You already have a good pair of running shoes, moisture-wicking clothing, and maybe some clip-on lights that allow you to run in the dark. Now it's time to invest in the best running headphones.
Whether you’re a casual runner or putting in the miles to train, experts say it’s important to minimize distractions when you hit the road. The best running earbuds are designed to do just that and stay comfortably locked in so you can reduce your pace and increase your mileage.
So, what are the best running headphones?
We’ve found some of the best running earbuds that won’t fall out, so you can stay connected and motivated throughout your run, whether you’re nearing the finish line of a marathon or taking your first steps at the gym.
1. Jabra Elite 7 Active
Jabra is one of our favorite headphone brands, and they've just released their latest and greatest workout tech product: the Elite 7 Active headphones. These durable headphones have an IP57 water resistance rating, which means they can easily withstand sweat and rain. The earphones are also ergonomically designed to stay in place in your ear whether you’re sprinting, doing HIIT training, or boxing. We ran full half marathons with these headphones without them falling out, and they were incredibly comfortable the whole time.
Jabra’s Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology is powerful enough to block out all the city noise and terrible music from the gym, and a hear-through mode lets you pay attention to your surroundings if necessary. Making calls on the go? Four microphones give you loud, clear sound, while an "Acoustex" mesh blocks annoying wind wisps.
Sound quality is also excellent, with full sound, and you can even customize the audio settings to your liking with the Jabra sound app. Battery life is solid: eight hours on a single charge and up to 30 hours with the included charging case.
With the Elite 7 Active, you get a pair of smartly designed earphones that will stand up to your toughest workouts without letting you or your music down.
Buy: Jabra Elite 7 Active
2. Jaybird Vista 2
Small, lightweight, and surprisingly rugged, Jaybird’s Vista 2 earphones are among the best running earphones on the market. One of the key features of these earphones is safety, thanks to interchangeable ear tips and curved ear cups. In other words, the Vista 2 won't fall out no matter what you do.
With IP68 waterproofing, the headphones can handle copious amounts of sweat, rain, or dirt. You also get active noise cancellation and six-millimeter speakers that deliver high-quality sound. Finally, despite their small size, the Vista 2 have an impressive eight hours of battery life, plus an additional 16 hours with the included charging case.
Although these headphones were released a few years ago, we still use our Jaybirds when we go for a run. Don't just take our word for it: hundreds of top athletes use Jaybird earphones, including NBA star Jimmy Butler, U.S. long-distance runner Des Linden, and many others.
Buy: Jaybird Vista 2
3. Bose Sport Headphones
With these new Sport headphones, Bose has significantly improved on the previous generation’s footprint. Sleek and secure, the Sport earphones feature comfortable ear cups and three interchangeable tips. As you’d expect from Bose, you also get exceptional sound quality from high-efficiency drivers.
Another feature we like about these Bose headphones is their intuitive touch control, which only requires swipes and taps to pause, play, adjust volume and take calls. Plus, you don’t have to worry about water or sweat, because the Sport headphones are IPX4 water resistant.
When it comes to running headphones, brands often sacrifice sound quality for durability and comfort, but with Bose, you don’t have to choose.
4. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
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Apple’s best-selling AirPods Pro is great for working or listening to music, but they’re also some of the best running headphones around. In our testing, the gummy silicone tip almost never fell off, which is especially surprising since the AirPods Pro is so lightweight (just in case, Apple provides four tips so you can find the one that works best for you).
The second generation AirPods Pro offers improved sound and performance thanks to Apple’s H2 chip, which allows for more intuitive and immersive sound. Battery life is also significantly improved, with up to 30 hours of listening time with the included wireless charging case.
While Apple’s previous earbuds were always water resistant, the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) earbuds and case are IPX rated for water and sweat resistance. Apple has always made great headphones for music, but with the AirPods Pro 2, the company has also created an ideal pair of headphones for fitness.
Buy: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
5. Soundcore Life A2
Soundcore’s Life A2s are a good pair of versatile headphones for runners, with exceptional battery life.
The wireless earbuds come with four sizes of ear tips (XS, S, M, L, XL) and three sizes of ear cups (S, M, L). It is important that the earphones fit properly, as a loose seal around the eardrum significantly reduces the bass quality of the earphones.
The Soundcore Life A2 is IPX5 water resistant, which means they can withstand sweat (or a run in the rain) without being damaged.
Three features make the Soundcore Life A2 stand out. The first is battery life-Soundcore says these headphones offer up to seven hours of music playback per charge (two more than AirPods Pro) and an additional 23 hours with their battery case. The headphones support fast charging, so 10 minutes in their case will give you an hour and a half of listening time.
Second, these headphones support active noise cancellation, which uses their microphones to block up to 90% of noise. This can help you block out noise from the gym so you can focus on your workout. Finally, you can adjust the sound of the Life A2s in the Soundcore app (iOS and Android) by adjusting their equalizer to suit your tastes. This ensures that the headphones sound good to your ears.
Buy: Soundcore Life A2
6. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX headphones
A luxury option for runners who want the best, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX headphones are the state-of-the art in wireless headphones.
Their sleek lines and sophisticated appearance conceal a host of performance-oriented features: waterproof construction, active noise cancellation and up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge.
Bang & Olufsen claims to have applied its “signature sound” to the EX, which is no small feat. The company’s headphones and speakers are renowned in the audiophile world. If you’re looking for headphones for running and general music listening, this is the right choice.
While the company’s headphones have struggled with water resistance in the past, the new generation of the EX boasts an IP57 rating. That means they’re dust-, splash-, and sweat-proof, and can withstand light rain without a problem.
Buy: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX headphones
How to Choose the Best Running Headphones: Buying Guide
As a general rule, the best running headphones should be lightweight and secure (meaning they shouldn’t fall out if you sprint), as well as resistant to sweat, unexpected wind, and rain. But there are other factors to consider when buying; here’s what you need to know.
Style and fit: The best running headphones come in three styles: in-ear, behind-the-ear and totally wireless. All three are designed to stay in your ears, but each has a unique fit.
In-ear headphones are similar to what most people use for casual music listening. The difference is that they have “fins,” a small, curved piece that slides into the ridges of your ear and holds them in place as you move. They’re lightweight, discreet and connect to each other via a cable.
Behind-the-ear headphones have a clip that wraps around the back of the ear for stability. They’re a little heavier than in-ear monitors, so they’re more noticeable. They also connect to each other via a cable.
Totally wireless headphones have the same style as in-ear headphones, but connect without a cable. They’re lighter, but sacrifice battery life and can have a more fragile connection.
Battery life: If you’re going on a long run, you’ll need a pair of earbuds that won’t shut off in the middle of a run. Earbuds are smaller than other types of headphones, which means they have smaller batteries (especially the total wireless pairs), but our choices last at least five hours per charge. The latest and greatest wireless headphones offer fast-charging capabilities, so you can recharge the battery in as little as 15 minutes.
IPX Rating: The IPX rating of an electronic device indicates its level of resistance to dust and water. All the headphones in this guide have at least an IPX6 rating, which means they are dust, sweat and water resistant.
Bluetooth chip: Running involves a lot of movement, so we chose earphones that support Bluetooth 5.0, a new wireless standard that saves battery life and creates a solid connection between your earphones and your phone.
Audio Quality: The goal of wearing headphones while running is to distract you from the pain of cardio, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of listening to your music. All of our choices offer full sound, even when you’re on the move.
