AILZPXX is my pick among on ear earbuds wired for exercise: its USB-C cable, in-ear fit, and inline controls keep the setup simple.
Shenzhen SHOKZ is the runner-up if you want open ears and a secure earhook for situational awareness during a workout.
For exercise, I’d choose AILZPXX when a wired USB-C connection suits your device and routine.
• AILZPXX USB C Headphones — best for a simple wired workout setup; pick this if your device has USB-C audio and you want a microphone, volume control, and replaceable ear tips.
• Shenzhen SHOKZ OpenFit Air — best for exercise with open-ear awareness; pick this if you prefer wireless earhooks and want to hear your surroundings.
• LUDOS Zenith — best for wired listening on a 3.5 mm jack; pick this if you want in-ear sound isolation and a cable with button controls.
• LUDOS Zenith — best for a turquoise 3.5 mm option; pick this if you want the same wired in-ear design and five-year warranty as the green version.
AILZPXX’s wired USB-C earbuds are the clearest match here for someone specifically looking for a cable-connected option. They use an in-ear design, include a microphone and volume control, and connect through USB-C rather than a traditional 3.5 mm headphone jack. That makes them worth considering for compatible phones, tablets, or laptops that support audio over USB-C.
The practical appeal is straightforward: there is no Bluetooth pairing, and the inline remote gives you a way to adjust volume without reaching for your device. The package includes a carrying case, a cable clip, and three pairs of ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes. For exercise, the clip may help manage the cable, while the choice of tips gives you some flexibility in finding a comfortable fit. The listed frequency range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Compatibility deserves a check before buying. The product is described for USB-C devices without a 3.5 mm audio jack, but a USB-C port alone does not guarantee that every device supports wired audio through it. I’d confirm that your device supports USB-C audio. The trade-off is also inherent to the design: a cable can snag or move during vigorous activity, and these earbuds do not leave the ear open to surrounding sound.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-10 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If your workout is on a treadmill, at home, or in another setting where a cable is manageable, I think this is the most direct fit in the group. It also makes sense if you want a wired connection for calls or music and prefer not to rely on a wireless connection. It is not an on-ear headphone, despite the search phrase; it is an in-ear USB-C model.
The SHOKZ OpenFit Air is the wireless alternative in this guide. It uses an open-ear design with flexible earhooks, so it sits around the ears rather than sealing inside them. That design can suit runners and gym users who want audio while keeping more awareness of nearby activity. It has Bluetooth connectivity and no headphone jack, so it is not a wired earbud.
The manufacturer lists IP54 water resistance, four microphones, multipoint pairing for two devices, and app controls for EQ modes and button functions. For someone switching between a phone and a laptop, the ability to pair with two devices could be useful. The listed battery life is up to six hours per charge, with up to 28 hours when using the charging case. A ten-minute charge is described as providing up to two hours of listening.
Open-ear listening is the key compromise as well as the main reason to choose this model. It does not provide active noise cancellation, and an open design is not intended to block out a noisy gym or traffic. If you are searching for the best active noise cancelling earbuds for exercise, this is not that kind of product: its stated noise control is none. Its open construction instead prioritizes hearing more of your surroundings.
I’d consider it for outdoor exercise where awareness matters more than isolation, or for a workout followed by calls and device switching. The earhooks are designed to stay in place, but personal fit can still vary. It also requires charging and Bluetooth, so it will not suit someone who wants a simple wired connection or does not want to manage battery life.
The green LUDOS Zenith is a conventional wired in-ear model with a 3.5 mm jack. Its listed features include a microphone, button controls, sound isolation, and a five-year warranty. The dynamic drivers have a stated frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The product description also identifies music, movies, and games as intended listening uses.
This model is a fit for someone whose device has a compatible 3.5 mm audio jack, or whose existing setup supports one. A wired connection avoids Bluetooth pairing and battery charging. The button controls may be handy for call control, while the in-ear shape and sound-isolation feature make it more suited to listening that benefits from reduced outside sound than to situations where you need to hear everything around you.
For exercise, a corded in-ear design has both a practical upside and a drawback. You do not have to charge the earbuds, but the cable can move against clothing or catch during activity. I would be cautious about choosing sound-isolating earbuds for outdoor exercise near traffic, since the design is not aimed at keeping your ears open to ambient sounds.
The 3.5 mm connector is the main compatibility limitation. Many newer devices may not have that jack, so check your device or adapter setup before choosing it. This is also not a USB-C model, so it is a less direct pick if your phone has USB-C but no headphone port. For wired gaming or desk listening, its cable and stated spatial or directional audio focus may be relevant, but it should not be mistaken for a dedicated gaming headset.
The turquoise LUDOS Zenith shares the core design of the green version: wired in-ear construction, a 3.5 mm jack, a microphone, button-based call control, sound isolation, and a five-year warranty. The available product details do not identify a separate audio specification set for this color option, so I would treat it as the same basic listening proposition rather than assume different sound performance.
That makes the choice mainly about whether this particular color is the one you want. Its wired connection is useful for a compatible laptop, computer, or other device with a 3.5 mm jack, and it does not depend on a battery or wireless pairing. The in-ear shape and sound isolation can make it a reasonable option for focused listening at a desk or during travel, provided the fit works for you.
The same trade-offs apply during exercise. A cable can be inconvenient for movement, and sound isolation can make it harder to stay aware of surrounding sounds. If your priority is a workout-friendly wireless fit, the SHOKZ design is more aligned with that use; if you want wired USB-C, AILZPXX is the closer match. The turquoise Zenith is best viewed as a color alternative, not a different category of earbud.
Check the connector requirement carefully. A 3.5 mm plug will not connect directly to a USB-C-only device without a compatible adapter, and adapter behavior can depend on the device. I’d choose this version when the jack is already part of your setup and you prefer turquoise over the green variant.
How We Picked
We compared the listed connection types, fit designs, controls, and exercise-relevant features.
The order is my independent editorial opinion based on those published details.
No. AILZPXX and both LUDOS Zenith versions are in-ear wired earbuds; SHOKZ OpenFit Air uses an open-ear wireless earhook design. The search phrase does not precisely describe these products.
AILZPXX is the USB-C wired model. Confirm that your device supports USB-C audio, since having a USB-C port alone does not establish compatibility.
For exercise, I recommend AILZPXX when you want a wired USB-C setup and your activity allows for a cable. SHOKZ OpenFit Air is the alternative when open-ear awareness and wireless earhooks matter more.
No active noise cancellation is listed for these products. SHOKZ states no noise control, while the LUDOS models list sound isolation; those are not the same as active noise cancellation.
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