Choosing a pair of ear or headphones for sporting activities – be that running, cycling or hitting the gym may seem straightforward enough – they’ve just got to stay firmly attached, even when things get a little strenuous… right?
Well, partly. But there’s much more to consider than just sound and stability, when it comes to choosing how your workout will be audio-accompanied. Your chosen head/earphones must go the extra mile to ensure your workout is uninterrupted so you can push for that extra mile yourself. Yes, they have to stay on. Nothing messes up a nice, seamless gym session than your phones falling out/off, but have you considered water/sweat resistance? If you’re doing it right – you’ll be getting wet. And a non-resistant phone simply won’t cut it when things get tough. Durability is another key factor – those phones will be put through their paces as much as you will be, and if they’re in any way delicate they simply won’t last. Ease of use and passive noise are important too – particularly in the gym when blocking outside noise is paramount. And lets not forget sound quality. Always a kicker.
That’s a lot of factors to consider. Which is why we’ve done the leg work and picked out the most gym, road and slope worthy phones that we stock. Just don’t forget your gym towel!
Remember, all prices stated were correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change.
1. Sennheiser MX 685 Sports Headphones – £29.95
Designed with the assistance of ADIDAS good bet for the fitness bunny on a budget – the MX 658s are rugged and durable whilst retaining the lightness necessary for such activity. At 13g, you’ll barely notice they’re there. They’re well set-up to stay on too, with Sennheiser’s unique Slide-to-Fit holding mechanism which is designed for full adjustability so the phone can comfortably fit over the ear. It comes complete with various ear-adapter sets and is of a combined on and in-ear style. These phones are particularly good for outside use, letting just enough outside noise through to ensure you’re can stay aware of your surroundings (and passing traffic) and stay safe while you pound the pavements.
Why do we like them?
They tick all the boxes and keep it cheap. The 3.5mm output means pretty much any player is supported, and the sound isn’t bad at all. You’d be hard pressed to find better for less.
Why do they like them?
‘The MX 685 sports earphones fill their design brief almost perfectly. The secure fit is the strongest point […] They perform very well during exercise and we feel are particularly well suited to running. The sound quality is as good as it needs to be, whilst still allowing you to hear your surroundings as well as your music.’ (Best Earphones Guide)
2. Sennheiser CX 685 Sports Earphones – £44.95
The CX 685s are in-ear-canal with a very high level of passive noise attenuation, making these phones perfect for the gym – and escaping the jarring sound of the tannoy and the dropping of weights. Designed in partnership with ADIDAS, the sleek and comfortable CX 685s are completely sweat and water resistant, and can even be rinsed under the tap at the end of a workout. These are extremely strong headphones and feature a reinforced Para-Aramid cable, which means it doesn’t matter too much if you get the cable caught and tugged during your workout. Because lets face it – that happens. Best of all is the sound quality. It’s rich, natural and hi-fidelity and very much in accordance with Sennheiser’s very high standards.
Why do we like them?
They feature the fantastic Slide-to-Fit holding mechanism, so they’re very comfortable and stable. And all background noise is block. So, so useful at the gym.
Why do they like them?
‘The Sennheiser CX 685 SPORTS earphone pair sounds fantastic, and if you can live without an inline remote and mic while exercising, it’s a bargain.’ (PC Mag)
3. Sennheiser PMX 685i Sports Headphones – £53.95
Perfect for the midrange budget. If the on or in-ear designs don’t quite suit your taste – or terrain – the PMX 685i has a lightweight neckband for added stability. Once these babies are fastened on, they’re not going anywhere. Perfect for outdoor activity, and especially effective if you use them for cycling as their low profile design will fit very comfortably under a cycling helmet. Their in-ear design are allow for just enough outside noise to filter through, keeping you aware and safe, but without impeding on your enjoyment of the audio. A Kevlar cable ensures extra strength and sweat, mud and any other muck can be rinsed off under the tap. Best of all, this model features a very handy three button Apple-compatible remote and mic for calls and playback control.
Why do we like them?
They have enough features to satisfy any gadget lover, but are still hardwearing. They’re available in both black and white too!
Why do they like them?
Out on a run they are barely noticeable when on and stay secure thanks to the well-designed flexible neckband. It matches the original in the sound department delivering 120dBs of audio, but the sound is richer. If you don’t like the invasive nature of in-ear buds, the Sennheiser PMX 685i are a great buy. (Trusted Reviews)
4. Sennheiser OCX 685i Sports Headphones – £53.95
And yes, another Sennheiser. They’re just that good. Featuring highly sought after – and extremely comfortable – clip on ear hooks which will hold the phones tight to your ears no matter how hard you push yourself, the OCX are an excellent sports headphone in terms of usability, durability and sound quality, and their in ear-canal means almost all background noise is eliminated, making them perfect for the gym. This model is available in both black and white and features a highly durable Kevlar cable. Once again, these are water resistant, which means they can be rinsed off under the tap in the gym. Easy.
Why do we like them?
The ear hooks are an excellent bet for sports headphones. Very comfortable and manoeuvrable while keeping the phones exactly where they should be, this is my favourite style of sport headphone. It has a three button remote and mic built-in too!
5. Yamaha EPH100 Earphones – £79.90
And last but by no means least, these beauties were not technically designed for sport, but they deserve a mention anyway. We’ve had such fantastic feedback from runners and gym-bunnies alike that we simply couldn’t leave them out of the running. Enter, the EPH100s from our friends Yamaha. Perhaps not the most obvious choice for a sports earphone, but these are one of the finest in ear-canal phones money can buy. Their pure sound is the result of a new-concept 6mm (1/4”) diameter super-compact driver, a sound which continues to impress audiophiles and critics alike, time and time again. They will stay where they are and deliver perfect sound, in the gym or on the road, and help you rediscover your favourite music.
Why do we like them?
They are one of our favourite items. Ever. So much so we made them an Audio Affair exclusive. Not the most obvious choice for sport perhaps, but certainly worth the gamble if excellent sound quality is high on your priorities list.
Why do they like them?
’Bottom line: The Yamaha EPH-100 are the steal of the decade in affordable high-performance personal audio. Were it not for Yamaha’s suggestion that we give them a shot, we could have missed out on these closeted overachievers entirely, and that would have been a shame.’ (Digital Trends)
There’s no greater motivator than hi-quality audio to get your blood pumping and you body moving, so invest in some reasonably priced yet amazing sounding headphones and get yourself to the gym. Remember: drink lots of water, take time to rest, and fill up your player with some fast paced tunes.