Best true wireless earbuds for the gym
At the gym, you want your own upbeat music to help you perform your best. That's why working out with earbuds feels so good. But what should you look for? And which earbuds are best? Find out in this article.
In this article
Earbuds for the gym: what to look for
Buy wireless earbuds for the gym at random, and you'll often end up disappointed. Both your workout and the gym itself have a few things that affect which earbuds you should choose.
Think of the loud music pumping out of the gym's speakers. Or picture yourself working your lower chest on a decline bench, almost upside down, with earbuds in. You'd better hope they stay put.
Apple's AirPods wouldn't pass the test in that situation.
But don't worry. We'll explain exactly what to look for and which earbuds to choose for your gym sessions.
In-ear earbuds for the gym
There are 2 types of earbuds: in-ear and half in-ear (also called semi-in-ear). We've explained the difference before. In short, in-ear earbuds have a silicone ear tip that goes into your ear canal. Half in-ear earbuds rest against the opening of your ear canal. AirPods are a good example of half in-ear earbuds.
In-ear earbuds are the only good choice for the gym.
For the gym, your best bet is in-ear earbuds. Not half in-ear.
Background noise
Gyms always have loud, upbeat music playing. Sometimes the bench press is right under a speaker. Lie down there with half in-ear earbuds, and you're out of luck. You won't hear any of your own music. You might as well turn it off and listen to whatever the person at the front desk has chosen. And that's often not the best music.
That's why you need in-ear earbuds
In-ear earbuds always offer good passive noise canceling. That means simply putting them in seals your ear canal off from the outside world so well that you no longer hear anything around you.
And you need that to block out the booming speakers and the talking and shouting from the weight room.
The Eardopes B6 Pro are a good example of in-ear earbuds. SoundPEATS earbuds (such as the Truengine 3 SE) are also a good fit for the gym.
Noise canceling
Noise canceling is useful in earbuds you use at the gym. But there are 2 types: active noise cancelling & passive noise canceling.
- Active noise cancelling: a small microphone in your earbud picks up background noise and actively plays an opposing sound in your ear to cancel it out.
- Passive noise canceling: the in-ear earbud is shaped to seal your ear canal perfectly with a silicone ear tip. You can barely hear your surroundings, and with music playing, you really can't hear anything around you.
Noise canceling is very useful at the gym. This overlaps a little with the previous section, but we think it's worth mentioning.
Sound quality
At the gym, you want your music to motivate you. That's why people often choose upbeat tracks.
But how motivating is music when the sound is weak and there's no bass? Exactly: not very. It's more likely to kill the mood and send you straight back to the rack to put your weights away. And that's the last thing we want.
That's why it's important to buy earbuds with good bass. Our reviews always describe the bass performance in detail.
The best gym earbuds listed at the bottom of this article all deliver good bass.
Prefer earbuds specifically for running? Check out our article on earbuds for running.
The best fit for gym earbuds
The fit of your gym earbuds is hugely important. Why?
You move around and get into unusual positions during a workout, so you need earbuds that stay securely in your ears. That way, you can do every exercise without constantly worrying about them falling out.
Take the decline barbell bench press, for example. You're practically upside down while doing a chest exercise. Wear a basic half in-ear earbud like an AirPod, and it will fall out. Take my word for it.
In-ear earbuds generally fit snugly enough not to fall out. But if you really want to be sure they stay put, choose earbuds with an ear hook or an ear fin.
- Example of an earbud with an ear hook:
The ear hook wraps around your ear for plenty of stability. The downside is that the charging case is often larger because the ear hook needs to fit inside.
- Example of an earbud with an ear fin:
The ear fin tucks into the upper fold of your outer ear for extra stability.
Waterproofing
You sweat when you work out at the gym. At least, if you're doing it right. That's why it's important for your earbuds to be waterproof. In fact, IPX4 is enough. IPX4 means the earbuds are splashproof. They're protected against splashes from above.
But an IPX rating of 7 is even better: IPX7. These earbuds can even be submerged in water and still work afterward. Then you can be sure they can handle plenty of sweat.
Charging case and battery
True wireless earbuds come with a charging case. These come in all shapes and sizes. Usually, the bigger the battery, the bigger the case. And a large charging case in your pocket is awkward at the gym. You're often wearing sweatpants or workout shorts. You want to carry as little as possible and have as much freedom to move as possible.
At the gym, you have 2 options for your charging case:
- Put the charging case in your locker when you arrive. Of course, your gym needs to have lockers. Most gyms in the Netherlands do.
- Carry the charging case in your pocket.
If you keep the case in your pocket, choose wireless earbuds with the smallest charging case possible. You'll be carrying them around in your pocket throughout your workout, so keep that in mind.
Look at the difference between the Trueshift 2 (left) and Truengine 3 SE (right). The earbuds on the right are the better choice for the gym if you carry the case in your pocket while working out.
Which earbuds are perfect for gym workouts?
We took all the tips above into account in this test. Based on those requirements, we chose the following earbuds as perfect for the gym.
Number 1:
Eardopes B6 Pro
- Very good passive noise canceling
You won't hear background noise with these earbuds in. - Rich low notes and plenty of bass
Enjoy your favorite gym tracks. - IPX7 waterproof
No need to worry about sweat: these earbuds survive half an hour underwater. - Charging case with 1000 mAh
You don't want to keep charging earbuds you take to the gym all the time. This large 1000 mAh battery means you don't have to.
In short: the Eardopes B6 Pro are designed for gym workouts.
Know a pair of earbuds you think deserves a spot on this list? Let us know in the comments.
Number 2:
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2
- Price: 35.95
The SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 are perfect if you want a little more quality than the cheapest earbuds on the market, such as those from QCY & Haylou. The sound is genuinely impressive at this price. The fit is good too, with a particular focus on workouts.
| Rating | |
| Sound | 8 |
| Microphone | 6 |
| Fit | 8 |
| Battery | 6 |
| Controls | 4 |
| Stability | 7 |
Others also viewed:
- Browse all our articles on wireless earbuds
- These are the best earbuds under €50
- These are the earbuds with the best microphone
- Check out our in-depth article on QCY earbuds
- And check out our article on alternatives to AirPods
- Also check out the 3 best earbuds for running
- Also check out our hands-on look at the Eardopes B6 Pro. They cost a little more, but the quality is worth it.
