These $15 Accessories Turned My Airpods Into The Most Versatile Earbuds I've Worn

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Your AirPods tin beryllium your champion friend, mini capable to enactment successful your pouch aliases container until you request them. But if you for illustration to activity retired pinch your AirPods, pushing your slippery earbuds backmost into your receptor tin go a peculiarly aggravated workout. I've recovered 3 products to thief pinch this problem -- a fewer dollars spent tin revitalize your AirPods experience.

Also: Best AirPods 2025: I've tested each brace of Apple headphones and earbuds

Unfortunately, immoderate people's receptor anatomy simply isn't compatible pinch definite earbuds, and nan champion action whitethorn beryllium purchasing from different brand. But if you're wished to make your AirPods enactment successful your ear, effort these tips first.

1. Detachable receptor hooks

Jada Jones/ZDNET

If you for illustration to tally aliases weightlift, nan effect of your feet hitting nan crushed aliases nan explosiveness of circumstantial compound movements tin displacement your AirPods successful your ears. Earbuds pinch receptor hooks, for illustration nan Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, supply nan in-ear stableness to support them successful your receptor for your full workout.

If you don't want to bargain different brace of earbuds, you tin acquisition detachable receptor hooks to connect to your AirPods. I tried nan Icarerspace hooks from Amazon. You get 2 pairs of hooks for $16, and this merchandise has 4/5 stars retired of 1,591 reviews.

Also: Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Which earbuds are champion for moving out?

These receptor hooks are compatible pinch AirPods Pro and each guidelines exemplary AirPods. I tested them connected my AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4. The receptor hooks clip onto nan AirPods' stem, and past you tin stone and roll.

The stems connection much in-ear stableness for move movements for illustration running, biking, walking, and exercises that require bending complete aliases lying connected a bench, for illustration chair presses aliases push-ups. I recovered that I didn't person to set my AirPods successful betwixt sets.

These stems aren't arsenic comfortable aliases high-quality arsenic nan stems connected nan Powerbeats Pro 2, and aft a fewer hours, they began to irritate nan backmost of my ear. I'm mostly not a instrumentality of receptor hooks; moreover nan amended value ones irritate my ears.

2. Silicone wings

Jada Jones/ZDNET

Silicone wings aliases grips are an action if you don't want integrative receptor hooks to spell astir your ears. I tried nan Proof Labs silicone wings from Amazon. For $16, you get 4 pairs successful different sizes, a retention pouch, and a carabiner for portability. You tin bargain them for AirPods Pro 1 and 2, and AirPods 4. Out of 22,100 ratings, this merchandise has 4.3/5 stars.

These wings screen nan AirPods' bud and beryllium astatine nan apical of your concha, aliases nan apical portion of nan ear's heavy cartilage fold. The Proof Labs wings eliminated nan other abstraction successful my receptor for my AirPods to wiggle around, offering stableness and comfort. 

Also: I wore nan champion headphones from Sony, Bose, Apple, and Sonos: Here's really nan AirPods Max wins

I recovered nan helping tips adjuvant erstwhile moving out, but they besides helped my AirPods Pro 2 create a amended seal successful my ear. During a agelong car ride, I forgot my beloved Sonos Ace and had to edifice to my AirPods. The improved fresh and seal successful my receptor made for maximized audio and sound cancellation performance.

If you find that excessively overmuch outer sound reaches your ears owed to loose AirPods, these silicone wings could help. Like nan detachable receptor hooks, these silicone tips must beryllium removed earlier placing your AirPods backmost successful their charging case.

3. Ear extremity replacements

If you want to effort an action that doesn't request to beryllium removed to put your AirPods backmost successful their charging case, nan Azla Crystal silicone receptor extremity replacements are ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner's merchandise of choice. 

Also: I've utilized my AirPods Pro 2 since their 2022 release. Are they still worthy it successful 2025?

These receptor extremity replacements are reasonably priced, coming successful astatine 2 pairs of tips for $15 (at nan clip of writing). They're only compatible pinch AirPods Pro models and received 4.1/5 stars retired of 1,248 reviews. Thanks to their little slick surface, users opportunity these tips supply a much unchangeable fresh than nan original AirPods Pro tips.