Table of Contents
Are you looking for the best headphones for cycling? Then this post is what you need! Check it out now to discover what the top products are!
Intro
Need more information about the best headphones for cycling? You’ve landed in the right place!
Ensuring safety when outdoor riding is a top concern. However, on long rides where there is little traffic, music will lift your spirits and make you feel more comfortable.
In addition, keeping in touch with teammates during trips is also important, so headphones are worth your consideration. We know it isn’t easy to choose the most suitable one, so our top 10 products can be wonderful references. If you’re ready, let’s start!
How To Choose The Best Headphones For Cycling
To find out the top best products, we have to think twice based on some criteria to avoid choosing cheap earbuds. The comparison helps you categorize the items and understand which is the best overall for you.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is the factor that you have to pay more attention to. Purchasing a pair of headphones means you’re looking to receive wonderful audio when riding, and low-quality products can kill your hope.
On your trip, your ability to hear will be greatly affected by ambient noises such as road noises and the wind. That’s why you need to make sure the product you choose can deliver loud and clear sound.
Remember to test them under normal conditions first. Some products can perform Bass very well, but Mid or Treble will be distorted. On the contrary, delivering Treble can be a strength of some items.
The best choice is choosing the one that can meet the standard quality at the three frequencies. So you can enjoy different kinds of audio with acceptable quality.
Ambient Sound
As mentioned above, the ambient sound can disturb you a lot when you’re enjoying your favorite music or on the call with your friends. So, a product that can effectively reduce ambient sound is worth your consideration.
Earbuds for cycling are appreciated as their design is closed to your ear and avoids the influence of the wind or background sound. Some items have a noise isolation feature that reduces the traffic noise and provides you with better space for audio.
Fit And Comfort
Ear pain is a phenomenon that many people experience when using headphones. Especially on long trips, wearing them for 3- 4 hours can make you uncomfortable.
Before making a final decision, make sure that the items fit your ears. Too big ones can hurt you, while headphones that are too small can fall when you’re on your way.
Moreover, the materials and breathability determine the comfort that headphones bring. Material that is too hard or not breathable can hurt your ears or heat them after a short period. It’s advisable to choose materials that are skin-friendly and have high breathability.
Battery Life
Most wireless headphones don’t have impressive battery life. With an average battery life of 5 hours, you still can enjoy your trip as long as you fully charge them before starting.
Some high-end headphones include a quick-charge feature that supports users to complete this task in about 1 to 2 hours of charge time. Or you can bring a power bank with you if you want to stay outdoors for a long time.
Durability
The sturdy design will better protect the electronic circuits inside. So even if you accidentally drop your headphones, it can reduce the risks of breaking your product.
In addition, a protective case is another plus point for headphones. You can easily store them without any fear of dust, high humidity, and other impacts from the environment.
Connectivity
You should carefully check which type of devices your headphones are compatible with or which connectivity they provide. Some latest products can connect with Bluetooth 4.0 or 5.0 only and can’t access the older versions.
Or you can depend on the smartphone or device you’re using to choose the suitable headphones. As usual, people will choose products that come from the same brand for better compatibility.
Top 10 Best Headphones For Cycling
What are the best headphones for cycling? We’ve tried many products before choosing these top best items. Each of them has pros and cons that you should consider carefully to find out which fits you most.
Jabra Elite Active 75T – Best Overall
Jabra Elite Active 75T
Jabra Elite Active 75T is a product that satisfied us most. It has outstanding characteristics of quality design that you should pay attention to.
This pair of cycling headphones impressed us for the first time by the quality of the outcome. Thanks to the equalization, you’ll receive clear, vivid, and balanced sound when listening to music or phone calls.
Cycling on a windy day can hinder you from enjoying the music library. But Jabra Elite offers an auto noise-canceling function to filter out the background noise but you still get the situational awareness at the same time.
This feature can be adjusted easily by pressing the Earbuds button. You can download the Jabra Sound Plus app to set up and activate this to remove ambient sound mode, which supports you better when using these best headphones for cycling wind noise.
Besides, the full water protection quality supports users to use them under different conditions. Even when you sweat so much or riding in the rain, the headphones won’t get damaged.
Their easy-to-use design makes them suitable for everyone and different kinds of sport. Combined with a charging case, you can extend the battery life for 24 hours and protect your headphones simultaneously.
It would be better if these headphones for bike riding are more breathable. We found that the ears start to sweat after using them for a long period, from 3 hours or more.
- SECURE ACTIVE FIT – We scanned thousands of ears to create the best-fitting earbuds for a sport that we’ve ever created, with a special grip coating to make sure they stay in while you move; Plus, they’re sweat proof and waterproof with IP57-rated protection
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION: With these noise cancelling earbuds, you can filter out the world and focus on your music; Use the Jabra Sound plus App to activate ANC the first time you use it and enable toggling between ANC and Hear Through via your Earbud button
What we like
- Impressive audio quality
- Effective auto noise-cancelling mode
- High waterproof rating
- Suitable for different kinds of sports
- Includes charging case
- For different sports and tough workouts
- Reasonable price
What should be improved
- Low breathability after using for more than 3 hours
AFTERSHOKZ Aeropex Open-Ear – Best Bone Conduction Headphones
AFTERSHOKZ Aeropex Open-Ear Headphones
If you’re keen on bone conduction headphones, don’t ignore AFTERSHOKZ Aeropex Open-Ear Headphones AS800BE!
Unlike earbuds, you don’t need to put the headphones inside your ear with this kind of design. Therefore, it will reduce ear pain when using it for a long time. The breathability is also increased for less contact with your ears.
The product’s solid and lightweight construction will stabilize and fit the headphones on your ears. Thanks to the open-ear design, you don’t need to worry about whether they can be loose or fall out during strenuous exercise.
You can comfortably enjoy your music or contact your teammates with up-to-8-hour battery life. Input and output can be delivered clearly and easily, thanks to the high-quality mics for crystal clear calls.
A disadvantage of bone conduction headphones is the sound quality can be affected by the wind. As they aren’t close to your ears so sometimes, you’ll feel uncomfortable with this problem.
- Rebranding Update - Aftershokz Aeropex has been renamed as Shokz OpenRun. Welcome to SHOKZ!
- Open-Ear Design - Patented bone conduction headphones deliver premium audio through the cheekbone. Unlike over ear headphones, Aeropex keeps you connected and aware of your surroundings.
What we like
- Doesn’t cause ear’s pain
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Solid construction and different fit users
- 8 hours of battery life
What should be improved
- The noise-cancelling feature isn’t impressive.
Bose SoundSport Free Wireless Earbuds – Best For Ease Of Use
Bose SoundSport Free Wireless Earbuds
For those who aren’t familiar with using headphones when outdoor riding, you should choose an easy-to-use product. On this list, we highly recommend Bose SoundSport Free Wireless Earbuds.
It doesn’t take much of your time to get used to using these earphones for cycling. You have to download the Bose Connect App, connect them to your phone, and start enjoying your training.
You can easily take the sound volume controls by pressing the volume up or down buttons on the wire. This simple design supports you more when riding as you don’t need to perform complicated operations.
These wireless headphones provide you with clear and brilliant sound. Even when you’re in crowded places with too much noise, you can easily hear the audio, thanks to the great volume and high clarity.
One more advantage of this item is its reasonable price. It’s suitable for everyone who has a tight budget or doesn’t want to spend much money on headphones.
However, this pair of earbuds are a basic product without any high-tech features. If what you need is something modern and amazing, you should look at other items on this list.
- Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ears
What we like
- Simple and lightweight design
- Easy to use and control
- Great volume and high clarity
- Affordable price
What should be improved
- Lack high-tech features
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live – Best Modern Headphones
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
Are you looking for headphones that are modern with many amazing features? Samsung Galaxy Buds Live SM-R180NZKAXAR is what you need.
The AKG-tuned 12mm speaker works well in balancing and delivering audio. It especially supports Bass sound such as rock to give you a better experience in various sound frequencies.
Impressive noise-cancellation will give you your own space for music or call and reduce most external sounds. Combined with the microphone system, your conversation will not be interrupted and always at a high quality.
Voice-control is available with an always-on assistant. You can easily change music, start a call, track controls, order a cup of coffee, or do some other things you want by voice commands.
Connecting speed is also worth a compliment. While low-connection or being lagged usually happens with other devices, it is not the case for these headphones.
We found that the metal-plated surface of this product is easily scratched and a bit slippery. You should pay attention when using these earbuds to avoid dropping.
- SOUND THAT ROCKS: The AKG-tuned 12mm speaker and enhanced bass tone play everything in studio-quality sound.Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ears.Control Type:Noise
- NEW STYLE, NEW SOUND: Equal parts earbuds and ear bling, Galaxy Buds Live come in 5 colors you’ll want to rock all day. Water proof: No
What we like
- Support various frequencies, especially the Bass tone
- Noise-cancellation work effectively
- 3-microphone system for better call’s quality
- Include voice-control
What should be improved
- Easily scratched and slippery
See more:
Samsung Galaxy Buds Review: An Amazing Choice for Android Users
Jabra Elite 65t Review: Solid Sounding At A Competitive Price
Aftershokz Wireless Trekz Headphones – Best Of Quality Construction
Aftershokz Wireless Trekz Headphones
Durability is one of the most important factors you should consider carefully as it significantly affects its quality. We appreciate Aftershokz Wireless Trekz Headphones AS600MSG for this aspect.
You can easily feel the solid design of this pair of wireless cycling headphones the first time you hold them. High durability doesn’t mean this product is heavy, but in contrast, a signature design that is compact and lightweight will satisfy you.
Anti-dust matte plastic assists your cleaning task. With proper thickness, it reduces the risks of breaking or damaging the microchip inside or other parts.
These headphones have high breathability that doesn’t heat your ears. A water resistant feature is also available for better protection under different road cycling conditions.
We highly recommend this item for those who don’t have a big budget. It’s at a pretty low price that will save you a lot of money.
It would be better if the active noise cancellation worked more effectively. At super-noisy places, your sound can be a bit low or not clear to hear.
- BONE CONDUCTION TECHNOLOGY - Our bone conduction technology and OpenFit design delivers music through your cheekbones, ensuring your ears remain completely open to ambient sounds for maximum situational awareness during long-term wear.
- BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY - Modern wireless headphones with Bluetooth v4.1 connectivity and convenient multipoint pairing compatible with your iOS and Android Bluetooth-ready smartphones or tablets and Mac and PC computers and laptops.
What we like
- Solid and durable design
- Lightweight and compact
- High breathability
- High water resistance rating level
What should be improved
- Uneffective noise-cancelling mode
TaoTronics SoundLiberty Wireless Earbuds – Best Budget Headphones For Biking
TaoTronics SoundLiberty Wireless Earbuds
Do you want to look for a high-quality product, but budget is your biggest problem? TaoTronics SoundLiberty Wireless Earbuds will be your savior!
Someone may think that “the cheapest is the dearest.” This opinion can be true, but not with these wireless earphones. And we will show you why.
Hi-Fi Stereo Sound will satisfy you a lot. Thanks to the PEEK and PU dynamic driver, you will receive a clear and decent sound at various audio frequencies.
The built-in microphone aids users to have a crystal-clear phone call. So you’ll receive and deliver high-quality audio at once with a fast transmission speed.
Although the 6-hour battery is not an impressive range, its charging case capacity is worth consideration. It can recharge your sports headphones for up to 44 hours of use.
What made us unsatisfied is the charging case. It’s a bit fragile, so you have to pay attention to avoid breaking it.
What we like
- Bargain price
- Hi-Fi Stereo Sound for clear quality
- Crystal-clear phone call with high mic quality
- High capacity charging case
What should be improved
- Fragile charging case
Bose SoundSport True Wireless Earbuds – Best Sound Quality
Bose True Wireless Earbuds
Are you looking for headphones that can produce high-quality sound? You shouldn’t miss these Bose True Wireless Earbuds 774373-0010.
Clear and bold but balance is what we can comment about the audio quality of this product. Whether you’re listening to Bass, Mid, or Treble tones, audio quality is stabilized, and they moderate most of the distortion as well.
We also appreciate the noise-cancelling ability of these headphones. The earbuds will fit closely to your ears, which reduces the impact of wind or background noise.
These cycling earphones are compatible with diverse devices as long as they support AVDTP version 1.3 or later. Combined with the high-speed transmission, you won’t be disturbed when enjoying your favorite music.
Besides, one of the most common problems users who have earbuds usually face is finding them. Now you can rest assured as the “find my Earbuds” App will do this task.
It would be better if their design were more ergonomic. The design is a bit hard to hold and quite slippery when your hands are wet.
- TRULY wireless Sport headphones for total freedom of movement, packed full of technology that makes music sound clear and powerful
- Earbuds are sweat and weather resistant (with an Ipx4 rating) and come with 3 different pairs of Stay hear and Sport tips (in sizes S/M/L) that provide a comfortable and secure fit
What we like
- Vivid, clear, and balanced audio
- Effective noise-cancelling mode
- Compatible with different devices
- Include “find my Earbuds” App
What should be improved
- Slippery and hard-to-hold earbud’s design
TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds – Best Of Connectivity’s Quality
TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds
Connectivity’s quality also affects the sound as poor signal can’t fully deliver the outcome. That’s why we want to introduce you to TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds.
With the Bluetooth 5.0 version, you can easily connect earbuds to your device in 5 seconds. Single and Twin modes are also straightforward to switch in 1 second only.
The 13mm PU and Protein Membrane Drivers are included to provide you with better sound quality. You’ll be satisfied by clear, vivid, and vibrant sound and less distortion.
Smart Touch control is really helpful and convenient. You can skip music, receive the phone call, activate Siri, and so on with simple touches.
Another plus point of these best Bluetooth headphones for cycling that impressed us is a quick-charge mode. You can enjoy wonderful music for nearly 1 hour with 5 minutes of charging only.
However, the fragile case’s lid makes us unsatisfied. Those who are careless can break the case if they open it with strong force.
What we like
- High-speed connectivity with Bluetooth 5.0
- Hi-Fi sound quality
- Smart Touch control for ease of use
- Quick-charge mode
What should be improved
- Fragile case lid
Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones – Best Of Battery Life
Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones
Do you need a product that has a large capacity battery for your long ride? You can’t go wrong with Sony Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones!
While the standard capacity of most items is 5 to 6 hours, this product has an up-to-8.5 hour battery. There is no need to worry about interruption when you’re on your long rides anymore.
Earbud’s design will fit your ears well. Even when you’re exercising vigorously, they’re still stable and won’t fall out.
The wide frequency response from 4 Hz to 24000 Hz is worth considering. It balances and stabilizes the sound to reduce distortion and jamming signals.
Moreover, a full sweat resistant feature is also available. You can comfortably use them when bike riding in the rain or sweating so much in your practicing period.
These earphones for cycling come with no protecting case. That’s why you should care more when storing to avoid tangling the wire.
- Enjoy Bluetooth wireless connectivity with NFC one-touch pairing. Connectivity Technology: Wireless.Specific uses for product : Sports and Exercise
- Product Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ears
What we like
- 8.5-hour battery life
- Fit your ears perfectly
- Wide frequency response
- Waterproof feature
What should be improved
- Exclude protecting case
SENNHEISER True Wireless 2 (Black) -Best Comfort
SENNHEISER True Wireless 2 (Black)
If your headphones usually hurt your ears, we suggest that you should consider an item with a suitable design. Are you still up in the air? Check this SENNHEISER True Wireless 2!.
The silicone pads of this product give you a better feeling when wearing. They’re soft, smooth, and won’t hurt your ears after a long time of use. These pads also stabilize and make the items fit you completely.
It’s an ideal choice for long rides. Come with a 7-hour battery, enjoy music all day long won’t be a problem anymore. This product makes your dream come true.
A sensitive touch control will assist you a lot in using and adjusting features. You can customize them to meet your needs, such as skip music, turn on Google Assistant, Siri, etc.
Last but not least, your ideal headphones will be protected from sweat and water by the IPX4 splash-resistant feature. Combined with a durable case, you can rest assured in using and storing.
This product will cost you more than the average range. But compared to what it brings to the user, this price is worth it. You get what you paid for.
- Enjoy unrivaled high-end stereo sound created by Sennheiser's unique 7 millimeter dynamic Earbud audio drivers. Frequency response (Microphone)-100 Hz to 10 kHz. Frequency response-5 - 21,000 Hz.Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ears
- Product Note : If the size of the earbud tips does not match the size of your ear canals or the headset is not worn properly in your ears, you may not obtain the correct sound qualities or call performance. Change the earbud tips to ones that fit more snugly in your ears
What we like
- Bring comfort when wearing
- Large capacity battery life
- Customizable touch control
- A splash-resistant feature to prevent water and sweat
What should be improved
- A bit pricey
Frequently Asked Questions
Not all cyclists are clear about bicycle headphones. There are many questions that will arise in your mind and confuse you a lot. We’ve picked out some frequently asked questions with detailed answers that will be useful to you.
Can Cyclists Wear Headphones?
This issue has caused a lot of controversy and conflicting opinions. Many people think that this is an illegal action, while others defend their views and think it’s a personal right and hobby.
In the United States, there are no legal sources or provisions on this matter. So what you should do is research carefully the regulations that each state sets for cyclists.
For example, you should pay attention when having a trip to Maryland, Ohio, Louisiana, and Rhode Island. These 4 cities don’t allow you to use headphones when riding or driving, even in 1 ear.
14 states have specials restrictions on using headphone when riding that you should check the terms before starting your trip:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Colorado
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- New York
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Washington State
Most states allow you to use headphones when riding under some conditions to ensure safety. You should only wear headphones in one ear and remember to adjust the volume that supports you to hear ambient sounds and external noise.
How Many Types Of Headphones For Cycling Are There?
You may find many types of headphones for biking on the market, but not all of them are highly recommended for cyclists. The main factors you should consider are their designs and features.
When you’re riding, you will have to wear a helmet. That’s why some traditional headphones such as on-ear headphones, wired headphones, etc., aren’t suitable for you.
Besides, it must have all the necessary and features to support you during your trip. Some outstanding characteristics you should look for are Bluetooth connectivity, sound quality, etc.
The 3 types of headphones are ideal for cyclists:
- Earbuds
- Bone conduction headphones
- In-ear monitors
Conclusion
Now you’ve had all the necessary information about the top best headphones for cycling. Expectedly, you’ll find it understandable and helpful for you to make a final decision.
Overall, we highly recommend Jabra Elite Active 75T as the best quality headphones for everyone. Its key features with high-quality sound, ergonomic design, and many extra functions will fully support you.
Finally, don’t forget to check the buying guide to make sure that you’ve chosen the right product!
