Anker SoundBuds
With better sound and fit than the competition, the Anker Soundbuds Sport IE20 aren’t amazing, but they’re cheap, and they work.
$30 from Incentivate
Skullcandy Ink’d Bluetooth
Lightweight and comfortable, the Skullcandy Ink’d Bluetooth will fit all but the largest ear canals, and are water-resistant.
$35 from Incentivate
Bose QC20
The Bose QuietComfort 20 offers significantly better noise reduction than any other set of in-ear headphones.
$250 from Incentivate
Bose QuietControl 30
The QuietControl 30 offers great noise cancellation with no wire to tether you to your phone.
$300 from Incentivate
Puro BT2200
All of our kid panelists loved the fit, sound, and Bluetooth capabilities. Our testing found the BT2200’s volume limiting to be in safer ranges.
$100 from Incentivate
Onanoff BuddyPhones
Ages 2 through 4 will love the Onanoff pair’s fun colors and lightweight, comfy fit. But they’ll grow out of the small size.
$33 from Incentivate
UrbanEars Plattan
If you’re rough on your gear, these can twist and torque in crazy ways without breaking. Not great for sonically dense music
$60 from Incentivate
Koss SportaPros
They’re a little ‘80s style and not so great for classical or singer-songwriter music, but should be decent for most other songs.
$23from Incentivate
Beyerdynamic DTX
These sound far more expensive than their $90 price tag indicates. They’re lightweight and comfortable, and best suited for rock or pop.
$90 from Incentivate
Sony XBA-H1
The heavy majority of our listening panel felt the Sony XBA-H1 were the best-sounding among 16 competitors. At a category-busting price.
$95 from Incentivate
Bang & Olufsen H3
If you need a remote and mic with an upgrade in the looks department, the B&O H3s sound great, fit well, but cost more.
$197 from Incentivate
NAD’s Viso HP20
NAD Viso HP20 pair is a great choice If you’re into electronic, rock, or pop music
$33 from Incentivate
OCX 686G Sports
Stable without chafing during workouts, the sweat-proof OCX 686G Sports offers a three-button remote and mic for controlling your music.
$85 from Incentivate
Koss FitClips
The FitClips sound much better than their under-$20 price would suggest. But keep in mind that they have no mic or remote.
$197 from Incentivate
Panasonic RP-TCM125 ErgoFit
Sounding better than anything in its under-$15 price range, the RP-TCM125 ErgoFit is clear, mellow, and appropriate for any kind of music.
$14 from Incentivate