Sports Headphones Reviews & BuyING Guide

Category: Sports Headphones

If you enjoy sports and an active lifestyle, as well as possessing a love of music, then it's pretty natural to want to take your music with you when you work out. Many people put up with the poorly fitting standard iPod earbud earphones, but it's possible to find headphones that are much better for sporting applications.

Headphones designed specifically for sport can make life a lot easier if you are active. Finally there will be no more messing around with your earphones as you have to push them back in your ear again.

Whether you're out running, cycling, skating or keeping fit down the gym, a good pair of sports headphones that are up for the job can really enhance your experience.

What Makes a Good Sports Headphone?

Headphones for exercise and sport have a few unique challenges to overcome.

Secure fit on head and ears

First you need the headphones to stay on (or in) your ears, otherwise you will be forever fumbling around putting them back in. Headphones designed for sport should have some secure method of staying on your head or in your ears. Some sports headphones wrap around the neck, whereas others hook over the ears.

Resistance to sweat

Sports and exercise normally involves some sweating, so it would also help if the headphones are either resistant to sweat, or alternatively seal out moisture. Headphones that have removable foam earpads are a great feature as they can be washed out in water to remove the sweat.

Awareness and safety

Another consideration when choosing a pair of sports headphones is that of safety. Many in ear headphones are very effective at isolating you from external noise, which is great for hearing your music clearly, but does also mean you can easily lose awareness of your surroundings. For example if you are running near moving traffic with earphones then you need to be extra vigilant. Please be careful!

On the other hand if you are working out in a gym then the isolation from those around you may be exactly what you are looking for. A pair of in ear sound isolating headphones will enable to you focus on your routine without distraction from others nearby.

Buying Ideas

Below is a selection of headphones that are particularly suitable for sporting activities such as running, cycling, skating and exercising at the gym:

Sennheiser OMX80 Sport II

The clip on Sennheiser OMX80 is an earbud style headphone that has been built specifically for an active lifestyle. The clip on fitting works very well for the ears of most people and stays put even under frenzied activity.

The OMX80 has been built to withstand some moisture, so no problems if you are sweating. The cable has also had some attention from the designers at Sennheiser, with a rugged construction that can take the rough and tumble of constant movement.

The sound quality on the OMX80 is really not that much better than the standard iPod earbuds, so it will not win any audiophile awards.

Sennheiser PMX80 Sport II

Very similar to the Sennheiser OMX80, the Sennheiser PMX80 headphones have a neckband design that some people find stays on more securely. It really is very hard to dislodge the PMX70 from your head. We've had reports from some of our customers in the British Army using the PMX70 for training, so these headphones really are built to stay put!

The same comments made above regarding the OMX70's quality of sound apply to the PMX70, with it being just an earbud style headphone.

SoundMAGIC PL30

If sound quality is important and you are OK with being isolated from external sounds then the SoundMAGIC PL30 is a great earphones for sports use.  The cabling is designed to run up and over the ears to the back of the neck, which means they stay securely on your head.  This fit system works very well for sports use, although it does take a bit of practice to get the hang of - it really is worth the effort.

The SoundMAGIC PL30 is very robustly built, with well made cables and good strain relief to protect the cabling from damage. The PL30 comes cupplied with a handy travel case (small enough to put in a pocket) and plenty of different size ear tips to ensure you get a good in-ear fit.  Comply Foam T-400 tips work with this earphone, which gives the best possible seal and noise isolation.

Sound quality with the PL30 is exceptional considering the cost and compares well with earphones costing two or three times as much. The PL30 gets regular use in the gym by one of the staff here at HiFi Headphones and comes highly recommended.

Sennheiser PX100

If you are looking for better audio quality than a simple earbud earphone then the Sennheiser PX100 is very capable headphone for the money. The PX100 compares well with many other much more expensive headphones and is very suitable for sports, with a lightweight design and comfortable on ear fit.

The PX100's open design means that it's not good at keeping out noise, which may be a benefit when you need to be aware of your surroundings, for example when running on the street. Obviously the lack of isolation is more of a problem in a gym with a lot of external noise.

Grado iGrado

While the retro styling is not to everyone's taste, the Grado iGrado is a very worthy mention for sports use. The round the neck and over the ear design means the iGrado stays very well attached on most people's heads.

The sound quality with the iGrado is truly superb and has won a number of awards, including What HiFi? Sound & Vision "Best Portable Headphone" and "Editors Choice". This probably has something to do with the fact that the drivers (micro-speakers) used in the iGrado are exactly the same as those used in the much more expensive Grado SR60 full size Hi-Fi headphone.

The iGrado is an open back headphone, so leaks sound and lets in external noise. If you are running this means you can keep some level of awareness with your surroundings.

If you are concerned about the effects of sweat it's good to know that the ear pads on the iGrado are made from a foam material that can be removed and washed (probably best to wash by hand with just water). Spare iGrado earpads can also be purchased at a reasonable cost, so can easily be replaced if they start to get a bit grubby.

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio

The Ultimate Ears Super.fi 3 Studio, besides being a mouthful, is an in ear sound isolating (or ear canal) headphone that does a great job of keeping external noise out and your music in. These earphones isolate you from external noise by upto 26dB (rather a lot), so can be a dangerous if running near moving vehicles and where you need to be aware of the what is going on around you. However, if you are looking to get 'in the zone' then these earphones are perfect for focusing on your exercise.

The one feature that makes the Ultimate Ears Super.fi range stand out for using as a sports headphone is the way they fit on the ear. The UE Super.fi 3 Studio is designed for wearing upside down, and has cables that hold their shape and can be moulded to fit over the top of your ear. This method of fitting the earphone is extremely handy for exercising, as the earphone clings to the top of your ear a bit like a clip on headphone.

The sound quality of the Super.fi 3 Studio is a massive improvement over cheaper earbud style earphones and you will be able to pick out instruments in your music that are barely discernible with earbuds. Some owners comment that there is a lack of bass from the Super.fi 3 Studio, but this really is an excellent earphone for the price.

Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pro

The next step up from the Super.fi 3 Studio is the Super.fi 5 Pro earphone, which adds a second driver dedicated to bass frequencies. The Super.fi 5 Pro has the same cable design that moulds over the top of your ear in the same way as the Super.fi 3 Studio, so you can be sure the earphones will stay on your ear no matter how much you jump around. The detachable and replaceable cables are also a welcome addition as they mean you can simply replace the cables if you break them, without the expense of replacing the earphones.

The sound quality of the Super.fi 5 Pro truly excellent. This headphone offers a very balanced response, right across the frequency range. The bass response is quite a bit stronger and more defined than the Super.fi 3 Studio.

The nearby competition, if comparing purely on audio performance, is the Shure SE410 and the Sleek Audio SA6, but for sporting activities the Super.fi 5 Pro really does excel with it's secure over-ear fit.

The Super.fi 5 Pro has to be our current favourite earphone for sports as there are no compromises with sound quality and it really does hold steady on your ears.

More Sports Headphones

Check out our full range of headphones suitable for sports in our Sports Headphones category.