Air do provide excellent noise isolation and they feel comfortable, too. They're also waterproof to IPX7 standards (submersible in one metre of water for up to 30 mins), support virtual assistants and include Qi wireless charging if you've got a suitable charger to hand.

Battery life is seven hours from the buds and a further 28 hours from the charging case. Amazingly it all feels fairly premium too. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection is solid and stable, calls sound clear and for the money, the headphones offer an energetic and spacious sound.

If you’re after a pair of affordable and entertaining sports headphones, the Earfun Air are definitely worth investigating.

Read the full Earfun Air review

Best sports headphones: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

Sennheiser's latest Momentum True Wireless earbuds are another victorious entry for the range. (Image credit: Sennheiser)
Third time’s a charm for Sennheiser’s premium ANC wireless earbuds.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 28hrs (buds: 7hrs; case: 21hrs)
Waterproofing: IPX4
Weight: 5.8g each

Reasons to buy

+
Spacious, refined and insightful sound
+
aptX Adaptive Bluetooth support
+
Nicely priced

Reasons to avoid

-
Earpieces slightly cheaper looking
-
Pick up wind noise

The Momentum isn't Sennehiser's sporty range of earbuds, but the IPX4 rating does make them suitable for sports – they'll withstand water splashing, so you can run in the rain and sweat profusely without worrying about breaking them.

They're a step up from the True Wireless 2, with support for the aptX Adaptive codec (up from standard aptX on their predecessors). That means (compressed) transmission of up to 24-bit music files, lower latency, and more robustness to eliminate drop-outs when you're taking your phone out of your pocket or bag.

Sound Zones and profiles also help create a more bespoke sonic performance. 

The noise-cancellation is effective, rendering background sounds to a dull murmur, while sonically they're some of the most sophisticated earbuds we've heard. Clarity, refinement and spaciousness are the order of the day here, and it's all taken to new heights while boosting detail resolution levels. All of which makes for a stunning pair of earbuds.

Read the full Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 review

Best sports headphones: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Another Bose entry, another pair of the best sports headphones around. (Image credit: Bose)
Fantastic sports headphones blessed with superb noise-cancelling tech.

Specifications

Noise-cancelling: Yes
Battery life: 18hrs (buds: 6hrs; case: 12hrs)
Waterproofing: IPX4
Weight: 8.5g each

Reasons to buy

+
Exciting, entertaining sound
+
Superb balance
+
Impressive noise-cancelling

Reasons to avoid

-
Average battery life

Historically, the vast majority of Bose's noise-cancelling headphones have been on- and over-ear designs, but the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are up there with the very best true wireless models.

They're lightweight and we have no issues listening for hours at a time. For the average commute or exercise session (the QuietComforts are both sweat and weather-resistant) they are great to live with and they feel like a quality product too. Battery life is six hours from a single charge, with the charging case supplying an extra two charges, making 18 hours in total – decent, but by no means class-leading (it's bettered by the QuietComfort Earbuds II further up this list, for one). Being able to customise some features and controls, and adjust the excellent noise-cancellation in the companion app, is very useful. And touch controls for volume are the icing on the cake.

The sense of enthusiasm and excitement conveyed by these sports headphones is highly infectious. There’s power, poise and a fantastic sense of dynamism. Bass notes sound full-bodied, go deep and the QuietComforts squeeze out lots of detail.

All in all, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are great all-rounders, capable of impressive musicality and topped off with excellent noise cancelling. They’re more than a match for any rival at this level.

Read the full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review

How we choose the best sports headphones

Here at What Hi-Fi? we review hundreds of products every year – and that includes plenty of headphones. So how do we come to our review verdicts? And why can you trust them?

We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Bath, where our team of expert reviewers do all our testing. This gives us complete control over the testing process, ensuring consistency.

Of course headphones – especially sporty ones like the above – are tested out in the field, how we would use them as if we had bought them ourselves. That gives us a chance to test the wireless performance, noise-cancelling, fit, water-resistance and more. 

All products are tested in comparison with rival products in the same price category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.

The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years' experience of reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics.

From all of our reviews, we choose the best products to feature in our Best Buys. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended above, or on any other Best Buy page, you can be assured you're getting a What Hi-Fi? approved product.

Joe Svetlik

Joe has been writing about tech for 17 years, first on staff at T3 magazine, then in a freelance capacity for Stuff, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Men's Health, GQ, The Mirror, Trusted Reviews, TechRadar and many more (including What Hi-Fi?). His specialities include all things mobile, headphones and speakers that he can't justifying spending money on.