Workout & Gym · The rankings
Best earbuds for lifting: eight pairs that survive the bench, the rack and the floor
Lifting is different from running: less impact, more sweat per minute, a lot of time on your back, and a bar that comes within an inch of your ear. This list is built for that, and it's why neckbands sit it out.
By Mike M.Updated Spec-checked, not worn by us
#adReader-supported: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never decides a ranking. How we rank · Disclosure
Quick picks
The rankings at a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Nickel-titanium hooks, ANC, heart-rate sensors and 10 hours per charge (45 with the case) on Apple's H2 chip. IPX4, so it's a fit-and-features pick, not a sweat-rating pick. | Best for lifting overallIn-ear + ear hook | 8.1 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 2 | Soundcore Sport X20 Hooks that rotate 30 degrees and extend 4 mm, ANC, 12 hours per charge (48 with the case) and a submersion rating for under $100. The sweatproof sealed bud that actually fits different ears. | Best sweatproof for liftingIn-ear + ear hook | 8.9 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 3 |  Shokz OpenFit 2 The open-ear pick for most people: 11 hours per charge, IP55 buds, a physical button plus touch, and Shokz's DualBoost dual-driver sound. The hook fit is the reference the others get compared to. | Best open-ear for liftingOpen-ear hook | 8.3 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 4 | Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro An ear-hook with a hinge that swings the driver into the canal for ANC when you want isolation, then back out for awareness. IP55, Bluetooth 6.1, 7 hours open or 5 hours sealed. | Open or sealed, your callOpen-ear hook | 8.1 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 5 | JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 IP66, hybrid ANC, dual drivers with LDAC, and JLab's claim of 56-plus hours total with wireless charging. A sealed hook with a powerful-jet sweat rating at a mid price. | Best IP66 valueIn-ear + ear hook | 8.5 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 6 |  Shokz OpenDots 2 The clip-on with a real sweat rating: IP57 buds, 6.4 g, 10 hours plus 40 with the case, a 5-minute quick charge and a bone-conduction mic for calls. This is the clip-on for people who sweat. | Best with glasses or a capOpen-ear clip-on | 8.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 7 | Shokz OpenFit Pro Shokz's flagship hook: triple wind-resistant mics, an open-ear noise-reduction mode, 12 hours with it off, and titanium hooks. The heaviest OpenFit at 12.3 g, and the most expensive. | Best for a loud gym, openOpen-ear hook | 8.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 8 |  Beats Powerbeats Fit The wingtip Beats: 5.78 g, IPX4 on buds and case, ANC, 7 hours plus 30 with the case. Wingtips grab the concha instead of hooking over the ear, which suits smaller ears and glasses. | Best low-profileIn-ear + wingtip | 7.3 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
#ad · Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Scores are ours, built from published specs and cited independent reviews, not our own wear tests. Photos are illustrative stock. Tap a row for the full write-up.
What lifting does to earbuds
Three things, and none of them is running's problem. First, position: you spend sets on your back on a bench, face-down on a hyperextension, or with your head against a pad. Anything behind your head or around your neck gets pressed. Second, proximity: a barbell on a back squat sits inches from your ears, and a low-bar position can clip a hook. Third, sweat concentration: you're not moving through air, so sweat pools rather than evaporates, and it runs into whatever is on your ear. The picks here are hooks and clips because they solve all three; the ranking then follows the IP rating and whether the gym is loud enough to want ANC.
Why neckbands aren't on this list
The table
| Evidence | Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | Soundcore Sport X20 | Shokz OpenFit 2 | Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | In-ear + ear hook | In-ear + ear hook | Open-ear hook | Open-ear hook |
| Water & sweat rating | IPX4 | Soundcore lists IP68 in its product imagery and IPX7 in its product description; both are immersion ratings | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof | IP55 |
| Noise control | Active Noise Canceling and Transparency mode | Active noise canceling | — | Dual-form design: open-ear or ANC by switching hook level |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours per bud; up to 45 hours with case | 12 hours per charge / 48 with case (normal); 7 / 28 with ANC | 11 hours; 48 hours with case | Open-ear form 7 h / 34 h with case; ANC form 5 h / 24 h |
| Controls | Multi-function button and volume rocker on each side | Physical buttons, customizable in the app | Physical buttons and touch controls | Button control |
| Weight | 8.7 g per earbud; case 69 g | — | 9.4 g per earbud; case 53 g | 10.4 g per earbud; case 88.2 g |
| Score | 8.1/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Evidence | JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 | Shokz OpenDots 2 | Shokz OpenFit Pro | Beats Powerbeats Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | In-ear + ear hook | Open-ear clip-on | Open-ear hook | In-ear + wingtip |
| Water & sweat rating | IP66 | Earbuds IP57; charging case IP54 | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof | IPX4 (earbuds and case) |
| Noise control | Hybrid ANC with three noise-control modes | — | Open-ear noise reduction mode (halves battery when on) | Active Noise Canceling and Transparency mode |
| Battery | 56+ hours total (JLab's headline); page also states over 68 hours | 10 hours; 40 hours with case | Noise reduction off: 12 h / 50 h with case; on: 6 h / 24 h | Up to 7 hours per bud; up to 30 hours with case |
| Controls | Hybrid ANC with three noise-control modes | Touch controls (upgraded) | Physical buttons | Single multi-function button per side |
| Weight | 16.8 g for the pair (about 8.4 g per earbud); case 60.6 g | 6.4 g per earbud; case 38.8 g | 12.3 g per earbud; case 99.3 g | 5.78 g per earbud; case 49.75 g |
| Score | 8.5/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.6/10 | 7.3/10 |
Open or sealed under a bar
Sealed with ANC (Powerbeats Pro 2, Sport X20, Epic Sport ANC 3) if the gym plays music you didn't choose and you train alone. Open (OpenFit 2, OpenDots 2) if you lift with a partner, take cues from a coach, or want to hear a plate slip before it lands. The AeroFit 2 Pro does both: swing the driver in for the working sets, out for the warm-up. The OpenFit Pro is the open-ear answer to a loud gym, with a noise-reduction mode that doesn't seal the ear. The broader case for each is at earbuds vs headphones for lifting, which also covers whether over-ears belong in the rack at all.
In detail
The picks, in full
Rank 1
Stock photoBest for lifting overall
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Nickel-titanium hooks, ANC, heart-rate sensors and 10 hours per charge (45 with the case) on Apple's H2 chip. IPX4, so it's a fit-and-features pick, not a sweat-rating pick.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | In-ear + ear hook. Sealed ear canal: isolation, no awareness. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IPX4 |
| Weight | 8.7 g per earbud; case 69 g |
| Battery | Up to 10 hours per bud; up to 45 hours with case |
| Quick charge | Fast Fuel: 5 min = up to 1.5 hours |
| Charging | USB-C; Qi wireless charging |
| Bluetooth | Class 1 Bluetooth |
| Controls | Multi-function button and volume rocker on each side |
| Noise control | Active Noise Canceling and Transparency mode |
| Extras | Heart-rate monitoring sensors; nickel-titanium alloy earhooks; Apple H2 chip; Voice Isolation for calls |
How the 8.1 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 10
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 5
- Noise control & transparency (15%)
- 9
- Sound quality (15%)
- 9
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 4
What the spec sheet supports
- Reinforced hooks plus a sealed tip: the most locked-in fit on this site
- Physical buttons and a volume rocker on each bud
- Heart-rate data to fitness apps without a chest strap
- 10 hours per bud, 45 with the case
Where it falls short
- IPX4 is a rain-and-light-sweat rating; heavy sweaters have soaked IPX4 buds
- Sealed ear: you won't hear the car behind you
- Priced at the top of the workout category
Skip this if…
…you sweat through everything; an IP67 or IP68 sealed bud like the Soundcore Sport X20 is rated for it and this isn't.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Rank 2
Stock photoBest sweatproof for lifting
Soundcore Sport X20
Hooks that rotate 30 degrees and extend 4 mm, ANC, 12 hours per charge (48 with the case) and a submersion rating for under $100. The sweatproof sealed bud that actually fits different ears.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | In-ear + ear hook. Sealed ear canal: isolation, no awareness. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Soundcore lists IP68 in its product imagery and IPX7 in its product description; both are immersion ratings |
| Battery | 12 hours per charge / 48 with case (normal); 7 / 28 with ANC |
| Charging | About 40 minutes to full for the earbuds |
| Multipoint | Dual connections |
| Controls | Physical buttons, customizable in the app |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Driver / tech | 11 mm dynamic drivers with BassUp |
| Noise control | Active noise canceling |
| Extras | Ear hooks rotate plus or minus 30 degrees and extend 4 mm in four steps; SweatGuard sealed cavity |
How the 8.9 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 10
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Noise control & transparency (15%)
- 8
- Sound quality (15%)
- 7
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 10
What the spec sheet supports
- Adjustable hooks: rotation and extension are the difference between a bud that stays and one that doesn't
- Immersion-rated where Beats is IPX4
- 12 hours per charge with ANC off
- Buttons, not touch
Where it falls short
- Soundcore's own page disagrees with itself on IP68 vs IPX7
- SBC/AAC only
- Soundcore doesn't publish per-earbud weight on the product page
Skip this if…
…you want heart-rate data or Apple integration; the Powerbeats Pro 2 has both.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Soundcore Sport X20
Rank 3
Stock photoBest open-ear for lifting
Shokz OpenFit 2
The open-ear pick for most people: 11 hours per charge, IP55 buds, a physical button plus touch, and Shokz's DualBoost dual-driver sound. The hook fit is the reference the others get compared to.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof |
| Weight | 9.4 g per earbud; case 53 g |
| Battery | 11 hours; 48 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 2 hours |
| Charging | USB-C case; earbuds 1 hour, case 100 min |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling |
| Controls | Physical buttons and touch controls |
| Driver / tech | DualBoost dual drivers + DirectPitch |
| Launched | January 2025 |
How the 8.3 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- 11 hours per charge is the longest of the mainstream ear-hooks
- A real button, so a sweaty finger doesn't misfire a touch control
- Dual drivers give it more low end than single-driver open-ears
- IP55 earbuds handle sweat and rain
Where it falls short
- The case is not water resistant at all; don't drop it in a wet gym bag
- 9.4 g per side is heavier than the OpenFit Air 2 (7.2 g) or Shokz's clip-ons
- Open-ear leakage: people next to you on a quiet bus will hear it
Skip this if…
…you have small ears or glasses that fight a thick hook; the 7.2 g OpenFit Air 2 or a clip-on sits lighter.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit 2
Rank 4
Stock photoOpen or sealed, your call
Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro
An ear-hook with a hinge that swings the driver into the canal for ANC when you want isolation, then back out for awareness. IP55, Bluetooth 6.1, 7 hours open or 5 hours sealed.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 10.4 g per earbud; case 88.2 g |
| Battery | Open-ear form 7 h / 34 h with case; ANC form 5 h / 24 h |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 3.5 hours |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4 mics with AI |
| Controls | Button control |
| Codecs | Hi-Res, LDAC (Android only) |
| Driver / tech | 11.8 mm composite drivers |
| Noise control | Dual-form design: open-ear or ANC by switching hook level |
How the 8.1 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 8
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 9
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 7
- Value (5%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- The only pick that is genuinely both open-ear and noise-canceling
- Button controls and IP55
- Bluetooth 6.1 with multipoint
Where it falls short
- 7 hours open is short of the AeroFit 2's 10
- The heaviest Soundcore hook, and the hinge is one more moving part
- ANC form seals the ear, so the awareness benefit disappears when you use it
Skip this if…
…you never want isolation; the plain AeroFit 2 is lighter, lasts longer and costs less.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro
Rank 5
Stock photoBest IP66 value
JLab Epic Sport ANC 3
IP66, hybrid ANC, dual drivers with LDAC, and JLab's claim of 56-plus hours total with wireless charging. A sealed hook with a powerful-jet sweat rating at a mid price.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | In-ear + ear hook. Sealed ear canal: isolation, no awareness. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP66 |
| Weight | 16.8 g for the pair (about 8.4 g per earbud); case 60.6 g |
| Battery | 56+ hours total (JLab's headline); page also states over 68 hours |
| Charging | Wireless charging plus integrated USB-C cable |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Two devices |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Driver / tech | 10 mm dynamic + Knowles balanced armature |
| Noise control | Hybrid ANC with three noise-control modes |
| Extras | Built-in interval timer; Lab Spatial Audio |
How the 8.5 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 9
- Noise control & transparency (15%)
- 8
- Sound quality (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 8
What the spec sheet supports
- IP66 sits above every Beats and just under the Sport X20
- Dual drivers with LDAC
- Wireless charging and an integrated cable
Where it falls short
- JLab's page gives two different total-battery numbers
- No per-earbud playtime published
- Heavier than the Powerbeats Fit
Skip this if…
…you need an immersion rating; IP66 is powerful jets, not a dunk. The Sport X20 goes further.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to JLab Epic Sport ANC 3
Rank 6
Stock photoBest with glasses or a cap
Shokz OpenDots 2
The clip-on with a real sweat rating: IP57 buds, 6.4 g, 10 hours plus 40 with the case, a 5-minute quick charge and a bone-conduction mic for calls. This is the clip-on for people who sweat.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP57; charging case IP54 |
| Weight | 6.4 g per earbud; case 38.8 g |
| Battery | 10 hours; 40 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2 hours |
| Charging | Case: wireless and USB-C; earbuds 1 hour |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Triple AI noise-canceling: two air-conduction mics plus one bone-conduction mic |
| Controls | Touch controls (upgraded) |
| Driver / tech | Bassphere 2.0 + Dolby Audio + DirectPitch + MirrorPitch |
| Launched | June 2026 |
How the 8.6 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 9
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 5
What the spec sheet supports
- IP57 on the buds: immersion-rated, which no Bose clip-on is
- 10 hours per charge and a 5-minute charge worth 2
- Bone-conduction mic picks up your voice through the jaw on windy days
- Even the case is IP54
Where it falls short
- Touch controls rather than buttons
- Clip-ons sit lighter than hooks but can shift on heavy impact; check the fit on the first sprint
Skip this if…
…you want buttons; the Bose cuffs have them, or go to an ear-hook.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenDots 2
Rank 7
Stock photoBest for a loud gym, open
Shokz OpenFit Pro
Shokz's flagship hook: triple wind-resistant mics, an open-ear noise-reduction mode, 12 hours with it off, and titanium hooks. The heaviest OpenFit at 12.3 g, and the most expensive.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof |
| Weight | 12.3 g per earbud; case 99.3 g |
| Battery | Noise reduction off: 12 h / 50 h with case; on: 6 h / 24 h |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 4 hours |
| Charging | Case: wireless and USB-C; earbuds 70 min |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Triple AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant to 25 km/h |
| Controls | Physical buttons |
| Driver / tech | SuperBoost + open-ear noise reduction + Dolby Atmos optimization |
| Noise control | Open-ear noise reduction mode (halves battery when on) |
| Launched | January 2026 |
How the 8.6 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 9
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 9
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 4
What the spec sheet supports
- Three wind-resistant mics, the best call spec of any ear-hook here
- Noise-reduction mode for the treadmill row without sealing the ear
- 12 hours with reduction off and a 10-minute charge worth 4 hours
Where it falls short
- 12.3 g per side; you feel the hook more than on the Air 2
- Noise reduction halves the battery to 6 hours
- The priciest open-ear on this site
Skip this if…
…your gym is quiet and your calls are rare; the OpenFit 2 delivers the same fit and IP55 for a lot less.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit Pro
Rank 8
Stock photoBest low-profile
Beats Powerbeats Fit
The wingtip Beats: 5.78 g, IPX4 on buds and case, ANC, 7 hours plus 30 with the case. Wingtips grab the concha instead of hooking over the ear, which suits smaller ears and glasses.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | In-ear + wingtip. Sealed ear canal: isolation, no awareness. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IPX4 (earbuds and case) |
| Weight | 5.78 g per earbud; case 49.75 g |
| Battery | Up to 7 hours per bud; up to 30 hours with case |
| Quick charge | Fast Fuel: 5 min = up to 1 hour |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Controls | Single multi-function button per side |
| Noise control | Active Noise Canceling and Transparency mode |
| Sizes | Ear tips in XS, S, M, L |
| Extras | Flexible secure-fit wingtips; Apple H1 chip; dual beam-forming mics |
How the 7.3 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 5
- Noise control & transparency (15%)
- 9
- Sound quality (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 7
- Value (5%)
- 5
What the spec sheet supports
- Wingtips fit where hooks collide with glasses
- 5.78 g per side
- Even the case is IPX4
Where it falls short
- IPX4
- 7 hours per bud
- Sealed ear; no awareness
Skip this if…
…your ears reject wingtips (some conchas just don't hold them); a hook is more forgiving.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Beats Powerbeats Fit
Buyer's guide: earbuds for the weight room
Hook or clip, not neckband
Hooks for anything with impact (cleans, jumps) or heavy sweat. Clips if you lift in a cap, with glasses, or with a hook-sensitive ear. Wings (Powerbeats Fit) for the lowest profile under a bar.
Buttons
Chalk, sweat and touch panels don't mix. Powerbeats, Sport X20, OpenFit 2, OpenFit Pro and AeroFit 2 Pro all use physical controls. The Powerbeats Pro 2 adds a volume rocker, which is the best control set here.
Heart rate
The Powerbeats Pro 2 has optical heart-rate sensors that feed fitness apps. If you track rest intervals by heart rate, that's a feature nothing else on this list has.
The rating
Pooled sweat is the lifter's enemy. IP55 is the floor; the Sport X20 and OpenDots 2 are immersion-rated; the Powerbeats are IPX4 and should be wiped and dried after every session. Why: can sweat damage earbuds.
How we scored this
Pairs we claim to have worn: none we haven't
Plenty of sites say they ran a hundred miles in every pair on the list. We don't say that, and we say so on every page. What we do instead: classify the retention system (hook, clip, wing, neckband), record the maker's published IP rating, weight, battery, charging, mic and control type from its own product page, cross-reference at least one independent published review where one exists, and score every pick on a public rubric. Every figure links to where it came from.
Scores are editorial judgments from that documented research, not lab results. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubric and its weights are published.
Corrections & updates
- First edition.
Questions
Frequently asked
What are the best earbuds for weightlifting?
Are bone conduction headphones good for lifting?
Do I need noise canceling for lifting?
Will a barbell knock my earbuds off?
Keep reading
Related on Openear Club
Receipts
Sources
- Beats — Powerbeats Pro 2 product page, tech specs (checked 2026-09-21)
- Soundcore — Sport X20 product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- Shokz — official product comparison table (checked 2026-09-21)
- Soundcore — AeroFit 2 Pro product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- JLab — Epic Sport ANC 3 product page, tech specs (checked 2026-09-21)
- Beats — Powerbeats Fit product page, tech specs (checked 2026-09-21)
We haven't worn every pair on this site and we don't pretend to. Specs come from the maker's own product pages (linked on every product), independent findings are attributed to whoever published them, and Amazon prices change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.