I was a little skeptical about the $329.95 Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds. Other earbuds I've tested with heart rate tracking have been paltry. Exercise tracking can be well-intentioned but can be a bit hit or miss in practice. So, I was pleasantly surprised that the Momentum Sport headphones delivered what they promised, which was a simple way to display real-time fitness metrics without sacrificing sound quality.
Most fitness headphones have extra bass, a more secure fit, and an emphasis on durability. The Momentum Sport has that, as well as an optical heart rate sensor and a temperature sensor. The idea here is that the ear is actually a more accurate place to collect this type of data than the wrist (ie Technically correct!). It also integrates with the Polar Flow app, giving you access to Polar training analytics, voice guidance, and coaching. In some ways, it works a lot like a chest strap… although you can put it in your ears and play music.
As a runner, my fitness buds checklist is a little different than my everyday fitness buds. They need to stay in my ears, a good transparency mode is a must, they can't be bad on windy days, and a light rain can't ruin them. The Momentum Sport gets high marks across the board.
Fitting earbuds is always a hassle, but sports earbuds are a solid option for working out. The buds are on the larger side, and I have small ears, so I didn't find them as comfortable as my favorite running buds, the Beats Fit Pro. However, I've taken it several rides, and it hasn't fallen out of my ears once.
I've had issues in the past with heart rate tracking earbuds due to fit. Good contact with the sensor is crucial, so a bad fit could mean wonky results – or nothing at all. It negates the whole goal of in-ear metric tracking: better accuracy. I didn't have that problem here. This makes this a stylish alternative if you do some sports that aren't conducive to using smartwatches or find chest straps uncomfortable, especially if you like working out to music – you could theoretically wear a less wearable one to get your data.
The Transparency and Anti-Wind modes were great during my outdoor excursions. I could still easily hear the cars buzzing around me, but the strong winds didn't drown out my tunes. I've also taken them on a miserable rainy trip with no problem. However, I still check the weather before running. These are IP55, which is a little better than the typical IPX4 you see on the buds, but a heavy thunderstorm could be a bad time.
As for fitness tracking, I've discovered that you're not limited to a special companion app. If you're in the Polar ecosystem, it integrates perfectly with the Polar Vantage V3 watch. Without a Polar watch, you can also link the Sennheiser Smart Control app with the Polar Flow app on your phone. Then, all you have to do is turn on your workout from Polar Flow and select it as your preferred heart rate sensor. It worked well when I tried it, and if you don't have a fitness app you like, Polar Flow is a pretty comprehensive app! The downside is that you won't be wearing these clothes all day, so your recovery visions won't be quite as good.
It also works with fitness apps and other smartwatches that support Bluetooth accessories. I checked it out and was able to pair it with Strava and Runkeeper, two of my most used fitness apps. I also paired it with an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and was able to view the heart rate metrics from there as well. I appreciate it because it allows me to get my training guidance from a platform for me option. When I tested Amazfit PowerBuds Pro, a similar pair of fitness tracking buds, I had to use its companion app to access a lot of the health features. This has added more chaos to my routine.
As for accuracy, it was within about 5 bpm of the Garmin Forerunner 165 Music paired with the HRM-Fit chest strap. The body temperature was more than just a head scratcher. For starters, it is difficult to test accuracy. Running a thermometer outside my ear is a safety risk, and other wearables focus more on changes in skin temperature overnight. but I understand why high-level athletes might value body temperature data. It's just overkill for the average person. You will become warmer when you exercise. You'll also likely notice when you start to overheat without having to know your exact body temperature.
In everyday headphones, sound quality is what I care about most. With fitness headphones, great sound quality is an added bonus. I'll put up with a little serenity as long as my K-pop anthems can keep me running. Not a problem here! I've been running into a lot of Stray Kids lately and they've been agitated Megaverse It looks great on these buds. While the buds have great bass, the rest sounds great too.
Battery-wise, you get around six hours of playback – that's good enough for an average long run or race. The case holds three additional full charges, and in normal use, that should last you a long time. I've been using them as daily workout and commuting headphones for the past couple of weeks. In my case I still had about 40 percent battery left.
The only thing I didn't like were the touch controls. You can customize it in the Smart Control app, but I found it very easy to activate while I was adjusting the fit. This was even though I adjusted the click sensitivity to a lower level. However, it is better to have them than not during cold weather workouts when you are wearing gloves.
At $330, they're expensive, but you're technically getting a chest strap and headphones in one. My Beats Fit Pro was on sale for about $180, plus I currently use a $150 Garmin HRM-Fit as a chest strap. (Although you can get chest straps for around $80 to $100.) This is approximately the same cost.
In the past, my problem with fitness tracker earbuds was that they didn't make my life easier. The precise fit meant it took longer to get started. I didn't want any additional training features from the buds when I was already using other fitness apps. Sennheiser Momentum Sport It doesn't promise much – just a good sound and an alternative way to measure your heart rate. That's all I want from fitness buds.