The best headphones for working out in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

As far as value goes, no brand is beating Nothing and its impressive lineup of earbuds that deliver amazing sound, long battery life, and prices that are nearly unbelievable when we think of brand quality. I can see this most clearly with the new Nothing Ear (open) earbuds that are as comfortable as can be and deliver supreme sound (even though it’s an open earbud, a type of earbud that historically tends to sacrifice volume and audio strength for situational awareness), an eight-hour battery life in the earbud and a 30-hour battery life in the case, and a form factor that you can truly wear anywhere. 

I took the Nothing Ear (open) out on a run, wore them in the office and on commutes to and from, on calls, and on strolls, and was pleased with its unobtrusive design, which made the earbuds feel nearly invisible, the audio strength, which kept things loud and the bass booming while also keeping me aware of the noises around me, Nothing’s thoughtful touch controls, and its substantial battery. 

These are the earbuds you’d want to exercise in, whether you’re working out at a busy gym, going on a silent stroll, or running on a car-packed street, because of how they deliver a lightweight, comfortable build and audio that is loud yet aware. 

At its highest level, the earbuds get crazy loud (and experience some sound leakage, I’ll be honest). But while you’re listening with these, you probably won’t need to raise the volume up all the way because the sound is substantially loud, clear, crisp, and bass-forward at mid-level volume. Keep in mind that these earbuds don’t have noise cancellation because they are open earbuds that prioritize awareness, so you’ll want to consult the other noise-canceling picks on this list if silence is what you’re looking for during your workouts. 

Lots of the choices on this list also have the aforementioned qualities, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a pair that retails for $150. These do. 

Nothing Ear (open) specs: Weight:  4.8g | Battery life: 8 hours in earbud, 30 in case | Bluetooth version: 5.3  | Waterproof: IP54 | Noise cancellation: None