These $15 accessories turned my AirPods into the most versatile earbuds I’ve worn

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Your AirPods can be your best friend, small enough to stay in your pocket or bag until you need them. But if you like to work out with your AirPods, pushing your slippery earbuds back into your ear can become a particularly intense workout. I’ve found three products to help with this problem — a few dollars spent can revitalize your AirPods experience.

Also: Best AirPods 2025: I’ve tested every pair of Apple headphones and earbuds

Unfortunately, some people’s ear anatomy simply isn’t compatible with certain earbuds, and the best option may be purchasing from another brand. But if you’re determined to make your AirPods stay in your ear, try these tips first.

1. Detachable ear hooks

Jada Jones/ZDNET

If you like to run or weightlift, the impact of your feet hitting the ground or the explosiveness of specific compound movements can shift your AirPods in your ears. Earbuds with ear hooks, like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, provide the in-ear stability to keep them in your ear for your entire workout.

If you don’t want to buy another pair of earbuds, you can purchase detachable ear hooks to attach to your AirPods. I tried the Icarerspace hooks from Amazon. You get two pairs of hooks for $16, and this product has 4/5 stars out of 1,591 reviews.

Also: Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Which earbuds are best for working out?

These ear hooks are compatible with AirPods Pro and all base model AirPods. I tested them on my AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. The ear hooks clip onto the AirPods’ stem, and then you can rock and roll.

The stems offer more in-ear stability for dynamic movements like running, biking, walking, and exercises that require bending over or lying on a bench, like bench presses or push-ups. I found that I didn’t have to adjust my AirPods in between sets.

These stems aren’t as comfortable or high-quality as the stems on the Powerbeats Pro 2, and after a few hours, they began to irritate the back of my ear. I’m generally not a fan of ear hooks; even the better quality ones irritate my ears.

2. Silicone wings

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Silicone wings or grips are an option if you don’t want plastic ear hooks to go around your ears. I tried the Proof Labs silicone wings from Amazon. For $16, you get four pairs in different sizes, a storage pouch, and a carabiner for portability. You can buy them for AirPods Pro 1 and 2, and AirPods 4. Out of 22,100 ratings, this product has 4.3/5 stars.

These wings cover the AirPods’ bud and sit at the top of your concha, or the top part of the ear’s thick cartilage fold. The Proof Labs wings eliminated the extra space in my ear for my AirPods to wiggle around, offering stability and comfort. 

Also: I wore the best headphones from Sony, Bose, Apple, and Sonos: Here’s how the AirPods Max wins

I found the wing tips helpful when working out, but they also helped my AirPods Pro 2 create a better seal in my ear. During a long car ride, I forgot my beloved Sonos Ace and had to resort to my AirPods. The improved fit and seal in my ear made for maximized audio and noise cancellation performance.

If you find that too much external noise reaches your ears due to loose AirPods, these silicone wings could help. Like the detachable ear hooks, these silicone tips must be removed before placing your AirPods back in their charging case.

3. Ear tip replacements

If you want to try an option that doesn’t need to be removed to put your AirPods back in their charging case, the Azla Crystal silicone ear tip replacements are ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner’s product of choice. 

Also: I’ve used my AirPods Pro 2 since their 2022 release. Are they still worth it in 2025?

These ear tip replacements are fairly priced, coming in at two pairs of tips for $15 (at the time of writing). They’re only compatible with AirPods Pro models and received 4.1/5 stars out of 1,248 reviews. Thanks to their less slick surface, users say these tips provide a more stable fit than the original AirPods Pro tips.

The main culprit of loose, ill-fitting AirPods is your ear anatomy. Everyone’s ear shape is different, and some are better suited for AirPods than others. For the non-Pro model AirPods, if your concha bowl is too small, they may fall out. If your antihelix ridge (the piece of cartilage that sticks out into the concha bowl) is too flat, it may not be able to hold and secure your AirPods in your ear.

The AirPods Pro 2 use silicone tips to stay in your ear, but those are highly dependent on your ear canal depth and width. If your outer canal is too shallow or narrow, your AirPods may not seal properly in your ear, leading to poor audio, noise cancellation, and fit. 

Accessories like the ones in this article can help, but if they don’t, your best bet may be to try another brand with different earbud shapes or consider over-ear headphones instead.

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