How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want to keep your AirPods Pro 2 locked in your ears during runs and lifts, choose Proof Labs 4; if you need a complete set of standalone sport earbuds with long battery life, choose PEFUPEW Earbuds.
• Proof Labs 4 — biggest strength: it's a purpose-built silicone ear hook system for AirPods Pro 2, with two sizes of hooks (2 pairs small, 2 pairs large) plus a storage pouch and carabiner.
• Proof Labs 4 — biggest trade-off: it's not a pair of earbuds at all. It only works with AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, and the hooks must be removed before charging.
• PEFUPEW Earbuds — biggest strength: a full standalone Bluetooth 5.4 sport earbud with 48 hours of total playback, a 14.2 mm driver, IP7 waterproofing and a 15 m wireless range.
• PEFUPEW Earbuds — biggest trade-off: you're buying a whole second audio system, not an accessory for the earbuds you already own.
• Choose Proof Labs 4 if you already own AirPods Pro 2 and just want them to stop slipping out.
• Choose PEFUPEW Earbuds if you want dedicated workout earbuds you can sweat on, leave in a gym bag and forget about until the next session.
Proof Labs 4 is the accessory route. It's a set of soft, flexible silicone hooks designed to wrap around AirPods Pro 2nd Generation and hold them in place. The whole pitch is fit: hooks that stop your AirPods from working loose when you're jogging, lifting, bending over or just walking with one bud in. The kit is generous for what it is — two pairs in small and two pairs in large, so you can size each ear independently, plus a storage pouch, a carabiner and a quick start guide. Being able to clip the pouch to a bag is a genuinely thoughtful detail for gym-goers.
The material is silicone, which is the right call. Silicone is soft, grippy and easy to rinse, and it's the reason hooks like this can sit against the ear for a full session without turning into a pressure point. The white finish keeps them visually matched to white AirPods, so the setup still looks like one object rather than a bolt-on.
Be honest about the limits, though. These are not earbuds. They make no sound, they don't add battery life, they don't add noise cancelling and they don't work with anything other than AirPods Pro 2nd Generation. There's also a real routine cost: the hooks must be removed before charging, which means you're handling them twice a day. Proof Labs backs the whole thing with a one-year manufacturer warranty and its own Fit Guarantee, which tells you the company knows fit is the entire product here.
PEFUPEW Earbuds: Who It's For
PEFUPEW Earbuds take the opposite approach: instead of fixing your existing earbuds, they replace the workout pair entirely. These are over-ear hook buds running Bluetooth 5.4, and the spec list is built for exercise. The 14.2 mm dynamic driver is large for this category, paired with a three-layer composite diaphragm that PEFUPEW says lifts bass and reduces distortion. Four ENC microphones handle call clarity, cutting background noise from traffic, gym clatter or an open office.
The numbers worth caring about are the practical ones. Total playback runs up to 48 hours, with each bud rated for up to 8 hours at 50% volume, and the case providing roughly four to five additional charges. Charging is USB-C and takes about 1.5 hours, with a dual LED display on the case so you can see where you stand at a glance. Wireless range is 15 m, and the low-latency design is rated at 40 milliseconds of delay — a figure that matters if you're watching video on a treadmill or phone screen.
Durability is where these separate themselves from normal earbuds. IP7 waterproofing means sweat and rain are a non-issue, which is exactly the failure mode that kills ordinary buds during a training block. The ear hooks are flexible and soft, the same fit logic as the Proof Labs approach, but here it's built into the bud itself rather than added to someone else's. Controls are touch-based with binaural support, and PEFUPEW claims 22.5% higher accuracy to cut down on false touches — a common annoyance when your hands are sweaty mid-set. The housing is ABS, the buds weigh 58 g total with the case, and the package includes silicone ear tips in S, M and L, a USB-C cable and a manual. Compatibility covers most Bluetooth devices — phones, tablets, laptops. Warranty is two years.
Who should buy these? Anyone who wants one pair of earbuds they can abuse. Runners, lifters, cyclists, people who sweat heavily or train outdoors. Also anyone who doesn't own AirPods at all and just wants a sport-first set. Who should skip them? If you love how your AirPods Pro 2 sound and only need them to stay put, adding a second audio system you now have to charge and keep track of is more hassle than it's worth. And if you want the Apple ecosystem conveniences, these won't replicate those.
• Best for keeping AirPods Pro 2 in your ears → Proof Labs 4. That is literally the whole product.
• Best for battery life → PEFUPEW Earbuds. Up to 48 hours total, up to 8 hours per charge.
• Best for heavy sweating and rain → PEFUPEW Earbuds. IP7 waterproofing beats a silicone sleeve on non-waterproof AirPods.
• Best for call clarity in noisy places → PEFUPEW Earbuds. Four ENC microphones with a stated 80% background noise reduction.
• Best for people who don't own AirPods → PEFUPEW Earbuds. The Proof Labs hooks are useless without AirPods Pro 2nd Generation.
• Best for the smallest spend to solve one specific problem → Proof Labs 4. You're buying fit, not audio.
• Best for low-latency video and gaming → PEFUPEW Earbuds. Bluetooth 5.4 with a 40 ms rated delay.
• Best for people who hate charging routines → Proof Labs 4. No battery to think about, though you do remove the hooks to charge your AirPods.
• Best for sizing flexibility → Proof Labs 4. Two pairs small and two pairs large let you mix sizes per ear.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison already own AirPods Pro 2 and are frustrated by them sliding out — and for those readers I'd buy the Proof Labs 4. It's the cheaper, simpler fix for the exact problem you have, and it doesn't force you to carry a second set of buds. I'd only steer you to the PEFUPEW Earbuds if you want a dedicated, waterproof, long-battery workout pair you can treat roughly and leave in a gym bag. Two different jobs, two different answers. Pick the one that matches your actual complaint.
FAQ
They're a separate pair of earbuds, not an accessory. You'd use them instead of your AirPods, not on them. They connect wirelessly to most Bluetooth devices.
The PEFUPEW Earbuds, clearly — they carry IP7 waterproofing. Proof Labs 4 protects fit, not water, and your AirPods underneath are still exposed.
Proof Labs 4. It comes with four pairs of hooks in two sizes, a storage pouch and a carabiner, and it's built for exactly that one problem. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.