The Best Earbuds With Ear Hooks (So They Won’t Fall Out of Your Ears)
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When it comes to the best headphones, earbuds with ear hooks often get overlooked, but their versatility at the gym, on a run, or while commuting makes them a great option for many settings. They can also be great earbuds for small ears, creating a secure fit without exerting too much pressure inside the ear canal. Often called sports earbuds, the best earbuds with ear hooks are often targeted toward athletes and gym rats, but they’re a suitable option for anyone who struggles to find a securely fitting pair of earbuds.
What To Consider When Buying Earbuds With Ear Hooks
Not every pair of earbuds will offer the same set of features. Here’s what to look for when shopping for the best earbuds with ear hooks (a.k.a. “hook earbuds”) online.
Over-Ear vs. In-Ear Hooks: Earbuds with ear hooks can wrap around or over the top of your ears, while other picks feature on-ear tips, sometimes called “wings,” that fasten to the inner part of your ear for a secure fit. Over-ear hooks are more secure, but the cases are often bigger, and the earbuds may interfere with glasses.
Comfort: Those who have trouble finding well-fitting earbuds might find earbuds with ear hooks more comfortable, as they prevent the buds from slipping out. Because they fit securely, earbuds with ear hooks are also popular for workouts. One factor to look out for with ear hooks is interference with eyewear or bike helmets, which can make earbuds with wings a better option.
Water Resistance: Since they’re often designed for workouts, earbuds with ear hooks should have some level of water resistance . So if you’re a runner shopping for earbuds, look for the Ingress Protection (IP) rating that will tell you if they’re sweat- or water-resistant.
Charging Time and Battery Life: Because the below picks are wireless, you’ll need to consider their battery life. The picks in this guide offer enough runtime for an entire day of use at the office, ranging from six to 24 hours of battery life. In some cases, we’ve even found earbuds that promise up to 40 hours of battery life with their charging cases.
How We Chose The Best Earbuds With Ear Hooks
Our top picks consist of earbuds we’ve tested hands-on, where we evaluated subjective factors like sound quality and comfort and scrutinized performance metrics like battery life and active noise-canceling. We also sought out options at different price points to suit various budgets. Plus, we included some options from trusted brands with strong customer reviews in the “best of the rest” section.
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are a few years old, but they continue to be an excellent option for workouts and everyday wear. Features like active noise-canceling and the charging case mean they outperform the latest offering from Beats, the Solo Buds. They utilize Apple’s H1 chip and have features like spatial audio and head-tracking, and with seven hours of continuous playback and up to 30 hours with the case, they also outpace AirPods when it comes to battery life.
Instead of over-ear ear hooks, these feature in-ear wings, which were comfortable in our testing. In our review, e-commerce editor Sage Anderson wrote, “It’s meant to fit into the natural curvature of your inner ear, and while I dreaded the usual soreness after a few hours, they were still surprisingly comfortable after a full seven hours of wear.” They also praised the familiar, punchy bass profile that Beats is known for, adding, “Truly, this is the closest you can get to the subwoofer-like, near-bloated bass levels of old Beats Bluetooth speakers.”
The main drawback is the large case and the lack of an updated version, but their workout-focused design, comfortable in-ear tips, and ANC features make them the best overall option.
JLab Go Air Sport
JLab’s Go Air Sport are a budget-friendly pair of true wireless earbuds that are ideal for sweaty gym sessions. They have secure over-ear hooks and an IP55 dust and water-resistant rating. They lack features like ANC, but the solid 32-hour total battery life with the case and better-than-average audio quality makes it hard to complain, particularly given their sub-$30 price.
Of the sound quality, our reviewer wrote, “Like most workout buds today, JLab has engineered a beefed-up bass sound for their headphones, and the Go Air Sport don’t miss the mark here.” They added, “For their price point, the Go Air Sport from JLab give you your money’s worth, especially to carry you through your longest and toughest workouts.”
The case has a built-in USB charger, though our reviewer noted using the now-standard USB-C would have been preferable. For a pair of true wireless earbuds that can be found for as little as $20, it’s hard to top JLab’s Go Air Sport.
Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Earbuds
No, these buds don’t have hooks that go over your ears, but the Bose QuietComfort earbuds’ tiny little ear hooks have consistently frozen them in place in our ears during testing. That perk barely scratches the surface of why they’re worth buying though. We constantly wear them around the house and outdoors because of their noise-canceling sound, plus their easy touch controls make it a cinch to adjust settings. They also come with a wide range of settings you can control via the Bose Music app on your Bluetooth device. Although Bose has released new versions of the QuietComfort earbuds, these are the only model that feature ear hooks. The main drawback is their size; the case is large and they protrude from ears significantly, but the benefit is that they are harder to lose.
Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds
These had us at “adjustable.” While these Powerbeats Pro earbuds come with over-ear hooks, you can actually tweak how tight you want them against the back of your ears. The sweat-resistant earbuds also include a few different pairs of ear tips, so that you can more easily find the most comfortable fit inside your ears. Comfort and fit aside, you’ll be able to listen to music for up to nine hours on a charge, as well as wear them for phone calls thanks to the built-in microphones.
Jaybird Vista 2 True Wireless Earbuds
Not only do these earbuds’ minimal hooks help keep them locked in place, they’re seriously rugged and durable. They’re so rugged that Jaybird calls the Vista 2s “earthproof,” meaning that they can get wet and dusty and still function like normal. The buds are also impact-resistant and come with 6mm drivers, active noise-cancelling sound and a full day’s worth of battery life using the case.
JLab JBuds Wireless Earbuds
If you’re looking for some of the longest-lasting earbuds with wrap-around ear hooks, consider going with these top-rated JLab JBuds. They boast up to 40 hours of runtime when fully charged up, and can play your tunes for up to six hours per charge. They hold an IP66 sweat resistance rating, meaning your sweatiest workouts are no match for these buds’ performance in the gym or out on your summertime running routes. You can customize their sound in the JLab app on your phone and adjust the EQ settings to fit your preferences. Along with their hooked design, they also come with small, medium, and large ear tips so you can maximize their fit inside your ears.
Best of the Rest: Top Earbuds With Ear Hooks, According to Reviews
Soundcore Sport X10
Anker’s Soundcore Sport X10 features a clever design, with adjustable ear hooks that rotate into place when in use but fold out of the way when not in use. That means they’ll more easily stash in the case more compactly, eliminating one of the biggest issues with hook earbuds. The sport-specific earbuds are IPX7 waterproof to protect them from rain or even submersion, and they feature ANC to better handle noisy commutes.
Positive Customer Review: “The standout feature for me is the unique over-ear hooks that rotate up to 210°. This design allows me to find the perfect spot for a secure and comfortable fit that stays put, even during workouts and yardwork.”
JBL Endurance Peak 3
JBL’s Endurance earbuds are designed for workouts, with an IP68 dust and water rating to protect them from sweat and dirt. The earbuds provide up to 50 hours of battery life, with up to 40 in the case and 10 in the earbuds. The bass-heavy sound profile suits the workout-forward design. Plus, with four microphones, the earbuds can be used for clear phone calls. While it does not have ANC, the earbuds’ secure fit courtesy of the three included ear tip sizes help passively block out noise.
Positive Customer Review: “I bought it for the gym as I run and do weight lifting. Fits well, sounds awesome, I was surprised by the bass. The aware feature is a nice touch. Allows you to have a conversation in the gym while listening to music.”
SHOKZ OpenFit
Shokz made a name for itself with its bone-conduction headphones, and while the OpenFit headphones use a different technology, they’re designed to offer the same benefits as open-ear headphones. By not covering the ear canals, these earbuds let you listen to your favorite music while maintaining awareness. That makes them a good option for outdoor runs or bike rides. The buds provide up to 7 hours of battery life, with up to 28 hours with the charging case. Plus, the quick charging feature offers an hour of listening time with five minutes of charging.
Positive Customer Review: I’ve used them for listening to music, watching YouTube, watching TV shows and movies, and have never felt that I needed to adjust the EQ. They really just sound great for all uses, in my opinion.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Though it’s known for its best-in-class active noise-canceling technology, Bose is pushing the envelope with its new open earbuds. They have a unique design that borders on futuristic; instead of traditional behind-the-ear hooks, the Ultra Open earbuds clip onto the side of the ear. The open design allows for maximum awareness without compromising audio quality. Like many Bose products, these earbuds are a hit to the wallet, but they provide immersive audio in a unique package that stands out from the pack.
Positive Customer Review: “These are seriously the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever worn. They’re so light you barely notice them, which is perfect for long listening sessions.”