The 10 Best Over Ear Headphones For Working Out [Ranked And Reviewed]
If you’re looking for the best over-ear headphones for working out, you’ve come to the right place. This blog post will rank and review 10 of the best over-ear headphones in 2022.
We’ll look at features, use cases, pros, cons, and pricing when considering the right wireless workout headphones. So whether you’re a casual gym-goer or a hardcore athlete, we are sure you will find the right pair of Bluetooth headphones you need to smash your next workout routine.
And while wired over-ear headphones can also produce great sound, we are only going to be looking at Bluetooth headphones on this list.
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Do I Want Over-Ear Headphones for Workout Out?
You might want to use Bluetooth over-ear headphones for working out or when hitting the crowded gym for a workout instead of wired headphones.
One good thing is how this type of over-ear headphone sounds. Many people prefer the balanced sound from over-ear headphones instead of wired headphones and say they usually have better sound quality than wireless earbuds.
Another reason is comfort. Over the ear wireless headphones can be more comfortable than in-ear wireless earbuds.
Finally, over-ear headphones for working can be fabulous for blocking out gym background noise (and gym music, which is sometimes not the best).
What Are The Best Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out?
best workout headphones
1. Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
The Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones are our hands down pick for the best over-ear headphones for working out.
For a good reason, these awesome headphones are perhaps the most well-known name in the headphone game, and it’s a big one.
Beats wireless headphones are well-known for their incredible sound, and the Bluetooth Studio line is no different. Beats Studio Wireless also supports spatial audio, providing a more robust, high-end, and immersive sound.
The Studio headphones are the perfect companion for busy people who need to focus on their work or fitness while blocking distractions around them.
These stylish cans have an adaptive noise canceling feature that blocks both external noises and ambient sound, ensuring you’re not distracted by anything other than what matters most!
The everyday headphones are designed with a USB charging case to keep you going all day. You’ll never be without juice when your battery runs low, thanks to 22 hours of playback worth in one single charge.
And like most on this list, it features a standard headphone jack and wire in case you want a wired experience, plus a carrying case for easy transport.
These were an easy choice for not just our best headphones for working out but also the best running headphones and best gym headphones.
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2. Skullcandy Hesh 3 Headphones
The Skullcandy Hesh 3 Headphones are another excellent over-ear option for the top over-ear workout headphones.
These wireless over-the-ear headphones for working out are slightly cheaper than the Beats Studio headphones but don’t sacrifice crystal clear sound.
The noise cancelling Hesh line from Skullcandy is one of their top-selling lines for a good reason.
The Skullcandy Hesh are not fancy headphones. They are pretty basic in their look and their features. These are highly reviewed and recommended by people who have tried them out.
The only downside to these wireless Bluetooth headphones is that they don’t have active noise cancellation features. Otherwise, these are affordable, high-quality headphones worth trying out for those who do not want to break the bank.
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3. Jabra Elite 85h Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
If you haven’t heard of Jabra headphones, you are missing out.
The Jabra Elite 85h Over-Ear headphones are some of the top active noise-canceling headphones for the gym, a close model to the previous Jabra Elite Active 75T headphones.
It uses a Smart active noise cancellation feature that responds to the environment, switching on if it detects background noise.
These headphones also have a very comfortable design and are easy to wear for long periods.
And since these Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancellation have a 36-hour battery life (yeah, you read that right), you’ll be able to spend every day and then some comfortable listening to the Jabra headphones.
If you want the best headphones for the gym with perhaps the top smart active noise-cancellation, then the Jabra Elite 85h over-ear wireless headphones deserve a spot on this list.
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4. Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100 Wireless Headphones
The budget pick of the Best Over Ear Headphones For Working Out list is the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100.
Sure, the Plantronics Backbeat Fit Bluetooth headphones may not be popular, but that doesn’t stop them from being a great pair of workout headphones for the gym, especially for athletes.
It’s the only pair of headphones with a specific adjustable sport-fit headband on this list.
The Plantronics Backbeat Fit headband provides a stable, comfortable fit during hard workouts. They have noise cancellation and are also sweatproof and waterproof (water resistant).
Thanks to being sweat and water-resistant, you’ll never have an issue with your headphones getting wet or sweaty.
The noise cancelling Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100 doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that some of the other water-resistant headphones on this list have, like active noise canceling.
But they are budget-friendly workout headphones that give you great noise quality for your ears.
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5. Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Easily one of the most recognizable brand name headphones on the list, the Bose Quietcomfort 45 comes in hot, being one of the most popular over-ear options on Amazon, now with over 12,000 customer reviews.
And. lucky for us, Bost backs up the hype with quality noise cancelling headphones.
Boasting unparalleled background noise cancelling technology and TriPort acoustic architecture, these wireless over-ear headphones provide a peaceful listening experience while offering deep bass and clear audio reproduction at any volume level without compromising on comfort.
The QuietComfort 45 headphones provide an immersive listening experience with adjustable EQ and two distinct modes that let you tailor your audio. With these Bose noise cancelling headphones, you can block out any external or ambient noise in Quiet Mode or open up the world around you while still enjoying crisp sound quality using Aware mode.
With 24 hours of battery life on a full charge – plus three more after only 15 minutes plugged-in – these fast-charging, versatile Bose noise cancelling headphones have power for any situation, whether wired or wireless.
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6. UA Project Rock Over-Ear Training Wireless Headphones
The UA Project Rock Wireless Headphones are a great pair of workout headphones approved by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a perfect pair of headphones.
This pair of headphones have a comfortable design and stays in place even at the gym.
Under Armour might not be known for headphones, but they (and Dwayne Johnson) want to change that.
Each ear cup on the over-your-ear headphones uses an over-ear ergonomic design of IPX4 rating to withstand sweat in the most challenging gym conditions.
For balanced sound, these headphones use JBL® Charged Sound, which features a bit more bass than other picks, perfect for your workout playlist.
If you’re looking for a new pair of sweat-resistant wireless headphones to work out with, then the UA Project Rock Wireless Headphones deserve your checking out.
I mean, if Dwayne Johnson likes them, I’m sure we will too!
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7. JBL Live 460NC On-Ear Wireless Headphones
Here we have the JBL 460 NC on-ear option for the Best Headphones For Working Out list.
JBL has been around for a long time and is a well-known name brand for good quality sound.
The JBL Live 460NC ambient noise-cancelling headphones are no exception. These headphones have a fantastic ambient sound quality and cancel out background noise.
The JBL Everest PRO headphones are designed for people who want to work out and not be interrupted. These Bluetooth over-ear models have a 50-hour battery lifespan, so you can listen for as long as two days straight without any interruptions.
The JBL noise cancelling headphones also come with its companion app, which allows you to adjust headphones settings and even choose your own AI voice assistant from the companion app itself.
If you’re looking for a fantastic pair of comfortable over-ear headphones for working out with on-ear noise-canceling capabilities, then the JBL Live 460NC is worth checking out.
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8. Sony WH-XB910N Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones
We have the Sony WH-XB910N over-the-ear wireless headphones with Dual Noise Cancelling feature that uses feedforward and feedback mics on each side, so you don’t hear ambient noise.
Without mentioning Sony, listing the best wireless headphones for working out or lifting weights would be impossible.
Sony is known for its excellent sound; these headphones are no exception.
These Sony WH headphones are all about the extra bass, using a dedicated bass duct on the Bluetooth headphone housing to give that bottom-end feel to your workout jams.
These Sony headphones are also one of the few over-the-ear headphones on this list with Amazon Alexa built right into it.
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9. JBL LIVE 400BT On-Ear Wireless Headphones
Here we have another pair of JBL, the LIVE 400BT On-Ear Wireless Headphones.
JBL is known for its good audio quality and emphasis on better bass sound, and it shows through with the 400BT Live.
The fantastic over-the-ear headphones are also very comfortable and have a long battery lifespan. They’re perfect for working out because they stay in place and feel pretty good on the head with a secure fit with sweat resistance, which makes them great during your toughest workouts, strength training, or high intensity interval training.
The design of the headband helps with being resistant to sweat, as it’s a comfort-fit fabric headband that will help handle any sweat.
It is worth mentioning here that the noise cancelling JBL Live 400BT are not active noise-cancelling headphones. But you can use either Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant (Hey Siri) with them, which is a nice option.
If you’re looking for a pair of wireless headphones with hands-free phone calls, adaptive noise cancellation, great sound tone, secure fit, and great JBL Signature Sound, the JBL LIVE 400BT is worth checking out. The hands-free voice control means you can do more without the need to use your hands.
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10. TREBLAB Z2 Over-Ear Workout Headphones
Last on the top list, but certainly not least on the Best Over Ear Headphones For Working Out list, is the Treblab Z2 Over-Ear Workout Headphones.
These entry-level headphones are not the most expensive made by Treblab, but expensive doesn’t always equal performance.
The Treblab Z2 headphones are perfect for working out because they have a lot of extra features that make it easier to do your workout routine.
These IPX4 water-resistant and sweat-proof headphones come with an adjustable headband, so you won’t worry about any uncomfortable discomfort on your ears while keeping these on during intense exercises or activities.
The Treblab Z2 headphones also use Bluetooth 5.0 aptX codec for a high-end listening experience.
The battery life on these Bluetooth headphones is incredible. You can listen to your favorite tunes for over 35 hours before it needs a charge.
If you’re looking for another good pair of over-ear headphones, then the Treblab ZZ might be the surprise on the Best Over Ear Headphones For Working Out list.
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The Benefits Of Wearing Headphones During A Workout
Like most people, you probably enjoy jamming out to music while working out on Spotify or Apple Music. Whatever your personal taste, hip hop, rock, and rap sounds good.
And while there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of gym-time tunes, you might be surprised to learn that wearing headphones can enhance your workout experience. Here’s how:
First thing, music can help you stay focused and motivated. Getting distracted during a workout can be easy, especially if you repeatedly do the same thing. But with headphones on, you can block out the rest of the world and focus on your workout.
And if you choose motivating songs, you’ll be more likely to push yourself harder and achieve your goals.
Second, music can help you stay in the zone. When you’re working out, it’s important to maintain a consistent level of intensity. But sometimes, it can be tough to keep yourself from slacking off.
Listening to music through headphones can help you stay in the zone and keep your intensity level up.
Finally, music can make working out more fun. Let’s face it – working out isn’t always the most enjoyable activity. But when you’ve got good pair of over-ear headphones for working out and playing tunes in your ears, it’s easier to forget the sweat and pain and enjoy the moment.
So if you’re looking for a way to make your intense workouts more enjoyable, try throwing on some headphones next time you hit the gym.
The Downsides To Over-Ear Headphones
Despite their many benefits, there are a few downsides which you should consider.
For starters, their size. They are a bit bulkier than some prefer, as they stick out a bit from both the top and the sides of your head.
Also, some do not like how these will squeeze the sides of the head with too much pressure on the sides of the head with too much clamping force. While this is part of the value for some, others might find it annoying, especially during long periods.
Does Listening To Music Help My Workout?
For many people, working out is a chance to disconnect from the outside world and focus on their health and well-being. However, some find throwing on some of the best headphones and listening to music can help improve their workout experience.
Studies have shown that music can help to increase motivation and endurance, and it can also provide a distraction from pain and fatigue.
In addition, music can help to create a more positive mindset, which can lead to better performance.
What Are The Best Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out?
Bluetooth Over-Ear headphones are headphones that go over your ears. The ear cups on these headphones are typically larger than headphones and wireless earbuds and will fit around your ears, not on your ears.
Over-the-ear headphones usually have better sound quality than on-ear headphones and wireless earbuds, but these sport headphones can also be more expensive.
When it comes to the best over ear headphones for working out, they can block out background noise while still delivering top-notch sound quality you can hear for your workouts.
It’s worth mentioning that some sports headphones will charge with a USB cable, while others might use wireless charging or a USB-C charging cable. Regardless of which type, it doesn’t impact the quality of the headphones. Just check the manufacturer’s details to see if it’s USB, USB-C port, or wireless.
Can I Wear These For Running?
Whether listening to music or immersive audio while working out, over-ear headphones for working out provide the ideal solution, delivering both comfort and style. Their snug and comfortable fit blocks external noise, allowing you to focus on your workout free from distractions intensely.
Certain models have been specially designed for added protection against accidental sweat damage with innovative features like secure-fit technology so that you can exercise without worry.
Over-ear headphones may not provide the best experience when running and staying focused.
While their larger size does make them awesome for noise cancelation, they can be unwieldy and uncomfortable on your head and ears during more intense physical activity.
Also, due to the extra weight, you have a greater chance of them slipping off or bouncing around while on the move – which could take your focus away from performing optimally.
In this situation, a better choice for running headphones would be lightweight workout earbuds or true wireless options if sound quality you can hear is still priority number one.
Ear Buds, In-Ear Or Over-Ear Headphones for Workout Out?
Whether you choose Bluetooth wireless buds or over-ear headphones depends on your needs. If you want to hear excellent sound quality, over-ear headphones (wireless preferably over wired headphones) for working out are typically the way to go.
However, wireless earbuds might be better if you want something more comfortable and cheaper.
I recommend the Apple Airpods, Bose Sport Earbuds, Samsung Galaxy Buds, or Beats Fit Pro (Beats PowerBeats Pro) wireless headphones if you are considering the best wireless earbuds. All sound good, have excellent Bluetooth range and are perfect for working out.
How Much Are Over-Ear Headphones?
The price range can vary based on the features and specs of the item. Having said that, you can find them for under $100.
But for higher-quality headsets, you can expect to pay $200 to $400.
Have Questions? We Have Answers.
Final Thoughts On The Selecting The Best Workout Headphones
If you’re looking for a new favorite of the best over-ear headphones for gym workouts to throw in your gym bag, then any over-ear options on this list would be great, from the high-end to the budget options. Each wireless headphone pair has its own unique features and pros/cons.
My opinion is that the best over-ear headphones for working out make everything sound better. I’ve tried several wireless earbuds like the Powerbeats Pro and iPhone Airpods.
What is your vote for the best over-ear headphones For Working Out? Do you have a favorite pair for working out? Let us know in the comments below! Thanks for reading!
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Rob is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. For the past 10 years, Rob has been navigating the health and fitness landscape in a quest to better himself and those around him focusing on tools such as calorie and macro counting, intermittent fasting, and HIIT training techniques.