Late to the party but I gotta agree with the others. > I saw the XM5s are top rated but people say they slide off during bench press Like someone mentioned, over-ears are basically a death sentence for your gear in a high-intensity gym setting. I have seen way too many people ruin their pads because the sweat just eats through the material and they start stinking fast. You might want to consider the Sony WF-C700N Truly Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds as a more practical choice for heavy lifting. They are way cheaper, usually around $100, so you arent risking a massive investment every time you hit the rack.

• They are incredibly light and stay put during heavy sets
• The noise canceling is solid enough for most loud gyms
• Make sure to wipe them down after every session tho Honestly, spending $300 on gym buds is kinda overkill when these do the job. Just be careful with the fit and try all the included tips to get that seal right. Ngl, the simpler tech usually survives the gym grind much longer than the flagship stuff anyway.

Honestly, I had the same worries about the noise in a busy gym, but I've been super satisfied with my Sony LinkBuds S Noise Canceling Earbuds for months now. You definitely shouldn't get the over-ear XM5s for lifting. I tried them once and they basically fell off the second I hit the bench. Plus the sweat makes the leatherette pads peel way faster than they should... its just gross after a while. The LinkBuds S are so light you kinda forget they're even in. Tbh the noise canceling is plenty to block out that annoying gym radio or people slamming plates. They have an IPX4 rating too, so sweat isnt gonna kill them like it might the big ones. I've been doing heavy squats and rows and they havent budged once. Works well for me and fits right in your budget.

To add to the point above: security is probably the biggest factor for reliability when youre moving heavy weight. Like the others mentioned, over-ears are a no-go, but even standard earbuds can wiggle loose during a heavy set of bench presses if you dont have a wing tip. I have been looking at the Sony LinkBuds Fit Noise Canceling Earbuds lately. They have these Air Fitting supporters that basically lock the bud into your ear shell. It is a decent option because it balances the need for noise canceling with a physical design that wont budge. From a safety perspective, you dont want to be reaching up to fix a loose bud while youre holding dumbbells. These also have an IPX4 rating, so sweat wont short out the electronics easily. If you want something that survives the actual movement of lifting without needing constant adjustment, a model with those extra fins is usually a more stable choice for the gym.

I'd definitely listen to the previous reply about skipping over-ears. Sweat and electronics dont mix well, and they're a safety hazard for benching. You might want to consider these instead:

• Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Earbuds
• Make sure you get a tight seal with the foam tips
• The IPX4 rating is critical for gym longevity

Yep been there done that. Can confirm everything said above is spot on.