Like many, I need musical stimulus to aid my performance when it comes to my training routine. Listening to great sound with a quick playlist of aerobic exercises can help me run longer (and sometimes faster), as I beat to the beat of the music on the treadmill, for example. It can also help make time pass more quickly so that my workouts don’t feel like an endurance test.
I have often found listening to my own choice of music a great tool to boost my energy levels to help me achieve my exercise goal. As such, I’ve used all kinds of different earbuds over the years to help me run my gym sessions, from wired models like the original Apple iPod earbuds tethered to the iPod Classic (remember that?) to the latest wirelessly connected ANC earbuds to the newer generation of iPhone.
None of the earbuds I’ve used are specifically designed for active lifestyles like the fitness-focused Beats Fit Pro, for example. And I don’t see a lot of other gym users wearing a pair of custom fitness models either. Like me, most of them seem to wear regular wireless earbuds for their workouts.
Until recently, I used Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro on my gym visits. But as an iPhone user, I switched to Apple’s latest generation AirPods Pro to try out my fitness routines as soon as they became available.
Fitness improvements
At first glance, the AirPods Pro don’t seem particularly suitable for workouts, and it’s important to note that they weren’t designed as a pair of active headphones at all. However, with our continued experience using AirPods Pro 2 for jogging, and my own experience using them as a pair of workout earbuds, AirPods Pro 2 are actually well-equipped for active everyday lifestyle pursuits.
While I’ve heard of some wearers having a hard time keeping the original AirPods Pro in place during physical activities, the newer generation has slightly different silicone eartips (although they do look identical) that look a little more compliant to fit nicely in ear canal. They definitely had a reassuring fit in my ear, and felt comfortable and safe despite the constant vibrations of my feet hitting the treadmill conveyor belt.
AirPods Pro 2 made a great training partnership in the gym and it turned out to be one of the best workout headphones I’ve tried
Another difference between AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro is the addition of a very small set of ear tips in addition to the small, medium and large tips that were originally provided. The medium-sized tips worked best for my ears, confirmed by our AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit test, but my colleague Kate Kozuch found the XS ear tips to be a huge improvement and provide a much better fit. Having the right ear tips to form a proper seal is essential for secure fit as well as for effective noise cancellation and optimum audio performance.
I’ve had several earbud failures during gym sessions and had to remove them in the middle of a workout due to the moisture of the sweat making its way into the ear canal and making the ear tips so loose that it feels like it’s about to fall out of my ears and hit the floor. Truthfully, this usually happens to one earbud first, but it renders the other useless even if it’s still securely inserted into the other ear.
As with its predecessor, the AirPods Pro 2 are IPX4 rated for sweat and water resistance, and so far I haven’t had any issues with slipping. The fit has improved over this latest generation, and the AirPods Pro 2 felt secure throughout my sessions.
Useful features for workouts
Personally, I don’t often feel the need to chat away on calls while working out. But if I need to make a call, I’ll be able to give Siri commands and control my iPhone’s hands-free function. However, as our AirPods Pro 2 review made clear, call quality was very lackluster during our tests, and was really only acceptable for short conversations.
More importantly, the touch volume controls are a great addition while working out. It’s something I felt was missing from the originals, and the introduction to the AirPods 2 only highlights a useful feature I’ve been missing. It’s a boon for workouts when I want to adjust the volume to play my music without reaching for my iPhone. Touch control technology requires some mastery using the thumb and forefinger placed on either the left or right earbud. But it is very useful and means that I no longer have to struggle for my iPhone when I want to level up and increase the pace of my final run on the treadmill.
I’ve used Transparency modes before, and the AirPods Pro 2 version is one of the most powerful I’ve come across and just as useful in the gym as running in maintaining my surroundings awareness.
Apple’s ANC claims it’s twice as effective as the original noise-canceling earbuds, and while it’s undoubtedly effective at reducing the overall noise of fellow exercisers going about their workout routines, some sounds can still be heard including the gym’s music system. the background. It wasn’t enough to distract me from my music, but it’s in the silent gaps between the tracks all the same.
Although not marketed as such, AirPods Pro 2 is a viable option for those who are looking for a pair of versatile earbuds that can also participate in active lifestyles. While the fit has certainly been improved to work with more wearers, I dare say that much like the originals it still isn’t comprehensive.
For my ears though, the AirPods Pro 2 made a great workout partnership in the gym and turned out to be some of the best workout headphones as well as the best headphones I’ve tried.
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