I really had issues with using the big Sony over-ears for working out, honestly it was a huge letdown. If you take the Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Headphones out in Seattle rain, you're basically asking for them to break since they have no water resistance rating at all.

• Fit: They slide forward the second you start sweating or doing any lifting.
• Reliability: Unfortunately, those ear pads get slippery and gross really fast.
• Recommendation: You should definitely look at the Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds instead. I switched to the buds because they have IPX4 water resistance which is vital for marathon training in the mist. The fit is much more secure for running. Dont risk the over-ear ones, they just arent built for it.

I was obsessing over the same stuff when I started my training cycle last year! Honestly, I tried so hard to make the over-ear thing work because I love that immersive sound, but I ended up feeling like my ears were in a literal sauna lol. I finally grabbed the Sony WF-C700N Truly Wireless Earbuds IPX4 and it changed everything for my long runs. They are so small that they actually stay locked in your ear canal even when youre dripping sweat or dealing with that constant Seattle mist. I have done 15-milers in the rain with them and they never budged once! Since theyre way under your 300 dollar limit, you arent gonna feel as bad if you accidentally drop one in a puddle. Its a total game changer to not have to adjust your headset every five seconds while youre trying to keep your pace up... definitely saves a lot of frustration.

I lived in Portland for years so I totally get the mist struggle. I tried the over-ear route first but the lack of an IP rating is a total dealbreaker for marathon prep. I ended up switching to the Sony LinkBuds S Noise Canceling Earbuds IPX4 Rating and I've been incredibly satisfied with how they handle moisture. They have an IPX4 rating, which basically means they handle splashes from any direction... perfect for that Seattle drizzle. What really sold me was the weight. At 4.8 grams per bud, they dont have that heavy pendulum effect that makes larger buds fall out when your gait gets bouncy during a sprint. The fit is deep enough in the concha that they stay locked in even when im doing power cleans. No complaints about the sound profile either. Honestly, the smaller form factor is just way safer for high-intensity movement compared to the heavy XM series.