13 hours ago
The Best Ear Hook Earbuds
The joy of going hands-free can soon be tarnished by the anguish of losing an earbud. Keep the conference calls and podcasts going with a set of hooked earbuds that wrap around to stay in place.
Whether you're working out, traveling or just walking the dog, hooked headphones move with you. As they reach around the ear, they don't feel as 'jammed in' as other in-ear options and the handy hook means you don't have to worry about one falling out when you bend over or move your head.
We got options that are wired and not, budget and splurge-y and even waterproof for swimming laps or taking a shower. We hope to hook you up wit your new favorite pair of hooked headphones.
A pair of Bluetooth wireless connected earbuds
Keep your buds connected with this set of hooked Bluetooth headphones. They offer up to 16 hours of playtime between charges with high-quality treble and bass. This pair comes with four pairs of ear caps, to find your perfect in-ear fit and to reduce outside noise. Best, they're made to be sweat and splash-resistant, to be worn in workouts or the rain. Promising review: "They have great sound and they stay in my ears and I love the cord as you can hang it on your neck and not have a couple little pieces to get lost" — MikswahGet them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four colors).
A colorful set with an LED display case
Spice up your tech life with this pair of over-ear headphones that come in six great colors. They have up to 40 hours of listening time between charges and controls on the earbuds for easy them from Amazon for $25.99+.
Anker bendable headphones
A little more spendy, but for good reason: These Anker earbuds have rotatable ear hooks that can twist 210 degrees. Bend them to fit your ears perfectly and control them with the Soundcore app. Promising review: "I was tired of trying to use earbuds during my workouts. I decided to try the Sport X10. Very pleased, no more falling out when bend over to do rows or bench. Long battery life. No down side easy to recommend." — ROBERT GENTLEMANGet them from Amazon for $55.99 (available in two colors).
Beats Powerbeats earbuds
A built-in mic and Apple's H1 headphone chip make these Beats Powerbeats a top-of-the-line option. They can gain 90 minutes of play time with just five minutes in the charging case and are water and sweat-resistant to go with you to the gym or commuting in the rain. These come in three colors. Promising review: "I've purchased many Beats products, and this is by far my favorite ear buds that I have purchased. They are so comfortable and fit nicely in your ear. They charge very fast and have a very nice charging case to store them. The controls are right on the ear for ease of controlling volume. It also has the ability to announce your texts, which I love when I'm walking two dogs and don't have an extra hand to check my texts." — HollyGet them from Amazon for $154.99+.
A set of over-ear wired headphones
Truly ensure your buds don't run away with this set of wired hooked headphones. They come in lightning, AUX or USB-C inputs, to fit your personal devices and have a button on the headphone for easy controlling and the built-in microphone lets you take calls on the go. Promising review: "Works great and no worries of dropping them and losing my headphones again." — G. and D. HayesGet them from Amazon for $29.99.
Still shopping? Check out these (mostly) under-$50 headphones that reviewers say are just as good as their AirPods.
JBL Tune 230NC TWS in-ear headphones
JBL is a market darling when it comes to waterproof speakers, known for their round ergonomic shape and solid construction that withstand the test of time (and many drops). They also have excellent battery life, a characteristic that reviewers say is shared by the JBL Tune 230NC TWS in-ear headphones. A single charge averages about 40 hours of battery life which is equivalent to a little over a month's worth of hour-long walks. Promising review: "Awesome set of buds for $70. IMO, they do mostly everything $200 AirPod Pro 2Gs do, and might even sound better. Especially once you've got your EQ dialed in. Tons of bass if you want it. Only a month in but the battery is good. Not heavy or uncomfortable in my ear with the pre installed tips. Seems to work well for calls as long as you're not in wind or a busy environment." — bk98Get them from Amazon for $99.95 (available in two colors).
TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.3 wireless earbuds
The TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.3 Wireless Earbuds have racked up over 200,000 — yes, you read that number correctly — promising reviews that attest to the incredible value these are for the money. One reviewer has had them for four years with no issues; another says these earbuds are 'better than they have any right to be for the price.' Promising review: "Bought these on a whim not expecting much considering they were less than $25. I was pleasantly surprised when I received them as the quality was much better than I anticipated. They were very easy to set up with my IPhone and the sound quality is very good. I've never tried AirPods or other higher end earbuds so I can't make a good comparison, but they are every bit as good as my wired Apple earphones. And the best part? I don't have to worry about losing them and being out $200 or more." — Richard H. RussellGet them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors).
Beats Flex wireless earbuds with Apple W1 chip
The Beats Flex wireless earbuds are the perfect alternative if you appreciate Bluetooth compatibility but like the feeling of wearing something more substantial. These magnetic earbuds allow you to pause, play, and control volume without having to reach for your phone thanks to on-device controls. These don't have active noise cancellation (if you, like me, hate that most earbuds have that feature) and are easier to spot than traditional earbuds. Promising review: "Bought first pair in sept of '21. Long lasting battery and quality sound. I can compare them to AirPods and the sound quality is the same, just not as loud at full volume (probably not a problem). The Bluetooth range is phenomenal on these. I work in warehousing on a forklift. There would be times that I'd be on the computer in between trucks and left my phone on the desk. I was able to continue listening to my podcasts or music while loading trucks within a minimum 100ft radius. If I was going up and down aisles INSIDE the warehouse, the range was nearly double that." — BillyGet them from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in four colors).
Soundcore by Anker P20i wireless earbuds
There'a a high probability that your portable charger is by Anker, a brand dedicated to building budget-friendly but still effective gadgets. It's no surprise that the Soundcore by Anker P20i wireless earbuds offer the same affordable price point for quality product. These are under $25 and water-resistant, but the real standout feature that captures Anker's spirit? A quick 10-minute charge for two hours of playtime when the earbuds are switched to the 'low on power' setting. Promising review: "I originally bought these just because of their reported battery life and low price. But the big surprise was how superior they are to my Apple AirPod Pro's. The battery life blows away the AirPods and the reliability of the Bluetooth connectivity with my all of my Apple devices is vastly superior. I'm a recording engineer by profession so I don't look to earbuds for my audio standards but these sound very good and when factoring all performance aspects of these earbuds including their very low price there's no contest." — Richard RoederGet them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors).
Anker Soundcore Sport X20 earbuds
The Soundcore Sport X20 by Anker are an over-the-ear model meant for high intensity workouts characterized by tons of movement and lots of sweat. These are built to stay firmly in place thanks to adjustable ear hooks that can be easily adjusted for a tailored fit. Promising review: "I am a former AirPods user (which I loved) but one of my speakers started to go bad and I wanted to get a new pair for exercise. These will definitely not fall out of your ears compared to AirPods. I feel like I could enter a boxing ring with these. Second, the bass is fantastic on these headphones. Much better than your typical AirPods. AirPods have a bit higher quality sound too them and the bass can tend to drown out the guitar in some of my rock music. However, I think anybody that is looking for a less expensive alternative pair of headphones for exercise this is a great option." — Adam DickinsonGet them from Amazon for $79.99 (available in three colors).
JBL Vibe buds
Earbuds can begin to feel uncomfortable and ache-y after consecutive hours of wear; thankfully, the JBL Vibe Buds are designed to avoid that problem. Each case comes with three earbud tips for a customized fit so comfortable, you'll forget you're wearing headphones at all. Promising review: "I bought these as a cheaper version of AirPods for work. They sound great (loud) with the JBL app (just work the EQ) and $40? Heck ya. JBL is a great option and honestly sounds better and louder than AirPods, just what I was looking for." — ParkerGet them from Amazon for $49.95 (available in two colors).
Skullcandy Jib earbuds
Not a fan of Bluetooth? No problem. The Skullcandy Jib in-ear earbuds come designed with a classic AUX cable that's compatible with airplane televisions; this makes it easy to enjoy in-flight entertainment without having to rely on the complementary headphones that are typically, well, terrible. This is an excellent under $10 investment for frequent flyers. Promising review: "My husband and I both like the in-ear earbuds with cord, and we keep Skullcandy's around the house. We've had 2 pairs go through the washing machine accidentally and still work. They're worth the money, are great for travel and using with your phone, and I like that they come with various size 'buds' depending on your ear size. Great for the price! Worth buying multiples to give as gifts." — Leanne ScorzoniPromising review: "These are, for me, one of the most comfortable earbuds out there. If only my AirPods were this comfortable." — carolinebridgeGet them from Amazon for $7.41 (available in five colors).
