The best headphones that’ll alleviate workout dread
Need a beat to move your feet? Then listen up…
Words: Josh Lee
Whether it’s hardcore trance or boomer rock, music has long been the crutch many fall back on in order to improve pace and maintain high spirits when getting to work on the Technogym machines. An easy and effective method to keep your movements in a lively rhythm, workout beats are especially crucial when the temperature increases and it’s all too easy to drop the pace.
To make sure your leg days, beach jogs and open-air workouts in the coming months are producing optimum results, we suggest tuning out with a decent pair of headphones. As such, we’ve rounded up the best options available now: some are sweatproof (essential for that heatwave we just know is coming), others have design in mind (a notion that’ll counter your sweat-drenched look), but all are guaranteed to stay in your ears and keep you racing along at record speed.
The solid in- and over-ear option: JBL Endurance Peak 3
The most noteworthy thing about JBL’s offering is its Powerhook design whose bendable hook clips snugly onto the ears so that they remain locked in when you’re on the treadmill, rowing machine or bench. Sadly, there’s no active noise cancelling, but the 10mm dynamic driver allows for a decent hit of bold, rich sound, and you get a pretty impressive 50 hours of playback (10 hours in the buds; 40 in the case). Moreover, if you’ve often found yourself out of battery before a workout, you can speed charge up to an hour of play in 10 minutes.
The design one: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Ex
For as long as it’s existed, Bang & Olufsen has been the audio label for the design-conscious, with products – ranging from big headphones to speakers the size of chairs – merging clear sonics with pared-down, smooth looks. Here, the slim profile allows each stick to remain flush in the ear, and glass touch controls add a high-end, glossy look, meanwhile the noise cancellation (up to eight hours) does a fine job of blocking out the grunts of surrounding gym goers. If out on a run in the woodlands, you’ll be glad to know they’re waterproof in up to a metre of water for half an hour.
The obligatory (and rather convenient) purchase: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
AirPods are everywhere: on the tube, on planes, in the streets, worn by your colleague opposite you. Though ubiquity can often cheapen a product, it can also be validation that it actually works properly. If you’re an Apple aficionado, the AirPods Pros make your life far easier due to their instant connection with your iPhone, meaning you don’t have to faff around with Bluetooth settings and can just jump straight to the cardio area. The six hours of battery life should cover plenty of workouts, and transparency mode allows you to hear your surroundings, ideal for when jogging on the streets.
The timeless workhorse: Jabra Elite 8 Active
Water, dust and sweatproof, these compact designs will weather the conditions for years to come, and their smooth, unobtrusive build is universally appealing. Using Jabra’s ShakeGrip technology, the buds won’t fall out, even when you’re undertaking some heavy-duty lifting, and the audio is beautiful due to Spatial Sound that’s powered by Dolby. Perhaps best of all is the Smartwatch Connectivity, a feature that let’s you exercise without your smartphone adding extra bulk to your workout gear.
For those who really want to feel the music: Shokz OpenRun Pro
As it sits next to your ears, at the edge of your cheekbones, Shokz’s OpenRun Pros channel vibrations to the bones in your head, making you really experience every high note, bass drop and bridge, and giving you an all-senses feel every time you decide to get into your Nike shorts.
Want more fitness content? This is the workout gear that’ll get you back on track…
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