When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.

Im an avidAirPods Pro 2user; its practically a requirement for headphone reviewers.

Truthfully, I found them more convenient I like Siri and the easy connection to my other Apple devices.

Alex Bracetti using an exercise bike at the gym

Hence my switch to something more robust: the Raycon Fitness Headphones.

Sure, they dont check every box, but they’re ideal for fitness use.

So, I chucked them in mygym bagand got to work.

Raycon Fitness Headphones

Here’s what happened.

Why do people use over-ear headphones at the gym?

My heart races when I see people exercise with theirAirPods Maxheadphones.

Alex Bracetti performing a biceps curl while wearing the Raycon Fitness Headphones

They know Apples flagship cans are not constructed for sporty activities.

But I dont want to knock them too hard because there are benefits to wearing over-ear headphones during workouts.

They generally have better noise isolation and noise cancelation performance than earbuds, with more immersive sound.

Alex Bracetti holding the Raycon Fitness Headphones and AirPods Pro 2 at the gym

Not so the Raycon Fitness Headphones.

The Raycon Fitness Headphones are over-ears actually designed for the gym.

Using them indoors and outdoors allowed me to block out the world and boost adrenaline levels uninterrupted.

Alex Bracetti replacing the Raycon Fitness Headphones ear cushions

Listening with ANC off fed my ears clean and energetic sound.

The Raycon model also has a transparency mode to increase your awareness of surroundings.

I could hear everything around me, though it came at the expense of enjoying full sound.

Raycon Fitness Headphones -…

They fit better

Some people really get along with earbuds, which is great!

Raycons Fitness Headphones might look generic, but they are well constructed.

Hard plastic with IPX4 water resistance makes up most of their composition.

Prime

I wasnt scared of breaking them in the gym or accidentally dropping them on the concrete.

My 4-year-old toddler has been abusing them daily and every component remains intact.

The latter provided pleasant comfort for two hours before getting hot.

Raycon - The Fitness…

Also, these are flexible headphones that accommodate different ear and head sizes.

The leather earpads were fine for moderate listening and light workouts, although the bundled fabric ones were better.

This isn’t just a Raycon thing either thebest headphonesall typically last several days between charges.

Best Buy

Over-ears, like the Raycon Fitness Headphones, are different.

Which is useful, since sweat and moisture tend to break down the material’s surface.

Plus, you could actually wash most fabric ear cushions to keep them going for longer.

Raycon - The Fitness…

The Anker Soundcore Sport X20 hovering over the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

The Beats Fit Pro propped atop its charging case

Soundcore AeroClip open-ear earbuds in champagne mist against a blue backdrop

A Powerbeats Pro 2 (2025) photo taken by Tom�s Guide.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Shokz OpenFit 2

a woman bending into a forward fold on an exercise mat

Saucony Endorphin Elite 2

woman doing resistance band workout

Man using exercise bike

female runner checking her running watch

The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3

Using an under-desk elliptical while working seated at a desk

iPhone 16 colors hands-on.

Michael B. Jordan as Smoke in "Sinners" movie

Recipes in the food section of Apple News Plus on an iPhone

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti

iOS 16 Fitness app on an iPhone 12

A person holding a Nintendo Switch 2 playing Mario Kart World