Luxurious over-the-ear headphones are plush and comfortable, and they sound great. But for most everyday activities—working out, traveling, and wandering around my house pretending to put things away—you probably want something much more convenient, durable, and yes, cheaper. Since I started testing these headphones years ago, their sound and comfort have improved dramatically. I trail run, hike, work on my yard, lift weights, and watch mildly embarrassing barre and yoga videos on my laptop, all while testing the best wireless workout headphones around.
If you like listening to music while scrambling up stony slopes or mowing your lawn, here are a bunch of WIRED’s favorite pairs. We’ve worn and sweated on all of them. Don’t see anything you like? Check out our Best Wirefree Earbuds, Best Cheap Headphones, Best Bluetooth Speakers, or any of our other buying guides for more.
Updated March 2024: We added the Koss Porta Pro, the Sony WH-CH720, the Bose Open Ear Ultra, the Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro, the 1More Fit Open, and the Oladance Sport. We added a section on how to pick headphones, and we updated links and pricing throughout.
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