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Nothing quite compares to hearing your favorite songs through a great set of headphones — except maybe pairing that beat drop with some sprints, tuck jumps, or whatever else moves you.

Wearable speaker technology has come so far, with huge improvements in sound quality, style, and price accessibility. But not all sets are right for all exercisers, so we’ve rounded up some of our favorite new headphones based on the type of athlete you are.

  • Comfort: We want to focus on moving with intention, not being bothered with adjusting earbuds. Comfort and fit were major factors in our choices.
  • Style: Consider headphones the cherry on top of your fitness outfit sundae. Our picks accessorize and go with just about any ’fit.
  • Water/sweat resistance: Any of these options will stand up to your sweatiest workouts.
  • Battery life: No dead batteries mid-run here. We looked for headphones that can go the distance.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $50
  • $$ = $50–$100
  • $$$ = $101–$200
  • $$$$ = over $200
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One of our top picks, these earbuds provide crisp sound, booming bass, and great battery life (up to 15 hours with the included charging case). Their resistance to weather and sweat is a must for distance runners and cyclists.

Bonus: These handy little speakers come with trackers, so you can track lost buds using the Bose Connect app.

Price: $$$

Purchase Bose SoundSport Free.

These earbuds deliver bigtime for their lower price point. Thanks to their many attractive features — including 12-hour battery life, ergonomic fit, precisely tuned sound, waterproof rating, and intuitive touch control knob that allows for easy playlist browsing at the touch of a finger — we gave them top marks for all-around value.

Price: $$$

Purchase JBL Endurance PEAK headphones.

These Beats buds are particularly punchy in Dre’s signature red. They boast up to 15 hours of listening time, have adjustable-fit ear hooks, and are sweat- and water-resistant enough to handle runs in the rain and beyond.

You won’t have to worry about these bouncing all over the place, thanks to the smart stay-put design. Plus, they just look cool. 10/10 for style.

Price: $$

Purchase Powerbeats.

The only thing we love more than the price point of these Wicked Audio buds is the sound quality. Or maybe it’s the fit? For a pared-down, inexpensive option with great sound, these are an easy choice, packing a lot of sound into a tiny, comfortable package!

Price: $$

Purchase Wicked Audio Gnar True Wireless Earbuds.

Speaking of cool looks and fun color options, the latest offering from Urbanears, the Luma headphones, come in colors like Ultra Violet and Field Green.

These true wireless earbuds deliver a staggering 25 hours of playtime on each charge and boom out superior sound quality. They’re a stylish, practical choice for those two-a-days and long runs.

Price: $$

Purchase Urbanears Luma headphones.

These stylish buds come in several colors that make a statement. They’re comfortable and waterproof/sweatproof, so they’re a great choice for cycling, running, and other outdoor pursuits.

Bonus: These earbuds connect to Alexa, so if she’s the AI in charge of your life, you’ll find them very user-friendly!

Price: $$$

Purchase Sony WF-SP800N headphones.

Swimmers, rejoice! These headphones were made with water athletes in mind — Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin and big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, to name a few.

With such impressive credentials, you’d expect these headphones to come with a matching price tag, but you’ll find that they’re a budget-friendly steal. They’re designed to fit snugly in your ears to minimize drag, and they’re waterproof up to 3.6 meters deep.

These buds get extra points for offering a 1-year limited warranty to ensure you get the most sound for your buck.

Price: $

Purchase H20 Audio Surge+ headphones.

These earbuds come with SweatGuard technology and waterproof protection so extreme that the charging port doesn’t require a cover. Included in the box are three sizes of ear tips and ear wings to ensure a custom fit that won’t budge during your workout.

With 10-hour battery life, a low price point, and the look of much more expensive Bluetooth earbuds, these are an easy, quality choice for pretty much any workout you’d like to pair with sound.

Price: $

Purchase Soundcore Spirit Pro headphones.

If deep bass puts some extra bounce in your step, the Sony WF-XB700 earbuds are a natural choice. When used in conjunction with their charging case, they have an impressive 18 hours of punchy, booming 808 sound.

These wireless buds also interact with your smartphone’s assistant for easy hands-free operation, and we’re digging the teal tones in the blue option. These buds are lightweight, small, and a great choice for in or out of the gym.

Price: $$

Purchase Sony WF-XB700 earbuds.

Honorable mention goes to Apple’s AirPods Pro earbuds, which landed as the most expensive entry on our list.

We’re thrilled that Apple has updated the look of their buds to this much sleeker design, and if you’re an Apple user, you can’t beat the seamless connectivity to your phone and watch. If Siri is your jam, these earbuds will complement your life more than any others on this list.

Price: $$$$

Purchase Apple AirPods Pro.