Need to stay alert when you work out? These open earbuds are the answer

Skullcandy Push 720 Open in black and silver colorway with charging case photographed on a blue background
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you had told me a year ago that my favorite workout earbuds wouldn’t even go in my ear, I would have called you crazy. I’ve always loved having a noise-canceling option and usually chose overhead headphones for my workouts as I feel they offer a level of privacy I can’t get from earbuds.

But as I started to take my training outside and running along trails and near roads, I realized I wasn’t aware of my surroundings, and in truth, I felt pretty unsafe. Not being totally aware of your surroundings is actually pretty dangerous, because you never know what hazards are coming towards you.

My favorite style of earbud to let in ambient sound that stays totally secure when I’m moving is the clip. This style looks like a cuff on the outer ear and is actually pretty stylish. Since they only clip to the outer ear, I can hear all traffic around me, other people walking or running near me, and I even love using them in the office to make sure I know what’s going on, but can still enjoy my music.

Soundcore Aeroclip

Soundcore AeroClip open-ear earbuds in champagne mist against a blue backdrop

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Soundcore Aeroclips are the first open-earbuds I picked up, and they have remained a firm favorite. The flexible ear cuff is incredibly flexible, and I keep them on long after I’ve finished working out so I can keep listening to my music as I cool down.

I love that I can hear everything happening around me with complete clarity, and if I need to pause my music for even more focus on my surroundings, I can simply use the touch-sensitive controls.

Soundcore Aeroclip
Soundcore Aeroclip: was $169 now $109 at Amazon

The Soundcore AeroClip earbuds are essential for any fitness lover who values comfort and audio quality during their workouts. They've got great battery life, and they don't make any compromises in the comfort department.

There’s also a whole lot of sound customization available, so you can get the best sound for your favorite workout tracks. You don’t get the same sound quality as in-ears with open-earbuds, as the sound travels to the eardrum differently, but the Aeroclips have some of the best sound replication I’ve tried.

Skullcandy Push 720 Open

Skullcandy Push 720 Open in black and silver colorway with charging case photographed on a blue background

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you’re someone who does more high-intensity workouts and wants something that you know isn’t going to budge no matter how much you move, you’ll love the Skullcandy Push 720 Open earbuds. They are by far the most secure cuff-style buds I’ve used.

Skullcandy Push 720 Open
Skullcandy Push 720 Open: was $149 now $122 at Amazon

The Skullcandy Push 720 Open earbuds offer a secure fit and decent waterproofing for workouts, and boast a unique and secure case design. The case is my favorite thing about these buds as they are super secure and can hook onto belts and bags for portability. While the default sound profile leaves a lot to be desired, EQ adjustments and a personal sound test can improve performance.

They are a little on the chunky side, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. And they have great EQ customization options that make listening super enjoyable. I find that these are the best buds for listening to audiobooks or podcasts when I’m working out. They do speech clarity exceptionally well.

Sony LinkBuds Clip

The Sony LinkBuds Clip in a Tom's Guide reviewer's hands and ears.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I got to try out the Sony LinkBuds Clip recently, and considering they are Sony’s first venture into clip-on buds, I was impressed at how comfortable they were. While you can totally use these for working out, I think they’re great for office work too.

Sony Linkbuds Clip
Sony Linkbuds Clip: $229 at Best Buy

The Sony LinkBuds Clip earbuds come in many funky colors, including green and purple, so you can match your audio gear to your workout fit, and it helps that they have great sound quality. They offer 37 hours of battery life with the charging case and have an ergonomic cuff shape, so they’re comfortable to wear over long periods of time and for high-intensity workouts.

Open-earbuds are a great way to make sure you stay engaged in the office, even if you want to listen to music or take a call. And since they were so comfortable for me to wear, I wouldn’t be opposed to having them on for my full 9-to-5 work day. And the call quality is excellent too, so you can rely on them to take all of your work meetings, although they are a little on the expensive side.


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Ashley Thieme
Staff writer, Reviews

Ashley is a staff writer on the the Reviews team at Tom’s Guide. She has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and a BA in Journalism, Media and Sociology. She has written for titles including Women’s Health UK, writing health and wellness stories, and Virgin Radio UK, specializing in entertainment news and celebrity interviews. She has reported on a variety of topics including music, literature, motorsport, entertainment and health. She has previously reviewed live music events, books, and wellness products but discovering the top audio equipment on the market is what she does best. When she is not testing out the latest tech, you can find her either curled up with a cup of tea and a good fantasy novel or out hiking.

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