The Best Hook Earbuds For Running and the Gym

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Listen up! Ear envy is real. Some fellas are able to do an entire workout — jog the track, complete several sets of burpees, and smash an entire round of abs — all without having their earbuds fall out. However, some of us just aren’t as hashtag blessed when it comes to the anatomy of our ears. That means your basic earbuds, as great as they may be, just won’t cut it. That’s right, we’re talking about men afflicted with AirPod envy.

Fortunately, earbuds with hooks are the perfect solution because they provide just the right amount of fitted security without sacrificing ease and comfort. You’ll never have to worry about your earbuds falling out ever again.

In short, the best hook earbuds won’t make you envious of premium earbuds like AirPods or Sony’s WF-1000XM4. We live busy lives, so whether you’re working out at home, commuting to work or running errands around town, it’s important that you be able to listen to your favorite podcast or take a phone call on your earbuds without worrying that your earpiece investment is going to fly off your ear. So get yourself hooked on our picks for the best wireless earbuds with hooks.

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What You Should Look For in Hook Earbuds for Running

Aside from the fact that the best hook earbuds enable you to work out like a Hemsworth without losing your buds midway through your sweat session, wireless earbuds should also boast at least a few of the following key features:

Key Specs: 

If this product category had a logo, it would be the original Powerbeats silhouette. That’s how synonymous Beats’ design is with hook earbuds. Since being acquired by Apple, the iconic headphone brand has transitioned into the true wireless space and immediately made an impact with the Powerbeats Pro. This modernized version maintains the look of its predecessors, retaining the secure-fit hooks that wrap around the ear for optimal fit, while introducing IPX4 sweat/water resistance.

These buds come with a charging case for 24 hours of wireless juice — on their own, they last nine hours. That means you can rock them for numerous workouts throughout the week. Beats also refined their sound profile to keep bass controlled but still impactful. Believe us when we say $179 is well worth the investment to own the market’s best hook earbuds.

SPY Reviewer Alex Bracetti thinks that no other competitor has done the ear hook design better. Apple’s design is pliable, sturdy, and wraps tightly around the ear to keep the buds locked in, no matter the exercise. The buds never needed adjusting during lateral-heavy workouts, and they have an impressive battery life.

Key Specs:

The Beats Fit Pro is the next best thing to the Powerbeats Pro. It shares the same sporty aesthetics, similar features to the AirPods Pro and has a concealed hook that is just as reliable as any traditional hook design.

SPY Reviewer Alex Bracetti said the oval shape is perfectly sized to sit in the auricle, and hook ensured stability. Build quality is sturdy across the board, so you won’t need to worry about the buds breaking after several uses. Apple’s H1 processor also grants access to awesome iOS perks like automatic switching, “Hey Siri’ voice activation and increased battery life. Active noise cancellation (ANC) and Spatial Audio for 3D listening aren’t features to scoff at either. 

We found that the Powerbeats Pro provided a more secure fit, but the Fit Pro’s ergonomic design was more pleasant on the ears. Fatigue only came into play when wearing the buds longer than 4 hours straight.

Key Specs:

Given the wallet-friendly price, you would expect the JLab Go Air Sport to have poor craftsmanship and a relatively low list of features. Guess again. The combination of sturdy plastic and IP55 sweat/water resistance makes these hook earbuds a well-protected package. Three EQs are programmed into the buds to personalize what is already a boom-filled soundstage while enjoying 40 hours of playback time between the earbud batteries (8 hours) and the charging case (32 hours). On top of that, these earbuds let you quickly answer calls with a quick tap of the earbud, making them super convenient when on the move.

SPY Reviewer Alex Bracetti felt these weren’t the most comfortable earbuds, but we did find that you could wear them for up to two hours without experiencing any ear fatigue. Unless you’re a long-distance runner, then we believe they’re some of the best hook earbuds for running.

Read More: The Best Bone-Conduction Headphones

Key Specs:

Bone-conduction is a category that is just taking off, and if future releases are as good as the Shokz Open Pro, then there’s much to be excited about. A hook design is vital for how these headphones work; they’re designed to rest the speakers between the temple and ear and transmit audio through your cheekbones. The OpenRun Pro produces all-encompassing sound, thanks to a pair of vibration drivers that come built into the ends of each hook.

In terms of comfort, they’re surprisingly comfy, especially considering the additional hardware attached to both ends. The one-ounce weight makes these buds incredibly light. You won’t have to worry about the sound ports pressing up against the canal since the speaker units are flat and project sound to your ears. We enjoyed wearing the OpenRun Pro for several hours at a time.

Key Specs:

The JBL Reflect Mini NC is an underappreciated release that got lost in the mid-range shuffle and became one of the best hook earbuds under $100. Let’s start with the craftsmanship, highlighted by the durable plastic frame covered in IPX7-coating for sweat and waterproof protection. The integrated hooks come in different sizes and conform to the cymba for proper stabilization during runs. ANC can block low and mid frequencies at a high level, which is great for the gym.

Up to seven hours per charge is sufficient for a week’s worth of workouts, just make sure to properly adjust them before hitting the track. So long as you take the time to ensure a proper fit, these are some of the best hook earbuds for running. JBL has also improved its soundstage to pump out emphatic bass and compelling highs, but we wouldn’t recommend them for more casual use.

Key Specs:

The JBL Peak Endurance 3 offers premium sound quality and a fit that ensures your earbuds aren’t going to go anywhere, even during your most intense training session. There’s plenty of battery life even for the most hardcore of gym rats and the IP66 waterproof rating means that even the heaviest of sweaters need not worry.

Jonathan Knoder, one of SPY’s reviewers, appreciated that there was a “smart ambient” setting that allowed you to hear your surroundings, so you’re always aware. If you want to ensure your buds won’t go anywhere during your activities, these will answer the call.

Key Specs:

A stable, secure fit can make all the difference in sound quality. That couldn’t be more true for the second-gen Shure Aonic 215. The bundled foam tips completely seal off the canal to prevent surrounding sounds from entering the soundscape, allowing listeners to enjoy sound more naturally.

Shure even included a cleaning tool for removing earwax build-up out of the nozzle, which we thought was a nice touch (we all know how gross earbuds can get). What about the hooks? They’re detachable, meaning you have the option to pair them with the earpieces and fasten them snugly around the ears or to use the earpieces wirelessly. Adjusting the buds properly will also reward you with excellent sonics and neutral frequency range.

Key Specs:

Anyone not looking to spend a lot on their next pair of workout headphones will get their money’s worth out of the Epic Air Sport ANC. These sporty in-ears replicate Beat’s hook design very well, and JBL made the hooks more flexible and thinner to avoid unwanted pressure. ANC is better than average and muffles common distractions (e.g., loud TVs, talkative co-workers).

The lively sound performance can be personalized using the EQ in JLab’s app. One would think that the price ($79) is the product’s biggest feature, but that accolade goes to battery life. We’re talking 70 hours of total playback time shared between the buds (11 to 15 hours) and charging case (55 hours).

Key Specs:

The Bose Sport Earbuds want you to focus more on your workout and less on your phone. The smart gesture controls allow you to play/pause songs, answer calls, and even browse music on your Spotify without having to break out your phone. The buds come with three different sizes of tips so you can get the best seal possible.

We did wish that the battery life were better – five hours just doesn’t stack up compared to earbuds that have upwards of 9, 10, even 11+ hours of run time. The Bose earbuds have great sound quality though, so if you don’t mind charging your buds and even the case more often than others, these are a winner.

Key Specs:

The market for hook earbuds with personalized sound might be small, but if you look hard enough, the NuraLoop should fall somewhere in your search results. Its long list of well-implemented features speaks loudly. Adaptive sound with customizable listening profiles: check.

Capable ANC, weatherproof, wrap-around-the-ear design with malleable hooks and up to 16 hours per charge? Check check and check. That’s an impressive set of hallmarks. Nura even included a headphone jack-tipped aux cable to appease those who still appreciate listening to music in wired mode.

Key Specs:

SPY Reviewer Jonathan Knoder loved the fit of the Treblab earbuds. They stayed in place for the entire duration of the run, even while out on the trail. They feature a clean and crisp sound profile with plenty of bass that covers any genre you enjoy, especially hip-hop, and funk.

The nine hours of battery life is great, even for the longest of runs. And actual volume buttons instead of tap controls on the earbuds are a welcome addition as well. Considering the affordable price, these are a great deal for any runner.

Key Specs:

These Back Bay Runner 60 earbuds have an extra bass feature that really pumps up the low end. But you have to go easy on it. Jonathan Knoder recommended to keep the volume at moderate levels to preserve the bass’ performance.

Even though these earbuds are a bit bulky as well, they are great for running. There’s plenty of battery life for long workout sessions though, and it feels like you’ll never go without battery life considering the 80 hours available in the case.

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Nothing Hooks You? Try These Earbuds Instead

If hooks aren’t your style of earbud, then seek out a model that can offer the same level of fit, comfort, and performance, minus the obtrusive design. Here are five high-quality wireless earbuds that SPY also recommends.

Apple’s finest wireless earbuds to date are a no-brainer for iDevice (iPhone, iPad) and MacBook owners. What makes the AirPods Pro such a fantastic audio product is not just its seamless interconnectivity with iOS/macOS, nor is it the addition of ANC or Spatial Audio for 360-degree sound.

SPY Reviewer William Goodman was pleased to see the improved battery life from six hours to a lackluster four hours from the previous generation, as well as an improved case. You can even customize fit through third-party accessories like the Proof Labs Concealed Ear Hooks, if hooks mean that much to you.

For the most customizable fit available, go with the Ultimate Ears UE Fits. These self-molding in-ear monitors top our list of the Most Comfortable Earbuds, using bright purple LEDs to heat up the bundled gel tips and harden them once fitted to your ear shape. They also generate deep bass response and up to eight hours of use per charge.

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How We Chose the Best Hook Earbuds

When reviewing audio products like headphones, we have a defined process. First, we establish the most important review criteria for that product category. When selecting the best hook earbuds for running and other activities, we evaluated products according to the following criteria:

We had our product testers give each of these earbuds a score for each of these categories, which allowed us to rank and compare the best hook earbuds of 2022. Once we had our final scores for each product, we also considered the product’s price, as we always want to make sure SPY readers are getting a good value for their money.

All of the hook earbuds in this piece were tested over a period of several weeks. In addition, because hook earbuds are most often used by athletes, we tested their ability to stand up to sweat and movement.