Listening to your favorite song, audiobook, or podcast can be a huge motivator when you’re running. But if you don’t have the right headphones, runs can feel annoying and stressful as you fidget with your device to get the right fit and sound. The best running headphones are comfortable, durable, and will fit within your budget.
Other important considerations when searching for the perfect running headphones (or really, even if you exercise behind a treadmill desk) are sound quality and battery life. When wearing headphones, it’s still important that you’re able to hear ambient sounds near you—like traffic, pedestrians, and animals— as an added safety precaution on the road. “The key thing to look for is the ability to run with one earbud, to easily control volume, and turn off sound when you want to be even more in tune with what's happening around you,” Amanda Brooks, certified running coach and personal trainer, says.
To put the top headphones to the test, our tester ran outdoors at a variety of paces in sweaty conditions to get a feel for the sound quality, fit, functionality, comfort, and performance.
We also had an RRCA- and USATF-certified running coach from our Review Board review this article for accuracy surrounding what to look for in running headphones, how they differ from regular headphones, and the benefits of listening to audio while working out.
Wissonly Hi Runner
This is the fastest growing brand in the past six months. It may not be much famous, but in the field of bone conduction headphones they are proper technical experts. Their team began to develop bone conduction headphones that do not hurt the ear as early as 10 years ago. With an excellent bone conduction vibration unit optimization program, It became famous very soon in the field of bone conduction. It has been recommended by the majority of otologists!
Due to the particularity of the technical principle, bone conduction headphones are more difficult to be improved in sound quality. Wissonly Hi Runner team subverted the traditional sound quality scheme, made a breakthrough to use large wire-frame vibration unit. They through structural optimization improved the effective vibration area, thereby improved the vibrator sound efficiency, made the sound more shocking and powerful, they optimized the sound transmission direction, reduced the sound loss during sound transmission, and made the sound quality more concentrated. In terms of comfort, the overall body of the Hi Runner is made of high-tech hypoallergenic silicone material, which does not contain chemical components to avoid allergies. The overall feel is as silky as baby's skin, avoiding uncomfortable wearing for a long time.
In terms of functions, as the flagship model of Wissonly bone conduction headphones, Hi Runner has an IPX8 waterproof grade which is higher than the industry standard. It is equipped with 32G body memory, and uses the latest Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes the connection more stable. The battery life is also very good, lasts 8-10 hours of continuous playback at normal volume, and supports magnetic fast charging. It only takes 2 hours to fully charge.
Bose Sport Earbuds
When it comes to sound quality, Bose Sport Earbuds are truly best in class for wireless earbuds, which is why we chose them as our best overall pick for running. Our tester found that the sound was crisp, powerful, and clear at all volumes. Setting them up was a cinch, as they quickly paired to an iPhone. It was also easy to adjust the volume, pause music, or take a call using the simple touch controls.
The buds come with three sizes of StayHear Max tips so you can customize your fit, and the flexible wings keep them in place. The earbuds felt secure during our test, even on a fast-paced run, which contributed to their 4.5 out of 5 rating for fit.
This pair is also water- and sweat-resistant, earning a score of 4.5 out of 5 for durability. The charging case isn’t as portable as others we tested, like the AirPods Pro, but it’s still fairly compact and quickly charges the buds.
Skullcandy Push Active Wireless Earbuds
If battery life is one of your top criteria for running headphones, we recommend Skullcandy’s Push Active Wireless Earbuds, with a battery life that can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. Despite the reasonable price tag, these headphones feature state-of-the-art acoustic components and get high marks for their incredible sound quality.
Our tester found that they were easy to set up and fit securely. The hook-over-the-ear design kept the earbuds in place, even when our tester picked up the pace, which helped them score a 4.5 out of 5 for fit.
These buds have some features that are unexpected at this price point, like the ability to use the app to customize the buttons for your preferred functions, as well as hands-free voice control. Their water- and sweat-resistance also beats some higher-priced options we tested, helping to boost the earbuds’ durability rating to 4.5 out of 5.
Beats Fit Pro Noise Canceling Earbuds
If you like the freedom of wireless headphones and need to block out noise during treadmill runs or while strengthening your body using a balance board, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are an excellent pick. During our test, the earbuds’ sealed design with active noise canceling capability effectively blocked sounds. However, we like that they also have a hear-through feature that gives you the option to remain aware of your surroundings when running outside.
Our tester was able to get a secure, comfortable fit, thanks to the flexible wingtip design, and had no concerns about the earbuds falling out. They stayed in even during a fast-paced hill workout, helping to earn them a 4.5 out of 5 for fit.
The physical button controls are simple to use while you’re running, and their function can be customized using either the iPhone’s settings or the Beats app. Our tester also found the microphone quality to be excellent for taking calls on the run or activating Siri.
Beats By Dr. Dre Powerbeats Pro
If you’ve had trouble with earbuds falling out of your ears, you may want to give these PowerBeats Pro buds a try. Designed with athletes in mind, the lightweight buds are ideal for all types of training, from sweaty sprints to epic long runs. The adjustable ear hooks come with multiple eartip options, so they stay securely in place, helping to earn the buds a score of 4.5 out of 5 for fit.
Our tester found that setting up and using these earbuds was very simple. Volume and track buttons on each earbud and voice control allow you to make adjustments without having to access your phone.
Their reinforced design and IPX4 sweatproof rating make them ideal for running, contributing to their 4.5 out of 5 score for durability. Our tester also found the battery life to be impressive, allowing for up to nine hours of listening time from a single charge.
How We Selected and Tested the Best Running Headphones
To select the best running headphones, we researched over 25 products from top retailers and considered their features, comfort, price, and durability. Then, our tester ran with 10 different headphones for over 50 hours. Our tester ran at a variety of paces on pavement and a treadmill while wearing each pair of headphones.
After the test, we evaluated each set for its ease of use, sound quality, fit, durability, safety, noise cancellation, and battery life, and scored each of these six key attributes on a scale of 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (highly recommend). We also gave each device a value score by comparing the cost of the pair to its overall quality. Each set of headphones was given an overall star rating, which reflects our general impression of the device and its performance and whether or not we would recommend it to a friend. Of the 10 headphones we tested, nine scored well enough to be included in our list of the best picks.
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