Gym Headphones

Music makes most things better in our experience and if ever there's a time that you could do with a pleasant distraction, it's when you're getting a sweat on in an effort to burn a few calories.

Whether you like going to the gym, running or workout at home, we suggest a musical accompaniment. The best gym headphones will deliver great sound while offering sweat-resistant designs that stay in place.

From cheap true wireless buds that completely remove the wire, to in-ear wireless earphones and even Bluetooth over-ears, these are the best running headphones and best gym headphones we've reviewed.

1. Cambridge Audio Melomaniac 1

A truly exceptional pair of true wireless earbuds.

SPECIFICATIONS

Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No | Battery life: 9hr | Charging: Micro USB | In-line mic and controls: Yes

Reasons to Buy

Detailed, insightful sound

Reliable Bluetooth

Long battery life

Reasons to Avoid

Some may find the fit difficult

If top value sound quality from true wireless earbuds is what you're after for a pair of gym headphones, Cambridge Audio has answered your prayers. For an affordable price, the Megalomaniac 1 earphones deliver an open, detailed sound that's hard to beat without spending more money.

A good fit is essential, and, due to the length of the earpiece itself, that might not be as easy to come by for everybody, but their sonic talent is such that it's worth the effort and potential purchase of extra buds.

With nine hours battery life from the buds themselves, plus four additional charges from the case, that means an impressive 45 hours of continuous use from this little set-up. There's no noise cancelling, but it is clear Cambridge Audio's focus has been on great sound over bonus features.

2. Sony WF-1000X

Proper wireless in-ear headphones with serious sonic skills.

SPECIFICATIONS

Connector: n/a | In-line remote and mic: n/a | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: Yes | Battery life: 3 hours (9 hours with charging case)

Reasons to Buy

Excellent with timing and dynamics

Truly wireless

Decent noise-cancelling

Reasons to Avoid

Occasional right earpiece connection issue

We had to wait a while for a five-star pair of truly wireless earphones but Sony finally delivered the goods with the WF-1000X buds. The sound is excellent and you even get decent noise-cancelling to help drown out your gym's music selection. 

The neat carry case doubles as a charger and can be used to stretch out the battery life to nine hours. You also get the benefit of voice-controlled Google Assistant and Siri. The best headphones for running and the gym? Quite possibly.

3. Bose SoundSport Wireless

They're comfy and sound great too.

SPECIFICATIONS

Connector: n/a | Cable length: n/a | In-line remote and mic: n/a | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No | Battery life: 6 hours

Reasons to Buy

Comfortable

Fun sound

Strong wireless performance

Reasons to Avoid

Very little at this price

These are some of the best-sounding, most reliable running and gym headphones you'll find for under £150. There is a soft cable between the two buds, each of which uses an in-ear hook to keep them in place. 

We like the design here, complete with lightweight remote, and these running headphones are also sweat-resistant and IPX4 splash proof, too. The battery life is a modest six hours but we'd imagine that'll do most people for a few runs or circuits.

4. Sennheiser CX Sport

A solid-sounding and appealing pair of wireless in-ears for running and the gym.

SPECIFICATIONS

Connector: n/a | Cable length: n/a | In-line remote and mic: Yes | OS support: Android/iOS | Bluetooth: Yes | Noise-cancelling: No | Battery life: 6 hours

Reasons to Buy

Clear, detailed sound

Punchy, weighty delivery

These Sennheiser’s are designed with running and the gym in mind, with their rubberized ear fins and splash and sweat-resistant design. Fit is excellent and noise isolation is good. The earpieces are connected by a short run of cable which includes an in-line mic and controls. 

Battery life is a respectable six hours and sound quality is robust and powerful, just what you need when you're making a push for the finish line or your final set of squats. And now they're available on Amazon for well under £100.