Running is an activity with a minimal entry barrier, necessitating only a few essentials. However, to optimize performance and enhance the enjoyment of running, it's essential to seek out top-notch gear. While investing in high-quality Nike running shoes and smart running watches is a wise choice, overlooking premium running headphones would be a missed opportunity.
Indeed, listening to your favorite music before or during a run has been shown to enhance aerobic performance and reduce blood lactate levels in endurance runners, as indicated by a 2023 study published in the Journal of Human Kinetics. Nowadays, advancements in Bluetooth and wireless technology have resulted in an abundance of options, not only in terms of the best headphones for running but also in various types, including wireless headphones, noise-canceling earbuds, neckband earbuds, bone-conduction headphones, and even the traditional corded ones.
Navigating the vast selection of wireless earbuds and running headphones can be overwhelming. However, adopting a systematic approach to consider the available features, identify your specific needs and preferences, and determine which type of running headphones can fulfill those requirements can help you narrow down your choices effectively.
Our Testing Process
In order to present you with this compilation of the top 10 running headphones, I conducted extensive testing over a period of one month. This involved trying out more than twelve different products, including popular brands like Apple and Beats, as well as some lesser-known ones. Throughout the testing process, I went on approximately five runs per week, varying in distance, speed, and intensity, to assess the comfort and performance of each pair. I utilized the headphones for listening to music and podcasts, and also made test calls to evaluate the quality of the microphone and speaker when used with a phone. In cases where Bluetooth headphones offered multiple audio modes, I thoroughly reviewed each one, and even explored companion apps whenever they were available. Below, you will find my personal account of the finest wireless headphones suitable for running.
Wissonly hi runner
Wissonly is a brand known for its technology and the fastest growing brand in recent times. Their R&D team are all technical experts in the field of
bone conduction headphones. As early as 2012, they started to develop bone conduction headphones that don't hurt ears. With advanced bone conduction vibration technology, they have been recommended by the majority of otologists!
What impresses me most about Wissonly Hi Runner is their excellent sound quality. They are equipped with a large-size directional bone conduction vibration unit, which increases the effective sounding area by 35% through structural optimization, thus making the sound range wider and the sound more stereoscopic and shocking. At the same time, they have also improved the problem of sound quality loss caused by low sound transmission efficiency of traditional bone conduction headphones. Together with world-class audio tuner, they have customized an exclusive sound quality output scheme for Wissonly Hi Runner headphones in the world's top tuning laboratory. More than 20 audio tuners have been adjusted for 85,036 times, finally showing a really good sound quality which belongs to bone conduction.
The body of the MIC DG Pro is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area to ensure a good wearing experience of headphones and take into account more users.
As the core component of the product, the headphones plays a key role in the product experience.
Wissonly Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the Bluetooth connection is very stable. It also has 32G of built-in memory, and it also supports IPX8 waterproof, which can even be used for diving.
JBL Endurance Peak 3
If battery life is your top priority, JBL Endurance Peak 3
sport headphones are hard to beat with 10 hours of playback in the headphones and 40 more stored in the case. There's a lot more to like here though: a secure and comfortable ear hook design makes drop impossible, and an adaptive transparency mode that lets in some but not all ambient noise. The magnetic ear hooks make putting them on take some getting used to, and the case is larger than the other headphones on this list, but the sound quality is great, and when you do need to recharge, they use a now-universal USB-C cord.Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The recently released Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
earbuds boast all the features that are must-haves for high-end earbuds. Namely, noise cancellation and transparency modes. But they offer multiple modes for each one, allowing you to really fine tune how much you hear, which is nice if you plan to wear them for running in addition to work and travel. There's even an adjustable equalizer for audio customization, too, and they wouldn't be on this list if they didn't fit well during a run. The kicker is a whopping 50 hours of max battery life, and just 10 minutes in the pocket-size case will get four hours in a hurry, which should be plenty for a long run during marathon training. Jabra Elite 7 Active
Eschewing the popular stem-and-bud design many earbuds opt for, Jabra Elite 7 Active
has a unique, ergonomic shape that contours with your ear. The shape produces the most comfortable fit of all the earbuds we tested. It's not just snug, it also feels secure, so you won't have to reach up every quarter mile to re-adjust. Their sound quality is excellent, too, whether you're listening to music or podcasts, and you can use an accompanying app to customize your EQ settings or receive software updates. For a cheaper earbud that's nearly as comfortable and has nearly all the same features, Jabra makes the $120 Elite 4 Active
. Shokz OpenRun
Of all the passive-fit headphones we tested, none leave the ear as unobstructed as Shokz OpenRun
, which use bone conduction to transmit sound vibrations to your inner ear via your cheekbones instead of the eardrum. The design allows for full awareness of ambient sounds around you, and a fit that's remarkably comfy and stands up to the bouncing of a run. Sound quality takes a small hit as a byproduct. Among Shokz headphones, OpenRun Pro
has better audio, but is less waterproof and more expensive ($180). That said, runners who are consistently plagued by earbuds that pop out will love the wraparound fit.Key Features in the Best Running Headphones
Waterproofing
Even if you never plan to even think about running in the lightest of drizzles, waterproofing is a must-have feature for running headphones. The reason: sweat. Many early-generation AirPods owners have found this out the hard way (and the latest third-gen model is now sweat-resistant as a result). This goes for all headphones though—with time and regular use, even small amounts of sweat can work their way into the electronics and cause issues.
Any headphones you plan to run in should come with an ingress protection (IP) rating of IPX4 (i.e. sweatproof) or greater, and at least IPX5 if you want to run in the rain. You might also come across a rating listed with two numbers, such as IP54, where the first number denotes the headphones have been tested for protection from solids, like dust, too. All the headphones in this guide are at a minimum sweatproof (IPX4).
Noise Cancellation and Ambient Sound Transparency
In the past, noise cancellation only came in large over-ear headphones. Now, it's a relatively common feature in earbuds and is included in many of the best headphones for running. Many—but not all headphones with noise cancellation—also feature a transparency mode where the headphones electronically permit ambient noise to pass through into your audio.
The existence of this tech is a hint at the primary pro-con with noise cancellation: safety. While it's nice to be completely immersed in music or a podcast, it's generally advisable to maintain an awareness of what's going on around you wherever you're running so you don't step in front of a cyclist passing "ON YOUR LEFT!" (or worse).
In contrast to noise-canceling headphones are open-ear or passive-fit headphones, which let in ambient noise by nature of a design that neither enters nor covers the ear canal. These headphones sacrifice some audio quality but are the safest you can get without ditching music entirely.
Fit
Every ear is different. For some, those little gel cups just don't cut it. Once you start pounding the pavement, an ill-fitting bud is bound to bite the dust. Alternatively, you can don earbuds that boast arms that wrap around and behind your ears, or small fins that grip the inside of your ears. The best option is a matter of personal preference.
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