Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What Headphones do you use to Workout?

Vdovin

Vdovin

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 1, 2019
128
47
Just want to see what you guys using at the gym or when running.

I personally have tried several headphones and find on the ear Under Armour project Rock edition headphones work best for me by JBL.

I also like using earbuds Tranya Bluetooth 5.0 Deep Bass True Wireless Earbuds. These are only £50 and have 6-8 battery life in one sitting plus 3x recharges in the case. Have very satisfying click like AirPods.

I did also try Beats Solo 3 but I find I have to wear a hat to get them to stay on my head when I am bench pressing or dead lifting. Also not sure if they are water proof, probably not, and when using them they make your ears very hot due to the leather cups. Causing excess sweat.

Also been thinking about getting the Powerbeats pro when they come out in May, but I don’t think they could beat the quality of JBL Under Armour.

Let me know what you guys are using and what you like best.
 
Last edited:
It's workouts, and primarily listening to podcasts, so I don't spend on the earbuds. What with most wireless earbud/headphone do not have replaceable batteries, the entire device is a consumable. Add in possible damage, loss, I'm going to scrimp a bit here.

I have a set of Anker Slim+: comfortable, but usage time is quite a bit below advertised, and really susceptible to interference. Also have a pair of Altec MZX400: long battery life, decent sound, but not comfortable and the controller is poorly designed (not obvious buttons for play, volume).

Altecs for outdoor workouts, Ankers for gym.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vdovin
NoBoMac said:
It's workouts, and primarily listening to podcasts, so I don't spend on the earbuds. What with most wireless earbud/headphone do not have replaceable batteries, the entire device is a consumable. Add in possible damage, loss, I'm going to scrimp a bit here.

I have a set of Anker Slim+: comfortable, but usage time is quite a bit below advertised, and really susceptible to interference. Also have a pair of Altec MZX400: long battery life, decent sound, but not comfortable and the controller is poorly designed (not obvious buttons for play, volume).

Altecs for outdoor workouts, Ankers for gym.
Click to expand...

To me there are several things that are important in a workout headset.

1. Battery life - should last at least 2 weeks of solid 1.5 hours sessions 5 days per week.
2. Comfort - must be comfortable for the duration without constantly having to re-adjust. I want to feel like I have no headphones.
3. Sound must be good enough to drown out the noise.
4. Sweat proof of course
5. Good Bluetooth connectivity with no interruptions with decent 10 meter radius.

If it checks these 5 boxes it’s a win!
 
About two years ago, I decided to get in shape. Mainly doing elliptical, walking and bike riding. Started with the cheap stuff on amazon but they would eventually crap out and die after like two or three months. Moved on to Jaybird X2’s, which were good. Moved on to the newer X3’s when they came out. Now I’ve been using their wireless Run’s for the past year. A lot of people complain about their connectivity but I’ve only had the random drop out once and awhile and they reconnect almost immediately.

The issue with these and a lot of others is sweat...Sometimes, on a long elliptical run, I’ll get sweat that will drop and run into my ears. My left Run earbud will start randomly turning off and then back on...obviously sweat is getting in somewhere...Luckily they still go strong once washed and dried off. I thought about switching to the Jabra 65t actives...but they suffer from connectivity issues as just about all wireless buds. Plus, a friend has them and he is on his second set...again he thinks because of sweat getting in...

I’ve decided to give the Beats Powerbeats Pro a shot when they are released this May. Being an offshoot of the AirPods, connectivity should be excellent. I have AirPods that I use everywhere else but the gym.
 
Studio 3 and Jaybird X3, yeah I'm that guy but I don't care, they're comfortable for me, they don't bother me, they're super light and people don't bother me when wearing them.

Jaybird X3 - are fantastic, I love their audio profile customizations and their comfort. The comply memory foam tips are a godsend.
 
I'm using my airpods when I go on my bike rides. They stay put and since they don't completely seal the ear I can hear cars, dogs, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: artfossil
Vdovin said:
Just want to see what you guys using at the gym or when running.

I personally have tried several headphones and find on the ear Under Armour project Rock edition headphones work best for me by JBL.

I also like using earbuds Tranya Bluetooth 5.0 Deep Bass True Wireless Headphones. These are only £50 and have 6-8 battery life in one sitting plus 3x recharges in the case. Have very satisfying click like AirPods.

I did also try Beats Solo 3 but I find I have to wear a hat to get them to stay on my head when I am bench pressing or dead lifting. Also not sure if they are water proof, probably not, and when using them they make your ears very hot due to the leather cups. Causing excess sweat.

Also been thinking about getting the Powerbeats pro when they come out in May, but I don’t think they could beat the quality of JBL Under Armour.

Let me know what you guys are using and what you like best.
Click to expand...
I've been using the Powerbeats3 for 15 months now. I love them. Rock solid connection to both my Apple Watch and iPhone during workouts. I also enjoy the bass heavy music signature.

I will be purchasing the Powerbeats Pro's as soon as they become available. They seem like the natural successor to the PB3's. So far all hands-on reviews have been overwhelmingly positive on them. I only wish the case was smaller and it included wireless charging.

Before the Powerbeats3 I was using the Jaybird X3's. Even though I was very happy with them I was having connection issues with it and my Apple Watch once I started to connect my Watch to my headphones.

In the past week I've tried (and returned) the Soundcore Liberty Air's and Samsung Galaxy Buds. Neither come close to the sound quality of the PB3's, however the Galaxy Buds were the better of the two.
 
Last edited:
CasuallyDressed said:
I was gonna ask! No one seemed to be saying Airpods... is there a particular reason why? Expense? Comfort? Water proofing?
Click to expand...
I returned my AirPods after 24 hours. Uncomfortable fit, noise leaking in (I know some want that, I don't), not great sound quality, no ability to adjust volume levels. I know they are hugely popular but I think there are much better options for the gym at least.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nhwhazup
CasuallyDressed said:
I was gonna ask! No one seemed to be saying Airpods... is there a particular reason why? Expense? Comfort? Water proofing?
Click to expand...

I think there are three main reasons people don’t use airpods in the gym.

1. Leaks sound from external speakers inside the gym
2. Not sweat proof
3. Not the best fit can fall out when exercising.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigjnyc
I bought a refurbished pair of Jabra 65 elite and loved them for 6 weeks until they died. If you don't mind wires the Bose sport wireless has terrific sound. Finally bought a pair of AirPods and am really in love with them. I use earbuddyz with them when I run because they really feel secure but haven't had any trouble using them with watch and enjoying long walks or jogs. The new Beats look good if you like noise cancellation (I don't).
 
Vdovin said:
I think there are three main reasons people don’t use airpods in the gym.

1. Leaks sound from external speakers inside the gym
2. Not sweat proof
3. Not the best fit can fall out when exercising.
Click to expand...
I agree, and yet I see so many people wearing them at my gym every day. o_O
 
blairh said:
I agree, and yet I see so many people wearing them at my gym every day. o_O
Click to expand...

Same it’s a fashion statement more then anything. A lot of people don’t even sweat at the gym as they don’t go hard enough
 
Re: AirPods (and to be fair, Jabra's, Bose SoundSports, etc): yes, for me, big part is cost.

Seeing threads on here re: AirPod not holding a charge after 1.5-2yrs. Battery is not replaceable, so, need to buy a whole new pair or get one pod from Apple. So, out an additional $70-170 after a couple of years. Rinse repeat.

Add in Siri is needed to do basic stuff with the pods (would rather have something that has taps for volume, for example), not appealing to me. Would rather deal with some cheap-ish earbuds with a big controller where I can easily grab and press a button(s). And once battery is dead, get another pair. For the cost of AirPods, can get about 5 pair of wired BT earbuds and not stress out if start to go, lose, etc.

ADD: see AirPods occasionally at the gym, but most have over ear, wired, wired BT.
 
Vdovin said:
Same it’s a fashion statement more then anything. A lot of people don’t even sweat at the gym as they don’t go hard enough
Click to expand...

Sweating is largely genetic, some people sweat while sitting in a meeting while others can train hard for an hour and not sweat a lot.
 
I love my Jabra Elite Actives. I know others have complained about the left ear bud cutting out. I’ve had mine 7 months with no issues. They have good sound and call quality, button controls right on the buds and super passive noise cancellation. We had some very windy days here but no whistling wind noise with the Jabras. Also like that they automatically connect to both my iPad and iPhone at the same time. So far no messing around - they just work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bigjnyc
naturalguy said:
Sweating is largely genetic, some people sweat while sitting in a meeting while others can train hard for an hour and not sweat a lot.
Click to expand...

That’s not true everyone sweats. True that some people sweat far more then others, however under right amount of physical pressure everyone will sweat
 
If you’re paying attention to how much other people are sweating at the gym, you’re doing it wrong. Maybe you’re just there for a Fashion statement or for social reasons or to feed your ego.
 
  • Like
Reactions: b0fh666
Nugget said:
If you’re paying attention to how much other people are sweating at the gym, you’re doing it wrong. Maybe you’re just there for a Fashion statement or for social reasons or to feed your ego.
Click to expand...
Lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back