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H20 Audio Ript Ultra: Two-minute review
Our list of the best workout headphones is largely populated by earbuds, and there are scant over-ear options that are designed specifically for exercise. Enter the H20 Audio Ript Ultra, which are very very exercise-oriented.
Check one for the Ript Ultra, but cross the other. These are headphones that fix a few big pain points for gym-goers or runners, but at a high cost that non-exercise cans can easily undercut.
The selling point here is that the Ript Ultra are totally sweatproof: their silicone ear cushions are enclosed so no liquid can get to the drivers, and they can also be removed to be cleaned easily. Not to be sniffed at, that.
I also liked how tight and reliable a fit the H20 Audio cans provided: on runs and at the gym, they stuck reliably and resolutely in place, without slipping or falling as other headphones, even workout-specific cans, have. They rarely became uncomfortable, though my ears did get quite hot under the thick cups, so they might not be suitable for long summer runs (which is probably precisely what you’d want them for. Sorry).
As exercise cans go though, these do a great job at fixing the problems that make the best headphones poor tools for the task. But they also miss off several key perks that their ‘standard’ brethren too.
The audio quality is nothing to write home about sadly, and the noise cancellation is good but not great. The cans feel a little bit cheap in the hand, due to their using the same kind of hardy plastic regularly seen in budget tech, and there’s no companion app for your phone to let you fine-tune the sound or enjoy extra features.
None of these is categorically a deal-breaker, especially in headphones designed for use when you’re on the go in workout gear. But ultimately the rather high price of these headphones can, and should, have you asking for a little more.
H20 Audio Ript Ultra review: Price and release date
- Released in mid-2025
- Debuted for $249 / £244 / AU$410
- Cheaper now
The H20 Audio Ript Ultra are priced akin to some pretty premium non-workout headphones. Debuting for $249 / £244 / AU$410, they ain’t cheap.
Since their mid-2025 release, they’ve dropped in price a little bit. In the US they’ve dipped towards the $200 mark at times, and in the UK they’re reliably below the £200 bar. But even with price cuts, they’re still pricey against direct rivals — see for instance the workout-specific Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active, with bass slider, which also launched in summer 2025, but at a cheaper $209.99 / £169.99 / AU$349.99. Oh, and they too are now also seeing discounts here and there.
The default models of Ript Ultra are black or gray, but two other models are available if you hunt around. There’s a pink Betty x RIPT model, with a skull-and-butterfly logo on the cup (I couldn’t work out who, or what, Betty was), and an orange Zwift x RIPT model themed around the cycling app. These versions seem to only differ in design colorways, not feature set.
H20 Audio Ript Ultra review: Specs
|
Drivers |
45mm |
|
Active noise cancellation |
Yes |
|
Battery life (ANC off) |
50 hours |
|
Weight |
304g |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.2 |
|
Frequency response |
Not specified |
|
Waterproofing |
Not specified |
H20 Audio Ript Ultra review: Features
- 50 hours of battery life
- Slight ANC complements the PNC
- No extra features from app (because there is no app)
The quoted battery life of the H20 Audio Ript Ultra is 50 hours (presumably with ANC off, lower with it on). With cans often pushing the 100-hour mark these days, that’s far from best-in-class, but I’d imagine it’s still more than enough juice for most users. You’d have to forget to charge for quite a few marathons to run dry.
It’s a little tricky to know how much battery you actually have, though, as the headphone voice simply says “battery: high” or similar. Luckily my Android phone can tell me the charge of paired accessories, so I could see the Ript’s percentage, but others might need to rely on this vague reportage.
Because of the thick silicone cups, the Ript Ultra has pretty solid PNC, or passive noise cancellation, which can strip out loud background sounds without taking up any of your battery charge. There’s ANC too; turning this on made a small impact on noise, and it’s probably worth leaving off if battery is a concern.
There’s no smartphone app to give you extra controls over the Ript Ultra: what you see is what you get. No equalizer, no ‘find my’ function, no listening tests. None of these are mandatory on headphones, but when you’re paying a high price, you’d hope for a little more than ‘zilch’.
H20 Audio Ript Ultra review: Design
- Solid clamping force — secure, not uncomfortable
- Sweatproof & cleanable, removable ear pads
- They do get hot during workouts
The entirety of H20 Audio’s sales pitch rests on its design, and I must say: job well done. Immediately, I noticed a workout cans pet peeve of mine was fixed: these things clamp on your head tight, and in all my hours of running and gym-going with them, they never fell off.
The main draw is their sweatproof design. While there’s no IP rating, they’re meant to be totally immune to perspiration: the silicone ear cups won’t disintegrate like leather ones will, and can be removed to be cleaned easily. I found all these sales points to be totally accurate.
Silicone isn’t the most comfortable material to wear, though, as it gets very warm. Frequently on runs, my ears would heat up and the area would get quite sweaty. The pads are also a bit thicker, and heavier, than alternatives I’ve used, but looking at the grand picture, these are also some of the most reliable workout headphones I’ve used because of the ear pads.
In the box, you do also get some other ear pads: they seem like leather to me, and they’re softer. I wanted to test the default, more sweatproof option, so I didn’t use these much, but it’s a nice move that H20 is giving you regular alternatives.
On the left cup, there’s an ANC button and USB-C port, and the right one has a power button, volume up and down buttons plus, perhaps surprisingly, a 3.5mm jack. That’s right, you can plug these puppies in if you want better audio quality.
The Ript Ultra fold down, and come in a carry case for extra protection. According to my kitchen scale, they weigh 304g, but I’d say they fall in the general category of ‘slightly heavier than normal over-ears’. The plastic they’re made from feels a little cheap, and creaks a little in the hand, which initially made me worry that they were real cheapies. I was wrong those; having tested them for days now, I’m quite sure this plastic was actually used deliberately as it’s more durable than other solutions.
H20 Audio Ript Ultra review: Sound quality
- Custom 45mm driver
- Decidedly flat, occasionally muddy audio
- Lacking the crisp bass injection I’d have liked for workouts
Since H20 Audio packed the Ript Ultra with a custom 45mm driver, I was expecting a pretty unique sonic experience. But it was unique in the way a weekend at Glastonbury is: muddy.
The headphones have a pretty flat audio output, not offering scooping (or overdriven) bass as many many exercise fans would like, or treble to offer something a little different. Audio lines sound a little indistinct, smushed together, and music has… whatever the opposite of an expansive soundstage is. A congested presentation? Yes, a little.
The overall sound profile is generally warm, with lower-frequency sounds given prominence, but not clarity. Bass blends and bleeds into the rest of the mix: in Kasabian’s Underdog, I couldn’t tell what was bass and what was kick-drum.
If the planets align, you can get some lovely shaking bass with the headphones; Niko Moon’s Paradise To Me offered a really lovely sub-bass. But the few exceptions made the rule even clearer. In the chorus of Sam Fender’s Hypersonic Missiles, you’d think every instrument was recorded from the exact same microphone, for how even they sound.
Now, the great caveat: do people care about clarity and detailed audio in exercise headphones? I have no doubt that many will ignore this section. But some gym-goers or runners will want that extra bit of bass to help them knuckle down, or the sparkling treble to underpin that fantastic chorus that gets you to the finish line. I don’t think muddy audio like this will inspire people to greatness or shave any time off your 10k PB.
The headphones connect via Bluetooth 5.2 — not 5.4, as H20’s website lists — and there’s no support for additional high-resolution codecs. What you hear is what you get. And if that’s OK with you given the sweatproofing, fine. But it’s not better than fine.
H20 Audio Ript Ultra review: Value
- Mid-range price for headphones
- Other options get you more for your money
I’ve referred to the H20 Audio Ript Ultra as being a pricey pair of headphones; they certainly are, but it’s worth noting that workout cans tend to be a little pricier than their standard counterparts. That’s what you’re getting for longevity.
Despite that note, though, the Ript Ultra do feel a little expensive for what you’re getting. The lack of tie-in app, middling audio and ANC are all a little hard to swallow when you’re paying a premium.
So what price would you put on protected headphones? If price is no concern, then these are fine for you, but there are alternatives that offer you more for your money. I’ve seen some reports online that this model is prone to breaking — although do note, that was not my experience — but it’s always worth thinking about how you’ll use them before spending the cash.
Should I buy the H20 Audio Ript Ultra?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
The battery life is solid enough, but the ANC isn’t and the lack of an app or extra features hurts. |
3/5 |
|
Design |
They may be a little bulky, but they’ll tick every box that an exerciser could want checked. |
4.5/5 |
|
Sound quality |
The audio isn’t fantastic, with a lack of clarity and soundstage underlining an indistinct sonic offering. |
3/5 |
|
Value |
Beyond the exercise-proof design, you’re really not getting much extra for your cash. |
3.5/5 |
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
H20 Audio Ript Ultra review: Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
H20 Audio Ript Ultra |
SkullCandy Crusher 540 Active |
Raycon Fitness Headphones |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Drivers |
45mm |
40mm |
Not specified |
|
Active noise cancellation |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Battery life (ANC on) |
50 hours |
40 hours |
38 hours |
|
Weight |
304g |
312g |
Not specified |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 5.2 |
Bluetooth 5.0 |
Bluetooth 5.0 |
|
Waterproofing |
IP54 |
NA |
IPX4 |
How I tested the H20 Audio Ript Ultra
- Tested for a month
- Tested at gym, on runs of various lengths, on walks and on public transport
I used the H20 Audio Ript Ultra for the best part of a month in order to write this review. They mostly saw use during my exercise (gym or runs around my borough), several times per week, but on occasion I used them in other settings like public transport and trips to the shops.
For the testing process, the headphones were paired to my smartphone, listening to music on Spotify Lossless, Tidal or installed media, as well as watching videos on YouTube and Prime Video, as well as making calls.
I’ve tested a plethora of exercise headphones for TechRadar in the past, as well as other audio products and fitness tech. These include some products cited in the competition section.
- First reviewed in April 2026
Read the full article here
