Once you own a set of AirPods, there’s no turning back. You want to wear them everywhere, including places like the gym. But can you wear AirPods to the gym?
Yes, you can wear AirPods to the gym. While they’re not officially water or sweat-resistant, the AirPods still put up with moisture. They won’t fall out or cause you any trouble either. Plus, pairing them with a smartwatch will help you adjust volume, track your health, and pick up calls hands-free.
Overall, the AirPods can make your workout more fun and entertaining. In this article, I’ll cover the pros and cons of using these devices while exercising.
Wearing AirPods to the Gym
Wearing AirPods to the gym is possible because these earbuds don’t interfere with your performance.
If anything, they make your workout much better by keeping you entertained and focused. With that said, there’s also a slight downside that you must know beforehand.
A Snug Fit to Avoid Falling out
The design of the AirPods allows them to fit snuggly in the ears. Many people consider this benefit one of the most important for gym enthusiasts.
After all, you’ll have the opportunity to do weight lifting, HIIT, and even running without dropping the earbuds.
“Have been using the AirPods now for over a month for HIIT and power weight lifting, and I can say they are very comfortable and have never fallen out,” says one lifter I spoke to at the gym.
Durable Enough to Withstand Impacts
AirPods may be small and lightweight, but they’re surprisingly durable. After dropping them from waist and head height during some tests, the plastic held up well.
The case did suffer a few scratches, but the earbuds remained fine, which is what matters. After all, you wouldn’t be dropping the case of the earbuds from that height under normal circumstances.
Decent Waterproof Design
Initially, Apple and experts state that the AirPods are not sweatproof. However, both headphones and the case do resist significant exposure to water.
After throwing them in the washing machine, they came out just fine and still sounded just as good after 30 minutes. The same thing happened after submerging the AirPods in water for about five minutes.
Here’s a great video on how durable and waterproof Airpods are:
All of that means that the AirPods can and will resist sweat at the gym. You still have to be careful and wipe them down, but they’re most likely to continue to work well.
Another person chimed in to share their experience, saying, “I shower with them for the past three months, and they work as they come out of the box. Sweat isn’t going to do anything if they haven’t dealt up with hot showers.”
Safe Entertainment
Wearing AirPods for working out is an excellent method to keep you focused. These earbuds can hold a charge for about three hours, which is also great. You can focus on your exercises without skipping a beat, and the AirPods reduce background noise.
Disadvantages of AirPods
Here’s the one disadvantage of wearing AirPods to the gym.
No Noise Isolation
The biggest drawback of wearing AirPods to the gym is that they don’t isolate noise entirely.
If you want to enjoy some music without hearing anything else, you would have to turn the volume way up. Doing that could make it uncomfortable and even dangerous because you may damage your hearing.
But even then, some people see the lack of noise isolation as a benefit. You get to enjoy your music but also stay alert to what’s going on around you.
In the end, it’s a matter of whether or not the AirPods satisfy your needs to be proficient while working out.
“Airpods are like having a personal speaker system in the room with you instead. I just like being able to be more aware of my surroundings and sounds,” says another gym-goer
Pairing Airpods and Apple Watch at the Gym
Pairing your AirPods with a smartwatch is a life-changer in every aspect, including going to the gym. There are lots more uses for wearing a smartwatch to the gym as well.
There’s so much you can get from combining these two devices, whether it’s to keep track of your performance or for picking up calls. Here’s a list with a few reasons why AirPods plus a smartwatch is a match made in heaven.
- Volume control: Without a smartwatch, you inevitably had to use your phone or Siri to adjust the volume of the AirPods. With a smartwatch, all you have to do is spin the crown to increase or decrease the volume.
- Battery life: Swipe up the home screen to get the control center and the battery icon to pop up how much battery remains.
- Notifications: Use an Apple Watch to keep you updated on calls, notifications, and more. Plus, you can answer the calls even when you’re working out by double-tapping it.
- Phoneless Workout: A smartphone is essential nowadays, however keeping it close while working out is tricky. But you can now do that by using Apple’s AirPods and Apple Watch.
- Performance Tracker: People wearing AirPods and a smartwatch can use the two to keep track of their bodies while exercising. This device provides information on heart rate and other valuable things about monitoring the human body under pressure.
AirPods vs. AirPods Pro for Gym
If you’re wondering if there are significant differences between AirPods and AirPods Pro, the answer is yes. AirPods Pro is sweat and water-resistant, as officially declared by Apple. The other difference is that AirPods Pro is better at reducing external noise. These earbuds come with three silicone tips in different sizes that perfectly adapt to your ear to keep noises out.
People wanted Apple to release water-resistant AirPods. Now, the Apple AirPods Pro are ideal workout headphones because of that same reason.
What About Other Earbuds for the Gym?
Let’s face it: Apple AirPods can be a bit expensive, and not everyone wants to spend the money. However, that doesn’t mean you have to settle with low-quality products. Here are three alternatives you may want to check.
PowerBeats Pro
These are the buds you want for the gym, running, office, and pretty much anywhere. The case is a bit bulky but not a deal-breaker.
Plus, the performance of the earpieces makes up for it. They offer great sound quality, a great fit, and satisfying battery life. By working up to 9 hours, these accessories are the ideal alternative to the Apple AirPods.
JAYBIRD VISTA 2
These wireless earbuds are true workhorses. The battery can last up to eight hours and up to six with the noise-canceling mode active.
With high-quality sound and a snug fit, these accessories are comfortable for working out. Plus, the case is tiny to keep with you at all times and to charge the earbuds when needed.
JAM Audio TWS Athlete
The JAM Audio TWS Athlete wireless headphones run for 6 hours straight, and the ear hooks guarantee they won’t fall off.
Additionally, the sound isolating design ensures you can focus on your exercises. It’s not the highest-quality alternative, but these earbuds still deliver an excellent performance.