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The best sports earphones

Power through your workout with a great pod or playlist...

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Hitting the gym after work? Or training for your next marathon? A good set of sports earphones can drive you on during any kind of workout. Sports buds will stay put while you exercise. And most are sweat and water resistant too. Which means even the most intense sessions won’t damage your tech.

So, lace up your trainers and grab your kit bag. Here are some of the best sports earphones you can buy. Whether you’re aiming to smash your personal best or are off for a casual lap of the park.

Wireless sport earphones

Best earphones for the gym

When you really need to focus on your workout, sometimes you just want to completely block out the noise. Especially if you’re in a busy gym where the music’s blaring and the weights are clanking. With the BEATS Fit Pro you absolutely can. Active noise-cancelling lets you enjoy your playlist in peace. And really nail that next bench press. Then, when the session’s done, let the outside world back in by switching over to transparency mode.

Best earphones for cycling

If you’re into your cycling – or something a bit more extreme, like rock climbing – AFTERSHOKZ have you covered. Their Aeropex wireless headphones are designed especially for outdoor sports.

Because of their bone conduction design, there’s nothing over or in your ears. Which makes things super comfortable and a whole lot safer. You’ll be able to easily hear your surroundings and your music at the same time. So, if you’re heading out on the bike for a Sunday ride, you can listen out for cars while you pedal up and down the country lanes. And if you get caught in a classic British downpour, you don’t have to worry either. The waterproof design protects them against the elements – whether that’s a quick shower or a serious storm.

What are bone-conduction headphones?

When you first try these out, it feels a bit like you’re in a sci-fi movie. They send sound waves through your skull, not your ear drum. Which means you can listen to a podcast or playlist without having a bud directly in your ear. The audio will literally appear in your head like magic. It’s very cool.

Running earphones

Wearing the wrong kind of earphones can ruin any run. Wired headphones flap about with a whole life of their own. While regular wireless buds can slip out when you pound the pavement. Not with the BEATS Powerbeats Pro earphones though. Built for elite and casual athletes, sturdy ear hooks keep them secure whatever your speed. And they can be customised too. Letting you find the most comfortable fit before you hit the streets. They’re genuinely some of the best running earphones around.

You won’t need to get your phone out and disrupt your rhythm either. Each earbud has its own track controls. So, you can skip to ‘Eye of the Tiger’ right when you need that last push over the finish line.

Speaking of tunes, Beats have hit a home run when it comes to audio quality. They’re called the Powerbeats for a reason! The earphones deliver punchy, balanced audio – no matter the genre – and a better dynamic range. Giving you that extra driving force and motivation exactly when you need it.

Only got time for a quick jog round the block? Buds not got much juice? You’ll get 1.5 hours of battery life in just one 5-minute charge. So, there’s really no excuse not to get up and go.

Swimming earphones

Finding a good pair of waterproof earphones for swimming can be tough. Phillips have got you covered though. Their TAA520 wireless earphones are just as important as your goggles. With an IPX7 rating, these buds can handle more than just a quick dip in the water. You can wear them for up to 30 minutes and dive up to 1m deep – giving you more than enough time (and depth) to get a good amount of laps in.

They’ll stay put while you power up and down the pool too. Secure ear hooks keep them snugly in your ears whether you’re doing backstroke or breaststroke. So, you won’t run the risk of losing them at the bottom of the deep end. And once your session’s done, the ear hooks can easily be removed – letting you use them as regular buds when you’re not working out.

Not sure how to get the most out of your buds? Check out our mini guide to all thing’s earphones. Or, if you’d prefer to get some one-to-one help with sport earphones, head over to ShopLive. Our in-store audio experts can give you a hand via video call. Sounds good!

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