10 Best Sports Headphones 2026 in the United States

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are designed with athletes and fitness enthusiasts in mind, offering a secure and comfortable fit thanks to reinforced earhooks made from flexible nickel-titanium alloy and multiple ear tip sizes. This ensures the earbuds stay put during intense workouts or running. They have an IPX4 rating, so they're resistant to sweat and light rain, which makes them suitable for most outdoor activities but not fully waterproof.

One of their standout features is the impressive battery life—up to 45 hours with the charging case and about 10 hours on a single charge, plus fast charging that gives 1.5 hours of playback from just 5 minutes of charging. Sound quality is enhanced by Active Noise Cancelling and personalized Adaptive EQ, delivering clear highs, rich mids, and strong bass, while Transparency mode lets you stay aware of your surroundings. Connectivity is strong with Class 1 Bluetooth, supporting both Apple and Android devices, including features like one-touch pairing, automatic switching, and customizable controls via the Beats app. The earbuds also include heart rate monitoring with frequent pulse updates, which is a useful addition for fitness tracking.

Controls are easy to use with physical buttons, volume rockers, and voice activation, helping you stay focused during exercise. However, the charging case does not include a USB-C cable in the box, which could mean an extra purchase is needed. While the earbuds offer excellent durability and advanced features, they might be a bit bulky for some users who prefer smaller earbuds. These earbuds are a solid choice for anyone who wants reliable, feature-packed sports headphones with strong sound, long battery life, and useful fitness tracking capabilities.

Apple AirPods 4 are designed with comfort and stability in mind, featuring a smaller, refined shape that makes them comfortable for long wear during workouts or sports. They have an IP54 rating, meaning they resist sweat, water splashes, and dust, which helps them hold up well in most exercise conditions, though they aren’t fully waterproof for swimming.

With up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge and a total of 30 hours using the charging case, you get plenty of battery life to last through extended activities or multiple sessions. The new H2 chip improves sound quality, offering clear, rich audio with personalized spatial sound that creates an immersive experience, ideal for music or podcasts during exercise. Voice Isolation helps keep calls clear even in noisy environments. Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable and easy connection with Apple devices, and the earbuds support quick and hassle-free pairing.

Controls are intuitive, with press buttons for play, pause, and calls, plus hands-free Siri voice commands, including innovative nodding gestures to respond to prompts. The charging case uses USB-C, which is becoming standard, but note that the charging cable is sold separately. While these earbuds lack active noise cancellation, their sound isolation and fit help reduce background noise effectively. Durability is solid for everyday sports use, but those who need fully waterproof earbuds might want to consider alternatives. The AirPods 4 provide a smart, comfortable, and high-quality option for casual fitness enthusiasts and Apple users seeking seamless integration and reliable performance during workouts.

The SHOKZ OpenRun Mini headphones are designed specifically for active users who want to stay aware of their surroundings while exercising. The open-ear bone conduction design offers a comfortable fit without earbuds, making them lightweight and ideal for running or cycling. They provide good sound quality through vibrations on your cheekbones, which keeps your ears open to outside sounds for safety. These headphones have an IP67 rating, so they are highly sweat and water resistant—perfect for intense workouts, though not suitable for swimming. Battery life is solid, delivering up to 8 hours of continuous use, and a quick 10-minute charge can boost playback by 1.5 hours, which is handy for busy schedules. Connectivity uses Bluetooth 5.1, ensuring stable pairing with a wide range of devices, and the included microphone supports clear calls with noise-cancelling features, useful if you need to take calls mid-activity. Controls are accessible and cover volume, media, and call management directly on the device.

Because these use bone conduction technology, the audio experience won’t have the deep bass or full soundstage typical of traditional earbuds or headphones. Also, the open-ear design means background noise isn’t blocked out, which could be a drawback in very noisy environments. The headphones are durable with a titanium frame and come with a USB-C charging cable and carrying bag, making them convenient to carry around.

These headphones are well suited for sports enthusiasts who prioritize safety, comfort, and decent battery life in their wireless headphones, although users looking for richer audio or noise isolation might find this product less satisfying.