Pilates Earbuds Buy Guide
Looking for earbuds that won’t fall out, press into your ears, or muffle your instructor? This guide covers the best wireless earbuds for Pilates — with options that stay comfortable during side-lying work, offer clear sound for online classes, and hold up through every session.
Audio from online classes often fluctuates, and it’s common to set the volume extra loud just to hear the instructor. Good earbuds help you stay focused and reduce the need to keep twisting to look at the screen. All the earbuds listed here have volume and playback controls directly on the earbuds themselves — very handy when you’re mid-roll-up or lying on your side. They’re sweat-resistant, cable-free, and far better for live classes, especially in terms of mic quality and reducing echo.
The first two models — Shokz OpenFit 2 and Huawei FreeClip sit just outside the ear canal. This makes them ideal for Pilates, as they allow you to still hear your surroundings, and your breath! There's less chance of hurting the ear drum if you press the side of your head into the mat.
Over-ear headphones aren't listed here as they interfere with neck articulation and lying exercises.
Best price/performance for Pilates : Shokz OpenFit 2
The Shokz OpenFit 2 are open-ear earbuds with a flexible, feather-light design that hooks gently around your ears. They stay secure in any position and feel barely there, even when lying on your side. Sound quality is balanced and clear, particularly for voice and instruction-led movement, though the open design means you won’t get deep bass or noise isolation. Mic quality is excellent — a big plus for live classes or teaching, with clear voice pickup and low background interference. You get 11 hours of playback per charge, and up to 48 hours with the case. Physical buttons are easy to press during practice, even with gloves on. The companion app lets you tweak EQ settings and find lost earbuds. For comfort, awareness, and control, these are hard to beat.
Best Open-ear buds for sound quality
The FreeClip uses a clever C-shaped bridge that wraps around your ear without entering the canal, offering great comfort and full situational awareness. They’re ultra-lightweight at just 5.6g per bud and feel natural even during long sessions. The sound is surprisingly full for open-ear tech, with decent bass and clarity, making them ideal for both instruction and music. The dual-mic system provides clear audio for calls and classes, and the mic auto-switches between ears — there’s no left or right bud, which is a nice touch. Battery life is solid with 8 hours per charge and 36 hours total with the case. Tap controls are responsive, and Bluetooth 5.3 allows fast, stable pairing with two devices at once. They’re also sweat-resistant (IP54), making them a strong all-around choice for movement practice.
Best for Apple users, and Instructors
The AirPods Pro 2 are ideal for anyone in the Apple ecosystem who wants active noise cancellation and excellent mic quality. They sit comfortably in the ears and stay put through gentle to moderate movement. Sound is rich and adaptive, with deep bass, crisp highs, and excellent voice clarity. The transparency mode works flawlessly when you want to stay aware of your environment, while ANC blocks out household noise during focused sessions. The microphones are top-tier, making them great for Zoom classes or teaching online. Battery life gives around 6 hours per charge, with 30 hours total including the case. Touch-sensitive stems control volume and playback easily, and everything syncs instantly with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If you’re teaching, demoing, or switching between devices, these just work.
Good value, secure sound and fit
The Soundcore Sport X20 are built for durability, with rotating ear hooks that adjust to your ears and stay firmly in place, even through more intense flows. Sound quality is bold and bass-forward, driven by 11mm drivers and Soundcore’s BassUp technology — perfect if you want a bit of energy in your playlist. The adaptive noise cancelling and transparency mode can be toggled through the app, giving you flexibility depending on your space. Mic performance is strong, with clear voice pickup and background filtering. They offer up to 12 hours of playback per charge (7 with ANC on), and 48 hours total with the case. Physical buttons are placed on the earbuds themselves, which is great mid-practice. Rated IP68, they’re fully sweat- and water-resistant, and one of the most secure-fitting earbuds on this list.
Best Budget Pick
The JLab Go Sport+ is an affordable and surprisingly capable option if you’re looking for basic, reliable performance. These over-ear hook earbuds are sweat-resistant and stay in place well during Pilates and dynamic movement. The sound is better than expected for the price — clear and crisp, though a bit less detailed than premium options. Mic quality is decent for occasional calls or classes, though not studio-level. Battery life is solid, giving about 8 hours per charge and up to 32 hours with the case. Controls are handled via physical buttons, which are easier to use during workouts than touch panels. For under £30, they cover all the essentials without fuss.
Secure Fit, excellent sound quality
The Powerbeats Pro blend sport-specific stability with powerful sound and a secure fit. The ear hooks hold the buds firmly in place, and the in-ear design gives a strong, bass-heavy audio profile that’s great for music-driven sessions. They offer good mic clarity for calls and voice commands, and sync especially well with Apple devices thanks to the built-in H1 chip. Battery life is excellent with 9 hours per charge and over 24 hours total using the case. Physical controls on the earbuds are intuitive and responsive. While they’re better suited to upright movement and gym workouts than lying-down mat work, they’re a solid choice for users who want something versatile beyond Pilates.
Small form factory with stability hook
The Sennheiser Sport True Wireless earbuds deliver rich, high-detail sound with deep bass and clean treble, thanks to their TrueResponse drivers. They’re one of the best-sounding earbuds on this list, especially if you like background music during practice. The fit is snug and customizable, with multiple tips and fins included. You can switch between open-ear tips (to stay aware) or closed ones (for more isolation), depending on your session. Mic performance is good, though slightly behind Apple and Shokz for live instruction. Battery life is up to 9 hours per charge, with 27 hours total from the case. Controls are touch-based but responsive, and the Sennheiser Smart Control app gives you full EQ control, button mapping, and firmware updates. A great choice for audiophiles who also want flexibility.
