Workout headphones have come a long way in the last few years. The best workout headphones offer easy connectivity, clear audio quality, long battery life, and durable design—sometimes all for less than $150. Whatever your personal listening style or regular fitness routine, there’s a “perfect” pair of workout headphones for you. Here’s what to look for to find the right ones.

Sweat-Resistant Design: If you go hard during your workouts, you no doubt sweat—probably a lot. You need a pair of headphones that can keep up. Look for headphones or earbuds that are at least water-resistant or, even better, waterproof. Really earbuds are going to promise better sweat-resistance than over-ear headphone. Over-ear headphones are a lot harder to find with a sweat-resistant construction, although brands like Skullcandy and Beats still hold up well to sweat. If most of your workouts are on the moderate side, sweat resistance may not be an issue, and any pair of the workout headphones we've noted above will work for you.

Active Noise Cancellation: The biggest leap forward in wireless headphone design is noise-canceling technology. If you work out at the gym, in the city, or anywhere where outside noise is an issue, look for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). This means your headphones have built-in circuitry and software to actively drown out unwanted sounds around you. Some models offer a “Transparency Mode” (or something similar), allowing you to tune back into your surroundings at the push of a button—perfect for when you’re crossing a street, ordering a coffee at the airport Starbucks, or chatting up your running partner.

Battery Life: All of the workout headphones above have excellent battery life, but if you want the longest battery life you will likely want to grab a pair of over-ear headphones. Thankfully the workout earbuds we've curated have good charging cases too, so if you do find yourself low on power you can tap into that reserve and get a quick charge.

Ease of Use: Your workout-friendly headphones should have simple buttons or touch-capability built in that allows you to skip music tracks, change the volume, and take phone calls—all without having to take your phone from your pocket. And it should be intuitive enough to use even when you’re in peak workout mode.

Price: Headphones can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. We curated the best workout headphones to not go above a price point any higher than $350, because we believe there's more than enough value on the market where you don't have to pay a premium for workout headphones. We don't necessarily recommend going cheap though. Expect to pay anywhere between $110-$350 for a quality pair of workout headphones that will last.