The Top 9 Headphones of 2025

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If you’re looking for reliable headphones for your workouts, consider the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds. Whether you’re running on pavement or tackling an elliptical machine, these earbuds fit securely in your ears. If you’re a trail runner concerned about them slipping out in challenging conditions, rest assured: these are the only earbuds we tested that meet U.S. military-grade durability standards, meaning they can withstand being stepped on. Additionally, they are IP68 dust- and water-resistant. While the sound quality may not impress the most discerning audiophiles, the Elite 8 Active buds provide clear and consistent sound. The active noise cancellation (ANC) helps to muffle background noise, allowing you to focus on your music while you power through your routine.
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When selecting headphones for workouts, we look for a combination of features: a secure and comfortable fit, sweat resistance, easy connectivity, good sound quality, active noise cancellation, and responsive touch controls. The Elite 8 Active earbuds excel in all these areas. The ear tips come in three sizes; the small ones fit comfortably in narrower ear canals. They stay snugly in your ears, whether you’re chugging along on a stair climber or an elliptical. Moreover, the touch controls include a physical button that is easy to press but not overly sensitive, which helps avoid accidental interruptions. During our testing period, the headphones connected immediately each time we opened the case. Other than a few exceptions, such user-friendly connectivity is uncommon. Additionally, their battery life is exceptional—lasting up to nine hours, with the charging case providing an additional 32 hours with ANC and 56 hours without it.

Where the Jabra earbuds may not shine as brightly is in sound quality. The ANC could be stronger, and there is some sound leakage; however, during workouts, this is not a major concern as staying aware of your environment is often preferred. They deliver satisfactory sound quality, and we didn’t feel deprived while enjoying podcasts. Nonetheless, compared to more audio-focused headphones, like some premium models on the market, the sound may come across as less vibrant. Ultimately, this is a minor drawback that did not detract from our overall enjoyment as we pushed ourselves during workouts.