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The best workout headphones
The gym can be a dull, boring place for some of us. Myself included. Fortunately, you've got a smartphone -- or an MP3 player. Whether it's for a music streaming service, a finely curated list of ripped tracks or a backlog of podcasts, what you need now are some workout headphones. It's 2019, and while not all wired headphones will work with your smartphone of choice, all phones have Bluetooth. There's also the fact that moving around with headphones, whether for a bench-press session or a run around the block, is better without wires. As long as your headphones stay put, that is. That's why all of our recommendations are wireless models. We've pulled together a few picks that should suit most workouts. While you can expect decent audio quality from all of them, decisions about workout gear, come down to personal preferences. Because of that, we've included over-ear models, noise-canceling champions and some reasonably priced headphones that punch above their weight.
Get ready for a week of fitness and health tech on Engadget
Health and fitness tech is constantly evolving, making it easier to track your habits and progress. But it's not just Apple Watch ECGs, Couch 2 5K apps and smart kettlebells. A lot of features and services only require a smartphone you probably already own, while other advances can liberate people with mobility issues and disabilities. It's also big business, with a constant barrage of new wearables and fitness watches, apps and subscription services promising to make you healthier, stronger and fitter. How do you find the right device for you? How do you even start without spending a fortune? This week we'll be sharing advice across a variety of topics, including the best fitness wearables for any goal, and the smartest ways to get fit without breaking the bank. We're also helping you equip yourself to stay motivated with your longterm fitness goals and lay out some of the best gadgets for keeping people independent in their later years, spanning mobility, sight and hearing. We're kicking things off with a guide to the best workout headphones, which is live now. We'll be running a new story each day throughout the week.
Save $80 on Sony’s sporty WF-SP700N true wireless earbuds
At their original list price of $180, Sony's sporty WF-SP700N true wireless, noise cancelling earbuds were already a solid deal. Today, Amazon has an even better offer. The WF-SP700N in black are on sale for $99.95 -- that's an $80 savings.
The $1,500 smart fitness mirror now offers personal training sessions
Last year, the fitness company Mirror launched its signature $1,500 reflective LCD display meant to stream fitness classes into your home. Since then, users have been able to follow along with instructors and see themselves mimicking the moves. Today, Mirror announced a new service: personal training. Through the display's two-way audio and video, users will be able to work one-on-one with trainers in real time.
Adidas' latest workout headphones have knitted bands and ear cushions
Adidas has unveiled its latest headphone models designed for those who like to work up a sweat. The $149 FWD-01 is a wireless in-ear set targeted towards runners. There are in-line controls on the knitted cord connecting the two earpieces and a "passive transparency" feature Adidas says will help you hear what's going on around you.
Samsung updates older Gear watches with handy fitness tools
As focused as Samsung might be on the Galaxy Watch, it still has plenty of affection for its older smartwatches. It's rolling out an update for the Gear S3 and Gear Sport that adds a flurry of welcome features, particularly if you're fitness-minded. Samsung Health updates now support numerous indoor workouts, and you can string together workouts if you're switching between routines at the gym. The Health Widget, meanwhile, now delivers sleep stage info.
Spryng is tech-laced compression wear for speeding up workout recovery
If you wanted to simplify, CES 2019 could be neatly divided into self-driving cars, giant TVs and health tech. A lot of what we've seen of the latter either tracks your movement or is hardware ingrained into workouts. Spryng is a little different, aimed at speeding up your recovery, reducing muscle soreness by stimulating blood circulation. While looking like an unassuming pair of chunky shinguards, these tech-laced wraps expand and contract around your calves, improving blood flow and feeling very nice in the process.
The Hiiga-One is a mechanical bench press that doesn't need weights
The Hiiga-One workout system stands out immediately, even in the middle of a busy CES hall packed with flashing, swirling, blinking and thumping gizmos. It's a towering, weight-free, mechanical bench press machine outlined in white and with two strips of lights running down the supports on either side of the barbell. Hiiga-One is a friendly-looking, data-hungry beast, and it's designed to turn users into beasts as well.
JBL unveils four new options for true wireless earbuds
The true wireless craze isn't going anywhere, and JBL is making sure you have multiple options to choose from. At CES 2019, the company announced four new models that cater to gym rats, runners and regular listeners. Let's start with that last group. If you're simply looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds for everyday use, the JBL TUNE120TWS are just that. These feature the company's Pure Bass Sound and a charging case that offers three full charges. Expect four hours of listening before you'll need to rest them in the case and a 15-minute slumber will give you one hour of playback. The JBL TUNE120TWS is expected to ship this spring for $99.95 in six different color options.
Jaybird's Tarah Pro wireless earbuds offer 14 hours of music for $160
While true wireless earbuds might be all the rage in 2018, a lot of folks still prefer their audio gear to be tethered. For those people, companies like Jaybird continue to roll out new products with improved features. Today, that company is introducing the Tarah Pro: an upgraded version of its most recent wireless sports earbuds that pack an impressive 14 hours of battery life for $160.
Jaybird's Tarah are $100 wireless earbuds built for sweaty workouts
Jaybird has been a solid option for wireless earbuds for years now, and today the company is debuting yet another model for your workouts. The Tarah Wireless Sport Headphones are built for the gym, complete with an IPX7 rating to ensure you don't run into moisture troubles when things get sweaty. With a design similar to the company's X4 that debuted in August, the Tarah is $30 cheaper at $100. That's also $50 less than the Beats X.
Audible's first fitness programs guide you through workouts
Audible now wants to serve as your personal coach -- the audiobook service is launching audio fitness programs through an alliance with Aaptiv. Each program has a professional trainer guiding you through a progressively challenging set of workouts with a clear goal in mind, complete with a soundtrack to keep up the momentum. The first three courses are aimed squarely at beginners interested in outdoor running and stress-relieving meditation, but follow-ups in the weeks ahead will address more challenging issues, such as the boredom that sets in with an all-too-familiar gym routine.
Reebok sports bra uses gel to change support as you move
Reebok is introducing a new sports bra that can relax or tighten depending on the wearer's movement. It's called the PureMove and as Fast Company reports, it uses technology that has been incorporated into bulletproof vests and NASA spacesuits. The bra's development began three years ago when Reebok designer Danielle Witek came across a gel-like substance called Shear Thickening Fluid while reading a research journal. Developed in 2005 by scientists at the University of Delaware, the substance acts more like a liquid when it's moving slowly and more like a solid when it moves at higher velocities.
Under Armour’s Sport Wireless Train headphones are ready for the gym
Last month, Under Armour launched its Project Rock on-ear headphones, which are built for intense workouts and were designed in collaboration with Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock). But not every fitness buff is going to be a fan of him (even though they should be, because gains), so it only made sense for the company to introduce a model without all his Rock branding. Enter the Sport Wireless Train, Under Armour's latest on-ear headphones, created alongside audio firm JBL. The new set was first revealed in 2017 and looks nearly identical to the Project Rocks, with the only difference being the UA and JBL logos on the earcups and headband, respectively.
The Rock's Under Armour headphones are built for intense workouts
Wireless headphones are dime a dozen, unless you want a pair that's on- or over-ear and designed to handle intense workouts. There are plenty of solid options for fitness buffs, including the JLab Epic2 and Jaybird X3, but those are earbuds. Bose's QuietComfort 35 IIs, meanwhile, are great over-ears, but they're not made from water-resistant materials -- and you want that if you're using them at the gym. That's a gap Under Armour hopes to fill with its new Project Rock wireless, on-ear headphones, which are specifically designed for workouts and were created with input from training junkie Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock.
You can't nail the perfect squat with just an iPhone app
The Squat. Capital 's'. With or without weight, it's widely regarded as the best exercise you can do. But one that's easy to get a little bit wrong and ruin all those benefits. So here's Kaia Health's Perfect Squat Challenge app, developed with input from both physiotherapists and sport scientists to help you nail the form. Notably, there's no wearable, no special hardware. It's just your iPhone camera and roughly seven feet of space.
Apple watchOS 5 will automatically detect your workouts
Apple introduced HealthKit during its WWDC 2014 keynote and since then the company has continued to add more health-focused tools to its devices. The release of iOS 11.3, for example, brought along the capability to view official medical records on your iPhone while the Apple Watch can monitor your heart rate. Today, Apple announced more features for the Apple Watch including automatic workout detection and more measures for runners.
Black Box VR plans to open a boutique, high-tech gym
When I was in high school, my workout regimen involved marching band, Denise Austin VHS tapes and copious rounds of Dance Dance Revolution. Not only did I play DDR in bowling alleys and arcades whenever I had the chance, but I had a metal dance pad at home (PlayStation 2 with a converter to make it run on my Xbox 360). Late last year, a decade after graduating from high school, I bought a plastic dance pad and busted out my PS3 just to play DDR again, with the idea of incorporating it into my workout routine. Which is to say, I'm no stranger to the idea of video games as exercise. Neither is Black Box VR.
Plantronics offers affordable wireless audio for your workouts
Plantronics' latest BackBeat wireless headphones have tended to focus on value for your hard-earned cash, and that's definitely the focus today. It's launching a range of BackBeat Fit headphones that promise sweat-resistant designs without a huge outlay. The BackBeat Fit 300 in-ears are billed as some of the lightest Bluetooth headphones on the planet, with stable earpieces and low-friction cloth cables, but the cost is relatively easy to swallow at $80/£90 -- the only big catch is the so-so 6-hour battery life. And if you tend to work out more at the gym, the Fit 500 on-ears (shown up top) give you 18 hours of comfier playback for $100/£90.
A tiny sensor turns any stationary bike into a VR workout machine
A $400 VR exercise bike might be a tough sell for VirZOOM, but the company has a new option that could make working out in virtual reality more compelling. At E3 2017, the company is showing off its new VZ Sensor, a small device that attaches to the crank of any stationary bike. For $99, you can turn a bike that you may already have into a VR workout center.
