If you want wired, around-ear headphones with active noise cancellation for exercise, choose Bose QuietComfort 25; if you need wireless, sweat-resistant earbuds with a compact in-ear design, choose Back Bay Audio Mini. Bose is the stronger fit for quiet listening and a cushioned around-ear feel, while Back Bay makes more sense for workouts that call for freedom from a cable.
• Bose QuietComfort 25: Its standout is active noise cancellation paired with an around-ear fit; the trade-off is a wired connection.
• Back Bay Audio Mini: Its standout is wireless, sweat-resistant listening with multiple ear-tip sizes; the trade-off is that its sound isolation is not active noise cancellation.
• Bose is for listeners who prioritize noise reduction, a cushioned fit, and wired control; Back Bay is for people who want compact earbuds for movement and moisture-prone workouts.
The Bose QuietComfort 25 is an over-ear wired headphone built around active noise cancellation. That gives it a clear role for listening in places where steady background sound gets in the way, such as a commute, a shared workspace, or an airplane cabin. The included AAA battery powers noise cancellation, and the stated average battery life is 20 hours. It also comes with a 3.5 mm cable, an airline adapter, and a carrying case, so its setup is aimed at conventional wired listening rather than a cable-free workout.
The around-ear design is the main comfort distinction here. Cushioned earcups and a soft headband are intended for longer listening sessions, while rotating earcups help the fit settle around the ears. The inline microphone and remote are designed for Samsung and Android devices, giving you a way to handle calls and music controls without reaching for the phone. Its stated frequency range is 10 Hz to 20,000 Hz, but that figure alone does not establish how it will sound to any particular listener.
For exercise, the Bose is a more specific choice than a wireless earbud. The cable connects to the listening device, and the over-ear shape may feel less convenient when you want a minimal setup or have a lot of movement. In return, you get active noise cancellation and full ear coverage. It is a reasonable option for low-movement exercise in a noisy setting, but not the obvious pick for someone who wants untethered freedom.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the Bose if a cable would get in the way or you want a small, sweat-resistant earbud design.
Back Bay Audio Mini is a wireless in-ear option for buyers who want their headphones to stay compact and independent of a cable. Bluetooth connectivity is intended to work with Bluetooth-enabled phones and computers, and the earbuds have a stated wireless range of 30 feet. For exercise, that design removes the wire between your device and your ears, which can make a workout setup feel less cumbersome. Its listed controls are touch and button based, so playback and other functions are handled on the earbuds rather than through an inline cable remote.
Fit is a notable part of the case for these earbuds. They include six ear-tip sizes, from extra-small through XXL, to give people with different ear canals more options for finding a secure and comfortable fit. That range is especially relevant for movement: an in-ear earbud that does not fit well may not be a useful workout companion, regardless of its wireless features. The product is listed as IPX7-rated and sweat-resistant, but it is explicitly not intended for swimming.
Battery life is another practical advantage. The stated total is 32 hours, made up of up to eight hours of playback from the earbuds and another 24 hours from the charging case. The case recharges by USB-C. Back Bay also includes an extra-bass mode, which may appeal to listeners who want a stronger bass presentation during a workout. The listed sound control is sound isolation, not active noise cancellation, so buyers should not treat it as equivalent to the Bose noise-cancelling setup.
Who should skip it: Skip the Back Bay if you specifically want active noise cancellation or prefer a cushioned around-ear fit.
• Best for wireless freedom during exercise → Back Bay Audio Mini. It connects over Bluetooth and has no headphone jack or cable to connect to your device.
• Best for active noise cancellation → Bose QuietComfort 25. It uses active noise control, while the Back Bay is listed with sound isolation.
• Best for sweat-resistant workout use → Back Bay Audio Mini. Its IPX7 rating and sweat-resistant description suit workouts involving sweat or rain; it is not designed for swimming.
• Best for an around-ear fit → Bose QuietComfort 25. Choose it if you want cushioned earcups rather than earbuds that sit in the ear.
• Best for trying to dial in an in-ear fit → Back Bay Audio Mini. Six ear-tip sizes offer more fit options than a single fixed earbud size.
• Best for wired listening and inline controls → Bose QuietComfort 25. Its 3.5 mm cable has an inline microphone and remote designed for Samsung and Android devices.
• Best for stated total battery life → Back Bay Audio Mini. Its earbuds and charging case are listed for a combined 32 hours, compared with the Bose’s stated 20-hour average battery life.
• Best for a workout where deep background noise is the concern → Bose QuietComfort 25. Its active cancellation addresses noise directly, but the wired design may be awkward for movement.
Before choosing between them, decide what “for exercise” means in your routine. A stationary bike or light workout in a noisy room may leave room for a wired, around-ear headphone. Running, circuit training, and other movement-heavy sessions are more likely to make the Back Bay’s wireless design appealing. Neither choice is an open-ear headphone: the Bose covers the ears, while the Back Bay sits in them. If you are specifically searching for open ear headphones for exercise so you can keep your ears uncovered, neither product matches that design.
The phrase hi res head phones for exercise can also point buyers toward a particular sound expectation, but the supplied specifications do not identify either product as hi-res certified. The Bose lists a 10 Hz–20,000 Hz frequency range, and the Back Bay lists 20 Hz–20,000 Hz. Those ranges describe frequency limits; they do not, by themselves, settle perceived sound quality. The more practical difference here is the listening setup: Bose emphasizes active noise cancellation and an around-ear fit, while Back Bay emphasizes wireless use, fit options, and bass mode.
It is also worth separating water resistance from swimming suitability. The Back Bay is described as IPX7-rated and suitable for sweat or rain, but its fit is not designed for swimming. The Bose data does not give a water-resistance rating, so it should not be assumed to offer the same workout protection. If your exercise involves heavy sweat or outdoor rain, that distinction matters.
Finally, consider how you want to manage calls and controls. Bose includes an inline mic and remote, with compatibility described for Samsung and Android phones and tablets. Back Bay connects to Bluetooth-enabled devices and has two microphones for calls, along with touch and button controls. The right choice depends less on a general promise of convenience and more on whether you prefer a cable with inline controls or earbuds controlled directly.
In my opinion, I would choose Back Bay Audio Mini for exercise because wireless earbuds, six tip sizes, and a sweat-resistant design fit movement better.
Its 32-hour stated total battery life also gives the case a useful role between sessions.
I would choose Bose instead for quieter listening, active noise cancellation, and an around-ear fit.
For a workout-first buyer, though, Back Bay is the more practical match.
FAQ
Their wireless design, six ear-tip sizes, and IPX7-rated sweat-resistant construction suit many workouts. They are not designed for swimming, and the fit will depend on which included tip works for you.
The Bose has active noise cancellation. Back Bay is listed as using sound isolation, so it is not the same kind of noise-control system. The specifications do not establish which one will sound better to every listener.
Choose based on fit and movement. Back Bay offers wireless in-ear listening and sweat resistance; Bose offers a wired around-ear fit and active noise cancellation. For open-ear headphones for exercise, neither model is an open-ear design.
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