Best over-ear headphones for working out 2024

You're here because wireless earbuds or on-ear headphones aren't what you want for your workout routine. In-ear earbuds don't give you the powerful sound you want, and can cause ear pain or wax buildup over time; on-ear headphones just aren't secure enough for fast-moving workouts. Sometimes, the best headphones for working out are over-ear cans that can better immerse you in the tunes or content, motivating you to get sweaty and reach your goals. 

If that's you, look no further than the pairs we've lined up here because they've got the goods to get you moving. Starting with the incomparable Sony WH-1000XM5s, these are our favorite active over-ear headphones. 

Ted Kritsonis

For 20+ years, Ted Kritsonis has been spending a lot of time testing out gadgets to help others make the best decision with their hard-earned money. When it comes down to audio devices, Ted's picks come from countless hours of listening for all the nuances that matter.

At a glance

Best overall

Normally, I wouldn't recommend any pair of headphones for workouts when they have no water or sweat resistance, but I make an exception for the Sony WH-1000XM5 for a couple of reasons. First, these can handle light workouts or jogs. Yoga or stretching routines are also perfectly fine. The second reason is most over-ear headphones won't give you certified water or sweat resistance, so you have to manage on your own. Keep these clean and dry them off after workouts, and you should be okay.

It's just hard to overlook these cans because they're so good in many respects, something I explained in my Sony WH-1000XM5 review. The audio performance is superb, giving you an excellent balanced sound signature that you can always tune yourself through Sony's Headphones Connect app. That's also where you'll find a "clear bass" slider to add a little extra to the bass response when your workout calls for it. 

Then there's the active noise cancelation (ANC) performance, courtesy of Sony's QN1 processor and a dual noise sensor that does an outstanding job blocking out background noise. If your plan is to silence the world around you as you do what you have to do, there is no better pair of over-ears to do it for you. Even their predecessors, the WH-1000XM4, still rank among the best in the industry for their own ANC performance. 

You also get superb battery life to keep you going, with up to 30 hours per charge (depending on volume level). Fast charging is always nice when you need a quick boost for playback as you're set to work out. However, if you plan to charge and listen at the same time when you're not working out, you won't be able to, unfortunately. 

Best value

Anker didn't give the Soundcore Life Q30 any certifiable protection from water or sweat, but we liked them a lot when we reviewed them. A number of things are impressive here, and despite not having an IP rating, they are worth a shot if you want affordable cans to wear during runs or workouts. 

They sound great for what you pay, and a lot of the credit for that goes to a resonant soundstage. You can get plenty of bass if you want that, or if you'd rather listen to something different, the excellent Soundcore app gives you a customizable equalizer and over 20 presets. Bluetooth stays consistent if you start working out in another room away from your phone, 

The fit and comfort are nice, giving you good passive isolation to start, though you can always turn on ANC to drown out the background when you want. The app gives you three distinct ANC settings to try out, and you don't lose out on audio quality when you enable the cancelation, too.

And you can do it all for a long while. The Soundcore Life Q30 can go for up to 40 hours with ANC enabled, and it goes up to a ridiculous 60 hours when leaving it off. For those rare times you need a quick jolt, plug in via USB-C for five minutes and get four hours of playtime.

Ultimately, there's a reason we still have the Soundcore Life Q30 on our list of the best wireless headphones under $100, years after we first reviewed them. The rich audio quality and comfortable fit are still among the best at this price point.

Best durability

Beats continues to make strides in the sonic department, producing audio quality more commensurate with the price tag, and the Studio Pro represent what the brand is capable of. They've never been the most rugged, but they're fixtures in gyms all over, making them a stylish choice if that matters to you for every workout. 

The difference this time is Beats made the ear cups a little smaller, mainly because the pads are thinner due to the improved memory foam and faux leather it used to craft them. If you're used to the big cups of Beats headphones in years past, this move may feel a bit weird at first, but the bigger adjustment might be the headband, which loses some of its padding for a tighter fit all around. You can still fold them up for easier storage, and the ostentatious branding and trims are gone, leaving a slicker aesthetic that doesn't come off as gaudy. 

Despite missing out on some of the Apple-centric points, like the H1 and H2 chips, other surprises come up here, like the built-in DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that enables you to listen to tunes at higher quality with compatible wired USB-C earbuds. Beats also throws Android users a bone by making multipoint connections easier compared to iOS devices. 

The Studio Pro won't pump out quite as much bass as past models have, but you should expect a solidly balanced soundstage. Adaptive ANC works well in blocking out general background noise, while Transparency mode does a nice job letting the outside world seep in. A downside through all this, however, is the lack of wear sensors to automatically pause playback when you take the headphones off. You'd have to pause first before talking to or hearing anyone. 

Battery life is superb at up to 24 hours per charge with ANC on (40 hours if you leave it off), though listening at louder volumes cuts into that. They'll hold up reasonably well at moderate volume increases, letting you get through a number of workouts before you have to recharge them again.

Best for comfort

JBL doesn't market the Live 770NC headphones specifically for working out but there's nothing stopping you from wearing them for that very reason. They prove to be great value for what they cost. While not as overtly flashy as other headphones sometimes are, they can still stand out in a crowd.

The Live 770NC retain the same fabric headband preceding models had, which makes them easier to wear for longer workouts, yet also prone to absorbing sweat, so you do have to clean them by hand. The faux leather on the ear cups won't feel as constricting, though the fit should feel comfortable and secure enough to stay in place while doing a rigorous workout or going out for a run. 

So, how do they sound? They largely stick with the same sound signature, meaning plenty of bass — and you can always ramp it up further using the EQ in the JBL Headphones app. Prefer to dial it back? Do that in the app too. Or take the app's Personi-Fi hearing test to customize sound to your own ears. Turn on ANC and you can drown out some of the background, though won't quiet things down like the best ANC headphones do. The onboard controls are easy to manage, leaving you from reaching for your phone.

The good news is you can keep the music playing for several workouts before you even need to recharge them. With ANC on, the Live 770NC can go for up to 50 hours at default volume levels (65 with ANC off). If you're in a crunch for time heading out to the gym with low power, plug in for five minutes and you can get up to four hours of playback.

Best bass

The Hesh ANC aren't Skullcandy's best pair of over-ear headphones, but they come in at a good price and deliver a bass-boosted sound profile out of the box. You notice this at default volume, and more so as you creep up the volume. The strong low-end comes with moderate mids and highs, and unfortunately, you can't make any adjustments because the Hesh ANC isn't supported by Skullcandy's app. No special Bluetooth codecs here — it's just SBC.

Equally important is how well they fit, and how comfortable they are wearing them over longer periods — both strong suits for these cans. You don't need to worry so much about that during a longer workout or run. When you want to block out all noise, you can turn on ANC, which is decent, though not all that exceptional. The ambient mode is solid when you want to hear the background. 

For the price, it's a package that works. The only catch is the Hesh ANC don't have any certified water or sweat resistance, making it all the more important to wipe them down and clean them regularly to keep them going.

Battery life is pretty good at up to 22 hours per charge, depending on ANC and volume levels. Use those liberally, and you're falling under 20 hours. They do charge via USB-C and can do so fairly quickly. It's also worth noting these cans have Tile built in, letting you find them in case you misplaced or lost them.

Best versatility

You may not have heard of Treblab, or if you have, considered the Z2 as a credible option for the gym, but you'd be surprised, either way. These headphones have solid utility, starting with the IPX4 water and sweat resistance. That's not overly rugged, but it's good enough to handle splashes of water, which should be more than enough for indoor use.

That's not the only reason the Z2 make the cut. They produce better sound quality than their price would otherwise indicate. Not to say they'll sound like headphones at triple the price, but they do a great job delivering sonic performance anyone can appreciate. Good bass with real verve in the mids and highs. 

On top of that, you get pretty good ANC to go with it all, drowning out a good portion of the background to focus on your workout while the tunes play to pump you up. The sound actually gets a boost because of the ANC, so you're often better off leaving it on to get the most out of the audio.

Plus, you can enjoy it all for long periods, thanks to the battery life lasting up to 35 hours per charge. Mind you, that's with ANC off. Turn it on, and it easily chops off 10 hours, which may go even lower if you raise the volume. No fast charging options here, so when it's time to fill them back up, you'll need to wait about three hours.

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We've got you covered for every workout

When you look at the best wireless headphones, they're not all ideal for workout regimens. You have plenty of options when it comes to wireless earbuds and other headphone types, whereas over-ears are a trickier mix to figure out. But they're out there, as this list makes clear. 

Despite the lack of certified protection, the Sony WH-1000XM5 are world-class, and if you treat them right, they should be able to get you through workouts with incredible clarity and noise cancelation. But if you're more comfortable with protection in place, the JBL Live 770NC and Treblab Z2 are always available as alternatives to get you through the sweatiest of workouts.

How to choose

Manufacturers don't make over-ear headphones with workouts and active lifestyles as the primary use cases. You're far more likely to see that sort of thing with wireless earbuds, especially because IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are far more common for those compared to headphones. Despite that, you can still get away with wearing a pair of over-ear cans when you take good care of them along the way.

The biggest challenge with over-ear headphones is they aren't necessarily built with rugged materials to withstand damage from water or sweat. Warranties also don't generally cover damage or malfunction caused by exposure to things like that, so best to protect your investment by following a good maintenance process. Keep them clean after each run or workout by wiping away any excess sweat to reduce the chance salt seeps in through the various openings or crevices on the headphones themselves.

Beyond that, over-ear headphones often offer active noise cancelation, though their ability to truly muffle or block out those background noises can vary wildly. If you want the utmost solitude and as few distractions as possible, you'll likely have to pay more to get the best results. The same goes for ambient sound when it's important to hear your surroundings for safety reasons. 

Not so for extra bass if you want to hear that rumble through your ears. Some brands prioritize bass response in how they tune their headphones, whereas others prefer a more balanced soundstage. With dedicated apps offering custom support and features, you can make the necessary adjustments to get the sound or controls you're looking for when it's time to get active.