The 9 best headphones and earbuds for working out in 2026

Abigail Avery

April 11, 2026

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Check out our full review of the Shokz OpenFit Pro.

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Noise reduction in open earbuds is a new concept, which makes the new Shokz OpenFit Pro unique.

Biking on city streets, running through a park, or simply taking a walk around your neighborhood can all be great ways to get exercise in, but all require some degree of awareness if you want to stay safe. In those scenarios, open ear earbuds are the best solution, and our favorite pair for most people are the Shokz OpenFit Pro, thanks to their balance of sound quality, price point, and durability.

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There are plenty of solid options for open earbuds out there, but the Shokz OpenFit Pro stand out for their versatility, powered by their noise reduction. Not to be confused with active noise cancellation, these earbuds can help slightly soften the sound of the world around you without completely cancelling it out.

The effect is such that you can still hear folks chatting around you, or cars honking, but your audio stream comes in with more depth and clarity. It may come as no surprise then that these Shokz are also some of the best sounding open earbuds we’ve tested, essentially tied with the Bose Ultra Open earbuds (our former pick on this guide for the best earbuds for noise transparency).

Beyond sound, the Shokz earbuds impressed us as workout earbuds on a few fronts over the Bose buds. First and most importantly, at full price, they’re $50 cheaper than the Bose’s. When it comes to water and sweat resistance, they offer more protection, with an IP-rating of IP55 over the Bose’s IPX4. Finally, without noise reduction toggled on, these earbuds have over four hours more of battery life per charge (and nearly double the Bose’s in the charging case).

Admittedly, with the noise reduction on, you eke out slightly better battery life with the Bose’s, but unless you plan on having it on at all times, you still get more listening time out of the Shokz buds. If you prefer a cuff design, you may be better off with the Bose’s, but in our testing, we found that the ear hook and lightweight design of these buds helped them stay secure during exercise.

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