Although not suitable for everyone, earbuds with ear hooks undoubtedly offer an additional level of security. While regular earbuds may slip out of your ears, the hooks keep them snugly in place, reducing the risk of losing or dropping them onto hard surfaces that could cause damage. This feature is especially vital for those who wear their earbuds while engaging in physical activities like running or cycling.
Here is a list of the top earbuds with ear hooks that we have tested, all of which are reasonably priced with most being under $100. As new sports earbuds are released, we will continue to update this compilation.
More on this topic: Top Headphones for Exercising in 2023.
The Soundcore Sport X10 from Anker is a great value for true-wireless earbuds in the ear-hook style. These earbuds have a unique design, feature rotating and swiveling ear hooks that flip up when in use, and flip down when stored in their charging case. The case has a compact size, making it smaller than many other earbuds with ear hooks.
If you manage to create a tight seal, these earbuds produce impressive sound quality, with a strong and impactful bass and clear details. The earbuds also come with active noise canceling, which works well although not quite on par with Sony or Bose’s noise canceling technology. Moreover, they are completely waterproof and have an IPX7 rating, allowing them to be immersed in water up to 3 feet deep for half an hour. With up to 8 hours of battery life and an extra three charges available in the charging case, you won’t be running out of power anytime soon.
You are getting notifications of price drops for the Soundcore by Anker Sport X10, currently priced at $70 on Amazon.
The JBL Endurance Peak 3 is the best new ear-hook style true-wireless earbuds that have been upgraded by JBL for 2023. These buds are available in black or white and offer several enhancements, such as improved voice-calling performance and better battery life. With an IP68 rating, they are fully waterproof and dust-proof. An interesting feature is their Ambient Aware transparency mode and Talk Thru mode that can help lower music volume and open the buds to allow conversations without removing them from your ears.
During my runs, these earbuds stayed securely on my ears, and I found them to have good audio quality, although there was slightly emphasized bass. It’s important to note that if you don’t get a tight seal, the sound quality will be significantly impacted. Additionally, like other earbuds with ear-hook designs, the case is on the larger side. However, if you can achieve a proper fit, these earbuds are durable and an excellent (and more affordable) alternative to the Beats Powerbeats Pro. The touch controls also worked well, allowing for easy toggling through sound modes.
$100 on Amazon$100 on Walmart$100 on Crutchfield
Beats
Powerbeats Pro by Beats
The highly sought-after ear-hook style sport earbuds
Battery life rated for up to 9 hours
No noise canceling feature
No multipoint connectivity
Wireless earbuds
Water-resistant with an IPX4 rating, making them splash-proof.
Although on the market for a few years, the Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds continue to be favored by many customers and are now offered in various color selections. While their charging case is larger than average, these earbuds possess similar capabilities as Apple’s AirPods 2, thanks to their incorporation of Apple’s H1 chip. Furthermore, they deliver superior audio performance as long as they are securely fitted in your ears (although they may not be suitable for all ear shapes and sizes). These earbuds do not feature active noise cancellation, however, they boast a powerful battery life of up to 9 hours and are rated IPX4 for their splash-proof protection.
Please only consider purchasing the Powerbeats Pro if they are being offered at a significant discount, as they are frequently available on sale. For more information, please refer to our review of the Powerbeats Pro.
You can find the Powerbeats Pro at a cost of $154 on Amazon.
David Carnoy/CNET
Skullcandy Push Active
Optimal performance with voice commands
Battery Life capable of lasting up to 10 hoursNoise Canceling feature not availableMultipoint Connectivity feature not availableHeadphone Type categorized as Wireless earbudsAble to withstand water exposure and rated at IP55 for protection against low-pressure water streams.
With an abundance of wireless earbuds and headphones hitting the market seemingly every week, it can be a challenge for companies to set their products apart. To avoid this predicament, Skullcandy has introduced a new voice-controlled technology, Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology, which it hopes will distinguish its products. This technology works similar to the “Hey Siri” feature on Apple AirPods, allowing users to use voice commands hands-free, by simply saying “Hey, Skullcandy” instead of pressing a button. The first products to feature Skull-iQ are the sporting Push Active and the $100 Grind Fuel, which can be updated with firmware via the Skullcandy App.
They feature an ear-hook design that makes them a more economical alternative to the Beats Powerbeats Pro, while also providing a better fit for my ears than the Powerbeats Pro. Although I’m typically not fond of ear-hook style earbuds, these rank among the better ones.
The Push Active True earbuds come with Bluetooth 5.2, are splashproof with an IP55 rating, feature built-in Tile Finding Technology, and can last up to 10 hours on a single charge at moderate volume.
$60 on Amazon.
Cleer Arc earbuds, reviewed by David Carnoy from CNET, were rated as the best new open sport earbuds with ear hooks. These earbuds are similar to the Bose Open Sport Earbuds, but are more comfortable to wear due to their swiveling hinge. Cleer Arc earbuds rest on the top of your ear and let in ambient sound, which is great for runners or bikers who need to be aware of their surroundings. They also have 16.2 mm drivers that provide ample bass and volume, though they are not quite as good as the Bose Open Sport Earbuds.
I enjoyed the case design, which is slightly large but impressively slim. Although it features a convenient built-in USB charging cable, similar to the Bose Open Sport Earbuds case, it does not come with a rechargeable battery. Essentially acting as a charging dock for the accompanying black earbuds, which are also available separately. With a battery life of up to 7 hours and an IPX5 splash-proof rating, they are a reliable choice.
Some ear-hook-style earbuds come with physical control buttons, but these ones have touch controls. Although they functioned adequately, they weren’t outstanding. However, the earbuds are accompanied by a companion app, which permits you to enhance the firmware and adjust the sound profile.
$110 on Amazon, $130 at Walmart, and $110 on B&H Photo-Video.
Tribit MoveBuds H1, featuring durable ear-hook design, are a type of wireless earbuds that are water-resistant up to IPX8 level, which means they can be fully submerged for long periods of time. These earbuds have a battery life rated for up to 15 hours, but they do not have noise cancelling or multipoint features.
Although the sound quality of the Tribit MoveBuds H1 is only moderate, there are many appealing features about them. They have a strong and durable build and are completely waterproof with an IPX8 rating. Additionally, they have an impressive battery life, lasting up to 15 hours, and are equipped with support for Qualcomm’s AptX audio codec. Numerous Android smartphones are capable of offering AptX Bluetooth streaming.
You are set to receive price notifications for the Tribit MoveBuds H1. They are currently priced at $90 on Amazon.
