Here are the best ear hook headphones with a fantastic fit for all activities. These don’t fall off at all.
| Rating | Price | Battery (charging) | Connection | Water protection | Mic & Controls | More info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beats PowerBeats Pro Best bass  | 4.6 | Under $250 | 11 hours, 24h in case (Lightning) | Bluetooth 5.0 | IPX4 |  | |
| Treblab X3 Pro Best under $100  | 4.3 | Under $60 | 9 hours, 36h in case (USB-C) | Bluetooth 5.0 | IPX7 |  | |
| Plantronics BackBeat FIT 350 Best value  | 4.1 | Under $40 | 6 hours (Micro-USB) | Bluetooth 4.1 | IPX5 |  | |
| AfterShokz Aeropex Best bone conduction  | 4.6 | Under $160 | 8 hours (proprietary) | Bluetooth 5.0 | IP67 |  | |
| 4.0 | Under $100 | 6 hours, 24h in case (USB-C) | Bluetooth 5.0 | IPX7 |  | ||
| Anker Soundcore Spirit X (2019) Cheap alternative  | 4.4 | Under $30 | 18 hours (Micro-USB) | Bluetooth 5.0 | IP68 |  |
Wireless earbuds with hooks are popular for sports. They’re specifically designed to withstand rigorous head movements during workouts.
If you’re often physically active with your headphones, then you know how important it is to keep them in place.
The annoyance of earbuds falling out during exercise is frustrating. Plus, earbuds change the sound when moving inside your ear canal. It’s not a pleasant experience.
Wireless earbuds with ear hooks attach to the back of your ears. A wire or rigid hook, usually plastic or silicone, adds stability while you move.
Hook design is good for using in the gym, running, cycling, and other activity.
But you have to avoid uncomfortable hook headphones.
Nonetheless, we’ve made a list of the best wireless earbuds with ear hooks here.
Related:
Key Features of Earbuds with Ear Hooks
If you’ve decided that the hook design is for you, how do you know which ear hook earbuds are best?
And what are the key features of ear hook headphones?
Stability
This should be the number one priority if you are looking for earbuds to use when exercising.
Nobody wants earbuds that fall out, the whole point of this design is to combat this.
There are a few ways that stability can be provided.
Ear hooks vs. wings
Though hooks are popular, many people opt for ear wings which are different. These adapt to the inner shape of your ear rather than hooking around the outside.
However, you can still wear wireless earbuds with ear wings behind-the-ear/ear hook style, but only if there’s wired between the buds.
One example of such wireless earbuds would be the Jaybird X4 which you can wear the ear hook style (behind-the-ear) even though they have wings.
Occasionally, you may see on-ear headphones with ear hooks, but the design isn’t suited for over-ears.
Comfort
Every pair of headphones should be comfortable by design.
Check the most comfortable headphones.
However, the hook design is easy to get wrong. There are examples of wireless earbuds with ear hooks that stay put but aren’t comfortable.
The problem is ear hooks rubbing against the skin of your ears which get irritated over time. It can be uncomfortable or even painful.
Hook earbuds are normally made of plastic or silicone, with a rigid or semi-rigid area hooking around the ear. Some have cushioned designs to help with comfort.
Sound
Finally, the sound quality is still important for earbuds with hooks.
Earbuds are of no use if they stay put but sound so bad you won’t want to listen to them.
Whichever headphones you are looking into, pay attention to the sound quality. And don’t forget about 2 things:
- Volume is important, a good quality driver will go a long way to providing this. You don’t want underpowered earbuds.
- Do you need ambient mode? Activities that need awareness are dangerous without hearing ambient sound.
For more options with ambient sound mode see the best headphones for cycling.
How to Choose Earbuds with Hooks
Choosing hook earbuds isn’t easy because not all options are comfortable or well-made. Some can end up hurting your ears.
There are a few additional considerations when choosing wireless earbuds with ear hook for yourself.
Set Your Budget
There are affordable ($50) and more expensive ($200+) options for wireless earbuds with ear hooks.
Set your budget and compare what you can get for this price. We’ve reviewed affordable options for ear hook headphones below.
Consider the Fit
Wireless earbuds with ear hooks should comfortably fit your ears. If you’ve ever worn in-ear monitors as a musician, you’ll know roughly how this style feels. They wrap around the ear.
There are a few types of ear hooks:
- Soft silicone hooks are flexible and softest on the ears
- Memory-wire hooks can be molded into different shapes and angles which gives you different fit options for big or small ears but might not feel as stable
- Hard plastic hooks aren’t flexible and often rub against your ears the wrong way, but offer great durability
Most are flexible and have some give. However, if you are opting for rock-solid plastic earpieces, ensure they have a perfect fit for your ears; otherwise, they can be uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, you can’t learn that from reading reviews. You can only try them and see for yourself. Thankfully, most vendors offer friendly return policies if you’re not happy.
How will You Use Them?
Good wireless earbuds with ear hooks are suitable for sports as well as casual listening.
There are many options for different uses.
If you aren’t doing strenuous activity, ear hooks may not be needed. We advise ear hooks only for serious exercise and movement. Otherwise, you have more choices.
Alternatively, the best workout headphones or true wireless earbuds with ear wings may provide plenty of stability with superior comfort.
Best Ear Hook Headphones
1. Beats PowerBeats Pro
Best bass 
PowerBeats Pro are the best wireless earbuds with ear hooks.
Most people won’t argue that these are the best hook earbuds today. With punchy bass and great battery life.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: 12mm 
Frequency range: n/a - Deep, punchy bass that energizes modern music (slight V-shaped signature)
- Great battery life with quick charging (we got over 11 hours out of them)
- Perfect stability for working out
- High build-quality and nice materials
- Sweatproof, but can’t be submerged
- They get slightly uncomfortable after 30 minutes
- Pricey
- Large charging case
- No way to turn them off without the charging case
- Mids sound a bit subdued
The audio quality of these Beats by Dre headphones doesn’t disappoint.
Heavy bass still reigns supreme but this time it’s more detailed and controlled. Together with boosted highs, they produce a fun V-shaped sound, similar to the best bass earbuds.
PowerBeats Pro ear hook earbuds take the crown with their superbly secure fit, better battery than most, and super-fast charging (5min = 1.5h of music).
To make them survive the harsh sports environment, they have IPX4 water protection (effectively sweat-resistant).
Plus, they come with nice features like automatic pause/play when taken off/put back on. To give voice commands or hold phone calls, you get built-in microphones on both sides.
Pro’s might have a high price tag and lack active noise canceling, but come with the latest technology, integration with Apple devices, and a good fit.
2. Treblab X3 Pro
Best under $100 
The best earbuds with ear hooks under $100.
Finding true wireless earbuds that are stable, comfortable, and sound great is tough. The Treblab X3 Pro Bluetooth wireless earbuds do a great job.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: 11mm graphene drivers 
Frequency range: 20Hz – 20,000Hz - Good stability during sports activities
- Comfortable, even for more extended listening
- Durable construction with an IPX7 rating
- 9-hour battery on a single charge
- Very good sound quality (if you get a seal)
- Great passive isolation (if you get a seal)
- Both earbuds support mono mode
- Support for multipoint and aptX
- Ear tips are too short to fit everyone
- Bulky design brings wind noise
- Discomfort when pressing the center button
The sound quality depends on a tight seal. By using correct tips, you get to experience great sound quality with boosted low-end, clean mids, shimmery highs, and a good soundstage.
Their design is very similar to the PowerBeats Pro. The logo doubles as a control panel for playback, while the rocker on the upper side lets you adjust the volume control. They’re also okay for making a phone call from time to time.
Above all, flexible ear hooks ensure excellent stability for the wireless earbuds, especially if you plan to use them outdoors. X3 Pro have an IP rating of IPX7, providing high levels of water protection.
Treblab equipped these with an aptX codec to reduce video latency and improve audio quality on Android gadgets. They last nine hours per charge, with another 36 hours of battery life inside the charging case.
3. Plantronics BackBeat FIT 350
Best value 
The best workout headphones for long gym sessions.
Whenever you buy a pair of headphones there is a balance to be struck between price and features. For ear hook headphones, these are the best choice for value.
Connection: Bluetooth 4.1 
Driver size: 6mm 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - Super stable fit (suitable for all sports)
- Water-resistant IPX5 (can wash under tap water but not submerge)
- Comfortable
- Effective noise isolation
- Enjoyable bassy sound
- Loud
- Cable noise when rubbing against skin
- Occasional signal interruptions
For the price you pay, you get an enjoyable, slightly bass emphasized sound that’s perfect for earbuds for running. The sound is fixed and you can’t change it in the BackBeat app.
Flexible ear hooks are made of soft silicone that’s gentle to the skin and holds up well during fast movement.
These are also clip-on headphones. A clip can attach to your shirt in case earbuds fall off or control the cable at the back of your head.
Designed to be ultra-lightweight, the BackBeat FIT workout earbuds can be very comfortable even when listening for long periods of time.
They have several sets of specific patent-pending eartips designed for comfort, which also do a good job at passive noise isolation.
With up to six hours of battery life, it should last for a couple of workouts or runs.
Plantronics BackBeat FIT 350 review
Want similar buds? See the best earbuds under $50.
4. AfterShokz Aeropex
Best bone conduction 
The best bone conduction headphones with ear hooks.
Wireless bone conduction headphones are a relatively new option. As they don’t cover your ear lobes, you can still hear traffic and other surrounding noise while listening to your favorite tunes.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: Bone conduction transducer 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - Stable fit for all types of sports
- Perfect environment awareness due to open-ear design
- Lightweight (almost 30% lighter than Air)
- Waterproof and dustproof (IP67)
- Good battery life (8 hours)
- Improved bass response from previous models
- Vibrating transducers might be annoying
- Sound quality is suffering (compared to regular earphones)
- Lack of bass
The sound quality is definitely the best you can get from bone conduction technology. However, don’t expect deep bass.
Aeropex are the best bone conduction headphones that let you hear the ambient sound of your surroundings. Your ears aren’t covered as the sound vibrates through bones instead of eardrums.
You can use an ear tip or plug to better focus on the sound.
Most importantly, the bass has been improved from the Air model, but it isn’t completely perfect. There are also multiple sound presets to choose from.
AfterShokz Aeropex are a gold standard in this category. They have quality, rubbery hooks and stay in place while you exercise.
They’re designed for a full-on active lifestyle and offer plenty of stability thanks to the hooks.
Waterproof and dustproof design (IP67) protects them from water and small particles like sand and dust. So, you can confidently use them in places other headphones would die in.
See other water and dust resistant models, check the best waterproof Bluetooth headphones.
5. JBL Endurance Peak II
Great true wireless earbuds with ear hooks from JBL.
If you’re a sportsperson who enjoys bass-forward, fun sound signature, these true wireless earbuds might be a compelling pick.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: 10mm 
Frequency range: 20-20.000Hz - JBL sound with bass boost
- Stable & comfortable fit
- Good battery life
- No extra features
- No companion app support
As many JBL products, these too follow a bassier version of Harman curve target.
They have a pretty energetic sound, suitable for sports activities. The dip around 9kHz reduces harsh sibilance in vocals.
The true wireless earbuds have a familiar shape with soft hooks that grab around your ears. They offer an IPX7 rating of complete water protection. Strangely, no official dust protection.
Expect 6 hours of playback time and another 24 hours inside the case. The latter is slimmer than its first generation, making it more easily pocketable.
Despite their bulkiness, they’re comfortable to wear for extended periods. Sadly, there’s no added feature to boost ambient noise for better awareness (like Transparency mode).
Most Affordable Ear Hook Headphones
6. Anker Soundcore Spirit X
Cheap alternative 
A cheap alternative, wireless earbuds with ear hooks and wires between the buds.
The best choice for sportspeople on a budget that want something reliable and durable.
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 
Driver size: n/a 
Frequency range: n/a - High water resistance
- Great stability during workout
- Enjoyable sound
- Can't get very loud
Frequency response is far from the audiophile level, but they’re still enjoyable to listen to during workouts. You can also enable the Bass Up bass boost to spice up the sound quality.
While some ear hook earbuds don’t provide the best comfort, these do quite the opposite. They’re very lightweight, with a comfortable fit that you can appreciate. The cable noise is minimal.
With IP68, they can withstand everything from dust to more than a meter of water.
They have an 18-hour battery life, with quick charging that adds 3 hours of battery in just 10 minutes.
Also worth mentioning is the built-in microphone, which is of good quality if you tend to take many phone calls.
Always looking for bargains? Check the best cheap headphones and best cheap earbuds.
Honorable Mentions
Beats PowerBeats High-Performance – A slightly different version of the true wireless PowerBeats Pro, with the wire that connects the ear hook earbuds. (Check PowerBeats price)
Skullcandy Push Ultra – True wireless earbuds with adjustable hooks. Instead of using silicone ear tips, they leave your ears open thanks to an open-air design that lets you hear the outside world. Ear hook earbuds offer a superb fit, a wireless charging case, and a companion app. Skullcandy Push Ultra review
SENSO Bluetooth ear hook headphones – If you need cheap ear hook earbuds, consider these. They offer lots of features and technology for a really low price. Senso Bluetooth headphones review (Check Senso price)
Plantronics BackBeat FIT 2100 – Shorter wireless buds with a rubberized exterior for better grip during sports activities. Always Aware ear tips don’t fully block ear canals, which is why you’re able to hear outside sound without the use of “ambient noise mode”. (Check BackBeat Fit 2100 price)
Aukey EP-T32 – Aukey made these wireless earbuds with some serious specs. Not only do they come with Bluetooth 5.0, Qi wireless charging IPX8 water-resistance, and durable construction, but also support for aptX audio codec. Aukey EP-T32 review
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Best Way To Keep Earbuds From Falling Out?
First, you have to make sure you place them in your ears correctly (put them in the right ears). Next, use them with eartips that provide the best fit for you (try them all inside the box to see which ones work best).
Opt for earbuds that use ear fins or ear hooks, as they ensure the best stability. If you use wired earbuds, try wearing them with a wire over your ear lobes.
