Preparing a great playlist is often part of gym preparation. When you have picked the right song mix, you would need the best on ear headphones for working out to get those tunes in your ears or it would be an effort in vain.
Sweat and rigorous activity can be an issue with many electronic devices. However, when it comes to audio devices, there are many suitable options that beat this problem. You can select any one, from the best wireless earbuds to on-ear headphones made for workouts.
A pair of the best on-ear headphones are a great balance between the comfort of over-ears and the portability of in-ears for most people. They come with smaller ear cups that fit right on the ears, making them more breathable and compact than over-ear headphones without you having to stick earbuds inside your ears.
Depending on the design, some of them may cause an uncomfortable degree of pressure on your ears because they generally tend to have a tighter fit than over-ear headphones. The best on-ear headphones will fit right on you and have a sound profile that is compatible with the kind of music genre you listen to. The best on-ear models even have extra features like active noise cancelling (ANC) and Bluetooth connectivity.
We have put together the five best on ear workout headphones. All the headphones listed below are focused on fitness.
Best on ear headphones for working out in 2021 are:
1. Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500
The BackBeat Fit 500 is one of the best on ear headphones for working out. It is an affordable option that has an elaborate design and offers remarkable audio output for just $100.
If you need decent noise isolation in addition to deep, detailed sound, you should go for this device. It has a closed-back on-ear design and 40mm drivers that meet your needs perfectly. The headband is built with memory foam and the comfortable ear cups help to keep out ambient noise to a good extent.
The nano-coating of Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 is IP67 certified which implies that apart from being just protected from sweat, moisture and water, they can stay inside 3.9 feet deep water for up to 30 minutes without getting damaged. The ear cups are not excluded from this protection. As a matter of fact, the entire headphone is made waterproof thanks to the P2i military-grade nano-coating.
BackBeat Fit 500 is suitable for use during extended workout sessions because the battery can last for up to 18 hours on each full charge. It works with Class 1 Bluetooth, hence, you can go as far as 33 feet (10 meters) from the audio source without getting any interruption in the connection.
The playback controls of the headphones are located discreetly on the right ear cup while the volume control is on the side of the right ear cup. There is a mic on the left ear cup which lets you accept/reject calls gives you access to Siri, Cortana, and Google Now commands.
2. Adidas RPT-01 On Ear Headphones
There are sporty on-ear devices designed by companies like Under Armour in collaboration with JBL for people who want the best on-ear workout headphones. But our top choices are the over-ear Plantronics Backbeat Fit 6100 and the Adidas RPT-01 which also look better and fit more comfortably than the headphones from Under Armour.
As expected, they are not as comfortable as over-ear headphones but Adidas RPT-01 are quite comfortable for on-ear headphones. Note that people with larger ears will find that they press down rather too tightly and put pressure on the ears and head. This pair of headphones has an IPX4 certification and is sweat resistant. You can also remove the inner headband and ear cushions and wash them. There are instructions on how to do this in the package but a video guide from Adidas would be better. When it comes to headphones for workouts, the more ways to get rid of sweat smells, the better.
These headphones are made by the same Swedish company that produces Urbanears headphones. They give a decent sound quality, well balanced, and with no overwhelming bass boom.
3. Aftershockz AS800 Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear
You get qualities similar to the Bose Frames Tempo except the shades with this wireless bone conduction headphone from Aftershockz. It is a popular headphone among runners and cyclists because it helps them stay aware of pedestrians, incoming traffic, and wildlife while exercising outdoors. The headphones work with a patented bone conduction technology which passes sound through the cheekbones to deliver audio to the ear canals. It seems like rocket science until you try it. This feature is these headphones have a spot on our list of the best on-ear headphones for workouts.
AS800 headphones are also water and sweat proof and they give you a listening time of up to 8 hours. They have been the lightest headphones from Aftershockz to date, with more than 8000 near-perfect reviews on Amazon.
4. JBL Live 400BT Wireless Headphones
JBL Live 409BT are the best on-ear work out headphones that we have tested. They have a proper, snug fit and do not fall off while running. The on-ear design of the ear cups makes them breathable, and their controls are quite easy to handle. They have a foldable design, so you can make them compact to occupy only very little space in your workout bag. Since they are also wireless, you never have to deal with the problem of cables tangling and interrupting your activities.
As is the case with many headphones with on-ear design, the sound profile you get out of this device depends on how well it fits when you wear it. If the ear cups fit well against your ears, you would get a very balance sound complete with extra bass to keep you pumped up while you’re running. The battery lasts an impressive 30 hours and can last longer thanks to the auto-off timer feature. The headphones can also connect to two devices at the same time, which is a useful feature if you use a separate MP3 player specifically for the gym and running.
Though these headphones fit so tightly that they stay secure on your head while exercising or running, the tightness can be a disadvantage. They are not as comfortable as the other options in this review. They are also not the best in terms of build quality, so in the event that they actually fall off your head while running, they could break or suffer some other damage. Nevertheless, if you only need headphones to wear for light jogging around your neighborhood, then you can go for this one.
5. Treblab BT5 Headphones
These headphones are an affordable balance between the JBL and Adidas options. They are ideal for people who don’t want to pay too much and need a pair of budget on-ear headphones for working out with enough functions.
Treblab BT5 is regarded as workout headphones for the poor man, which is not a bad thing. Though their sound output has less quality, they are more versatile than the JBL Wireless Train when it comes to features. They don’t have as much as the RPT-01, but they cost way less.
For only $50, Treblab BT5 gives you an IPX4 weather-resistant rating and a listening time of up to 24 hours. You also get Bluetooth 5 connectivity which is absent in the JBL. This is a great balance of features for headphones of that price, a balance that neither of the JBL nor RPT-01 comes close to having.
Note that you won’t get the best audio output from Treble BT5 headphones and they are also not the best looking pair. However, they are still one of the best workout headphones you can go for, considering all the other great features you’re getting for the price.