Best Earbuds for Running
Best Running Earbuds
No matter how much you love it, running is exhausting. The last thing you need is the search for running earbuds to also be exhausting, which is why we compiled this list of the best running earbuds. Sweat-resistance, a comfortable fit, and reliable connection quality are the most important factors to look out for. Everything else is just icing on the cake. Now, lace up those shoes, slather on that deodorant, and get running.
The best running headphones should be true wireless earbuds or at least wireless after all, headphones with a wire can interfere with your stride. After years of testing sports headphones and wireless headphones, I've found the models that are most ideal to use while on a run.
Whether they're over-ear headphones, bone conduction, or wireless in-ear buds, you're looking for a secure and comfortable fit. This is particularly important because losing one earbud on your run can be a tragedy. Decent sound quality is also essential, as is durability, battery life, noise cancellation and reliable performance with minimal dropouts. And the running headphones also need to be sweat-resistant.
The best running headphones should help boost your performance and keep your mind occupied while you run. They also need to stay in place above no matter how vigorous your workout may be, and if they make your music sound fantastic even better.
Your gear will also need to be able to withstand sweat and possibly rain, depending on your location. What's more, we believe that the best running headphones can improve your performance significantly; there's plenty of research that proves music can transform your runs.
Just as waterproof headphones are best for swimming, so too are the best running headphones optimized for the unique challenges of staying secure while you jog and sprint your way to optimal fitness.
Whether you're a seasoned athlete training for an upcoming event or just like to go for a jog now and then, a good pair of sports-oriented wireless earbuds can make all the difference in your exercise routine. While many runners prefer going truly wireless, having a cable between your earbuds can be a benefit when you're working out in the gym. Truly wireless earbuds eliminate the annoying rustling sound you hear when a cable brushes against your shirt, also called microphonics. However, if you're receiving instructions from a coach or simply want to strike up a conversation with a friend, it's a lot easier to just let your earbuds hang around your neck while they're not in use.
We’ve tested over 180 wireless earbuds, and in-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best earbuds for running and working out to buy. Also, make sure to check out our recommendations for the best headphones for working out, the best wireless earbuds under $100, the best neckband headphones, and the best true wireless earbuds.
The Three Types of Buds
For the sake of making useful comparisons, we segmented our test pool into three categories: truly wireless; truly wireless with a hook over the ear; and wire-connected, which means there’s a wire or band joining the two earbuds to each other. We also added a fourth category of cheap earbuds—under $70. Here’s what to expect from each type.
1. Truly Wireless
These buds have neither connecting wires nor hooks that extend around your ear; you just push them in and go. Being compact makes them lightweight, and their small batteries means shorter runtimes, although all of our test models came with charging cases that allow you to juice them up on the go. They also tend to be the most expensive. An example is the Jabra Elite Active 75t above.
2. Truly Wireless with Ear Hooks
Adding a hook can improve an earbud’s fit, since there’s a second point of contact to hold it in place. The hook can also store antennae or a battery, helping these buds play longer than their truly wireless counterparts. They’re generally marginally cheaper than truly wireless models, but some cost more than $200 anyway. Examples include the Beats Powerbeats Pro, JBL Endurance Peak, and Plantronics BackBeat Fit 3100.
3. Wire-Connected Earbuds
These earbuds are still untethered from your phone, but they use a wire or band to connect the buds and store batteries, microphones, or an antenna. If you can get past the connecting wire, you’ll enjoy better battery life (eight or more hours, compared to four from truly wireless) and a significantly lower price.
Best Earbuds for Running Buying Guide
This buyer’s guide would cove all the aspects and points you should keep in mind before purchasing a wireless earbuds pair. Sports guys who listen to music during sports activities, running, or workout would found this post informative and up to the mark. I tried my level best to share accurate information.
It is a fact that wireless earbuds removed the tension of ripping off the cables on a wired pair during exercise. You can see the guys around wearing an over-ear headphones pair for exercise but always facing trouble and disturbance. This guide would help you decide on a purchase that would be durable and reliable.
The first thing you should keep in mind before making a purchase is what is your budget line and what sort of earbuds you want. By what sort I mean the variety of earbuds brands would allow you to choose anyone on the market. The fact of your interest could not be ignored here. You should look for compatibility and connectivity options very keenly because later on you would face problems and could not enjoy the fun.
Do not forget to choose the dynamic performance with nice controls and also a pair of wireless earbuds with mic for calling options. Switching from your music to a call without interruption is essential. Hopefully, this guide would help you choose your priority.
The first thing you should keep in mind before making a purchase is what is your budget line and what sort of earbuds you want. By what sort I mean the variety of earbuds brands would allow you to choose anyone on the market. The fact of your interest could not be ignored here. You should look for compatibility and connectivity options very keenly because later on you would face problems and could not enjoy the fun.
Do not forget to choose the dynamic performance with nice controls and also a pair of wireless earbuds with mic for calling options. Switching from your music to a call without interruption is essential. Hopefully, this guide would help you choose your priority.
How to Choose the Best Running Headphones
There's lots to consider when it comes to choosing the best running headphones for your needs. Firstly, make sure that your new buds have an IPX4 water-resistance rating or above; this means that they'll be able to withstand a little sweat as well as a spot of rain.
Fit is also really important, particularly if you opt for true wireless earbuds, which can be prone to falling out – if that's a worry look for earbuds that sport fins to keep them securely in your ear, or better yet, a pair of neckbuds that are connected by a wire.
You'll also need a battery life that will last your longest runs and workouts, as well as your daily commute if your new running headphones will double up as your regular cans.
These are the basics – some of the best running headphones also go one step further with features like heart rate monitors and AI personal trainers.
1. Wireless Earbuds Good for Running
It's easy to see the allure of completely cable-free earphones for runners it's one less thing in the way, and especially on runs in hot weather, the absence of a neckband can be a blessing. But not all true wireless earbuds are made for running, and among the ones that are, some are better than others.
In such a young product category, it's important to remember that the designs are improving at a rapid pace, but you're still getting in early enough that some kinks are not yet totally ironed out. That said, there are already plenty of solid options we feel comfortable recommending.
We'll walk through the various features and factors to consider when picking a truly wireless in-ear pair for running, and discuss some of our favorites here.
Often, a product is listed as having a rating of, say, IPX7. That X is a placeholder, not something that stands for "extreme" or any other rugged superlatives. IP ratings follow a simple structure: The first number denotes the dust ingress rating on a scale of 0-6, and the second number denotes water protection on a scale of 0-8 (there are some higher degrees of IP protection for liquids, but they are rarely seen on consumer-level products).
So if a product is listed as IP56, it means that the dust ingress protection is rated at 5, and the water ingress protection is rated at 6. The X is a placeholder because, often, companies will simply not thoroughly test for dust ingress, but they know they've built a product sturdy enough to provide some basic level of protection from it. So rather than put a zero there, which would look bad, the X means the product likely has a degree of dust protection, but it wasn't measured.
Furthermore, the numbers don't necessarily correspond to some obvious system—a higher number does mean a higher level of protection, but each number is a new, very specific degree of protection. IPX5, for instance, means the product is protected from water projected from a certain-sized nozzle. IPX7 means the product can withstand being submerged up to a meter—this is typically the highest IP rating you'll see.
Most runners except you ultra-marathoners doing desert runs—needn't worry too much about dust protection ratings, but water and sweat resistance is crucial, so make sure you know the IP rating beforehand. Plenty of manufactures claim a product is "waterproof" when it actually has a low IP rating and can't withstand any real water pressure.
In such a young product category, it's important to remember that the designs are improving at a rapid pace, but you're still getting in early enough that some kinks are not yet totally ironed out. That said, there are already plenty of solid options we feel comfortable recommending.
We'll walk through the various features and factors to consider when picking a truly wireless in-ear pair for running, and discuss some of our favorites here.
2. Withstanding Water and Sweat
If you're going to wear true wireless in-ears for running or other exercise, some level of water resistance is crucial. IP ratings are becoming a more common inclusion on product spec pages and on the outside of boxes for headphones, so it's important to understand what they actually mean.Often, a product is listed as having a rating of, say, IPX7. That X is a placeholder, not something that stands for "extreme" or any other rugged superlatives. IP ratings follow a simple structure: The first number denotes the dust ingress rating on a scale of 0-6, and the second number denotes water protection on a scale of 0-8 (there are some higher degrees of IP protection for liquids, but they are rarely seen on consumer-level products).
So if a product is listed as IP56, it means that the dust ingress protection is rated at 5, and the water ingress protection is rated at 6. The X is a placeholder because, often, companies will simply not thoroughly test for dust ingress, but they know they've built a product sturdy enough to provide some basic level of protection from it. So rather than put a zero there, which would look bad, the X means the product likely has a degree of dust protection, but it wasn't measured.
Furthermore, the numbers don't necessarily correspond to some obvious system—a higher number does mean a higher level of protection, but each number is a new, very specific degree of protection. IPX5, for instance, means the product is protected from water projected from a certain-sized nozzle. IPX7 means the product can withstand being submerged up to a meter—this is typically the highest IP rating you'll see.
Most runners except you ultra-marathoners doing desert runs—needn't worry too much about dust protection ratings, but water and sweat resistance is crucial, so make sure you know the IP rating beforehand. Plenty of manufactures claim a product is "waterproof" when it actually has a low IP rating and can't withstand any real water pressure.
3. Battery Life and Charging Cases
Battery life is definitely the glaring weakness of the true wireless category thus far. The best pairs can carry on for perhaps five to six hours on a full charge, and the worst last only three or even two hours. This is why charging cases, with docking areas and an internal battery that can carry several more full charges, is a critical part of true wireless design.
That said, I don't see many runners carrying a charging case and docking earpieces for extra battery life on a long run. But this is also because—again, ultra-marathoners, this excludes you—most of these battery life ratings will be fine for runs. If you run a full marathon, there's a chance your true wireless in-ears will last most of, if not the entire, race. If you run a half marathon, you almost certainly don't need to worry about running out of juice. Of course, battery life relies heavily on volume levels, so one way to get a longer result is by listening at lower levels.
Many sports-focused models include extra fit accessories like earfins, or even bands that wrap around the earpiece to increase its width slightly. Nearly all the materials involved are some form of rubber or silicone, which aids the secure fit.
That said, I don't see many runners carrying a charging case and docking earpieces for extra battery life on a long run. But this is also because—again, ultra-marathoners, this excludes you—most of these battery life ratings will be fine for runs. If you run a full marathon, there's a chance your true wireless in-ears will last most of, if not the entire, race. If you run a half marathon, you almost certainly don't need to worry about running out of juice. Of course, battery life relies heavily on volume levels, so one way to get a longer result is by listening at lower levels.
4. In-Ear Fit
Let's move on to something nearly all true wireless headphones are good at: staying in place. It's critical that the earpieces are both lightweight and notably larger than earpieces for wired earphones. This larger contour will typically rest against various areas of the ear for added stability. Eartips that seal off the canal are also crucial for keeping the earpieces in place, and ensuring solid ear-to-ear audio balance and bass depth. That's why models like Apple's AirPods don't make the cut for this list: They lack a secure in-ear fit.Many sports-focused models include extra fit accessories like earfins, or even bands that wrap around the earpiece to increase its width slightly. Nearly all the materials involved are some form of rubber or silicone, which aids the secure fit.
5. Apps and Extra Features
This is the real wild card in this category. Some companion apps merely help you pair your earbuds with your phone, and some are loaded with extra features. The best app for our money is Jabra's, which has excellent EQ and a host of features like an ambient Hear-Through mode, a pink noise option for concentration (which is perhaps less likely to be used while running, but still useful), and a motion sensor. The JayBird app also has a user-adjustable EQ, making its sound signature easy to take from bass-heavy to nearly flat response. It also features playlists from athletes, though the EQ is arguably the primary selling point.
There are also third party tie-ins in the app realm the JBL UA True Wireless Flash earphones come with a year's premium membership to MapMyRun, for instance. It's also worth noting that this model has an ambient aware listening mode that is activated by tapping one of the on-ear controls, no app required. The Jabra Elite Sport, meanwhile, offer a built-in heart rate sensor and accelerometer to track fitness stats, which we found to be generally reliable in testing
There are also third party tie-ins in the app realm the JBL UA True Wireless Flash earphones come with a year's premium membership to MapMyRun, for instance. It's also worth noting that this model has an ambient aware listening mode that is activated by tapping one of the on-ear controls, no app required. The Jabra Elite Sport, meanwhile, offer a built-in heart rate sensor and accelerometer to track fitness stats, which we found to be generally reliable in testing
How to Test Best Earbuds for Running
To keep the playing field level, we asked for the same feedback from all of our testers, thinking about which qualities were important to us as runners who use these devices. Here’s how to evaluate:
1. Sound Quality
Our staffers aren’t audiophiles, so evaluating sound quality is largely subjective. Still, we’ve all used earbuds before, and we asked our testers to compare to others they’ve tried and provide specific feedback on the way their test buds made their favorite songs and podcasts sound.
And because isolating you from the outside world should lend a clearer sound, we expected better sound quality from earbuds that fit snug in the ear than we did from earbuds that let in a lot of noise. For the best of both worlds, some of the pricier models offer an ambient sound mode, which uses the device’s microphone to bring in outside noise while maintaining a tight fit.
2. Fit and Ambient Sound
How an earbud fits affects how much outside sound it lets in, and there’s no ideal balance for everyone. Some runners like buds that fit deep in their ears and block all outside noise, allowing them to focus on the tunes, while others prefer lots of environmental sound from a looser fit. (The latter fit is safer for running outside and among other people.) So although we didn’t rank the earbuds by ambient sound, we did rank them based on whether they stayed in our testers’ ears.And because isolating you from the outside world should lend a clearer sound, we expected better sound quality from earbuds that fit snug in the ear than we did from earbuds that let in a lot of noise. For the best of both worlds, some of the pricier models offer an ambient sound mode, which uses the device’s microphone to bring in outside noise while maintaining a tight fit.
3. Connectivity
We also asked testers to evaluate how quickly and easily the buds connected to their phones, and how far they were able to get from their phones before the signal cut out. And we recorded any mid-run connectivity issues.
4. Quality
In two weeks of testing, we encountered few quality issues, but we also asked our testers to discuss how the earbuds felt—you’d expect a $200 set of buds to feel premium compared to a $40 pair. For long-term quality assessment, we checked user reviews from Amazon and other retailers looking for persistent issues, and we’ll update our findings if any issues crop up as we continue to run with these models.
5. Water- and Sweat-Resistance
None of our testers had issues with water or sweat ruining their buds, but in a longer test scenario, moisture can and will destroy earbuds that aren’t capable of repelling it. So we factored in each device’s IP, or Ingress Protection, rating. The rating consists of two numbers. The first indicates dust protection, the second is for water protection. “X” in place of either number means there’s no data (so an “IPX” rating means dust protection wasn’t evaluated). The second number, for liquid ingress, is the one that matters most to runners.
A score of one or two means an earbud can withstand dripping water; Scores of three to six mean it will survive increasing amounts of rainfall for longer periods of time. The gold standard is a score of seven to nine, meaning the earbud can be submerged in varying depths of water without failing. Most earbuds in this test have an IP rating, and most ratings were IPX4 or above.
A score of one or two means an earbud can withstand dripping water; Scores of three to six mean it will survive increasing amounts of rainfall for longer periods of time. The gold standard is a score of seven to nine, meaning the earbud can be submerged in varying depths of water without failing. Most earbuds in this test have an IP rating, and most ratings were IPX4 or above.
6. Battery Life
We checked manufacturer’s claims against our testers’ experience and noted discrepancies where they occurred.
We’ll continually update this roundup with our test impressions of the latest wireless earbuds for runners, and tell us what you think about your buds in the comments.
We’ll continually update this roundup with our test impressions of the latest wireless earbuds for runners, and tell us what you think about your buds in the comments.
