Listening to music has been proven to boost performance. Whether you're running outside or working out in the gym, it is an undeniable motivational tool. But how you listen to it is also going to have an impact – wasting time fiddling with wires and readjusting earbuds is not only infuriating but slows you down or disrupts your rhythm.
Sport headphones have greater demands placed on them than regular earphones: higher impact and sweat is involved. Standard smartphone sets are too flimsy and insecure, and won't sufficiently block out external noise, while bigger headsets that may provide better sound quality are too bulky and not resistant to moisture. While some don't come cheap, investing in a pair of specialist sports headphones that have good functionality and sound quality will pay off if you use them often.
So what are you looking for in a good pair of sport headphones? First – function. Headphones designed for sport should have some secure method of staying on your head or in your ears – either by wrapping around your head or neck, or hooking over or inside the ears. Sports and exercise headphones need to be either resistant to sweat, or seal out moisture, or they'll stop working.
Another consideration is the type of activity you'll be doing and the environment where you will be using the headphones. If you're running, noise-cancelling headphones will make safety an issue as they will cut you off from traffic, fellow joggers, cyclists and so on. In this case, headphones that allow ambient noise would be a safer option. But if you're using them for the gym, noise-cancelling earphones are exactly what you want to drown out the looped pop and enable you to focus on your routine without distraction.
I've learned the expensive way that not all sports headphones deliver what they promise, so to save you the same costly trial and error, myself and Kate Carter have roadtested and assessed a handful of the latest models for sound quality, functionality and comfort – outside and inside, while running or in the gym, and listening to a range of different music.
Sennheiser adidas CX 685 SPORTS (£49.99)
Sennheiser and Adidas collaborated on a range of five headphones launched in September, tested by professional athletes and designed for different workout environments. The CX 685, intended for indoor use, is an in-ear bud featuring a new flexible "EarFin" that slides up and down to fit inside the top fold of your ear and keep the earphones locked into place.
I tested the CX 685 in the gym, and they didn't budge throughout work on the mat, treadmill, cross trainers and overhead equipment. They are a comfortable and secure fit, and the adjustable fin means they will fit most ear shapes and sizes.
Sound quality was clear, with audible bass, and the headphones blocked out all the noise of the gym. They are light and comfortable, sweat and water resistant, and the earphones can be rinsed out under the tap after training.
The downside is no remote control on the headphone lead – this is fine if you're using a iPod shuffle or a nano but a bit more fiddly if you're using an iPhone and want to change tracks.
Comes with cable clip, cleaning tool, three bud sizes and storage pouch.
Best for: indoor work at the gym with a player that can change tracks easily. JA
Sennheiser adidas PMX 685i SPORTS (£59.99)
Designed for running and outdoors sports, the PMX 685i earphones are on a thin, adjustable neckband worn to the back of your head. The rubber buds don't fully cover your ear canals, and allow enough ambient noise to keep you alert. And while I personally wouldn't cycle on a road while listening to music, they are designed to fit under bike half-helmets.
I tested these headphones while running along quite a busy canal towpath. Lighter than their predecessors at just 20g, they bounce around slightly but you quickly get used to it. I could hear the wind and traffic, but was still surprised by a cyclist overtaking me, so despite the ambient noise design you still need to stay alert (which is always a good idea anyway).
The most impressive thing about these headphones is the sound quality – the best of all the headphones I tried. Powerful, with no distortion and a good, thumpy bass. There is a remote control/mic on the cable lead and the buds are fully rinseable.
The only downside is that as these sit on the back of your head, they're not suitable for any mat or bench work in the gym – however you can have all the same sound and functionality with the PX 685i model that sits on top of your head. In-line volume controls only work on iOS devices, but start/stop works for iOS and Android.
Comes with a foam ear pads, storage pouch and cable clip.
Best for: great quality sound but safety while running. JA
Philips ActionFit SHQ3000 (£22.98)
This Philips model uses black and orange adjustable over-ear clips to keep the in-ear buds in place. Not surprisingly given the lower price, these felt less sturdy than other designs. Even though the phones come with a choice of four bud cover sizes, none gave me a complete seal, resulting in loss of quality in the music. The sound quality is billed as "bass thumping stereo sound –fuel for your workout", but of all the models I tried, these had the poorest sound quality.
The buds fell out constantly while running, but performed better in the gym. The earphones are made with waterproof materials, so won't get ruined by sweat. The rubberised coating on the cable meant it tangled quite easily, and the is no remote-control function on the lead.
Comes with a disc-shaped storage carrier and cable clip.
Best for: inexpensive headphones for the gym. JA
ActionFit neckband SHQ4017 (£30.64)
This is the ActionFit range's neckband model, with isolated earbuds on a flexible, rubberised band that fits over the top of your ears and around the back of your head. It rests slightly lower than the Sennheiser Adidas model, and I was more aware of it bumping against my head when I tested it on a run. But at just 20g, it's very light.
There are two USPs for these earphones: the first is a customisable cable – they come with a standard 60cm cable if you're using an armband, and 60cm extension cable if you want to put your phone in your pocket. The second is their cleanliness – they are sweatproof and fully washable, with an anti-bacterial agent injected into the earbuds that Philips claims kills 99.8% of bacteria.
Sound quality is good, and the buds block out most external noise. It's hard to know the best environment for these earphones though, as safety becomes an issue if you are using them for running, but their position on the back of the head makes them impractical for any gym work that involves floor exercises.
These headphones come with a remote control and mic on the cable, which is compatible with all Apple products, but some users report that not all remote features work with other phones or players.
Comes with storage pouch, cable clip, extension cable and three sizes of earbud tips.
Best for: running – but in a safe environment. JA
Yurbuds Inspire for women
$29.99 (available in the US and Canada, and online)
Developed by a marathoner and triathlete, the idea behind Yurbuds was to provide an ergonomic solution to sport earphones, using patented TwistLock technology that the US company says is "guaranteed to never fall out". Yurbuds has recently launched the Inspire for Women range, specifically designed to fit smaller ears and coming in a range of fun (but not over-girly) colours.
Sweat-proof and water resistant, they were very light and comfortable to wear. The bud is soft contoured silicone with an earbud stem – you simply put it in your ear, turn clockwise and go. They're so deceptively simple and easy it seems hard to believe they'll stay in. But they do: trialled on a run, they stayed put for a full 30 minutes, even with the cord swinging around and getting caught in clothing. Testing Yurbuds at the gym, they didn't fall out, but some movements and activities required a bit of readjustment.
Sound quality while running was good, even along busy main roads. At the gym, they allowed in quite a lot of background noise even after turning up the volume – however they are designed to allow ambient noise for safety reasons. There was no headphone control on the model I tried, but the Inspire Pro range has a three-button control on the lead which would be a welcome addition. The cord was pretty tangle-resistant and has an angled plug, which is typically more durable than a standard straight plug.
Yurbuds Personalised (£30) Duro (£50) and Inspire Pro (£60) now available in the UK
Best for: if you want a simple, no frills in-ear headphone to run with. JA
Monster iSport Immersion In-Ear Headphones with ControlTalk (£70-130)
Monster, best known for its celebrity-endorsed headphones worn by almost every Olympic swimmer this summer, has moved into the fitness market with its iSport headphones. Their earphones use a patented "SportClip" to provide a secure fit, an adjustable curved crescent of rubberised plastic that fits against the curve of the inner ear.
Sweatproof, waterproof, these earphones can be rinsed off in the sink without damage. The earphones come in blue, black or yellow, with four sets of clips and silicone bud tips to cater for all sizes. But no matter how many different combinations I experimented with, I couldn't get one that felt 100%. Too-small buds broke the seal and let sound escape, too-big ear pipes left my ears aching at the end of a gym session. For the price, they are pretty flimsy, with one of the plastic clips snapping when I tried to change it. The earphones never actually fell out when tested in the gym and on a run, but I found movement was frequently breaking the seal between the bud and the ear canal.
The overall is sound is solid, with powerful bass and no distortion at higher volumes. But unless you are patient and persist in finding the right fit, the sound is tinny and it's hard to appreciate the quality. There are ControlTalk buttons and a mic for iPhone and smartphones, but this is very stiff and I was forced after several attempts to use my fingernail. It's also very close to the face making it hard to see the controls. The flat "linguine" cable makes it less likely to tangle, and the earphones have a more durable L-shaped plug.
Comes with carry case and four sets of SportClips and bud tips, cable clip.
Best for: the gym, if you are patient enough to find the right fit, but expensive compared to other exercise earphones. JA
Bose SIE2 and SIE2i headphones (From £104.95-129.95)
As you'd expect from Bose, these are both high-end in price and in quality. Music quality is exceptional, with a natural sound (some cheaper models seem to boost the bass to preposterous levels) and they are extremely comfortable – I wore them on a 16-mile run and didn't have a moment's discomfort.
They come with a flexible silicone ear "wing", which is aligned to the ear's upper ridge, and comes in three sizes to ensure you get the right fit. They actually look unlikely to provide stability, but once you get it the hang of getting them in, they stay put extremely well. They sit slightly on top of, rather than right in, the ear, which means you can still hear other sounds – and are probably much better for your hearing.
The only drawback – aside from the price – is that the lead is very short. This is probably because they come with their own armband, meaning you can put your smartphone on your arm – the SIE2i model allows you to make and receive calls on your iPhone, if you have the breath – and has an inline remote control. It does come with an extension cable though.
Comes with armband, extension cable and clothing clip plus three pairs of StayHear tips
Best for: runners with deep pockets. KC
Medis from Urbanears (£45)
First: the positives. These are a unique design, with a large earpiece that rests just inside the outer ear. The fact that they are therefore held at a small remove from your ear canal is helpful when you are running and wanting to stay alert to other noises or vehicles.
They are held in place by not one but two points of connection – one at the bottom, one at the top. It can take a bit of getting used to to get it right, but they do stay put remarkably well, even when you accidentally pull at the cable. They come with four different sizes of the top-fitting rubber bit too, to make sure they really are perfect for your ears.
They are also the most stylish of earphones on offer, with a simple, elegant design, and they come in a variety of colours.
However, there are drawbacks ... The sound quality isn't great, with music sounding a little hollow and tinny – though nothing too dramatic. On really long runs, they did start to rub a little in the ear, though this may just take some getting used to. The cable tends to get itself snagged up a bit, though as it's cloth-coated, it actually seems more robust and easier to untangle than many. The inline remote is handy (I only used it for volume, though you can also use it to answer calls from a smartphone).
Comes with interchangeable pads in four sizes.
Best for: style lovers and those with an eye for design; shorter runs. KC
Additional reviews by Kate Carter