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Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
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Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
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Jabra's Elite 7 Active provide a stable fit, sporty performance, and great features, from solid ANC and multipoint pairing to rugged waterproofing. Read More
A secure fit, long battery life, great sound, and a splash of noise canceling make for great all-around headphones—especially for the price point. Read More
The Beats Fit Pro are a sporty, high-performance alternative to the AirPods Pro, offering tons of features, great sound, and a stable fit. Read More
Sony’s Linkbuds are a unique and fun way to stay aware while you jam out, but their always-open design won’t be for everyone (or every occasion). Read More
Jabra’s Elite 4 Active serve up good battery life, great features like active noise canceling, and a rugged design at a refreshing price point. Read More
A pair of great running headphones can make a huge difference for people hitting the streets or the treadmill at their gym. Knowing that you’ll be able to clearly hear your favorite music or podcast can inspire hesitant runners to lace up their running shoes and get out there.
The best running headphones are durable, water and dust resistant, easy to control, and have a long battery life. Most of all, though, they need to be comfortable, have a secure fit and great sound quality. Two great bonuses are noise cancellation to block out sounds and transparency mode to keep you safe while running on busy streets.
After testing dozens of the best earbuds for running, the Jabra Elite 7 Active (available at Amazon) are our go-to running companions. The Elite 7 Active earbuds represent a killer mix of form and function: a rugged and water-resistant design, tons of features (including both transparency mode and active noise canceling), and easy-press controls so you can keep your phone packed away.
But everyone has different needs, from fit and features to budget. We've carefully selected sporty picks from the very best wireless earbuds for running on the market to help you customize your workout.
The Jabra Elite 7 Active are fantastic running headphones, and much more.
Snug and stable fit
Great battery and waterproofing
Loaded with features
So-so default sound
The JLab Epic Air Sport ANC are an exceptional value and perfect workout companions for those on a budget.
Secure, adaptable fit
Multiple sound options
Very long battery life
Over-ear loop isn't for everyone
The Beats Fit Pro are our pick for the best true wireless buds for iPhone
Clear, balanced sound
Good noise canceling
Ample feature set
Can be finicky on Android
No EQ modes
Case lacks wireless charging
Natural audio awareness
Good sound and features
Slick, micro design
Mediocre battery life
Narrow use cases
Face-tap controls are limiting
Snug, weatherproof design
Active noise canceling
Great features and battery
No auto-pause
Sluggish app connection
Water-resistant
Available in a number of colors
Long battery life
Bass-forward sound not for everyone
Ear hooks can be uncomfortable
Fully wireless earbuds make for the best running headphones.
There are some consistent issues that runners face with ear headphones. To find the best running headphones, we focused on comfort, sound quality, sound isolation, battery life, water and dust resistance, and ease of use, among other features.
Most features are tested in real-life situations, including sweat proofing, comfort, battery life, microphone quality, and connectivity. We also take them on workouts in and out of the gym to make sure they stay put under duress and allow for easy control while working out.
To analyze sound quality, we use a mix of real-world and lab testing, including data collection and A/B testing on factors such as maximum volume, passive and active noise attenuation (including active noise cancellation), and how well each earbud blocked outside and background noise. We also listen to a wide variety of music ranging from classical to hip-hop, rock, jazz, and more.
Durability is a huge factor for running headphones, and something with which earbuds have struggled. It’s difficult to test a pair of earbuds and conclude how well they'll hold up over time and with regular use (and abuse). During our testing, we look at things like their IP rating (for dust and water resistance), as well as noting any major issues noted in user reviews for our scores, which we may adjust over time as needed.
Whenever possible, we use earbuds over a prolonged period and update their firmware when available to test out the latest features and update our findings.
There are some very important aspects specifically for running headphones, including durability, a stable fit, and water/sweat resistance. We also look at other important aspects, such as easy-access controls so you won't have to slow your roll to pump up your jams. Headphones with push-button controls, such as Jabra models or the latest Beats, are particularly easy to use when you're hitting the pavement.
A stable fit is among the biggest considerations for any pair of running earbuds. Our top picks offer either a specialized grip and tight fit or, more commonly, fins or ear hooks to keep them in place.
Comfort is also important, of course, and our top pick is well-rounded for multiple scenarios. But if you’re particularly worried about your buds falling out, we recommend considering buds with a fin or ear hook design.
Most new wireless earbuds offer ambient sound modes, which would include noise canceling to block out external noise, and transparency mode to keep you aware of your environment.
Transparency mode, or some form of aural awareness features like open-ear design, is paramount to a pair of running headphones unless you’re someone who runs strictly on a treadmill.
With our recommendations, we emphasized transparency mode or other aural awareness features over active noise cancellation, which is more useful in workout earbuds in a gym rather than the track or street. Our top picks offer both options, however.
What do waterproof and water-resistance ratings really mean?
Every pair of earbuds on this list has an IP certification, which measures each pair’s ability to stand up to dust and water. If the first number is an “X,” it means the headphones have not been tested or designed for keeping out dust/ingress. The second number refers to water resistance.
For both categories, the higher the number, the better the protection. Any good pair of running headphones should offer at least IPX4 certification, which protects against splashes and moderate sweat.
A good pair of headphones can be an investment, but it likely will pay off for runners, who can be particularly tough on headphones. That doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to get a good pair.
While the top rated headphones might cost more and have better performance and more functions, more moderately priced headphones—like our budget pick, JLab's Epic Air Sport ANC (available at Amazon)—can still give you quality performance at a great value.
Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. Lee received Level II certification in TV calibration from the Imaging Science Foundation in 2013. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance.
Hailing originally from Montana, Ryan parlayed his time working as a musician and audio engineer into a career in digital media in 2012. Since then he's had extensive experience as a writer and editor, including everything from op-eds and features to reviews on TVs, audio gear, smart home devices, and more.
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