How do we test earphone durability?

Everyone will treat their earbuds differently, but I am far rougher on my gear than the average consumer. 

I have completed multiple ironmans, traveled continents by motorcycle, and taken my earphones to the extremes. I have covered the length of India, Vietnam, and South America on and off-road for the past three years.

Hours of sweating, tugging, dropping, and being thrown in and out of kit bags during transitions have meant that I need a pair of tough headphones that can take the punishment. 

Our staff writer Mike abuses his headphones by using them for downhill, mountain biking, rock climbing, and skiing.

Matt is a headphone assassin who has killed more headphones than myself and Mike me by being generally lazy and reckless. (Sorry, Matt, we still love you.) 

Putting the earphones through the rigors of daily life and deliberately not taking it easy on them will quickly show any deficiencies. Between us, we have killed over 30 sets of earbuds since 2016, when we started this list; we feel these are the most durable models and the ones we recommend if you are rough on your gear.

I want to stress this: we have tested every earphone on this list of the most durable earbuds. Most websites that do these lists do so without ever having used the product; it’s a disgusting practice to get people to click on their site for revenue.

Yes, I make money from this site, but it’s not hard for me to do so while helping my readers make informed buying choices at the same time.

Sound Quality vs. Durability

I want to point out that if you are buying your earphones based on how tough they are and their ability to withstand more abuse than the mainstream headphones, you will typically be sacrificing a little on sound quality vs. a nonspecific rugged earphone. 

All models on this list still sound great, but that was not why they were added.  The Shures are very competent performers sonically and are much loved by musicians and audiophiles worldwide. 

What are durable earbuds?

Durable earphones (or earbuds) are in-ear headphones built to last.  They are made to take a beating and still keep playing music the same way they did on the day you bought them. 

Durable headphones and IEMs are perfect for travelers, athletes, construction workers, and commuters.  They might not focus on the best sound quality, but not having to worry about babying your audio gear is one less thing to worry about. 

All sorts of people might need a tougher set of headphones, and whether you are in extreme environments, working construction, hiking & climbing, or maybe you train like a beast, these earphones will stand the test of time and give more mileage to your dollar.

Many people use the tough, durable earphones we list below for the gym or other extreme sports because they know they will be less prone to failure.

What Are the most crucial features when choosing durable earphones?

There are plenty of areas where you know something will be a rugged set of earphones, and it’s a mix of these individual factors that give you confidence in the overall products’ ability to stand the test of time. 

We reckon we have gotten pretty good at knowing from the get-go if an earphone or headphone will stand up to our use. Some things stand out, and here are some things we look out for when we put them through the wringer.

Materials:

We are looking for earphones to be made out of tough, hard-wearing materials.  Cheap and flimsy plastics won’t do here.  We want to see the earphones being made out of metal, high-grade reinforced plastic, or ceramic. In some cases, woven fiber resins can also make a good earpiece.

It goes further, however, as just as crucial as earphone materials is how they are constructed.

Are they using a plastic lip-locking mechanism, or are they using screws to attach various pieces? Are there defects or imperfections that cause us concern? How have similar earphones performed in the past?

We even do drop tests from 1.5m and keep them in a meat freezer to check if the earphone’s housings become brittle. For heat tests with a heat gun, see how well the glue holds the casing.

Strain Reliefs:

We need robust strain reliefs at three main points – the jack, the housing connectors, and the Y-splitter.  These earbuds will get tugged on and possibly catch on to things over time, and we made the connections to remain as strong as possible.

Strain reliefs do precisely what the name suggests. It removes unwanted pressure from the cable and the connections to ensure the enhanced longevity of your earbuds.

Waterproofing:

A rugged and durable earbud doesn’t need to be waterproof (even though it helps), but it should have excellent sweat and moisture resistance.  Nothing kills as a set of earphones faster than water, and when running and cycling, this couldn’t be more true.

Even headphones with an IP rating are more vulnerable to the salt in sweat than you think. I suggest rinsing or, at the very least, wiping down your earphones after use.

Cables:

Earphone cables are essential and, more often than not, will go first when a headphone dies.  We want to see nice, thick, high-quality cables or detachable and user-replaceable cables. 

If your cable dies, it’s a bonus to know you can purchase an aftermarket cable and continue using it. More often than not, this is far cheaper than buying a new set of earbuds.

Warranty:

No questions-asked warranties are best, but we also look out and give points to earphone companies that offer more than the standard 1-year warranty.  Not only is this good if something goes wrong, but it is also a sign that a company has faith that its earbuds are built to last.