Introducing Beats Headphones Designed for Your Workout Sessions
We’ve all spotted someone at the gym or jogging in the neighborhood sporting headphones that clearly weren’t made for workouts. More often than not, those headphones are Beats. If you’re not a fan of earbuds, you’ll be pleased to know that the new Beats 360 over-ear headphones are tough enough to handle sweat, featuring water resistance and interchangeable knit ear cups. There aren’t many headphones on the market that can match them.
IP ratings are quite rare for headphones, and the Beats 360 are the brand’s first IP-certified model. Similar to the Powerbeats Pro 2 and Powerbeats Fit 2, the Beats 360 carry an IPX4 rating, which means they can withstand splashes of water and sweat. This is the minimum standard I’d recommend for workout headphones if you want them to last beyond a few sessions.
When you’re working out, sweat is bound to accumulate around the ear cups. Both a senior reviewer and I tested the Beats 360 during our workouts, and we found that the default performance knit ear cups did a commendable job of wicking away moisture. However, after her 40-minute run and my hour at the gym, our headphones were both wet and, as she described, “icky.” Thankfully, the ear cups are easily removable for cleaning — Beats suggests wiping them down with a soapy solution, followed by a damp cloth, and then drying them off with a dry cloth — and I had no trouble with this process.
The Beats 360 offer a solid clamping force, keeping the headphones secure during most exercises without causing discomfort. For movements where my head position remained stable, like back squats, planks, and lunges, the Beats 360 stayed comfortably in place. However, we both had to readjust them during more dynamic activities: sprints for her and sit-ups for me. While they can handle explosive workouts like sprints or burpees, we both still lean towards earbuds for those situations.
Equipped with performance knit ear pads, the Beats 360 are great for workouts due to their moisture-wicking properties, but after a few hours of casual use, they can make the sides of my head feel itchy. Fortunately, switching to one of the plush engineered leather options for regular listening is a breeze (the same material used in the Studio Pro headphones).
The headphones come in black, white, light blue, and pink, with additional cushion sets available for customization. The performance knit ear cups are offered in black, white, light blue, pink, navy, and fluorescent green, while the plush options are limited to black and white. Each cushion kit includes two ear cups and a headband for $50, but they’re available for just $10 until the end of October. There are also promotional prices for various countries.
The Beats 360 feature sensors that detect whether you’re using the knit or plush ear cushions and automatically adjust the audio tuning. I didn’t notice any significant differences when switching between the two (though noise canceling was slightly better with the plush padding). The bass is solid and provides a nice punch for bass-heavy tracks without being overwhelming, unlike some older Beats models. However, the midrange feels a bit muddled, lacking separation between guitars and vocals in tracks like the Foo Fighters’ “The Pretender,” where the cymbals tend to dominate. While it’s not a dealbreaker, for $350, I’d personally prefer the Sony XM5.
The noise-canceling performance is impressive. While not as silent as the Bose Ultra Headphones Gen 2 or as snug as the AirPods Pro 3, the only reason I noticed the gardeners outside with their leaf blowers while jamming to tunes on the Beats 360 was the smell of gasoline lingering in the air. The active noise canceling is effective enough to let you focus on your music and tune out any distractions, like that gym bro who thinks he knows how to fix your form.
One of the perks of all Beats headphones and earbuds is their seamless integration with both Apple and Android devices — a benefit of being owned by Apple without being an Apple product. On Apple devices, the Beats 360 support one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, automatic device switching, audio sharing with AirPods and recent Beats models, Find My, and hands-free Siri. For Android users, features include fast pairing, device pairing across the same Google account, audio switching (on supported devices), and Google’s version of Find My. Voice assistant functionality is also available for Android, but it requires pressing the play/pause button. This makes them a solid choice for users in either ecosystem.
Instead of a hard case, the Beats 360 come with a soft-sided bag featuring a magnetic clasp and a loop for attaching to your bag. I would have preferred a hard case at this price point. They also have a replaceable battery, though there’s currently no information available about the replacement process or pricing.
For those who can’t stand earbuds or bone-conduction headphones at the gym, options for reliable headphones are limited. The Beats 360, with their IPX4 rating and knit ear cups, are designed for that sweaty environment. Plus, the replaceable ear cups and battery will help extend their lifespan. While they might not be my top pick for everyday listening, if I wanted to focus on my reps without worry — and show off some style — I’d definitely reach for a pair.
