Testing workout earbuds requires an entirely different set of metrics than regular in-ear headphones. More than anything else, workout earbuds need to stay put. Running is hard enough without constantly flibberting with something in your ear canal.
Other factors that might be big pluses when you're sitting at your desk are not so great when you're in motion. Excellent noise filtering is less attractive when you might get mowed down by a cyclist. And mediocre sound quality can be forgivable in this case, too. While I enjoy a wide variety in my music while cooking, cleaning, or working, my exercise playlists tend to resemble a frat party circa 2005.
All of these conflicting design needs mean that fitness-focused headphones can be hard to get right. Take, for instance, the Sennheiser CX Sport headphones, the latest addition to the company's acclaimed CX line. They feature Sennheiser’s top-notch sound in a tough, lightweight, splash-proof package, and they're not bad at all. But in my opinion, if you're looking for headphones that are exclusively for working out, you might find better ones for the price.
Sennheiser
Tough Cookies
Inside the box, you get three sets of ear fins, four sets of ear adapters, a pocket-sized neoprene storage pouch, a cable clip, and a USB cable. The headphones themselves are what you might call a wired wireless set[1], with a cable that runs around the back of your neck and a small volume control set on the wire leading to the right bud.
Most workout headphones have some variation of this ear fin design. They don't catch the wind like a loop[2] does, and it's easier to wear hats and sunglasses when you don't have...