This year, there have been some nice trends in Bluetooth speakers: 鈥淭rue stereo,鈥� which lets you pair two speakers at once and play the left channel in one and the right in the other, is available in more and more models. While it may be a clever way of selling you two speakers instead of one, it makes the experience more like sitting in front of your home hi-fi system. Meanwhile, battery life keeps on improving across the board, and it鈥檚 kind of stunning how water-resistant these devices have become: All of the speakers below have an ingress rating of at least IP67, which means they can be submerged in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes. If you鈥檝e ever combined a swimming hole and a large dog in the same outing, you know why this matters. All of which makes the new speakers highlighted here some of the best ever for outdoor adventures.

Update March 2025: We鈥檝e tested and selected new Bluetooth speakers in five categories, including a new best all-around pick of the Beats Pill.

At a Glance

• Best All-Around:
• Best for Parties:
• Best Value:
• Most Portable:
• Most Rugged:
• Best for Audiophiles:
• Best for Travel:
• How to Choose
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Tester

Better Beach Afternoons

A few years ago I visited an old high school friend in L.A. This was a friend you want to model yourself after: He鈥檇 founded his own company and designed his life so that work was done by 1 p.m. Then he鈥檇 pack up a self-designed and professionally fabricated 鈥渇un cart鈥� that rides on fat wheels. He鈥檇 trundle over to the beach and unfurl the built-in umbrella, roll out a cushy beach blanket, unpack a cooler full of cured meats and olives and a bottle of rioja, and tune his FM radio to a local station.

The whole ritual made me think of the last line from James Wright鈥檚 poem 鈥淟ying in a Hammock at William Duffy鈥檚 Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota:鈥� 鈥淚 have wasted my life.鈥�

The next time I visit Miguel, however, we are going to up his audio game. Today鈥檚 Bluetooth speakers are lighter than ever, and built to laugh off the ravages of water, sand, and accidental drops onto the pavement. No beach afternoon should be absent some smooth-sounding melodies: We鈥檒l take anything with a .

Here are reviews of seven of our current favorite Bluetooth speakers, depending on your needs and budget. We鈥檒l be updating the list over the course of the year. In the meantime, maybe you want to think about taking a 鈥渟ick day,鈥� shutting down the laptop, and finding some tasty waves.

Bluetooth Speaker Reviews

Best All-Around

Beats Pill

Pros and Cons
鈯�聽Fun size and shape
鈯�聽Impressive sound
鈯�聽Long battery life
鈯�聽Not omnidirectional

It鈥檚 not hard to figure out what makes a speaker stand out. It鈥檚 the sound, stupid. Yes, I know, but what I love most about the Pill is the way I can grasp it in my hand like a tallboy of Rolling Rock or, going back to junior high memories, like a baton I鈥檓 passing to the anchor sprinter in the 400 relay. The design, which comes in five pleasing colors, might be the best of the year.

And the sound is, in fact, pristine鈥攚hat one tester described as 鈥渕ore open and detailed鈥� than the others in this test. That may be owing to what鈥檚 called a racetrack woofer on the inside, an oblong shape that makes the best use of a small space to produce big sound with less distortion. Gone are the days when a little two-pound unit like this was reserved for travel; this sucker sounds good enough to be your mainstay indoors and out.

The Pill was easy to connect, served brilliantly as a speakerphone, and, as one tester opined, gets 鈥渆xtra credit for aesthetics and a lack of any glitchy issues.鈥� If you get worn out swiping through your Bluetooth settings, you can use the USB-C cable to play music directly from your phone; Beats bills this as high-resolution audio, and we detected a slight improvement.

The speaker runs for an impressive 24 hours at medium volume, has a 鈥淔ast Fuel鈥� function to get two hours of playback from a 10-minute charge, and, if lost, can be located via the 鈥淔ind My鈥� apps on both Apple and Android devices. The soft silicone backing gives it a cushion against falls, and a lanyard lets you strap it around your wrist. One drawback: It鈥檚 not omnidirectional. While it stands securely on a flat base, it has to be pointed toward you to deliver the best sound.

In the end, facing off against an assortment of stellar-sounding speakers, the Pill edged out the others because, no surprise, it sounded the most crystal clear and mellifluous.

Best For Parties

Treblab HD-Max

Pros and Cons
鈯�聽Loud volume when wanted
鈯�聽Great value
鈯�聽One-dimensional sound
鈯�聽Confusing LED modes

When you need more volume and more bass, the HD-Max delivers. The sound is not as detailed or three-dimensional as the others in this guide, but that matters less when it鈥檚 about a crowd and, as the evening wears on, they鈥檙e getting down and boogying. Treblab鈥檚 newest offering has the power to fill a sizable outdoor space, and if you want to go a notch higher, a bass-boosting feature adds even more thump. 鈥淚t makes you feel like dancing,鈥� said one reviewer.

Two other fiesta-friendly novelties are a pair of multicolor lights on either end that can be turned off and on, and a bottle opener on the removable carry strap. It鈥檒l get 20 hours of play time if you keep it at 10 percent volume, but at 100 percent it鈥檚 certified for only 6.5 hours鈥攕till, enough to get you through the night, or, if not, you can always plug it in. (And the power goes both ways: If your phone is running out of juice, the HD-Max can charge it.) One thing that could use improvement: It鈥檚 hard to tell when you鈥檙e in indoor, outdoor, or bass mode; they鈥檙e indicated by a clunky system that involves deciphering a series of blinking LED lights.

These are small trade-offs when you consider that the HD-Max is a tough-built, five-pound, foot-wide boom box that retails for $200鈥攂ut can be found for 33 percent less than that. Others in its class, like Ultimate Ears鈥� , usually set you back $350 or $400. When the fun is over and it鈥檚 back-to-work time, the speaker has a built-in mic that works well for conference calls, with an average range of 33 feet. One tester said the HD-Max had 鈥渢he best combination of sound quality, volume, and portability鈥� in the test.

Best Value

Fender x Teufel Rockster Go 2

Pros and Cons
鈯�聽Sound fills the room
鈯�聽Long battery life
鈯�聽Controls not all in same place

The German audio engineers at Teuful got together with the American guitar and amp brand Fender to make this thing of beauty. The sleekly designed Rockster Go 2 is smaller than a hardcover airport novel, at eight by four inches, but it pumps out some of the best, bassiest sound in this size range. Much like Bose鈥檚 鈥攚hose latest version weighs in at 1.3 pounds and costs $149鈥攖he 1.6-pound Rockster Go 2 amazed us with its 鈥渟traight-ahead sound quality and musical vividness,鈥� as one tester put it. It goes one step further than Bose with a button that engages what鈥檚 called Dynamore virtual stereo sound, an impressive, non-gimmicky feature that seems to magically move the music to the corners of the room. (Like the Beats Pill, this speaker is unidirectional, but the Dynamore feature does a lot to make it sound good from the front or the back.)

The speaker is supposed to last for up to a whopping 28 hours in Eco Mode (which reduces the bass), though you鈥檒l probably get more like the 15 hours it promises in regular mode at medium volume. Quick charging, however, gets you out the door faster if you forgot to plug it in the night before. A short carry strap enables easier toting, and GoPro users will appreciate the quarter-inch threading on the base, which is compatible with camera mounts. Although its range is only 30 feet, one reviewer remarked that 鈥渨ith a design that鈥檚 worthy of residing on your bookcase plus its rugged build, this may be the ideal indoor/outdoor speaker in the midsize range.鈥�

Note: The Rockster line includes two other, larger sizes: the $180 and the monster $480 .

Most Portable

Ultimate Ears Miniroll

Pros and Cons
鈯�聽Very compact
鈯�聽Impressive sound for its size
鈯�聽Bungee strap is useful
鈯�聽Can get only so loud

Over the past decade, the 鈥渕ini speaker鈥� category has been trying and trying to achieve a level of sonic quality that sounds so much better than your laptop speaker that it warrants a purchase. With the Miniroll, we may have achieved the singularity. At less than 10 ounces and a fits-in-your-hand, five-inch diameter, this grab-and-go disc produced some moments of startling loudness for its size. Physics wouldn鈥檛 allow it to be in the same acoustic class as the others in this test, but testers were impressed by what it can do.

Think of the places it can go: With its eminently handy built-in rubber strap, the Miniroll can bungee right over your bike handlebars, onto your belt loop, or鈥攁 habit I鈥檝e acquired solely on account of this speaker鈥攐ver the shower curtain rod, so I can keep clean while keeping up with the news. As secure as the strap is, a bouncy bike ride might eventually dislodge it, but with its sturdy build, we wouldn鈥檛 be too concerned about damage鈥攁nd its crazy-long range of 131 feet means you won鈥檛 lose connection when you turn around to retrieve it. A PartyUp feature lets you pair multiple Minirolls together for more power or a stereo effect.

Anyone debating whether to pack a speaker for an overseas flight can be confident that the Miniroll鈥攚ith its 鈥渞oad-friendly size and shape鈥� and at 1.25 percent of an airline鈥檚 50-pound weight limit鈥攊s well worth the consideration.

Most Rugged

Turtlebox Gen 2

Pros and Cons
鈯�聽Extremely tough
鈯�聽Easy to tote
鈯�聽Smooth sound
鈯�聽Not cheap

Like Pelican and Otter, Turtlebox thinks in terms of durability that will see you through any terrain on earth, if not other planets. Case in point: The company claims that they were able to park a six-ton monster truck on this speaker, to no ill effect. Encased in super-hard plastic and completely waterproof (even floatable), the Gen 2 has quickly garnered a following among fishermen and watersports enthusiasts for more than being tough. The 120-decibel speaker is 鈥渂oth incredibly loud and impressively refined,鈥� one tester observed. Indeed, our team was hard-pressed to find many differences in audio quality between the Turtlebox 2 and the other top scorers in this year鈥檚 test. The unit also plays for 25 hours at lower volumes and about six hours at max volume, such as what you鈥檇 need for a big party.

During LCD Soundsystem鈥檚 鈥淭ribulations,鈥� the bass tones flowed smooth as silk and distortion-free, thanks to the 6-by-9-inch woofer, and, to our surprise, the high and midrange sounds also came across with great clarity. With five color options and an ideal form factor鈥攁 lunchbox-size 9.5-pound boombox with a hard nylon handle coated in rubber, plus rubber bumpers on the undercarriage鈥攖he Turtlebox Gen 2 gets just about everything right, and its fairly high price tag is less scary when you consider its durability.

Best for Audiophiles

Bose SoundLink Max

Pros and Cons
鈯�聽Very rich, loud sound
鈯�聽Long battery life
鈯�聽Easy to pair
鈯�聽Needs 5-volt charger; standard USB-C is slow

For those who were wowed by Bose鈥檚 1.3-pound SoundLink Flex (our 2022聽Editor鈥檚 Choice winner), this larger and far more powerful 4.9-pound edition of the SoundLink will be true love. It punches above its weight, with rich bass and perfect balance in the higher registers. While the addition of a rubber-coated rope handle is both convenient and cute, the sticking-to-basics features from this classic brand made it a bit less fun than other party-ready units in this test. Where Bose beats them, though, is with more subtle orchestral and ambient tracks. Max Richter鈥檚聽The New Four Seasons聽came through with a dynamism and presence that was a notch above.

Battery life is 20 hours, range is a passable 30 feet, and Bose鈥檚 app is more versatile than those that accompany most speakers, with EQ settings to suit your tastes and listening environment. IP67 water and dust resistance means it鈥檚 fine being dropped in the pool for up to 30 minutes. The SoundLink Max does cost a lot for its size, but for those among us who like to just sit and focus on great music, it may be the most ideal鈥攁nd ideally sized鈥攑ortable speaker to date.

Best for Travel

Klipsch Nashville

Pros and Cons
鈯�聽Great sound in small package
鈯�聽Nice design
鈯�聽Bass can get distorted

Ten years ago, it would鈥檝e been inconceivable to hear sound this deep and loud coming from a speaker so small. Such are the advances of science. Klipsch鈥檚 Nashville is the Goldilocks among a new trio of IP67 water- and dust-resistant speakers from the brand (alongside the larger Detroit and the smaller Austin). All of them sound great, but the Nashville won us over because it overdelivers for its size, a mere 2.4 pounds and seven inches wide. A pair of 2.25-inch full-range drivers鈥攐ne on the front and another on the back鈥攃reate what the company calls 360-degree sound, so it works nicely in the center of a room as opposed to a bookshelf.

The tough build鈥攚ith cushy rubber cladding all around鈥攊nstills confidence in its durability, and its 24-hour battery life makes it even better for carrying through remote places without power. The Nashville has a 40-foot range and can be wirelessly linked together with up to 10 other compatible Klipsch units. We also like the built-in mic, which allows it to work as a speakerphone, courteously pausing your music on its own. 鈥淭he cool retro looks don鈥檛 prepare you for how thoroughly modern this speaker sounds,鈥� one tester said.

How to Choose

When shopping for a new Bluetooth speaker, first consider whether you鈥檒l be using it indoors, outdoors, or both. Check its to get an idea of how much water and dust resistance it offers; these are typically reliable. Next, think about how much you鈥檒l be carrying it around鈥攂etween house and backyard, say, or moving from campsite to campsite鈥攁nd whether you鈥檒l be on foot (carrying a pack or duffel, or not) or on wheels. Then consider what makes sense in terms of weight and dimensions. As a general rule, the heavier a speaker is, the more volume you鈥檒l get out of it, but playing it loud isn鈥檛 always a necessity鈥攕ome of you will be entertaining large groups, but others will just be setting it up for mellow creekside cocktail-hour listening with your partner.

If you鈥檙e someone who moves around a lot, a speaker with long battery life might also make a difference. These days most new models will play for a good 10 hours or more even at high volume, but some are longer-lasting than others, as detailed in the models reviewed here. Finally, more and more models offer 鈥渢rue stereo鈥� linking, where two or more speakers can be paired to play at once but in stereo; this makes smaller models with this option a little more attractive than before, because if you later decide to invest more, you can give your soundscape an appreciable boost.

Finally, don鈥檛 assume that if one of the speakers in this list doesn鈥檛 sound great to you, it鈥檚 your fault. Different folks have different tastes, and some types of music sound better鈥攐r worse鈥攐n certain speakers. If you make a purchase and are feeling lukewarm afterwards, keep an eye on your return window and don鈥檛 feel guilty if you have to exchange it.

How We Test Audio Equipment

• Hours of Testing: 246
• Test Environments: Running, hiking, dog walking, cycling, windsurfing, skiing, rock climbing, yardwork, car camping, conference calls, video streaming, noisy coffee shops
• Highest Elevation: 10,152 feet, Leadville, Colorado
• Lowest Elevation: 5 feet underwater in Lake Pleasant, Arizona
• Most Listened-To Tracks: Childish Gambino: 鈥淟ithonia,鈥� The Cure: 鈥淎lone,鈥� Drugdealer and Kim Bollinger: 鈥淧ictures of You,鈥� Fontaines D.C.: 鈥淔avourite,鈥� J Dilla: 鈥淲orkinonit,鈥� Kenya Grace: 鈥淪trangers,鈥� Magdalena Bay: 鈥淚mage,鈥� Slowthai ft. James Blake and Mount Kimbie: 鈥淔eel Away,鈥� Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: 鈥淐hallengers鈥�

The first thing we do with any Bluetooth speakers is attempt to pair them with our phones without consulting the user manual: The quicker, more intuitive, and easier the sync, the more points scored. Then we put them through hours of testing doing the kinds of things 国产吃瓜黑料 readers do鈥攕oaking in remote hot springs, inviting friends over for outdoor dance parties, playing audiobooks while riding a bike, etc.

Our team turns in reports on each product tested, providing a score of 1 to 10 for five different measures: sound quality, pairing and connectivity, fit and comfort, rain and drop protection, and user friendliness. Scores are averaged, with more weight given to sound quality and (knowing our audience) how well they stand up to the elements. Note: Battery life estimates in these reviews are based on manufacturer specs; it鈥檚 difficult to confirm those numbers, given the time involved and variances among user habits (different volumes, different uses, different functions enabled). Actual results may be 10 to 20 percent lower, judging from averages experienced in general testing.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Will Palmer has been testing gear for 21 years for 国产吃瓜黑料, where he was managing editor and copy chief for nine years. Based in Santa Fe, he has been a runner since 1984, and while the mile counts have decreased over the years, he鈥檚 kept motivated to head out the door on the hottest, coldest, and wettest days by the opportunity to test the best new products鈥攁nd to commune with the junipers and pi帽ons.

The post The 7 Best Bluetooth Speakers for Outdoor 国产吃瓜黑料s appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When I was younger I had a high-adrenaline running playlist that I carefully curated: Arctic Monkeys, Jay-Z, Rage Against the Machine. It got my heart rate up, the same way drinking a lot of coffee made me more productive. As podcasts became a thing鈥攁nd I decided a more moderate heart rate has its upsides鈥擨 seized the chance to explore ideas while trying to hit my weekly mile goals. What remained constant was my appreciation for the evolution of earbuds, from wired to wireless, from basic to loaded, with features like active noise cancellation, and always toward better and better sound. So it is a delight to be able to test and select the best-performing sport earbuds on the market.

Update March 2025: We’ve tested and selected new sport earbud models in six categories, including a new best overall pick of the Bose QuietComfort.

The Hottest Trend in Sport Earbuds

This year鈥檚 hottest trend is open earbuds, which allow you to hear far more of what鈥檚 going on around you, and I can鈥檛 say I鈥檝e been sold on them. There鈥檚 no doubt that they make a lot of sense for people who run along the roadside or, even more so, cyclists who go anywhere near cars鈥攇enerally a very bad time to be canceling the noise around you. Open earbuds work in one of two ways: either with the transmitter positioned near your ear canal but not in it (see the VERIO 200 in our reviews below) or through bone conduction (found in the H2O Audio TRI 2 Pro below), which bypasses your eardrum, sending sound directly to your inner ear by way of your skull bones.

Since I live in the desert and rarely pass another living soul on the trails, I don鈥檛 need to hear what鈥檚 going on around me, and open earbuds will always be challenged to sound as good, or as loud, when they鈥檙e handicapped by having to reach your hearing by alternative methods. So for music, they鈥檙e not my favorite; for the spoken word, I鈥檓 learning to like them.

During this year鈥檚 tests, one of my fellow reviewers said he appreciated that the open design allowed him to hear not just passing cars but songbirds. Which sent me into a brief panic: Am I missing all the birdsongs? Sadly, there aren鈥檛 a lot of birds on my trail, but next summer when I鈥檓 hiking up at 10,000 feet and the dark-eyed juncos are chirping in the high branches, I鈥檒l put that theory to the test.

In the meantime, many closed-ear models these days (see Bose and Bowers & Wilkins below) let you employ a transparency (or awareness) mode that enhances ambient sound. This can be a nice in-between solution if your need for awareness isn鈥檛 so much life-and-death as it is a courtesy to the runner or biker 鈥渙n your left.鈥�

As our tests demonstrated, there鈥檚 a wide array of applications for those little pieces of tech we鈥檙e so fond of popping into our ears. We tried out a variety of models designed to optimize listening for every type of activity. Here are the seven we liked best in a range of scenarios: indoors or out, on land or in the water, on city sidewalks or remote trails where you can block out the noise and be in your own sound tunnel鈥攁s long as your remote trail doesn鈥檛 pass through bear country.

At a Glance

• Best All-Around:
• Best High-Fidelity:
• Best for Runners:
• Best Open-Ear:
• Killer Value:
• Best for Water:
• Most Innovative:
• How to Choose Earbuds
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Tester

Best All-Around

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯� That reliable Bose sound
鈯� Excellent noise cancellation
鈯� Case feels a bit cheap

The most surprising thing about the new iteration of the QuietComfort Earbuds is the price, which has dropped from $280 in the first generation to $180. Bose also offers a premium model called the QuietComfort Ultra, which goes for $300. Surely the new economy model is lacking something those other versions had? Not a whole lot, as far as we could tell.

The new model is anchored on what Bose is best known for: smooth, warm sound that鈥檚 well balanced, with no overblown bass-iness and nothing too tinny on the high end. The QC II also comes with active noise cancellation that performed well, for example, when running on a windy day. With various sizes of fins that help you find a secure fit, they proved above average as workout earbuds, although parkour practitioners will probably experience slippage. The charging case has a slightly cheap plastic feel but is perfectly adequate.

The QC IIs come with their own app, which testers found easy to use; one 鈥済reatly appreciated being able to modify the touch controls, which I tend to dislike in earbuds, via the app.鈥� If you鈥檙e one of those people, you鈥檒l like the options for voice control, which let you pause, answer calls, and even take a selfie just by saying so. The battery life is very good, at 8.5 hours on medium volume with ANC turned on, and the charging case supplies 2.5 extra charges. With IPX4 water resistance, they repel splashing water but won鈥檛 be happy if submerged. And Bluetooth Multipoint means you can connect a phone and a laptop at the same time, without needing to fuss with Bluetooth settings every time you make the transition.

There鈥檚 nothing unexpected here鈥攁side from the low price鈥攁nd that鈥檚 a good thing. The QuietComfort II performed like a champ and had a just-right feel, and it鈥檚 always nice to pick up some excellent Bose tech and still afford to take your partner to dinner on Friday.

Best for Audiophiles

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯� Pristine sound quality
鈯� Non-frustrating touch controls
鈯� Not cheap

鈥淭he most audiophile worthy of all the earbuds I鈥檝e tested,鈥� one of our veteran reviewers gushed after a month with the Pi8s. Through hours of listening sessions on planes, on trails, on couches, and on city sidewalks, this was the pair that invariably impressed everyone on our test team, with their 鈥渋ncredibly balanced and musical鈥� sound quality.

The $400 price鈥�$150 above Apple鈥檚 ubiquitous AirPod Pros and $100 north of the Bose QuietComfort Ultras鈥攎eans you have to be serious about your music, and about taking good care of them. They鈥檙e IP54-rated, able to handle sweat and a misty rain, but are not the pair you want to bring to the gym each day. While the four sizes of ear tips help them sit pretty securely and comfortably, they will fall out on occasion. All the same, we won鈥檛 discourage you from ever bringing them on a run on a sunny day, where their high-fidelity clarity is sure to put a little more oomph in your step.

The active noise cancellation on the Pi8s is excellent, similar to that on the Bose QCII, with touch controls for toggling between on, off, and transparency mode. The touch controls work better than in most earbuds we鈥檝e seen, with a satisfying light noise that鈥檚 akin to a mouse click. We also love the pearlescent finish on the outer surface of the Pi8s, which come in four colors. A robust companion app lets you turn off the touch controls and has a five-band equalizer so you can tweak the sound profile to your liking. Battery life here is an average 6.5 hours, and the charging case holds two additional charges (13.5 hours).

Another nice feature is something called retransmission. This allows you to use the included USB-C-to-3.5mm cord to plug the unit鈥檚 charging case into an external device like an in-flight entertainment system and the case will send the signal into the buds, so you鈥檙e not stuck listening on that plastic-wrapped pair the flight attendants hand out with the peanuts.

One reviewer reported, 鈥淚 listened to an album with two double basses鈥斺�淏ut Who鈥檚 Gonna Play the Melody?鈥� by Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer鈥攁nd I could hear their fingers and the pull of the bow on the strings in ways I hadn鈥檛 before.鈥� That鈥檚 a good example of what makes these shine like few have before them.

Best for Runners

SoundPeats Q35 HD+ Neckband Headphones

Pros and Cons
鈯� Impossible to lose
鈯� Lightweight
鈯� Struggles with heavy bass
鈯� Cord can annoy some

If impressive sound coupled with a secure fit is what you鈥檙e after, this is the model for you. The Q35 HD+s are held firmly in place by semi-rigid fins that position them snugly鈥攕omething we鈥檙e surprised more earbuds don鈥檛 come with鈥攚hile a barely there cord wraps behind your neck. If you drop and do push-ups and gravity pops the buds out, the cord makes it impossible for one to roll away into the shrubbery to be lost forever. It鈥檚 a satisfying package: light but with a sturdy build, and easy to spool into your pocket when you stop for coffee.

It鈥檚 a form factor that鈥檚 been around for years and, as one tester who runs routinely notes, has been perennially dependable. What we didn鈥檛 expect, for the bargain price, is something that sounds this good. The sound is not as detailed or as robust in the low end as the Bose or B&W models, but you鈥檙e certainly getting more than you paid for. For a heart-pumping track like the Who鈥檚 鈥淏aba O鈥橰iley,鈥� they sound good enough for hours on the trail.

And time on the trail is another thing they鈥檝e got covered: The company rates them at 17 hours on a charge, after which they get plugged back in鈥攏o backup power in the carrying case, which is flimsy but does fine at protecting the device and keeping the cord from tangling with the other stuff in your backpack.

IPX5 water resistance means they鈥檒l have no problem with a light rain and should not be impacted by moisture on a long, sweaty day on the trail. And the mic built into the inline control module means the Q35 HD+ handles phone calls well鈥攚ith the proximity to your mouth arguably capturing your voice better than the mic on a wireless earbud can. It鈥檚 an impressive piece of gear that could have just as easily slotted into our Killer Value category.

Best Open Ear

Beyerdynamic VERIO 200

Pros and Cons
鈯� Best-sounding open-ear model
鈯� No discomfort inside your ears
鈯� Ear hooks can be uncomfortable

Cycling on a city street while dialing in to the all-hands meeting? Hiking with a buddy and wanting to switch between conversation and catching up on your podcasts? Knocking out two chapters of Moby-Dick on Audible on your daily run? All these use cases have their perfect companion in the VERIO 200.

And this is leaving out music, which historically (in our test team鈥檚 estimation) has sounded too weak and tinny in the open-ear design but now, at last, is starting to approach the real thing. Rock 鈥檔鈥� roll will probably never shine with this form factor, but it鈥檚 never come closer than this. Thanks to the wizards at Beyerdynamic, classical and jazz came through with a clarity that one tester called 鈥渂etter sounding and generally more sophisticated than previous attempts at open ear.鈥�

The VERIO 200s play for eight hours on a charge and have a well-designed case that provides 27 more hours. (Some found the case a little large, but others appreciated that the earpieces slide in so seamlessly, without the multiple repositioning attempts required with some brands that use a smaller case.) The dual mics make them very effective for calls, and an IP54 rating makes them suitable for runs and walks in a light rain鈥攐r for a sweaty CrossFit workout, where they鈥檇 do a good job of staying in place thanks to an effective wraparound design. (Some reviewers, however, found them uncomfortable after an hour or so.)

Of course, safety is the main motivator for going to an open-ear design, and even at full volume the VERIO allowed the sound of fellow bikers and pedestrians to be heard. Returning home, we loved being able to leave them on for hours more, listening to the news or a ballgame while being able to chat with family, with no pausing or bud removal required.

Killer Value

Mixx StreamBuds Custom 1

Pros and Cons
鈯� Compact
鈯� Surprisingly loud and clear
鈯� Small size means easy to lose
鈯� No IP rating

The Custom 1, from UK-based Mixx, delivers a really impressive sound at a great price. Out of the box, the first thing that charmed us was the size of the case, small enough to close your hand around. The earbuds themselves are small too鈥攁 fact that made them coveted by my wife, who can鈥檛 deal with anything too bulky sitting in her ears.

That tiny case is also tough, made of zinc alloy that looks sleek and can handle being dropped, stepped on (we tried it out), and generally tormented. Said case charges the Custom 1s for six hours of playtime and carries three extra six-hour charges: pretty impressive for such a wee thing.

But it鈥檚 the Custom 1鈥檚 well-detailed acoustic quality that won us over: 鈥淢usic sounded warm, with good lows, though sometimes a bit muffled,鈥� said one tester. Others also echoed the word 鈥渨arm鈥濃�攖hey seem to offer a certain rich quality that makes orchestral music shine through.

The Custom 1s sounded great on runs but are definitely not the most secure, and at their size, you鈥檒l be nervous about losing them. 鈥淚 preferred them for walking rather than more active running or hiking,鈥� one tester remarked. Nor do they come with any IP rating for water or dust resistance; this doesn鈥檛 mean they can鈥檛 handle moisture, but apparently the company didn鈥檛 do that testing. If you鈥檙e a fan of compactness, if you have smaller ears, or if you simply like discovering hidden gems at a bargain price, however, this is one to add to the mix.

Best for Water

H2O Audio TRI 2 Pro

Pros and Cons
鈯� Totally waterproof
鈯� Onboard memory
鈯� Song transfer is slow
鈯� Can cause tickling

Have you harbored dreams of funneling techno into your auditory nerve while windsurfing on San Francisco Bay, then voice-commanding to switch over to an incoming business call? One member of our review crew put three models of waterproof earbuds through this very test and, while the process stands to be improved through future innovations, it worked fairly well, with the TRI 2 Pro coming out on top.

H2O Audio has been selling good products for swimmers and the like for years鈥攊t takes a special approach, not least because they need to be IPX8, able to go 12 feet underwater for as long as you want them to鈥攍ike this model can. And, of course, a Bluetooth signal won鈥檛 travel under the waves with you, so tracks need to be stored locally, either on a waterproof MP3 player or an even better solution, like this unit鈥檚 8GB of onboard memory that can store 130 hours of tracks. (It can move your own mp3 files over or 鈥渞ecord鈥� music from a streaming service like Spotify, though this is a slow process.)

The TRI 2 Pros employ bone conduction technology, which makes them great for podcasts while out on a run or bike ride, but a little less ideal when trying to rock out in said open-air activities: Then they can start to tickle. Still, H2O Audio and other companies are making these units sound better every year. And it鈥檚 underwater that they really shine: When you use the included earplugs to neutralize the water noise in your ears, it鈥檚 surprising how smooth music sounds, and at much more moderate volumes. They鈥檙e a minor godsend for lap swimmers, snorkelers, and triathletes (presumably the core audience for the Tri line) who like to enhance their life aquatic by playing their favorite symphony or devouring an audiobook. The headset will play for up to nine hours in Bluetooth mode and six hours in memory mode and comes with a zip case (which is rather bulky) that provides two and a half refills.

Back to our windsurfer: The TRI 2 Pro worked under a helmet (and this success was replicated on the ski slopes), which also secured them in the event of a fall. Playing tunes when the wind was low was enjoyable, but in high wind it was a challenge: 鈥淚 could hear the music, but the output of the headphones had to compete with the roar of wind in my ear canals. It鈥檚 simply a matter of physics.鈥� This also meant the tester鈥檚 hopes of 鈥渢urning sales meetings into sails meetings鈥� by joining conference calls were largely dashed. Listening worked fine, but the microphone couldn鈥檛 pick up his voice from deep inside his helmet. Maybe one day.

Most Innovative

Denon PerL True Wireless Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯� Rich, dynamic sound
鈯� Impressive app
鈯� Customizable sound profile
鈯� Chunky size

鈥淓ach product is hand-tuned by our sound master,鈥� Denon says of the PerLs, and while we don鈥檛 know exactly what that means, it speaks to the Japanese DNA in these premium-sounding buds. Take the accompanying software, for instance: The first thing you do with these wireless buds is download an app that streams a series of sounds and frequencies into your ears to measure how you hear, then creates a personalized profile that transforms how good music sounds. It鈥檚 one of the best uses of a headphone app we鈥檝e seen.

The PerLs came across as lively but not piercing on the high end, with realism and verve. There鈥檚 even a high-gain option on the app that boosts volume for quiet recordings, which one tester called 鈥渁 welcome feature that I would love to see in a lot of sometimes anemic Bluetooth earbuds.鈥� These capabilities are made possible by a series of ultra-sensitive microphones, which probably explains their rather enormous size鈥攐ne reviewer called them 鈥渟harp-edged Alka-Seltzer tablet earbud bodies鈥� and noted, 鈥淚 had to remove the supplied fin attachment before these felt okay.鈥�

Others liked the fit and found them great for running, where they kept the adrenaline flowing with some of the best full-on rocking-out sound in the test. 鈥淪t. Vincent and Spoon sounded like I was listening to vinyl,鈥� one tester said. The active noise cancellation is decent, the six hours of battery is average (with two more charges from the case), and an IPX4 rating means they can handle a light rain. Given the quality and attention to detail, we consider these a true bargain at $139 or less.

How to Choose Earbuds

Earbuds are more like shoes than most other gear categories: so much depends on the right fit. What comfortably fits one person鈥檚 ears may not suit another鈥檚, and there鈥檚 more to it than size. The internal anatomy of the ear makes certain designs actually sound better to one person than the next. If you can鈥檛 try them out at a store or borrow them from a friend, it may be best to buy them from a retailer with a good return policy. Once you have them in hand, do some real-world tests with the different tip sizes, and trade them in if you aren鈥檛 in love.

If you want to get serious about the perfect fit, consider aftermarket foam eartips, like . In addition to helping with a more secure fit, they provide passive noise isolation, which can improve the experience with both ANC-equipped and ANC-less earbuds. Should fit issues persist, consider a model with behind-the-ear hooks like the .

Also give some thought to which features do it for you: Some people like sleek touch controls, others prefer old-school push buttons; some like to tap for quick pausing, others would rather forgo that feature and pull out one bud to ask for directions, so as to avoid the annoyance of unwanted pauses every time your fingers go near them. And if you live in a rainy climate, be sure to choose ones with an ending in 4 or higher (as all the models here do).

Finally, be aware that there are more specialized designs emerging and getting better each year鈥搇ike these earbuds for , others for , and for those who want to stay more tuned in to their surroundings.

How We Test Sport Earbuds

• Hours of Testing: 246
• Test Environments: Running, hiking, dog walking, cycling, windsurfing, skiing, rock climbing, yardwork, car camping, conference calls, video streaming, noisy coffee shops
• Highest Elevation: 10,152 feet, Leadville, Colorado
• Lowest Elevation: 5 feet underwater in Lake Pleasant, Arizona
• Most Listened-To Tracks: Childish Gambino: 鈥淟ithonia,鈥� The Cure: 鈥淎lone,鈥� Drugdealer and Kim Bollinger: 鈥淧ictures of You,鈥� Fontaines D.C.: 鈥淔avourite,鈥� J Dilla: 鈥淲orkinonit,鈥� Kenya Grace: 鈥淪trangers,鈥� Magdalena Bay: 鈥淚mage,鈥� Slowthai ft. James Blake and Mount Kimbie: 鈥淔eel Away,鈥� Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: 鈥淐hallengers鈥�

The first thing we do with any earbuds, headphones, or speakers is attempt to pair them with our phones without consulting the user manual: the quicker, more intuitive, and easier the Bluetooth setup, the more points scored. Then we put them through rigorous hours of testing doing the kinds of things 国产吃瓜黑料 readers do鈥攆rom dog walks to HIIT workouts, from fireside listening to our day jobs, which for one of us is at the local woodworking shop. Our testers, who range in location from Alaska to Berkeley to Santa Fe to New York City, spent hours in them, bouncing up and down on trails, treadmills, and trains.

Our team turns in reports on each product tested, providing a score from 1 to 10 for five different measures: sound quality, pairing and connectivity, fit and comfort, rain and drop protection, and user friendliness. Scores are averaged, with more weight given to sound quality and (knowing our audience) how well they stand up to the elements. Note: Battery life estimates in these reviews are based on manufacturer specs; it鈥檚 difficult to confirm those numbers, given the time involved and variances among user habits (different volumes, different uses, different functions enabled). Actual results may be 10 to 20 percent lower, judging from averages experienced in general testing.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Will Palmer has been testing gear for 21 years for 国产吃瓜黑料, where he was managing editor and copy chief for nine years. Based in Santa Fe, he has been a runner since 1984, and while the mile counts have decreased over the years, he鈥檚 kept motivated to head out the door on the hottest, coldest, and wettest days by the opportunity to test the best new products鈥攁nd to commune with the junipers and pi帽ons.

The post The 7 Best Sport Earbuds (2025) appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Your personalized playlist can be the key to achieving faster splits, pushing through longer distances, or simply setting the right vibe to match your mantra. Whatever role it plays for you, it shouldn鈥檛 compromise your safety on the trail or pavement. You can still enjoy music or podcasts while staying in tune with your surroundings鈥攜ou just need the right headphones.

The and headphones feature an open-ear design, letting you enjoy your mix without completely shutting out the world. Instead of traditional earbuds that sit inside your ear canal, the Wing and Sonic rest just in front of your ear and transmit soundwaves via your jawbone. The result? Crisp, clear sound. And your music stays your secret, meaning no one will overhear your guilty-pleasure tracks on repeat.

Suunto Wing Headphones

The Suunto Wing is the premium choice for those who want to recreate safety and stay connected. With built-in adjustable LED lights for low-light safety, up to ten hours of battery life (and more than 20 hours while using the included portable power bank), and an IP67 rating for sweat and water resistance, the Wing will keep your head in the game with your favorite beats even through the long, dark, or damp miles.

For a true hands-free wearing experience, the Wing comes with Head Movement Control so you can skip a song or answer an incoming call with the simple shake or nod of your head鈥攏o button-pushing required.

Suunto Sonic Headphones

Weighing in at just over an ounce, the Suunto Sonic is the lightweight, budget-friendly option that doesn鈥檛 compromise on sound quality. Plus, the control buttons make navigating your playlist a breeze: You can skip to your favorite song or pause incoming sound with a single, convenient multiuse button and adjust volume without fumbling to find your phone.

With up to ten hours of battery life, the Sonic is perfect for all your long-distance runs, hikes, or rides. Need a quick power boost? A full charge takes just one hour, and three hours of playtime requires only five minutes鈥攋uice up during a five-minute pre-workout stretch.

Pioneering exploration has been in Suunto鈥檚 DNA since 1936, when Finnish orienteer Tuomas Vohlonen set out to create a more accurate compass and subsequently invented a new method for manufacturing liquid鈥恌illed compasses. Today, Suunto is at the forefront of design and innovation for sports watches, dive computers, compasses, and digital services used by adventurers all over the globe. Learn more at .

The post First Look: Suunto Wing and Sonic Headphones appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The winners of this year鈥檚 audio tests came from brands that range from three-year-old startups to longtime audio stalwarts, a testament to how dialed the technology has become. Each year we see more and more bargain models on the market that, if you didn鈥檛 check the price tag, you might think went for $100, or twice that. And every year brings more new and clever features, like in-ear detection and sound profiles to suit your taste for bass vs. treble. Then there鈥檚 active noise cancellation (ANC), which first came to earbuds some five years ago but has become commonplace, perhaps an indicator that the world around us really needs to shut the hell up, and that we all鈥攚hether running, doing yoga, or commuting鈥攃an best find our sweet spot when alone in our particular sound cave. One thing 国产吃瓜黑料 readers can appreciate is the increasing ruggedness and water resistance in basically any pair of buds you might acquire鈥攅ven those that don鈥檛 have high are likely able to survive a walk in the rain or a drop into a puddle and still keep doing what they do. With less and less to separate high-end products from low-end, the differentiators are becoming more a question of how much care and attention to detail are put into the product.

Read on for our winners, from deserving buds of all shapes and sizes to the best premium travel headphones.

Updated August 2024: We’ve updated the formatting of this guide and updated the retailers and pricing of our picks.

At a Glance

• Best All-Around:
• Best for Runners:
• Best for Smaller Ears:
• Killer Value:
• Best Travel Headphones:
• How to Choose Earbuds
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Tester

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Best All-Around

Marshall Motif II ANC

Pros and Cons
鈯� Top-notch, dynamic sound
鈯� Rockin鈥� design
鈯� Highly grippable stems
鈯� Shorter-than-average battery life

The Motif II ANCs have the same popular stem design as Apple鈥檚 beloved AirPods Pro but cling to your ears even better. Like the AirPods Pro, they sound fantastic, with faithful, crystal-clear highs, mids, and lows (and no artificial, random bass boosting), and come with a versatile app that includes a custom equalizer (where, yes, you can add more bass). But unlike the AirPods Pro, the Motif II ANC earbuds carry Marshall鈥檚 pedigree classic rock aesthetic, which is actually very useful: the grippy metal stems make them much easier to handle, and the textured vinyl case feels indestructible. They even come in at $50 less than Apple鈥檚 counterpart. In testing, connectivity proved flawless, and their active noise cancellation (ANC) was very effective, though a step below Apple鈥檚 model. One tester did find that their robust design meant they needed occasional fit adjustment during runs, and their IPX5 protection means they鈥檙e not rated to keep out dust and solids, but they will do fine with heavy rain, sweat, or sea spray. Battery life is the only real downside: They play for just 6 hours with ANC engaged or 9 hours without (similar to the AirPods Pro but 2鈥�3 hours less than competitors like Sony, Sennheiser, and JLabs) and the case holds four extra charges. But with the 鈥渂est sound quality of all the buds in this test,鈥� according to one tester, and a design that made everyone take notice, the Motif II A.N.C.s take home our top prize for their character and quality.

Read our full review of the Marshall Motif II ANC.

Best for Runners

Beats Studio Buds +

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy to use
鈯� Secure fit
鈯� Consistently good sound
鈯� Limited grip area makes them easy to drop

The well-engineered Studio Buds + are our top pick for runners because of their light weight and small profile, staying in place well while you bob about. One tester, who even used them while paddleboarding, found that they 鈥渇it really well immediately out of the box and never fell out or needed adjusting.鈥� They didn鈥檛, however, boast the lockdown security of the 鈥渨ingtips鈥� that came built-in on the earlier (and still available) . The Studio Buds + are an improvement over their predecessors (same name sans the +), with upgrades that include better ANC and longer battery life (6 hours with ANC on, 9 hours without). With an IPX4 protection rating, they held up against sweat and light rain. This model put extra oomph in our strides with bassier but nice 鈥檔鈥� clear sound, similar to that of the Apple AirPods Pro. ANC on the Studio Buds + is only middle of the pack but did a decent job blocking out the chatter in a crowded coffeehouse, and Beats tripled the size of the microphones for a call quality that impressed testers. We also liked the push controls on the outside of each bud, which never accidentally paused tracks the way touch controls sometimes do. Similarly, they don鈥檛 have in-ear detection, a feature some of our testers find aggravating. Forgot to charge them? A five-minute plug-in adds a quick hour of playback time. While their diminutive size can make them hard to grasp when plucking them out of the magnetic case, we nevertheless found ourselves reaching for them routinely, especially when heading to the trail. And as you鈥檇 expect from the brand, the Studio Buds + look sleek and wholly of the moment鈥攚e especially approved of the transparent option, but the ivory and black/gold opaque models are also appropriately sporty.

Best for Smaller Ears

Raycon Fitness Earbuds

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extreme portability
鈯� Surprisingly bold sound
鈯� A bit on the fragile side
鈯� More likely to be lost

The magic in the straightforwardly named Fitness Earbuds lies in their barely-there size. Both the lightweight buds and the case鈥攚hich fits in the palm of your hand and slips discreetly into any pocket鈥攁re tiny. This makes it all the more impressive that they can pump out rich, deep sound for 12 hours on a charge (with ANC off) and hold 44 more hours of recharging in the case. One of our testers, a runner with several ear piercings, said 鈥渢hese felt the most comfortable and secure in my ears,鈥� a fact that is helped by the soft stabilizing fins that cleverly slip on and off depending on your preference. Folks with larger ears enjoyed them too but did have occasional trouble with them falling out. The Fitness Earbuds come with helpful touch controls for volume, ANC, and even three different sound profiles (more bass, etc.), and their multipoint feature lets you connect to both phone and laptop at the same time. IPX7 water-resistance means they can handle rain and even short periods of total immersion. One tester who works as a carpenter wore them at work and 鈥渘ever had any issues with them being affected by sweat or sawdust.鈥�

Killer Value

JLab GO Air Sport

Pros and Cons
鈯� Exceptional value
鈯� Secure fit
鈯� Infrequent pairing issues
鈯� Some tunes can sound tinny

For those who put their buds through hell, there鈥檚 nothing to dislike in this smooth-sounding unit, given that they come with a replacement cost that is barely more than a pizza with all the toppings. Their comfortable, bendy, ear hooks all but guarantee a secure fit during workouts, even if your workouts involve handstands. With an IP55 rating, they can handle dust and moderate rain. 鈥淭hese were my go-to earbuds for durability,鈥� said our Anchorage-based tester. 鈥淚 tested them on trail runs and hikes during misty Alaska rains. They are very durable and did not fall out of my ears or seem to be affected by rain or sweat.鈥� While one runner on the test crew found the relatively large case a bit cumbersome to carry in a pocket, the 8-hour charge was adequate for most workouts and daylong activities (and the case provides another 24 hours). As for that case: We like that it has its own built-in USB charging cord. The touch controls are nice to have but don鈥檛 always perform as expected, and the earbuds do not come with ANC, though at this price that shouldn鈥檛 be an expectation. Based on their durability, clear sound, reliable connectivity, and price, they make perfect sense for more rough-and-tumble activities or as a backup to pricier headsets.

Best Travel Headphones

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

Pros and Cons
鈯� Excellent sound
鈯� Invitingly discreet design
鈯� Not suitable for adventures

鈥淭hese are the best-sounding over-ear wireless headphones I鈥檝e experienced,鈥� one of our veteran testers exclaimed. In a category dominated by the likes of Bose, Sony, and Apple, it鈥檚 refreshing that this year鈥檚 most inviting travel headphones come from a legendary British audiophile brand, founded in 1966, known for its excellent but pricey and historically not rugged headphones. The Px7 S2e addresses both of those issues, quietly going about its business with a solidly built and thrilling-to-listen-to product at a price that is perfectly reasonable. We gave them style points for a nice range of beautiful, nature-based color options, from the standard Anthracite Black to Cloud Grey, Ocean Blue, and Forest Green. The active noise cancellation, while not best in class, does a decent job, using four microphones to adapt to your surrounding soundscape, and they come with a barebones but serviceable app. Battery life is a stellar 30 hours, and a 15-minute charge provides seven additional hours. While testers wished they could reach slightly higher volumes, bass-heavy head-bopping isn鈥檛 what these are made for. 鈥淚f you want balance, resolution, accuracy, transparency, and deeply pleasurable naturalness, this one delivers,鈥� a tester wrote. They do fall short in packability鈥攐ne tester noted, 鈥渋t would be nice if they folded鈥濃�攁nd we wouldn鈥檛 advise wearing them in a downpour, but the Px7 S2e comes with a sturdy protective case that will stand up to a certain degree of rough handling. Just remember to pack it in your carry-on.

How to Choose Earbuds

Earbuds are more like shoes than most other gear categories: so much depends on the right fit. What comfortably fits one person鈥檚 ears may not suit another鈥檚, and there鈥檚 more to it than size. The internal anatomy of the ear makes certain designs actually sound better to one person than the next. If you can鈥檛 try them out at a store or borrow them from a friend, it may be best to buy them from a retailer with a good return policy. Once you have them in hand, do some real-world tests with the different tip sizes, and trade them in if you aren鈥檛 in love.

If you want to get serious about the perfect fit, consider aftermarket foam eartips, like . In addition to helping with a more secure fit, they provide passive noise isolation, which can improve the experience with both ANC-equipped and ANC-less earbuds. Should fit issues persist, consider a model with behind-the-ear hooks, like the JLabs GO Air Sport reviewed here.

Also give some thought to which features do it for you: Some people like sleek touch controls, others prefer old-school push buttons; some like to tap for quick pausing, others would rather forgo that feature and pull out one bud to ask for directions, so as to avoid the annoyance of unwanted pauses every time your fingers go near them. And if you live in a rainy climate, be sure to choose ones with an IP rating ending in 4 or higher (as all the models here do).

Finally, be aware that there are more specialized designs emerging and getting better each year鈥搇ike these earbuds for , others for , and for those who want to stay more tuned in to their surroundings.

How We Test

• Number of Miles Run During Testing: 255
• Number of Dogs Walked: 8
• Yoga Sessions: 7
• Hours of Podcasts Consumed During Travel: 28
• Coldest Temp: 鈥�3, Anchorage, Alaska
• Warmest Temp: 90, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Most Remote Testing Location: Antarctica
• Most Listened-To Tracks: Japanese Breakfast: 鈥淧aprika,鈥� Bob Marley and the Wailers: 鈥淣atural Mystic,鈥� Wet Leg: 鈥淐haise Longue,鈥� Danger Mouse and Black Thought, feat. MF Doom: 鈥淏elize,鈥� Kelly Lee Owens: 鈥淢oebius,鈥� Brian Eno: 鈥淒iscreet Music,鈥� Sam Fender: 鈥淗ypersonic Missiles鈥�

The first thing we do with any earbuds, headphones, or speakers is attempt to pair them with our phones without consulting the user manual: the quicker, more intuitive, and easier the Bluetooth setup, the more points scored. Then we put them through rigorous hours of testing doing the kinds of things 国产吃瓜黑料 readers do鈥攆rom dog walks to HIIT workouts, from fireside listening to our day jobs,聽which for one of us is at the local woodworking shop. Our testers, who range in location from Alaska to Berkeley to Santa Fe to New York City, spent hours in them, bouncing up and down on trails, treadmills, and trains.

Our team turns in reports on each product tested, providing a score from 1 to 10 for five different measures: sound quality, pairing and connectivity, fit and comfort, rain and drop protection, and user friendliness. Scores are averaged, with more weight given to sound quality and (knowing our audience) how well they stand up to the elements. Note: Battery life estimates in these reviews are based on manufacturer specs; it’s difficult to confirm those numbers, given the time involved and variances among user habits (different volumes, different uses, different functions enabled). Actual results may be 10 to 20 percent lower, judging from averages experienced in general testing.

Meet Our Lead Tester

Will Palmer has been testing gear for 20 years for 国产吃瓜黑料, where he was managing editor and copy chief for nine years. Based in Santa Fe, he has been a runner since 1984, and while the mile counts have decreased over the years, he鈥檚 kept motivated to head out the door on the hottest, coldest, and wettest days by the opportunity to test the best new products鈥攁nd to commune with the junipers and pi帽ons.

The post The Best New Sport Earbuds and Headphones of 2024 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The story goes that in the early 1960s, John Entwistle, bassist for The Who, couldn鈥檛 hear his instrument over the clamorous drums of his maniac bandmate, Keith Moon, so he asked London drum shop owner Jim Marshall to build him a louder amplifier. This resulted in guitarist Pete Townshend needing a louder amp from Marshall so he could hear his guitar over Entwistle鈥檚 bass鈥攁nd thus was Marshall able to go into business making history鈥檚 most beloved amps.

Updated August 2024: We’ve updated the formatting of this review and updated the retailers and pricing of the product.

Marshall Motif II ANC

Pros and Cons
鈯� Top-notch, dynamic sound
鈯� Rockin鈥� design
鈯� Highly grippable stems
鈯� Shorter-than-average battery life

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.聽Learn more.

Sixty years later, the Marshall company has smartly reapplied its rich pedigree, bringing its engineering know-how to today鈥檚 consumers by producing (in conjunction with Zound Industries) a stellar line of headphones, earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers, like the Emberton II, the best speaker in our roundup last year).

This year our attention was captured by Marshall鈥檚 Motif II ANC true wireless earbuds, which in shape and size are very similar to Apple鈥檚 AirPods Pro, except they鈥檙e all decked out in black, the Darth Vader to Apple鈥檚 Stormtrooper.

The Apple-pioneered stem design has found its way into lots of other companies鈥� offerings, which testifies to how the design, despite looking clunky, manages to stay firmly lodged in your ears, through some kind of ergonomic alchemy, during most basic activities.聽The stem also makes for a nice place to grab onto them, which, if you鈥檙e a big-handed person on a cold day, can make smaller, rounder earbuds a pain in the ear.

The Motif II ANCs, however, one-up Apple by adding textured plastic on their stems (with an attractive gold touch on the tip), which makes them even more grippable and seems to help hold them in place while you鈥檙e wearing them鈥攕omething our testers universally appreciated. On the outside of each earbud is a touch control that allows you to pause, skip tracks, turn on active noise cancellation (ANC), and employ Spotify Tap, which lets subscribers play from the music service without opening their phone.

As for the ANC in its name, while their noise canceling is not as robust as Apple鈥檚, Marshall鈥檚 earbuds did a pretty good job of blocking out wind while running and loud talkers in caf茅s (though no amount of ANC would be enough to cope with Keith Moon). They also have IPX5 ingress protection, meaning they鈥檙e not rated for their ability to keep out dust and solids but will do fine with heavy rain, sweat, or sea spray. One tester found that they needed occasional fit adjustment during runs, though it鈥檚 worth noting that they weigh less than the AirPods Pro鈥攁t 4.3 grams per bud, compared with Apple鈥檚 5.3 grams.

But design isn鈥檛 what made these our favorites. Listening to our favorite tracks on the Motif II ANC was a consistently pleasant experience. Where some brands use artificial bass boosting or other gimmicks to make it feel like you鈥檙e at a rave at 4 a.m., these delivered clear, faithful highs, mids, and lows鈥攑roducing more of a sense of sitting inside a sealed-off recording studio, hearing every note and nuance. Should bass really be important to you, that can still be achieved by downloading Marshall鈥檚 app and playing around with its equalizer.聽More versatile than the typical companion app, Marshall鈥檚 lets you dial in exactly the balance you like, and you can even program multiple EQ settings and then use the touch control to shift among them.

Marshall also nailed the design of the charging case. Made from 70 percent recycled plastic, the case鈥檚 textured vinyl surface evokes the classic Marshall amp stacks, and it鈥檚 built tough鈥攚e鈥檝e dropped it and sat on it and it didn鈥檛 crack. The case gives you four charges of six hours each, in addition to the six hours of initial playing time you鈥檒l get in the buds with ANC turned on (or nine hours without). This is about average: in line with the AirPods Pro but two to three hours less than competitors like Sony, Sennheiser, and JLabs.

The Motifs were our 2024 pick for Best All-Around earbuds, for their build quality, consistently impressive audio, everyday versatility, and sheer character. Our Gear Guide testing team spent some 35 hours with them, happily grabbing them when heading out on runs, hikes, ski tours, and cross-country travel, and they also performed admirably when making phone calls, washing the car, and tinkering in the workshop. With what one tester called the 鈥渂est sound quality of all the buds in this test鈥� and a design that made everyone take notice, they鈥檙e a prime example of the state of the art of Bluetooth earbuds today.

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DJI Mavic 3 Classic Drone (Starting at $1,599)

Do you have a drone hobbyist on your list that鈥檚 looking to take their flight game to the next level? Check out the Mavic 3 Classic from DJI. Its film quality is good enough for all but Hollywood shooters, but it鈥檚 user friendly enough 鈥渇or those of us who are still mastering the art of drone flight,鈥� says our lead camera tester Jakob Schiller.

Read the Full Review.

Apple Fitness+ ($10/month or $80/annually)

Testers loved the inclusivity of the roughly 4,000 different workouts you can choose from on this app: not only do workout lengths vary, but each session includes three instructors catering to different ability levels. Of course, you need at least one Apple device to enjoy them鈥攚e suggest the new Apple Watch.

Read the Full Review.

Sony a7RV Camera ($3,900)

The Sony a7RV gets you 鈥渟ome of the best digital imaging on the market,鈥� says Schiller. The autofocus is amazing at capturing action sports (10 shots per second in compressed raw mode) and you can capture 8K, image-stabilized footage, too. If you want your gift recipient to potentially shoot some wall-hangers for you in the future, this Sony will do the trick: the 61 megapixel, full-frame sensor will provide plenty of detail for printing.

Read the Full Review.

Sponsor Content
Siren 3 Pro ($797)

Make every boating experience better and more secure with the Siren 3 Pro. Siren Marine’s smart boat monitoring system allows boaters to remotely track their boats鈥� location, engine, temperature, bilge pump activity, battery levels, water levels, shore power status, and more. Your boat is at your fingertips. With the touch of a button, you can control the lights, A/C, and access digital switching. When coupled with the easy-to-use Siren Marine Mobile App, the Siren 3 Pro connects you to your boat anywhere, anytime.

Marshall Emberton II Outdoor Speaker ($170)

If you鈥檙e buying a gift for an audiophile that takes a speaker wherever they go, get them the Marshall Emberton II. Not only is the sound 鈥減otent and and clear from every direction,鈥� according to our lead audio tester Will Palmer, but it鈥檚 tough too, thanks to a steel, silicone, and recycled plastic build.

Read the Full Review.

Garmin Enduro 2 Fitness Watch ($1,100)

Yes, this was the most expensive fitness watch we tested this year, but it鈥檚 also the most capable. It would be especially valuable for serious endurance athletes who need features like 150 hours of battery life (GPS mode, with solar charging), topographic maps, and an easy-to-read screen.

Read the Full Review.

Suunto 9 Peak Pro Titanium Fitness Watch ($699)

This watch from Suunto has the best GPS acquisitions of all the devices we tested this season and is tough as nails. Our testers also loved the on-screen navigation features and the 40-hour battery life in GPS mode鈥攐h, and it charges lightning fast, too.

Read the Full Review.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones ($400)

Who doesn鈥檛 want to put on headphones and forget the world exists from time to time? These have some of the best sound quality thanks to its futuristic tech, like a new carbon-fiber driver and eight microphones that detect your surroundings and adjust the noise canceling levels with AI. As our lead tester said: 鈥渢he outside world can wait.鈥�

Read the Full Review.

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My dad was an audiophile back before being an audiophile was cool. He had a huge record collection, knew his way around a high-quality turntable, and had music playing in our house during all waking hours. I distinctly remember the first time he put on a pair of decent over-the-ear headphones and was amazed by how these cups could provide such an immersive audio experience while the rest of the world around him was silent.

My dad passed away 10 years ago, but when I put the new AirPods Pro in for the first time last week, he was the first person I thought about. I wish he could have experienced what it鈥檚 like to wear these tiny little earbuds that, while a tenth the size of those original headphones, provide an even clearer and more immersive listening experience. He would have been blown away.

Richer Audio

I鈥檓 a huge music fan, thanks to my dad, and listen to a wide swath of artists every day. I鈥檝e also been lucky to test every new release of AirPods to date, and can say that the second generation of the AirPods Pro have arrived at a pretty astounding point. The music is so full and rich that it鈥檚 hard to imagine where Apple will go from here. I鈥檓 listening to them as I write, and the music is so clear and enjoyable that I literally feel giddy.

According to Apple, the updated sound stems from a mix of factors, including the power of their new H2 chip, plus a custom-built driver and amplifier that allow for even crisper highs matched with deep and rich bass across all audio levels. There鈥檚 also the spatial audio technology, which I was able to understand with help from a member of Apple鈥檚 AirPods team.

Simply put, spatial audio creates a surround-sound listening experience so it feels like the music is coming at you from all angles, just like in a high-quality movie theater or in a great concert venue. The original AirPods Pro have it, but this second generation maps your ear and head with your iPhone, so that spatial audio is customized specifically to you. I did the mapping, which only takes a minute, and didn鈥檛 note a giant leap in surround-sound quality, but I did feel more immersed and engrossed in the music than when wearing the original AirPods Pro.

Improved Noise Cancellation

Match the upgraded sound quality with noise cancellation that鈥檚 been improved by a factor of two, and it can sometimes feel like you鈥檝e been transported to a completely different space. Sitting in my office for the past week, even with my door open to barking dogs and loud kids, only the loudest noises occasionally got through.

Listening to music on a plane ride, I was able to completely drown out the ambient noise and immerse myself in a book so deeply that I only looked up when the plane bounced on the runway during landing. It鈥檚 true that this was mostly possible with the first generation of AirPods Pro, but the added noise cancellation and increased audio quality make these experiences noticeably better and more flawless.

The Noise app on my Apple Watch allows me to see in real time how much the headphones reduce noise in decibels. With normal ambient noise, my watch reads somewhere around a 25 decibel reduction. But if I clap or shout, that goes up to 60 decibels. I don鈥檛 understand audio technology fully, but I do know that noise is reduced by 20 decibels when wearing over-the-ear headphones at the shooting range to make sure my rifle doesn鈥檛 leave me with hearing loss, so there鈥檚 no doubt the Apple headphones filter out a lot.

Longer Battery Life, Better Fit, and Easier Controls

Those of us who love to travel will also be glad that the battery life gets a bump. Apple says the new AirPods Pro have a 33-percent better battery life than the first version, and will last six hours with noise cancellation on (plenty for a cross-country flight). While they don鈥檛 specify exactly how much longer the battery will last with noise cancellation off, Apple does claim it will deliver more time, which means I鈥檒l be able to listen to music (and take calls if I have to) during an 80-mile gravel ride or a 15-mile trail run and not worry about the headphones crapping out.

Another new feature I鈥檓 thankful for lets you swipe up or down on the post of the bud to raise or lower the volume. (The swiping motion took a minute to figure out, but once you get it right, it鈥檚 easy.) This makes a big difference, especially when you鈥檙e on a bike and don鈥檛 want to reach down to fiddle with your watch or phone in a jersey pocket. I鈥檝e never had problems getting the AirPods Pro to fit in my ears, but the new ones come with four different tip sizes, up from three for the original AirPods, to customize them so they fit snugly and comfortably.

True Transparency

Transparency mode means you can have the AirPods Pro in your ears and be able to hear your surroundings as naturally as possible. With the new AirPods Pro, transparency is significantly enhanced so that it sounds like I don鈥檛 even have headphones in. During Zoom meetings I鈥檓 able to clearly listen to whoever is speaking, but still feel like I have a complete understanding of what鈥檚 going on around me and don鈥檛 have to take the headphones out to rejoin the world.

Apple also says the new AirPods Pro come with something called adaptive transparency, which reduces the impact of loud noise, like sirens or jackhammers, when you鈥檙e walking around with them on transparency mode (I haven鈥檛 found a construction site to test this yet).

So Are They Worth $250?

Like all Apple products, the new Pros are not cheap. But I always try to break down a price by how much I use the product, and it鈥檚 clear that for $250 I鈥檓 getting a device that I鈥檒l use nearly all day, most days鈥攁nd they鈥檙e cheaper than comparable earbuds from and . For anyone who travels extensively, exercises regularly, or spends a fair share of time on Zoom meetings, the new AirPods Pro make all of these activities better and easier. And then of course there鈥檚 the audio itself. People who prefer over-the-ear headphones will stick with their top choice, but the rest of us who want one headphone for daily tasks and makes everyone from John Coltrane to Odesza sound great, will be really happy with the new AirPods Pro.

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($160), with a traditional cord connecting the two earpieces, are easier to keep track of than true wireless buds. But that often means there's more to flop around. Not so here鈥攖he earbuds clip together with magnets, and a cinch tightens the cord behind your neck, so the Tarah stays put even when you're taking a break from the beats. Here, Ariella Gintzler talks through the features of her favorite Bluetooth running accessory.

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Having children means scaling back your adventures. Day hikes to swimming holes replace weekend backpacking missions. An ambitious ski tour becomes a few laps on the local resort鈥檚 bunny hill. And road trips? They鈥檙e a lot more challenging, but still totally doable.聽Since my daughter was born last year my wife and I have dialed in the following kit to take some of the hassle out of long car rides.

Britax Marathon Clicktight Convertible Car Seat ($300)

is a big investment, but the ease of use and the knowledge that my daughter is safe make it worth the cost. It鈥檚 simple to swap from car to car (or聽to an聽Uber). And while a car seat still isn鈥檛 Jojo鈥檚 favorite place to be, she definitely seems less fussy, likely due to the Clicktight鈥檚聽ample padding, wiggle room, and harness that doesn鈥檛 pinch.

BOB Gear Revolution Flex Stroller ($430)

Folded down, 聽easily squeezes in the back of our Honda Element along with the rest of our gear. Pop it out and it鈥檚 a kickass running stroller, with quality shocks and a front wheel that聽locks in place for a more stable ride. The Revolution Flex鈥檚 25.4-inch width is slim enough to navigate busy sidewalks, and the large tires bump聽happily聽along聽fire roads.

Deuter Kid Comfort Active聽Carrier ($240)

I confess I can get a little self-conscious carrying my daughter around in this聽. But that鈥檚 a small price to pay for such a capable kid carrier. Jojo can relax underneath a hood that provides complete coverage from the sun, and the abundant padding in the hipbelt and shoulder straps keeps me happily cruising on longer outings.聽聽

Fugoo Sport XL Speaker ($200)

I originally got this聽 for its rich sound and durability back when I was regularly hosting backyard parties and barbecues. While I don鈥檛 have many of those anymore, this speaker is still my favorite. My wife and I bring it along on trips in case Jojo needs some white noise to help her nap or wants to rock out to 鈥淚鈥檓 a Gummy Bear鈥� or 鈥淭he Hampsterdance Song.鈥�

Electrical Tape ($5)

Nothing鈥檚 better for wrapping up wires and covering outlets. I can babyproof a hotel room in under ten minutes with a roll of and some creative piling of pillows.

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Sitting in a meadow listening to nothing but the wind and the chirping sparrows聽can be lovely. Everyone should do that. But there鈥檚 also something to be said for listening to 鈥淪mells like Teen Spirit鈥� while rafting Class V whitewater. Everyone should do that too. Thankfully, Bluetooth speaker technology has evolved over the last few years and today鈥檚 speakers are lighter, more powerful, and built to handle the real world. We scoured the internet and found five of the best reviewed Bluetooth speakers under $100.

UE Wonderboom ($70)

Go ahead and drop your off the back of a camel in the in the Sahara鈥攖he dustproof, waterproof speaker that鈥檚 been drop-tested from five feet will be just fine. It will also give you 360 degrees of sound for up to 10 hours. And it floats, so you can even put it in the tub with you.

Lifeproof Aquaphonics AQ9 ($55)

Lifeproof takes its bomber approach to phone cases and applies it to portable sound systems with the Aquaphonics line of speakers, all of which are waterproof, dirtproof and dropproof. We think the smallest of the line, , strikes the best balance of sound quality and portability, boasting a 16-hour battery life and a built-in carabiner so you can attach it to bags and bikes.

JBL Clip 2 ($60)

It鈥檚 hard to beat the size and convenience of , which gives you a relatively rich sound in a tiny, 6.5-ounce package. It鈥檚 rated IPX7 waterproof, so you can take it on that river trip, and it has eight hours of play time. It even works as a speakerphone. But it鈥檚 the built-in carabiner that makes the Clip 2 so handy; strap it to your pack, your tent, your dog鈥檚 collar and you鈥檝e got tunes everywhere.

Outdoor Tech Turtle Shell 3.0 (from $99)

can take a beating. It鈥檚 waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof, and it floats so maybe you could use it as an emergency raft if things go south. It鈥檚 not small (about the size of a hoagie), but the sound is boom-box quality and there are multiple strap and mounting options so you can put it on聽your raft, paddleboard, bike, or cooler. It has 20 hours of play time and a power bank that lets you charge your phone.

Bose Soundlink Micro ($99)

This is on this list (three by聽1.37 inches), and it arguably has the most impressive sound because, well, Bose. The battery life isn鈥檛 the best (six hours), but the silicone exterior means it鈥檚 practically bounceable, and it鈥檚 rated IPX7 waterproof. There鈥檚 also a stretchy silicone strap that lets you mount this speaker to your handlebars. Bike party.

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