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Best wireless workout headphone deals available now

Looking to save on a new pair of sports headphones for working out at the gym or running? Here are the best deals you can still get.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
David Carnoy
8 min read
$139 at Amazon
galaxy-buds-live-7
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live: $139
Save $31
$149 at Walmart
bose-sport-earbuds-water-resistance
Bose Sport Earbuds: $160
Save $20
$30 at Amazon
cnet-black-friday-best-buy-jaybird-tarah
Jaybird Tarah: $30 (blue only)
Save: $50
$160 at Amazon
beats-powerbeats-pro-yellow
Beats Powerbeats Pro: $160 (select colors)
Save $90
$48 at Amazon
earfun-free-pro-2
Earfun Free Pro: $48
Save $12 with code
$170 at Adidas
adidas-rpt-01
Adidas RPT-01: $170
Save $70
$199 at Amazon
Apple Airpods Pro
Apple AirPods Pro: $199
Save $50 vs. Apple Store
$91 at Amazon
13-plantronics-backbeat-fit-6100
Plantronics BackBeat Fit 6100: $91
Save $89
$148 at Amazon
sony-wf-sp800n-thumbnail-3
Sony WF-SP800N: $148
Save $51
$135 at Amazon
09-jaybird-vista
Jaybird Vista: $135
Save $45
$100 at Amazon
beats-powerbeats-4-5
Beats Powerbeats 4: $100
Save: $50
$80 at Amazon
jlab-epic-air-3
JLab Epic Air ANC earbuds: $79 (Update: Sold out)
Save $19
$125 at Amazon
aftershokz-aeropex-1
AfterShokz Aeropex: $125 (Update: Deal expired)
Save $35
$150 at Best Buy
jabra-elite-active-75t-12
Jabra Elite Active 75t: $150 (Update: Deal expired)
Save $50
$75 at Amazon
jbl-live300tws-2.png
JBL Live 300TWS: $75 (Update: Deal expired)
Save $75

Hanukkah is over and Christmas is just a few days away, which means if you're on the hunt for deals on wireless headphones, you'll want to act fast. One of the most popular categories in wireless headphones is so-called sport or workout headphones. Some models actually carry the "sport" designation and might have special features like fins or wings that help keep the earbuds in your ears more securely. But plenty of other headphones are perfectly fine for working out, because they're water- and sweat-resistant and fit snugly and comfortably. I've also included a few on-ear and over-ear sports headphones for those who don't like having anything in their ears. 

Here are the best workout headphone deals available right now. We'll continue updating this list as more models go on sale and other deals expire.

Read more: Best workout headphones in 2020

Jason Outenreath/CNET
Battery Life Rated up to 8 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX2 -- sweat-resistant and protection against light splashes)

Say what you will about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live's bean-shaped design, but they might just be the most innovative new true wireless earbuds of the year. Like the standard AirPods, they have an open design -- you don't jam an ear tip into your ear -- and they're quite comfortable to wear and fit my ears more securely than the AirPods. These wireless buds are discreet and basically sit flush with your ear, which reduces wind-noise while biking. I regularly use them for running and biking, and they're great for sporting activities if they fit your ears well, but one warning: Some people won't get a secure fit, so buy them from a retailer that has a good return policy.

$31 isn't a huge discount but it is almost 25% off their list price of $170. Read our Galaxy Buds Live review.

Read our Samsung Galaxy Buds Live review.

Watch this: Galaxy Buds Live are the most innovative true wireless headphones of 2020
David Carnoy/CNET
Battery Life Rated up to 5 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 -- splash-proof)

Both Bose's new QuietComfort Earbuds and Sport Earbuds make good workout headphones, thanks to their StayHear Max tips and secure fit, but the Sport Earbuds are more compact and lighter and also more affordable (the QuietComfort Earbuds do have excellent active noise canceling, however). This is the first time we've seen them discounted.

Unlike their step-up sibling, they have no active noise canceling and an hour less of battery life -- five hours instead of six -- as well as no wireless charging. While they do stick out from your ears, they're noticeably smaller and lighter than the QuietComfort Earbuds and their case is about 30% to 40% smaller. The case still isn't as small as the cases for such competitors as the AirPods Pro, Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, Galaxy Buds Live and Jabra Elite 75t. But it feels reasonably compact.

Read our Bose Sport Earbuds review.

Sarah Tew/CNET

If you're looking for a cheap set of wired wireless sport earbuds, the Jaybird Tarh, which is getting phased out, is on sale for $30. That's the lowest price we've seen for them. 

Read our Jaybird Tarah review.

David Carnoy/CNET

The Beats Powerbeats Pro (list price $250) remains a top true-wireless sports model with many of the same features as Apple's standard AirPods but in a water-resistant design with better sound. You can get the moss green color for as low as $160 and most of the other colors for $170. Read our Beats Powerbeats Pro review.

David Carnoy/CNET

The Earfun Free Pro earbuds are brand new to the market. I've been using them for a week or so and have run with them a few times (they're lightweight and fit securely). While they list for $60, there's an instant 10%-off coupon. Then you can apply the extra 10%-off code FREEPRO10 at checkout at Amazon, which gets you a total discount of $12. They sound really good for the money. 

From a design standpoint, they seem identical to the Fiil T1XS, which is also on sale for $48. However, the Earfun Free Pro has better features, including active noise cancellation with a transparency mode, wireless charging and Bluetooth 5.2. They're rated for seven hours of battery life without the noise-canceling function on (or about six hours with it on). They're IPX5 water-resistant, which means they can withstand a sustained spray of water. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

Companies like Under Armour (with the help of JBL) have released sporty on-ear models designed for people who want that type of secure-fit workout headphone that covers their ears. This Adidas RPT-01 is a bit too expensive at its list price of $170, but it's a good deal at $100. Designed by the same Swedish company that makes Urbanears headphones, it sounds quite decent, with well-balanced sound that doesn't push the bass too much. 

I found them comfortable for on-ear headphones, which tend not to be as comfortable as over-ear headphones, but those with larger heads may feel they clamp down a little too snugly on both your head and your ears. This set of headphones is sweat-resistant with an IPX4 certification. Also, the ear cushions and inner headband are removable and washable (there are instructions for how to do this, but Adidas should do a how-to video). The RPT-01 is available in three colors.

Sarah Tew/CNET
Battery Life Rated up to 6 hoursNoise Canceling Yes (ANC)Multipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX4 -- splash-proof)

The price for the AirPods Pro went as low as $169 for Black Friday, but that deal is gone. Amazon is now selling them for $199. With their lightweight design and IPX4 water-resistance (they're splashproof), they make for good workout headphones. They should fit most ears securely, but if you want an even more secure fit, invest in a pair of foam tips specially made for the AirPods Pro. 

Read our AirPods Pro review.

Battery Life Rated up to 24 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Over-ear wireless headphonesWater-Resistant Yes (IPX5 -- protection against low-pressure water streams)

Although they've been out for over a year, Plantronics's BackBeat Fit 6100 over-the-ear wireless headphones are a solid choice for both the gym and everyday use. The adjustable sport-fit headband has an IPX5-rated water-resistant and sweatproof design. The headphones are equipped with 40mm angled drivers and noise-isolating earcups with an Awareness mode. Battery life is rated at 24 hours. I thought they were a bit expensive at $180, but they're a good value at $90. Last year for Black Friday they were on sale for $110.

David Carnoy/CNET

It took a while, but now we finally have a new true wireless noise-canceling sports model from Sony: the WF-SP800N. Funnily enough, I wrote at the end of my mostly positive review that I'd like to see them more in the $160-$175 range. They were recently down to $127, but the current $148 price is still $50 below list, and $20 below their usual street price.

This isn't quite the WF-1000XM3 with a water-resistant body. It's missing Sony's QN1e processor, but there's still a lot to like about it, including excellent sound, solid noise canceling and good call quality. It's definitely a significant upgrade over the WF-SP700N, which came out in 2018, and its "arcs" (sports fins) lock the buds in your ears. Just make sure you get a tight seal from one of the included ear tips or else both the sound and noise canceling will be lackluster. Read our Sony WF-SP800N review.

Read our Sony WF-SP800N review.

Sarah Tew/CNET
Battery Life Rated up to 6 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX7 -- can be submerged for 30 minutes up to 1 meter)

This is a great price for the Jaybird Vista, one of our top picks for runners. It's a good set of true wireless sports earbuds that lock in your ears and are fully waterproof. The Vista has been out a while, so it's due for an upgrade -- maybe that's why it's on sale -- but if a new model comes out any time soon, it'll probably cost around $180. Read our Jaybird Vista review.

Read our Jaybird Vista review.

David Carnoy/CNET

If you can't afford the Beats Powerbeats Pro, the Powerbeats 4 feature a similar design, features and sound quality with one key difference: They have a wire between the buds (that said, they are wireless). I thought they were expensive at $150, but at $100, they're a lot more enticing. They're available in 3 color options.

Read our Beats Powerbeats 4 review.

David Carnoy/CNET

If you're looking for an AirPods Pro alternative for a lot less, JLab's Epic Air is well worth it. I used these recently and was generally impressed, partially because they fit my ears really well. They're comfortable, include a wide assortment of ear tips, and fit securely with an IP55 water-resistance rating (they can withstand a sustained spray of water).

They also sound decent, have active noise canceling and a compact wireless charging case that can also be charged using the integrated USB cable, a trademark of JLab true wireless earbuds. Don't expect the noise canceling to be as good as the AirPods Pro, but for $79 these are a good value. Additionally, they work reasonably well for making calls although their background noise reduction could be a little better. 

David Carnoy/CNET

The AfterShokz bone conduction wireless headphones deliver sound to your ear through your cheekbones. The big benefit of this technology is that, thanks to its open design, you can hear what's going on around you while listening to music or having a phone conversation through the wireless headphones. That openness allows runners to hear traffic sound, an important safety feature for sport headphones. Also, some race coordinators don't allow runners to wear anything in their ears, which is where over-ear headphones like this come in handy, particularly for people who need to listen to music while they run.

The Aeropex, which AfterShokz describes as its "lightest, highest-quality headphones yet," were released in 2019. The sound quality in this pair of headphones is definitely better than the company's previous flagship model, the Trekz Air -- or the Air, as it's now called. It's also slightly more comfortable to wear with a comfortable fit. However, while AfterShokz continues to make small improvements to performance with each new iteration of its wireless headphones, the sound quality still can't match that of traditional headphones. Read our AfterShokz Aeropex first take.

David Carnoy/CNET

Jabra's Elite Active 75t earbuds are the more rugged version of the Elite 75t. Both models are among the best true wireless earbuds out there and now can be upgraded with active noise canceling via a software upgrade. (New models that shipped to stores recently may already be equipped with the upgrade.)

The Elite Active 75t buds look nearly identical to the Elite 75t, but upon closer inspection, you'll notice the finish on the case and earbuds is different. Instead of the hard smooth finish of the Elite Active 75t, the Active 75t has a soft-to-the-touch finish with a touch of grip to it. Or, as Jabra put it, the earbuds are "built with a durable coating for dust and sweat resistance and features an increased IP water-resistance rating from IP56 (of the Elite Active 75t) to IP57, making them waterproof." Read our Jabra Elite Active 75t review.

Amazon

JBL's Live 300 true-wireless earbuds have been out since last year and have sporadically been on sale for $100. Now $75 is the lowest price we've seen for them. They're a good sounding set of earbuds that are suitable for sports use with their included sport fins and IPX5 water-resistance rating (they can withstand a sustained spray of water). Battery life is rated at six hours and they have an "ambient aware" mode that lets some sound in for safety purposes. 

More headphone recommendations