Best Workout Headphones | ExtensivelyReviewed

Without question, music motivates and pushes you to your limit during a workout. Whether you hit the weights with resistance training, get your heart pumping during a spin class, play basketball, or find yourself running on the treadmill to a steady rhythm, music plays an important role. If you are into fitness, no matter what the activity, you need headphones that can take a beating and handle whatever it is you decide to do.

Our Top 4

 What Are the Best Workout Headphones Available for Purchase?

There are numerous types of headphones on the market; there are many generic designs for everyday use, and there are others designed specifically for one purpose. If you are a swimmer you may need waterproof headphones that may wrap snugly around the ear. If you are a high endurance athlete you may need something lightweight and wireless such as a pair of headphones with Bluetooth capability.

What Should You Consider When Deciding Which Headphones to Purchase For An Active Lifestyle?

• Consumer Usability:
  • If you have to waste time trying to correctly put your headphones on or untangle wires, then that is less time you have available to get a good workout in. If you decide to go with a Bluetooth headset, you expect them to pair with your device hassle-free. If you have go with a wired headset, you expect the wires to stay out of the way. It is very surprising how many products we have tested and reviewed in which the manufacturers completely failed to consider something such as simple as this. When we review these products, ease of use is a high priority!

• Size, Comfort:
  • Your headphones should be portable. In other words, you want to be able to easily transport your ear buds or headphones in your hand or gym bag.
  • At some point, almost everybody has had that annoying earache after an intense workout in which the wrong headphones were used. The gym, the road, and the pool, are not places for any bulky or over-sized headphones that are too heavy or get in the way. If your earphones are constantly getting snagged on something during your training session, it might be wise to invest in some new, comfortable headphones, with or without Bluetooth functionality.

Even within these specific categories there are a seemingly unlimited amount of options to choose from.

How Do You Go About Finding the Best Workout Headphones for the Price?

Well, you could:

1. Try your luck and hope for the best.
2. Go out and test them all for yourself.
3. Keep reading, because we went ahead and tested them all out for you!

1. 66 Audio BTS Pro Review

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The BTS+ Sports headphones happen are our highest rated in this category. With the Bluetooth 4.0 +EDR Wireless functionality and the comfortable fit, it is very easy to forget these headphones are being worn during your workout. These headphones happen to be some of the most simplistic to use; Bluetooth pairing is very easy and works with just about every device we tested it with.

One cool feature is that it allows pairing of up to two different devices at the same time. Having to pair and then repair with multiple devices is a thing of the past; this handy functionality allows you to answer a phone call, and immediately switch back to your other device to continue enjoying your music, uninterrupted.

The BTS+ Sports are easy to use with the controls conveniently located on each of the ear cups; Volume, shuffle, Bluetooth, and call answering are all buttons easily made accessible to the user. The buttons are shaped in a certain way that just feels right, and it becomes very easy to figure out which is which in a short amount of time.

By now you must be wondering, how is the sound quality? Music sounds pretty awesome to say the least. We took these headphones for a spin with various types of music and they did not disappoint. If you like that deep thumping bass, these headphones are for you. Surprisingly, the mids and highs were clear and also sounded fantastic. The BTS+ Sports Headphones are not limited to one genre of music.

If you are looking for a pair of comfortable, and durable headphones that sound excellent and are easily paired with your Bluetooth device, the 66 Audio BTS+ Sports are for you.

This same review can also be found in our Best Sport Headphones list.

2. Skullcandy Crusher Review

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The Skullcandy Crusher easily takes second place only for the slightly higher price and lack of Bluetooth functionality; otherwise it would have probably even taken first. If you have the extra few bucks to invest on some very high quality workout headphones that will continue to last you for years, these are for  you.

With the exceptionally balanced sound these headphones provide, all genres of music sound good. The mids and highs are clear even with the bass turned up; the Skullcandy Crusher has a handy little feature within the left ear cup that allows you to adjust the bass vibration levels, with the help of the Sensation55 Driver, a small battery-powered amp built right into the unit. An easily accessible sliding dial gives complete control over the bass response to the user. If you have ever attended a concert with some heavy hitting-bass that is pretty much what you can expect to hear with these headphones. Not all music requires exceptional bass, so the ability to adjust this feature with the swipe of a finger is a nice touch.

How about size, how do the Skullcandy Crushers stack up against the competition? The engineering that went into the design of this product allows easy storage; these headphones are about half their normal size after folding the hinges between the ear-cups and the headband in three different directions. Another nice feature is the detachable cable; never again will you spend another minute trying to detangle the impossible knots in front of the gym! The whole unit including the cord fits snugly in the supplied storage bag.

Anyone looking for some comfortable gym headphones with fantastic sound quality and a few extra bucks to invest in a quality product, these are highly recommended. With the built in amp and adjustable bass, the flexibility in sound these headphones provide is hard to match. With the bass thumping and the volume cranked up, it is very easy to lose yourself in the music.

3. SOL REPUBLIC 1211-01 Review

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For those who would like the ability to customize their headphones  without sacrificing any sound quality, the SOL REPUBLIC 1211-01 should be your choice. Every single part of these headphones is easily interchangeable and available for purchase separately; Headbands, ear cups, and even the cord are available for purchase in a variety of colors and patterns. Not only does this allow complete control over styling, but unlike most other headphones being sold today, this also means any malfunctioning parts that may arise over time can easily be replaced with very little technological skill.

Although these particular headphones do not feature the active noise cancellation that many of its competitors offer, the cushions fit snugly on your ear and unless you are highly educated on the differences between the two, you would probably not notice much if any difference in sound quality. The V8 sound engine speakers are of high quality and provide deep bass and very clear mids and highs.

4. Koss SportaPro Review

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If you’re looking for some high-quality, well-rounded headphones that are suitable for just about any situation, whether it be for use in the gym, while running, or just to relax at night in bed, the Koss SportaPro’s may be just for you. These headphones have a unique design, which allows you to wear them both over-head, and behind the head, depending on your mood or just your own personal preference. The material that these headphones are made from looks a little bit cheap and gimmicky, but this alone should not discourage you from buying them, unless aesthetics are important for you.

Sound quality is definitely pretty good, which is not surprising coming from Koss. These headphones provide a powerful bass response, which blends nicely with the crystal-clear mids and highs. In fact, it excels in front of many other comparable products, and if you’re a bass-head like me, you’ll appreciate the kind of bass that you can “feel”. The Koss SportaPro’s are comfortable, lightweight, and sound great. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money but still want the best headphones for working out in, the SportaPro’s may be just for you.

Best Workout Headphones: Our Conclusion

If the easy customization of the SOL REPUBLIC is something you could do without, we would instead recommend the 66 Audio BTS+, which provide some excellent sound quality and at a similar price (cheaper actually!).

For those who would like to invest some extra money on some exceptional headphones, which will last you quite a long time, the Skullcandy Crusher’s will not let you down. Personally, when I am not testing other headphones, I continue to use the Skullcandy Crusher headphones during the majority of my workouts; the concert-like sound quality and the thumping bass is hard to compete with.