Airpods Use At the Gym [ The Good, Bad, and Ugly ]

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Apple AirPods are some of the most sought-after headphones on the market. And when you get your hands on one, you’d want to take them everywhere. Now, if you are a fitness freak, you’d also like to take them with you to the gym. But, are AirPods good for working out in the gym

Although you can enjoy some great sound quality when using these AirPods during workouts, they may not be a wise choice for the gym. In fact, the sweat in your ear and accidental slip-outs can badly damage your AirPods.

Risking damage to your expensive AirPods and taking them to a gym may not be a good idea. In this article, I will explain why and suggest some better earbuds for use in the gym.

So, please continue reading to get a full understanding of using AirPods for working out. 

Why Would Apple AirPods Be Great To Have At The Gym? 

As per their claims, AirPods have an unmatched sound quality and connect in no time. They are very convenient to use. Just charge them for like 15 minutes, and you can listen to podcasts for 3 hours uninterrupted!

Besides, the AirPods have a lot of features that can actually come into use at the gym. They are high-end products. So, let’s see what more they have to offer.

Noise Cancellation

The supreme sound quality the AirPods provide is totally nice to have at the gym. With no ambient noise, the high-definition sound is the sole reason they are now the top choice for many music lovers.

When you are running on the treadmill, cycling, or pulling those dumbbells the high-quality sound effects and filters will make working out less tedious. 

Besides, you can enjoy more with a subscription to your Apple account and an Apple smartwatch. Just tap on the watch, and your favorite music will play. It will make working out worth every drop of sweat you shed!

Lightweight 

When you work out, if you are carrying a heavy object in your ears, it can be very bothersome. Even so, carrying heavy stuff in your ear all the time sounds irritating enough!

However, these AirPods are very lightweight and convenient to use. The case is as easy to carry as carrying the AirPods themselves. The AirPods weigh about 4 grams, and the case is as light as 40 grams.

In fact, sometimes you can’t even tell if you still have them on!

Cordless

Of course, it isn’t comforting to use a wired earphone or even a wired Bluetooth earphone when working out. The AirPods are cordless, so you don’t have to worry about getting tangled in between several cords. 

Also, it makes them easily portable, easy to charge, and easy to connect. So, when you work out, a cordless AirPods is all you need to enjoy some good music!

Why You Shouldn’t Use AirPods At The Gym?

Now, let’s cut to the chase. Of course, AirPods have innumerable perks to offer. But you can’t deny the downsides. In fact, some of the drawbacks are so extreme that you will end up with broken AirPods.

Here are some important facts about AirPods for gym use:

Accidental Falls

No matter how much the AirPods claim to fit in your ear perfectly, you can never be too sure. It can fall off your ear during high-intensity workouts! 

Furthermore, your AirPods may break due to accidental falls. Suppose you are running on the treadmill at seven mph or doing some HIIT. If your AirPods fall off, they will hit with a great force.

Replacing a single piece costs about $70! I don’t think it is worth the money to risk something like that unless you have tons to spare!

Some people have even complained that their AirPods fall off when tapping on them. Particularly, when they were working out, they tapped on their AirPods to change the music, and it fell off.

It is not unusual if you think about it. Especially if you are doing some high-intensity exercises.

AirPods Are Not Waterproof

Any kind of electronic device gets damaged when water enters inside it. Particularly, the wiring, the circuits, the battery, etc., are not waterproof.

They can produce charge and shock you! However, AirPods may not produce shocks unless you are charging them wet.

AirPods are prone to damage from sweating. When you work out, your ear sweats too. So, even if a drop of water enters your sound system, it can short circuit the device. 

In fact, not only the AirPods but also their case is not water-resistant or sweatproof either. So, always dry it off before you plug on the charging. A little amount of retained water can burn the wires or create life-endangering problems! 

But AirPods can handle a little splash of sweat. It may not be totally damaging or make it permanently broken. Although, the sound quality may deteriorate gradually.

The maintenance of any device is very important. So, it’s best to use some other earbuds that can handle sweat or water. 

AirPods Are Expensive

It’s no secret that Apple AirPods are expensive. Really expensive. And by now I’m sure that you understand why it’s very likely for them to get damaged at the gym. 

So, unless you’re rich and have the cash to burn, I’d advise picking a cheaper set of headphones or expensive headphones designed to withstand the rough handling of a gymgoer. 

Which Earbuds Are Good For The Gym?

By now, you must have a good idea of is it ok to work out with AirPods. So, you must be thinking not to waste a crapload of money by losing your AirPods to the gym.

If the above facts bother you, there are some other options you can check out. In fact, some are much better than the AirPods.

Here, I will suggest a few earbuds that do not fall off or have issues with water. They can fit in tightly and withstand water and heavy sweat, all the while providing equally good or better sound quality than the AirPods. 

AirPods Pro

Undoubtedly, a better alternative to an Apple product is another upgraded product of the same brand. The AirPods are now better than their successor, the AirPods Pro. They are water-resistant, waterproof, and sweatproof, so are airpods pro good for working out like AirPods? Definitely!

Besides, they also fit in really well and do not fall off while running on the treadmill. So, you can enjoy music like a pro, with a pro device! But they are more expensive for their extra few necessary features.


AfterShockz Xtrainerz

The AfterShockz Xtrainerz have a hand-band kind of setting that enables them to fit properly and remain stable even during the toughest and roughest workout sessions.

Besides, the sound quality is also great. They are totally waterproof which as we’ve discussed is a must for any gym-goer.

A great thing about this is that it has internal storage. This means you can leave your phone in your gym bag or at home and listen directly from the headphone themselves.

If you’ve ever worked out with a phone in your pocket, I’m sure you know why this feature is so attractive to gym nuts.


Jabra Elite Active 65t

If you really need a pair of truly wireless earbuds the Jabra Elite Active 65t is a wonderful choice. They provide excellent sound quality and superior fitting.

These earbuds also have active noise canceling which is really nice to have in such a noisy environment as the gym. 

They also have a humongous battery life of 24 hours and all the while being just 5.5 grams on each ear.

These are a personal favorite of mine and I definitely recommend them.


Conclusion 

AirPods are excellent earphones, and there is no doubt about that. But you take a risk when choosing to use them in the gym as they are completely not built to withstand high-intensity movements during workouts. 

So, by now, you should have a clear idea of whether or not are AirPods good for the gym.

I’d recommend going with any of the alternatives I’ve mentioned as they are focused on staying on your head as much as providing excellent sound quality. 

Apple AirPods Max - Silver

Apple AirPods Max – Silver

  •  Apple-designed dynamic driver provides high-fidelity audio
  • Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise, so you can immerse yourself in music
  • Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world around you
  • Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking provides theater-like sound that surrounds you
  • Computational audio combines custom acoustic design with the Apple H1 chip and software for breakthrough listening experiences
Apple AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods Pro

  • Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise, so you can immerse yourself in music
  • Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world around you
  • Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
  • Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to your ears
  • Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)

Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)

  • Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
  • Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to your ears
  • Force sensor lets you easily control your entertainment, answer or end calls, and more
  • Up to 6 hours of listening time with one charge
Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

  • Quick access to Siri by saying “ Hey Siri ”
  • More than 24 hours total listening time with the Charging Case
  • Effortless setup, in-ear detection, and automatic switching for a magical experience
  • Easily share audio between two sets of AirPods on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple TV
Beats Studio Buds

Beats Studio Buds

  • Custom acoustic platform delivers powerful, balanced sound
  • Control your sound with two distinct listening modes: Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode
  • Three soft eartip sizes for a stable and comfortable fit while ensuring an optimal acoustic seal
  • Up to 8 hours of listening time (up to 24 hours combined with pocket-sized charging case)
  • Industry-leading Class 1 Bluetooth for extended range and fewer dropouts

About the author

2 responses to “Airpods Use At the Gym [ The Good, Bad, and Ugly ]”

  1. Gyimi Avatar
    Gyimi

    AirPods are sweat resistant

    1. Josh Koop Avatar
      Josh Koop

      Yes, the AirPods Pro and 3rd Generation AirPods are, this is why you need to choose wisely when purchasing based on use and need.

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