Best Headphones for Cycling
Cycling is one of the best cardio activities, as it can help you stay fit and in form. Whether you are a professional or you enjoy riding a bicycle as a hobby, there are a couple of things that you should take into consideration, such as whether or not you should listen to music while cycling.
While we understand the need for having some kind of audio entertainment while you are on the road, there is a huge risk of becoming distracted. For this purpose, you will want to look for headphones that don’t completely isolate the surrounding sounds. This rules out in-ear monitors as an option.
Additionally, wired headphones simply aren’t practical, as that will get all kinds of messy.
Luckily, there are a plethora of wireless earbuds that should serve the purpose and meet your needs. To help you make a safe and convenient decision, we have prepared a list of the best cycling headphones. Let’s get to it.
AfterShokz Aerope bone conduction technology leaves ears open to ambient sounds while delivering premium audio. With 8 hours of battery life, enjoy your audio all day long.
Best Headphones for Cycling Reviews
Here is the more detailed breakdown for our top picks.
1: AfterShokz Aeropex Open Ear Headphones
If you are on a somewhat more flexible budget, then this AfterShokz product may be just the perfect choice for you. Highlighted by an open ear construction, as well as a bone conduction design, these are sure to last for years of continuous use.
We also chose a model of AfterShokz headphones for our best swimming headphones too, they just do sports headphones really well.
Why we chose the AfterShokz Headphones for Cycling
First and foremost, we want to talk about the great assortment of colors that these are highlighted by. You can choose between Black, Red, Blue and Gray colors! Aeropex comes with a sport belt, combination of which means greater flexibility during your fitness journey.
The most innovative feature of these headphones has to be the open-ear design. What this allows is fantastic sound quality while leaving your ears open to background sounds to prevent any kind of traffic risks. Durability in these is top-notch with lightweight materials which makes the headphones better for comfort.
Along with the durable material that the headphones are made out of, there is also IP67 technology that repels sweat, dust particles, and moisture. An added safe charging feature is complemented by the Moisture detection alert system of Aeropex.
Using this product is specifically easy due to the featured multifunction button. You can use it to answer calls, set your voice assistant, as well as skip, play, and pause the current tune. Both the calls and audio are crystal clear.
So, can you be satisfied with the battery life you will be getting out of the AfterShokz? Considering the price range of the aforementioned product, we were quite shocked to find out that the playtime is not bad (8 hours).
Highlighted by V5.0 Bluetooth connectivity, these wireless headphones can be paired with several different devices, including mobile phones (iOS and Android), desktops, tablets, and TVs.
While you may not be happy with the fact that there are some minor adjustment issues with the sound these headphones provide, everything else is on point. Explicit durability, comfort, and ergonomic design make this product a fantastic choice!
Pros
- Crystal clear audio
- Slim design
- Sweat and dust-resistant
- Better Waterproof rating
- Safe for driving or exercise
- Good Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Proprietary charging port
- No App for Mobile
Read the latest reviews for the
AfterShokz Aeropex - Open-Ear Bluetooth Bone Conduction Sport Headphones
2: Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Earbuds
Moving on with our list of the best headphones for cycling, what you are looking at here is the 4th generation of these wireless earbuds. They are highlighted by an incredible playtime and an innovative design.
Why we chose the Jabra 75t earbuds for cycling
These headphones are well-made and attractive, coming in a few different variations, such as Mint, Copper Black, Navy, Sienna, Gold Beige, and Titanium Black. We were impressed with the durability that these headphones offer, as well as the special grip coating and the IP57 technology that ensures waterproof and sweat-proof protection.
We nearly bought these instead of the Sony WF-1000XM3 and Apple AirPods Pro (also an easy choice as they both offer ambient noise cancelling options)
The aforementioned coating is what will keep the earbuds in place even at high cycling speeds. Among the most innovative features is the HearThrough technology that is highlighted by 4 built-in microphones. It will allow you to hear what is happening around you without affecting the audio quality.
Setting the volume and sound levels is incredibly easy and can be done through the Jabra Sound + App that can be downloaded to tablets and smartphones. Additionally, you can connect these headphones with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri for more convenient use.
As we have mentioned above, the audio quality of these headphones is fantastic. Not only is it crystal clear, but the bass is powerful and offers deep, rich tones.
Unlike the aforementioned product, this one offers a fantastic battery life. It offers up to 7 hours of playtime without a charging case and up to 24 hours of continuous use with a charging case. Additionally, it is highlighted by a fast-charging feature that will allow you to get an extra hour of use in just 15 minutes.
However, we would be happier if this product offered a wireless charging case. Other than that and the fact that the powerful bass may be overwhelming for some users, these earbuds are incredibly convenient and are a great investment for all cycling enthusiasts.
Pros
- Offers precise and clear sound
- Comes with 4 built-in microphones
- Highlighted by HearThrough technology
- Compatible with smartphones, tablets, and desktops
- Fantastic battery life (up to 24 hours)
- Easy to configure with Jabra Sound + App
Cons
- Quite expensive compared to competitors
- Bass may be overwhelming for some
Read the latest reviews for the
Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Earbuds
3: Jaybird Vista True Wireless Headphones
If you want to feel the flow while staying aware of your surroundings, this is one of the best headphone choices that you can make. Highlighted by an always-ready charging case, as well as premium audio quality and durability, it is a product worth considering.
Why we chose the Jaybird Vista Wireless earphones
First and foremost, we were fascinated by the excellent design and construction that the Jaybird headphones are known for. What you are looking at is an IPX7 design that is waterproof, crushproof, sweatproof, and dustproof. With this in mind, you can safely use these headphones in almost any weather conditions.
Among the coolest points of this product is that you can use one bud at a time, which allows you more than 32 hours of continuous playtime. On the other hand, if you are listening to audio using both earbuds, you have up to 6 hours of playtime without a charging case and 16 hours with a charging case.
Keep in mind that just 5 minutes of charge will give you an extra listening hour. The featured JBS1 Bluetooth technology goes a long way when it comes to zero-lag sound, as well as fantastic compatibility with different devices.
What we love is that these are among the lightest headphones on the market, and they come in three ear-gel sizes that will allow you to achieve a comfortable fit according to your needs. Additionally, the Jaybird app will reduce your effort when it comes to setting up the volume profile.
Our biggest concern is that these don’t feature a specific model that will allow you to stay aware of background noises while listening to premium quality audio.
Finally, we are happy to say that the Jaybird Vistas are a great choice as long as you aren’t bothered by the fact that you can’t change between different modes depending on whether you want to hear the background noise or not.
Pros
- Highlighted by IPX7 construction for explicit durability
- Offers a customizable active fit
- Features a convenient Jaybird app for setting up the audio profile
- 32-hour playtime if you are using only one bud at a time
- Incredibly lightweight and compact
Cons
- Higher price point
- Doesn’t feature an independent HearThrough mode
Read the latest reviews for the
Jaybird Vista True Wireless Headphones
4: HAYLOU PurFree Bone Conduction Headphones
Last but not least are the Haylou PurFree Bone Conduction Headphones which are ideal if you want to listen to music while driving, cycling, or working out in a gym.
Why we chose the Haylou headphones?
Coming in color- Grey Black – these are highlighted by an innovative open-ear comfort design for healthier ear canal. The advanced bone conduction goes a long way when it comes to avoiding danger and staying alert of the background noise. As the sound is transmitted over your cheekbone to your ears, you will stay aware of what is happening around you while enjoying high-quality audio.
Highlighted by V5.2 Bluetooth pairing, you can enjoy music while exercising or driving with a stable connection to several devices, including smartphones, desktops, and TVs. The IP67 waterproof technology will allow you to use these even when it’s raining or you are sweating. But you can’t expect the headphones to function properly while swiming.
Long playtime with fast charging is something you should look for, as you can expect around 8 hours of continuous use of this product, enough to survive a long exercise day. However, a 10-minute quick charge for 2 hours of battery can be a deal-breaker.
There are 3 click buttons including a multifunction button for quick operation. We know how important is for runners or fitness enthusiasts to have easy function buttons.
Nevertheless, for those of you who are on a limited budget, we see this product as a fine choice.
You can read more about the haylou bone conduction headphones here
Pros
- Comes at an affordable price
- Highlighted by an IP67 waterproof technology
- Offers great Bluetooth connectivity
- Features a bone conduction design that allows you to avoid danger
- Siri or Google assistant available
Cons
- Not suitable for swimming
- Magnetic Charging Cable
Read the latest reviews for the
HAYLOU PurFree Bone Conduction Headphones
Summary
We did our best to highlight a few different headphone options that should provide you with premium audio quality while allowing you to stay alert of your surroundings. Our personal favorite is the AfterShokz Aeropex Headphones due to the innovative open-ear design and crystal clear audio.
If you are on a tight budget, then we would suggest going for the Haylou PurFree Headphones. Offering splendid connectivity and powerful bass that may be overwhelming for some, it can compete with some of the best products on the market.
Slava is a man of mystery and no-one seems to know exactly where he is at any point in time. When he isn't enjoying writing about all things audio and technical he can be found researching his next project of interest. The man never rests.
This post was last updated on 2024-10-31 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.