If you’re currently hunting down the best cycling headphones you can get your hands on right now, make sure you stop and consider these factors first: safety features, sweat-resistant, battery life, and sound quality. I have searched far and wide for the best in the business right now. If you want to find out what made the cut and how these factors came into play, go ahead and read along!
I’ve developed a new hobby during the start of the pandemic – cycling! I may not be a professional when it comes to cycling but I like spending a few of my mornings taking routes with my bike. And as with anything else I like to do, I like cycling with a little bit of entertainment with music or podcasts.
I also started living a more active lifestyle. I’m not the fittest or active person out there but I like to make sure I move my muscles and bones. I currently have a few pairs I use when cycling and exercising. But they either always fall off or the wires get tangled and uncomfortable when I start sweating.
So I begin my search for active lifestyle headphones – specifically for cycling – and have them all listed and reviewed below for you and me both!
Is It Safe to Wear Headphones While Cycling?
There has been a lot of debate on whether it is safe to use headphones while cycling or not. When you’re on the road, it is generally safer that you don’t do anything that can distract you i.e. wear headphones. And while it is true that not wearing headphones is safer when you are cycling, there are available options that allow you to stay aware of your surroundings.
The best headphones options for cycling don’t completely block sound out and let ambient noise in so you are still in the present. Listening to music or podcasts are also effective ways to take your mind off of exhaustion and the throbbing pain on your legs.
Laws and legalities on wearing headphones while cycling vary from country to country. Some countries and places allow cyclists to wear headphones while others don’t. Make sure to check on your local law about this so as not to get yourself into trouble.
To further ensure your safety while cycling, wear headphones only in safe and roads where traffic is light and not at all busy and congested. When cycling on busy roads, it’s safer to not wear any headphones to make sure you are alert.
Our Top Picks for the Best Headphones for Cycling
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Pick  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Best of Both Worlds  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
Best Battery Life  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
The Best Headphones for Cycling
1. AfterShokz Aeropex Open-Ear Bone Conduction Headphones – Our Pick!
Our number one pick for the best cycling headphones is the AfterShokz Aeropex Open-Ear Bone Conduction Headphones! Both open-ear and bone conduction headphones, this delivers premium audio and sound quality through your cheekbones. By not blocking your ears, you are sure to stay aware and connected to your surroundings as you cycle your way through. A favorite choice among cyclists, this keeps your ears open so you hear the world around you, actively avoiding accidents.
This is both sweatproof and waterproof, something important for anyone who works out, runs, or cycles. It also has a moisture detection alert to ensure safety when charging. This wears lightweight and comfortable to the point that you even forget you have them on! This is sure to look nice and discrete every time you head out. This promises a non-intrusive wear while also fitting well and securely. You can trust this one to stay in place no matter how much you move. This pair is durable, flexible, and hard to break – promising to withstand your very active lifestyle.
In terms of sound quality, many have praised this AfterShokz pair for having great and decent sound reproduction. It stands above your average headphones and speakers when listening to your favorite songs. But where it shines, as a few have pointed out, is listening in podcasts and audiobooks. This boasts of 8 hours of battery life to keep you entertained throughout the day. It also comes equipped with a multifunction button to play, pause, skip, activate voice assistance, and answer calls. The built-in microphone also comes in handy for hands-free phone calls.
Every purchase of these cycling headphones will give you a silicone carrying case, 2 magnetic charging cables, and earplugs. You can use the included earplugs when you find yourself in a noisier environment such as a busy restaurant or fast food chain. To add more convenience, you can pair this with up to two devices at a time for easy switching. Though lauded by many for its decent and good sound quality for a bone conduction headphone, many have noted that there is a clear lack of bass when it comes to listening to music.
Pros:
- Open-ear bone conduction design to keep you aware
- Sweatproof and waterproof
- Lightweight, comfortable, and secure wear
- Durable and will withstand any active lifestyle
- Great and decent sound quality for a bone conduction
- 8 hours of battery life, multifunction control button, and built-in mic
- Comes with silicone case, 2 magnetic charging cables, and earplugs
Cons:
- Lacks bass
2. Apple AirPods Pro – Best of Both Worlds!
If what you’re looking for in your new cycling headphones is the best of both worlds aka the choice of both noise cancellation and hearing the world around you, make sure you check out the Apple AirPods Pro! Having been equipped with active noise cancellation, this eliminates any outside noise for an immersive sound experience. But if you are cycling or running outside and would want to be extra aware of your surroundings, you can activate the pair’s transparency mode. This lets you connect to the world to avoid accidents while on the road.
The built-in microphone this comes with is not only useful in taking hands-free calls but also works to detect and eliminate noise from both inside and outside the ear for a better listening experience. This pair also allows you to hear and interact with the world around you by holding to activate and switch to transparency mode, definitely the good choice if you’re one to always go cycling. This also fits very snugly and comfortably you could forget you even have them on! The snug fit also keeps it secure in your ears as you make your way with your bike.
When it comes to music and sound production, you can trust this Apple pair to provide you with superior audio quality. This produces a nice, balanced, and excellent sound stage for an amazing music listening experience. The adaptive EQ designed with this automatically tunes music for a personalized listening experience. This comes with 3 different sizes of silicone tips for a custom fit. This is also sweat and water-resistant, something you might be looking for if you have an active lifestyle.
This comes with a wireless charging case which provides more than 24 hours of battery life! Another smart feature many people love is the in-ear detection feature which would pause your media when you take one off your ears and would resume playing when worn back on. Although it gives users the best of both worlds, this is on the more expensive side so make sure you’re ready to spend money on this. Some also found that the earbuds themselves can drain fast, and this is where the charging case comes in handy.
Pros:
- Equipped with both noise cancellation and transparency mode
- Allows you to cancel out noise or hear the world around you
- Snug and comfortable fit
- Stays put without falling out
- Comes with 3 silicone tips sizes and charging case
- Balanced and excellent sound stage for superior sound reproduction
- In-ear detection feature
Cons:
- Expensive
- Earbuds can drain battery fast
3. Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones – Best Battery Life!
If what you prioritize in your new headphones for cycling is battery life, the Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones might be the one you’re waiting for! Boasting of a 9 hour battery life on each earbud and an additional 24 hours with the charging case, you are sure to never run out of media entertainment from music to podcasts to audiobooks while you are cycling! This also features a quick charge option that gets your earbuds up to 1.5 hours of playtime with just 5 minutes of charging.
Both sweat and water-resistant, this works well for any active lifestyle, cycling included. This is also designed with adjustable and secure-fit ear hooks for added comfort and security that it will not fall off no matter how much you move. You can trust this pair to stay in place for however long you need it. This is also lightweight and very comfortable to wear. The ear tips are made of soft and rubbery material that will not leave you in any discomfort. This purchase also comes with four ear tip sizes and options for the perfect customized fit.
For added convenience, each earbud is designed with controls for your media and built-in microphones for hands-free call. With the absence of dangling cords around your neck, you can rest assured that it never gets sticky when you start sweating. For the sound quality, you can trust this to provide amazing sound and music reproduction, really on par with the Beats brand. It also has decent sound isolation when you need it. The high sound quality also made sure to not forget the bass in your favorite songs as well.
Every purchase of this Powerbeats pair comes with a charging case, 4 size ear tips options, a charging cable, a quick start guide, and a warranty card. And as there are controls on both earbuds, you can choose to use one at a time, giving you even more superb battery life! As with our previous favorite, this is also on the more expensive side of things so only proceed with the purchase if you’re ready to splurge. Some users have also shared that the secure-fit ear hooks can be uncomfortable to wear, especially for extended periods so keep that in mind as well.
Pros:
- 9 hours battery life on each earbud plus 24 hours with the charging case
- Quick charge feature allows for 1.5 hours battery life with 5 minutes charging
- Sweat and water-resistant
- Adjustable, secure-fit ear hooks for comfort and security
- 4 ear tip sizes for customized fit
- Media control and built-in mic on both earbuds
- High sound quality with great bass performance
Cons:
- Expensive
- Ear hooks can be uncomfortable for some
4. Jaybird Vista 2 True Wireless Sport Headphones
The next item to make it into our list of the best headphones for cycling is the Jaybird Vista 2 True Wireless Sport Headphones! Equipped with both active noise cancellation and SurroundSense technology, you can choose between staying in the zone or being more aware of what’s happening around you. With just a tap you can fully personalize using the app, this is the ideal choice for anyone with an active lifestyle. This is water, sweat, and dust-proof and is made to resist impact and shock.
This is equipped with built-in microphones that monitor ambient noise around you so you can stay aware and in the now as you cycle through your route. Each earbud comes with 2 beam-forming microphones for hands-free calls and activating voice assistance. The earbuds are also designed with ear hooks that work to keep them inside your ears securely. Even with vigorous exercise routines, this is sure to stay in without falling out. The military-grade durability is not only secure but also very comfortable inside your ears.
This Jaybird pair offers a total of 24 hour battery life with 8 hours from the earbuds on full charge and an additional 16 hours from the charging case. Also equipped with a fast charge feature, you can get an hour of media playback with only a quick 5 minute charge time. When it comes to sound quality, you can trust this to produce natural and balanced sound and music. There is an available app that will allow you to fully customize sound EQ profiles for a personalized listening experience.
This will look sleek and elegant on anyone and appropriate not just for exercising. Aside from the pair and the charging case, you also get 3 sizes of ear tips to get a fully customized fit just for you. The small case has hugely been favored by many due to its sleek and non-bulky appearance. One downside a few have shared regarding this is that some have experienced the sound quality going down with too much noise and wind, especially with cycling. If you decide to go with this one, remember to factor that in as well.
Pros:
- Active noise cancellation and SurroundSense features
- Allows you to choose to hear your surroundings
- Water, sweat, and dust-proof and resistant to impact and shock
- Fits securely without falling out
- 24 hours total battery life
- Natural and balanced sound production
- Application for full customization
Cons:
- Sound quality goes down with too much noise
5. Jabra Elite Active 65t Earbuds
And the Jabra Elite Active 65t Earbuds are our last favorite cycling headphones! A truly wireless pair, you can say goodbye to annoying wires that tangle or get sticky when you start to sweat. You can trust this to securely fit on your ears and remain stable no matter how intense your workouts are. Truly built for an active lifestyle, this provides superior in-ear stability. This is also sweat and dust-resistant and comes with an integrated motion sensor for tracking your fitness performance.
Boasting a total of 15 hours of battery life on full charge plus the charging case included in your purchase, you are sure to never run out of entertainment while cycling. It also comes designed with built-in microphones on each earbud for hands-free calls and voice assistance. It also offers great sound quality, decent enough for running, cycling, and exercising. This pair can be fully customized through the Jabra Sound+ app. Including customizable equalizer and the accelerometer for tracking your fitness performance.
This fits nice and snugly to ensure that it won’t fall out no matter how much you move. The tight fit, as many would agree, is great for isolating sound and blocking out exterior wind when you are cycling or running outside. The additional hear-through feature this comes with is also a favored feature by many cyclists. This helps you stay connected to the world and be aware of what’s happening around you.
Though a favorite among active lifestyle enthusiasts, this does still come with a few drawbacks you should know before forging on. One thing many have shared is that because the case has no magnets to secure the earbuds in, accidents of them falling out of the case may happen. Some have also found the microphone noise isolation to be disappointing. The other end of the line will be able to hear your background noise, even if it were minimized on your hearing end.
Pros:
- Secure and stable fit for an active lifestyle
- 15 hours of total battery life
- Built-in microphone and decent sound quality
- Application allows for full customization and to track fitness performance
- Snug fit isolates and blocks out wind noise
- Hear-through feature keeps you connected to the world
- Comfortable and secure fit
Cons:
- Charging case has no magnets
- No microphone noise isolation
How to Choose the Best Headphones for Cycling
Safety features
The debate around the issue of safety when you wear headphones while cycling is understandable. If you’re looking for new cycling headphones, you want to make sure that it will help keep you safe.
How, you ask? By getting your hands on a pair that doesn’t block out all background noise but lets in ambient noise in. This will help keep you connected to your surroundings and aware of what’s happening around. Being aware means being alert of traffic and people and avoiding accidents.
Sweat-resistant
When you cycle or exercise, you sweat. And when you sweat, regular headphones might slip off and might even be damaged. The best cycling headphones are sweat-resistant and will withstand an active lifestyle without damage or falling off.
Most sport headphones will let you know of their IP rating. This will let you know their rating when it comes to sweat and water-resistance. Make sure to keep an eye out for this.
Battery life
If you’re looking for cycling headphones, you’re most likely looking at wireless pairs. Due to this, you would want to consider great battery life. You don’t want your new pair of headphones to die on you as you are cycling through your route.
Sound quality
Though not at the priority list of things to consider in your new cycling headphones, you should still consider sound quality. You want to get a pair that produces decent sound and music to keep you entertained. You don’t want anything that sounds too awful to the point that it’s unbearable.
You can get a pair that either has a balanced and natural sound or bass-heavy. Remember, sound quality is subjective. What might be good sound quality for you might not be for others and vice versa.
Conclusion
Wearing headphones while cycling might sound dangerous and risky for some. But with the right headphones for cycling, not only do you keep yourself entertained and your mind off of the throbbing pain on your legs but you also make sure to keep yourself and others safe.
Our number one pick for the best headphones for cycling is the AfterShokz Aeropex Open-Ear Bone Conduction Sport Headphones! It has been designed with an open-ear and bone conduction design to make sure you stay connected to your surroundings while also delivering premium sound quality. If you want both active noise cancellation and transparency mode, better check out the Apple AirPods Pro! You can choose to cancel out background noise or be present for safety. And the Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones is our pick for the best battery life! With this pair, you are sure to never run out of entertainment as you cycle your way.
And there you go – our favorite and top picks for the best headphones for cycling. We wish you happy and safe bike rides!