6 workout headphones that will make perfect gifts for fitness lovers

The cheap as chips option

The Sony WF-C700N earbuds aren't strictly built for fitness. But we're recommending them because they deliver great sound, are incredibly comfortable and secure (a priority for working out), and have an impressive sub-$100/£100 price tag. Although you will find rivals with more fitness-focused features, we doubt they'll tick all of the major boxes like these do, and we're pretty certain they wouldn't be as affordable. 

If you want an even more budget-friendly alternative, take a look at the JLab Go Air Sport.

Ultimate ambient awareness

The Shokz OpenRun Pro are bone-conduction headphones, which means they don't need to sit inside your ear canals to deliver great sound. They're the best running headphones who like to stay aware of their surroundings. Although there are other options available in this style, these are our favorites as not only is the audio quality on offer here impressive, but they're also incredibly light and comfortable to wear.

For bone-conduction headphones for swimmers and outdoor runners, try the H2O Audio Tri multi-sport headphones instead.

A safe bet

The Beats Fit Pro are our top pick in our best workout headphones guide. These noise-cancelling earbuds are essentially the Apple AirPods Pro but more workout-friendly, with wing tips to keep them secure and a bassier sound. This means if you're keen to buy headphones for a fitness lover but don't know their precise needs and priorities, we'd recommend these as they're fantastic all-rounders with sports-specific features.

The Sony WF-1000XM4s are pricier and not sports-specific but for excellent sound to suit most people, you can't go wrong.

Stability superpowers

Our second recommendation for Beats buds, the Beats PowerBeats Pro are older than the Fit Pro above and don't have the more advanced features, like Spatial Audio or ANC. But they do have earhooks for added stability – great for running and intense workouts – and a better battery life on a single charge that'll keep you moving for longer.

If you want an equally stable pair of true wireless buds with a similar earhook design, consider the JBL Endurance Peak 3.

Bring on elite endurance

The Jabra Elite 8 Active are a tough pair of buds. They're dustproof, waterproof and sweatproof with impressive battery life and a design that stays put during any gym workout. They sound great too, with Dolby Spatial Sound and truly immersive ANC. If you're buying for someone who needs a high-performing pair of buds for the gym, these are our top pick.

For an alternative pair of buds that perform similarly but are also designed for swimming, check out the JBL Reflect Aero.

Streaming underwater magic

The ultimate in sound performance when you're swimming, the Zygo Solo can stream content from a smartphone using an FM transmitter that can penetrate water – no other headphones can currently do this, making them some of the best waterproof headphones. This means if you know someone who loves swimming (and crucially swims somewhere where they can keep their phone nearby) these are a fantastic and high-end choice, but are priced accordingly. 

Take a look at the Shokz OpenSwim for a cheaper, lightweight option.