In my opinion, open-fit headphones like the Nothing Ear (stick) or Apple AirPods 3 are often underrated for sports use. If the fit is secure—and I acknowledge they fall out of some people’s ears during workouts—they offer a good balance of awareness and sound quality, and are more comfortable to wear for long stretches than in-ear buds.
The Nothing Ear (stick) headphones don’t match the sound quality of in-ear buds, or the AirPods 3, and they also lack noise cancellation. So overall, they’re not as good as the best workout headphones, but if you prefer an open-fit design they are a decent option as a cheaper alternative to Apple’s buds.
