When it comes to workout headphones, the options are numerous. But the question that most people ask is, can you work out with over the ear headphones? We answer, YES! Thanks to the advancement in technology, there are now the best over-ear headphones for working out.
Over-the-ear headphones come with lots of merits over other types of headphones especially if you are involved in vigorous exercises. If you like listening to your favorite playlist as you work out, then you need a pair of the best over-ear headphones.
Although some people might prefer earbuds for working out earbuds are not suited for all kinds of workouts. Now, there are plenty of over the ear headphones in the market and all of them claim to be the best. Therefore, it can be confusing to choose the best pair from the hundreds of options available.
That’s where we come in handy. We have done the hard part for you and now we bring you a list of some of the best over the ear headphones for workouts. For the headphones that we have selected, we took some features such as quality, usability, value for money, comfort among others into consideration.
When it comes to headphones for working out, comfort is critical but other features cannot be overlooked as well. However, none of the headphones that we have covered in this article is suitable for sports. So, you should be careful when using them for some workouts such as running.
Why over-ear headphones?
The following are some of the benefits of over ear headphones:
- Great sound quality
- Superb design
- Fits with a snug over the ears
- Inbuilt noise isolation
- They do not slip off your ears
- Sweatproof
Keep reading to be enlightened on the best over-ear headphones for working out. But, first things first, what should you look for in a workout headphone? Find out in the next section.
Qualities to Look For
– Fit
When you are working out, you do not need disturbance from falling headphones. Therefore, it is critical to find a good fit for your head and ears to ensure that they remain intact while working out. To find a perfect fit for your head, go for a headphone with adjustable headband.
– Weight
Another critical factor to consider is the weight of the headphones. Lightweight headphones are ideal for working out because there will be no extra weight on your head while working out. Also, lightweight headphones mean that you can easily adjust them on your ears to ensure that they fit perfectly.
– Durability
This feature goes without saying how important it is. You cannot afford to go back to the shop after a few weeks of buying headphones. Ensure that the pair you buy are sweat-resistant so that they can last for many days.
– Comfort
The comfort of the headphones is determined by their weight among other factors. For the headphones to be comfortable, ensure that they are well padded so that they will be comfortable on your ears.
Equally important, ensure that the earcups do not produce any heat while wearing them. When buying headphones for working out, it is advisable that you wear them for a while and feel if they produce any heat or not. But if you are buying online, read reviews about the same before buying.
Without sacrificing comfort, consider the other factors.
– Audio quality
Another essential feature to consider when buying headphones for working out is the quality of the sound they produce. Depending on your taste, you can go for one with bass over vocals or vocals over bass kind of headphones.
Most significantly, keep your favorite music genre at the back of your mind when selecting headphones. Those that are ANC enabled allows you to enjoy crystal clear audio while working out.
Equally important, workout headphones should have noise cancellation. The headphones should be able to shut out all ambient sounds so that you can hear what’s playing so that you can remain focused on your workout.
– Price
Over-ear headphones are available in a wide range of price tags. Ensure that you have a working budget. When you know how much you are willing to spend, it will be easier for you to make a decision.
Best Over-Ear Headphones For Working Out
1. Jabra Elite 85H
Are you looking for premium over-ear well-built headphones for working out? Then look no further than the Jabra Elite 85H. They stand out for their excellent battery life span even when the noise cancellation is enabled.
One of the outstanding things about the Jabra Elite 85H is its lightweight. They weigh only 10.4 ounces which when you are wearing them, you will not feel any weight on your head.
In terms of audio quality, the Jabra Elite 85H has satisfying sound quality. However, if you want better audio quality, then better spend more on the high-end headphones. But for their price range, the sound quality is good.
On the outside of the Jabra Elite 85H earcups, you will find volume control buttons. There are 3 various buttons for play/pause, next, and volume. Therefore, we can say that the headphones are easy to use since they do not have any complicated settings to adjust.
Another outstanding feature of the Jabra Elite 85H is the SmartSound active noise cancellation ability. This feature works by analyzing the sound in your surrounding and then adjusting itself to suit your workout environment.
Also, they are very comfortable. They are well cushioned all over for comfort. However, on the inside of the earcups, there is a fabric layer that tends to collect dust very fast.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Active noise cancellation
- Comes with 8 microphones for high-quality sound
- Cooling ear pads to prevent heat and sweat formation
- They are water and dust resistant
- Easy to use
- Value for money
Cons
- The fabric inside the ear cups collects dust
2. Beats Studio 3
The Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones are another great choice of over-ear headphones for working out. They are wireless and connects via Bluetooth. They are lightweight and very comfortable for working out.
They are well-built and well padded to give you a comfortable feel while working out. That’s not all; the headband is adjustable to ensure that they fit on your head with a snug.
What’s more, the Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones come with active noise canceling to ensure any ambient noise is canceled out so that you can enjoy your workout.
The sound profile is versatile so no matter your music genre, you can find the noise very satisfying. To make the music more enjoyable, they have a warm bass response to make the music more pumped. Equally essential, they do not leak much sound so those around you will not be disturbed by what you are listening to.
However, since they have a closed-back, they tend to trap a lot of heat and you can sweat if you wear them for a long time. Therefore, if you are involved in intense workouts, ensure you consider this factor.
In addition to that, the ear cups are a bit bulkier so they might come off during an intense workout such as running. But generally speaking, they are very comfortable and stable which makes them a great value for money.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Active noise cancelling ability
- Well-build
- Fits with a snug
- Excellent sound quality
- Warm bass response
- Does not leak sound
- Sleek design
- Durable
Cons
- Bulky
- Does not have a breathable material hence can cause sweatingä
3. Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II
One of the most trusted brands in the headphone industry is Bose. We now bring you their wireless headphone for working out. However, it is on the high-end price-wise.
In terms of audio quality, the Bose SoundLink around-ear wireless headphones II has a decent sound quality that will satisfy your music needs while working out.
One of the things that make it stand apart from the rest is the sleek design. They are very comfortable because they are padded all over so you will not experience any discomfort during the workout.
The headband is adjustable so it can fit on any head size. Also, they fit with a snug to ensure that they do not fall off while working out.
The ear cups are cushioned to ensure you do not sweat while working out. On the right ear cup, there is a volume control which you can use to adjust the volume to your desired level.
Also, they are wireless which means there are no cables involved which might cause entanglement during a workout session.
What’s more, they are lightweight so you will not experience any weight on your head.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Wireless
- Volume control
- User-friendly
- Adjustable headband
- Outstanding voice quality
Cons
- Costly
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4. Cowin E7
This pair of headphones is versatile in its use. You can use them for working out or even for traveling. They come as wireless so you can connect with any compatible device. Also, it eliminates the need for wires while working out.
In terms of sound quality, the Cowin E7 has an amazing audio quality. In addition to that, they have a crunchy bass response which makes the listening experience great. Also, the mids and the lows are clear and crispy which ensures that you hear all the vocals clearly. Therefore, no matter the music genre that you love listening to, these headphones will give you a satisfying sound.
The Cowin E7 comes with active noise canceling which helps to cancel out any ambient sound in your surroundings. This way, you will be able to enjoy clear audio irrespective of your workout environment.
The volume of the Cowin E7 is very loud. You can crank up the volume and enjoy your music. Also, they do not leak any sound so you will not disturb those near you.
In terms of comfort, the Cowin E7 is cushioned all over to give you a comfortable feel. Also, the headband is adjustable to ensure it fits on any head size. They also fit with a snug to ensure that they do not fall off during a workout session.
On the left ear cup, there is a control button. You can use the button to either play or pause.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Adjustable headband
- Amazing audio quality
- Crunchy bass response
- ANC shuts out all unwanted noise
- Wireless
- Versatile in its use
Cons
- The inbuilt mic is wanting
5. Razer Opus
Another great over-ear headphones for working out is the Razer Opus. We have included it in our list because of its high-quality design, wireless connection, and high sensitivity.
One of the outstanding features of the Razer Opus is the touch-sensitive controls which are very easy to operate. Apart from that, since it is wireless, it is battery-powered. The life span of the battery when fully charged is 33 hours which is quite impressive. Therefore, even if you are working out for long hours, you will not be worried about the battery dying on the way.
The sound profile of the Razer Opus is near natural which makes them great for any kind of music genre. But, if you are a bass lover, these headphones come with a dedicated app that has a graphic EQ through which you can adjust the bass response to suit your listening needs.
That’s not all; they come with an adjustable talk mode which allows more noise from the surround to come in. this is handy if you are working out in a crowded area and you would like to hear what’s happening around you.
In terms of comfort, the Razer Opus comes with a cushioned headband and ear cups. This ensures that you are comfortable throughout the workout session. Also, the headband is adjustable which allows you to adjust it to fit on your head.
The Razer Opus has active noise canceling ability which helps to shut out any unwanted sound from your surroundings.
However, they are a bit bulky which might make them a bit uncomfortable for intense workouts. Also, the inbuilt microphone for phone call communication does not isolate the background noise so the quality of the phone call might be affected.
Pros
- Touch-sensitive controls
- Lightweight and comfortable
- ANC ability
- Near natural sound quality
- Comes with a companion app
- Has a talk adjustable mode
- 33-hour battery
- Wireless
Cons
- Bulky ear cups
- Inbuilt mic lacks noise isolation
6. JLab Audio Flex Headphones
We saved the best for the last. We now bring you the JLab Audio Flex Headphones which stand apart for their exceptional audio quality during a workout session.
A workout session can be sweaty but the JLab Audio Flex Headphones are designed with moisture-wicking material to ensure that you remain dry during the workout. This feature makes these headphones ideal for any sweaty workouts.
That’s not all; the headband is flexible so you can adjust it to suit your head size. There is 3 way to get a perfect fit for your head size.
The audio quality of the JLab Audio Flex Headphones is outstanding. The audio profiles are suited for various workout environments.
They are also padded which makes them comfortable for working out. The build quality is also sturdy so they will serve you for a long time.
The JLab Audio Flex Headphones are wireless so they eliminate the wire entangling during a workout session. Also, you can connect with any Bluetooth enabled device to enjoy your favorite playlist.
On the right ear cup, there is a control button. The buttons are for play/pause, next and volume control. However, when you press any of the buttons, you will experience a minor delay before the function takes effect.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Wireless
- Easy to use
- Moisture-wicking material used
- Excellent audio quality
- Adjustable headband
- Durable
- Fits with a snug
Cons
- Minor delay when you press buttons for various functions