Sports Bluetooth gear: start with where you train

Sports Bluetooth covers mainly three things here: earbuds and headphones, portable speakers, and smart watches. The brands are JBL, Sony, cardoO and Bose. The right pick depends on where you train, so start there.

• On the move: the JBL Tune Flex 2 has Adaptive Noise Cancelling and a water and dust resistant build, with up to 48 hours of sound. The Sony WF-C710N adds noise cancelling in an everyday earbud.
• At the gym: headphones such as the JBL Tune 730BT over-ear model, with JBL Pure Bass Sound and a flat-fold design, or the Sony WH-1000XM5 with noise cancelling.
• Outdoors with a group: a portable speaker. The JBL Clip 5 is waterproof and has a built-in carabiner that hooks to bags, belts or buckles. The JBL Grip has IP68 protection in a single-hand size.

How long does the battery last?

The makers publish playtime, and it changes a lot with size. JBL lists up to 7 hours for the small Go 4, plus 2 more with Playtime Boost. The Xtreme 4 gets up to 24 hours plus 6, and the Boombox 4 up to 34 hours. For a long day outside, pick the larger speaker.

Track the session on your wrist

cardoO smart watches add the tracking side. The Watch X Orbit has a 1.6 inch AMOLED display, over 100 sports modes and up to 7 days of battery life. The Apex 2 adds Bluetooth calling on a 2.01 inch curved AMOLED display.

Our pick to start

If you want one piece for outdoor training, start with the JBL Clip 5. It is small, waterproof and clips to your bag. Compare more sizes in speakers, or see wireless pairs in earbuds.