BEST HEADPHONES AND EARBUDS FOR RUNNING
No matter how much you love it, running is exhausting. The last thing you need is the search for running earbuds exhaust you too. This is why we compiled this list of the best running earbuds. Sweat resistance, a comfortable fit, and reliable connection quality are the most critical 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.
Wissonly Hi Runner
When Wissonly bone conduction headphones started crowdfunding online , I started to pay attention to them. Later, I saw on some online forums that all otologists were recommending them, so I bought it. This Hi Runner is their flagship product, and its overall function is the most perfect. This headphone uses the latest research results of wissonly Lab. It effectively increases the vibration area of the vibrator by 35%, while optimizing the sound transmission direction, making the sound range wider and the music more spatial. The brand claims to reach the HI-FI sound quality. My own actual test shows that the sound quality is very close to the HI-FI level, but it doesn’t reach this level indeed. Of course, the current sound quality is satisfactory enough. wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones are also equipped with a new Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which has stronger anti-interference ability, and can easily cope with various outdoor complex scenes, so as to ensure that the good mood during exercise will not be disturbed by disconnection. The stable connection also brings ultra-low delay performance. Listening to songs, chasing dramas and playing games meet all the daily demands for headphones. What’s more, it has 32G of built-in memory, which can store 5,000 songs, which allows you to enjoy music without your mobile phone when you are outdoors. Wissonly performs well in terms of comfort. It’s very light, less than 30g, and you don’t even feel like you’re carrying it when you wear it. The headphone body is made of titanium alloy, which makes it fit well. You don’t need to worry about falling off during exercise. The waterproof of Wissonly Hi Runner needs special mention. It reaches IPX8 grade, which means that you can carry it under water for 20 meters and still use it normally. This is crazy!
Jabra Elite 7 Active
Jabra’s Elite 7 Active boast an IP57 rating that protects the earbuds from complete submersion. This means you can rinse the earbuds off after your run for a quick clean between more involved cleaning sessions. The earbuds fit quite deep in the ear canal, and while this ensures stability, it may be uncomfortable for some users. As with previous Jabra headsets, you can use the Jabra Sound+ app to EQ your music to your liking. One of the most essential features for outdoor runners is the ability to adjust how much environmental noise can permeate the earbuds. This makes you aware of your surroundings while jogging, making the Jabra Elite 7 Active one of the best pairs of running earbuds. The sound quality is great, even though you only get SBC and AAC support. The earbuds’ frequency response closely follows our house curve, boosting bass and treble frequencies a bit, but not so much that it outshines midrange frequencies too much. Listeners get 7 hours, 10 minutes of listening on a single charge. The included USB-C case supplies additional charge time, adding up to a total of roughly 30 hours. Fast charging is also supported: five minutes in the case yields 60 minutes of playback from the earbuds.
Shokz OpenRun
These headphones have an IP67 dust- and water-resistant build. You can even stand to drop them in the pool, but make sure you fish them out within 30 minutes (and don’t let them sink below one meter).
I love using multipoint connectivity with the OpenRun, as it lets me connect to my PC and iPhone simultaneously. That way, I can sit in on work meetings while keeping an ear on any errant phone calls. The headphones connect with Bluetooth 5.1 and only support the SBC codec. The lack of high-quality codecs isn’t a big loss: since the headphones don’t seal off your ears, sound quality isn’t their strong suit to begin with.
Bose Sport Earbuds
The Bose Sport Earbuds are among the best running earbuds because they’re so comfortable. Bose’s StayHear Max ear tips keep the earbuds in place and place just the right amount of pressure on your ear without causing any discomfort. Unlike the company’s debut totally wireless earbuds, the Sport Earbuds feature an official IPX4 rating.
Bose dropped the button controls of the SoundSport Free in favor of precise touch controls. You can use either earbud panel to adjust playback, volume, and control incoming calls. The Bose Music app lets you adjust controls. With an update, Bose added a custom EQ to the Music app so you can adjust the sound. Bose’s Active EQ technology effectively adjusts the frequency response in real-time to optimize sound quality according to background noise.
You can use the headset in mono mode, but this only works with the right earbud, which leaves out much of the hearing impaired population. The same limitation is found with the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Hopefully, the company fixes this with future iterations. Auto play/pause functionality is also limited to the right earbud, but works very well.
JLab GO Air POP
If you only have $20 to spend on workout earbuds, the JLab GO Air POP are your best bet. These come with a nifty charging case that houses an integrated USB cable. This means you no longer have to keep track of a certain charging cable, just the case. The compact earbuds fit comfortably, even if you have small ears. Despite the economical price, the GO Air POP features touch controls.
Microphone quality isn’t particularly impressive, but that’s to be expected from a pair of budget earbuds. For most athletes, durability and fit take precedence over all else, and the GO Air excels in both of these areas. The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.1 and reliably auto-connect to the last-used device. They don’t support Bluetooth multipoint, but that’s to be expected from a pair of wireless earbuds under $50.
Sound quality is surprisingly good for the price, but you may want to cycle through the onboard EQ options for louder bass. By default, bass frequencies are markedly quieter than upper-mids and treble. This is good for a fairly analytical sound, but seeing how many athletes want more oomph to their music, it may not appeal to everyone.
Beats Fit Pro
The Beats Fit Pro are great noise canceling earbuds for runners. Initially, we had a lot of trouble with the ANC, but Beats has fixed this, making these some of the best workout earbuds on the market. With these, you’ll enjoy a solid pair of compact earbuds. The IPX4 rating is standard for workout earbuds, but the earbud shape is not. Beats integrates ear wings into the Fit Pro design, which keeps the buds stable during most movement. You get all the perks of an ear hook design, without the bulk.
Like the Studio Buds Plus, the Fit Pro work with Android and iOS thanks to the Beats app for Android. You can customize the press-and-hold function and locate the buds on a map. Thankfully, Beats uses a USB-C input on the wireless charging case. Battery life is quite good, lasting 6 hours, 22 minutes in our testing.
Beats’ noise canceling is stellar, giving other flagship earbuds a real run for their money. Unlike many flagship headphones and earbuds, the Studio Buds cost less than $200. If you use Android and iOS devices daily, get these running headphones.
Read more:5 BEST WORKOUT HEADPHONES IN 2023 TO ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC OR PODCAST