THE BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS FOR RUNNING
Nowadays, the market offers a wide range of running headphones that are not only compact and budget-friendly but also free from wires, giving you a hassle-free experience. However, it can be quite challenging to determine the audio quality of these miniature wireless earbuds before making a purchase.
To provide valuable insights for comparison, we divided our test samples into three distinct categories: Truly wireless earbuds, which are completely wire-free; truly wireless earbuds with ear hooks for added stability; and neckband earbuds. The term “neckband” refers to a wire or band connecting the two earbuds, eliminating the need for a wire to connect them to your cellphone.
The Best Headphones for Running
Wissonly Hi Runner
This is the most configured bone conduction headphones on the market Wissonly bone conduction headphones are the first brand I started to contact. When they recommended it on the online crowdfunding platform, I noticed it, after saw that many people were recommending, and I bought it. This Hi runner I used for a few months, and the overall performance was better than I expected. Some bone conduction headphones leak sound, and you know that I take privacy very seriously, so I’m very concerned about anti-sound-leakage technology. Wissonly Hi Runner does a very good job in the field. Its body is sealed, and through structural optimization and algorithm adjustment, its sound leakage is minimized. The official claim they can eliminate 90% of sound leakage. I do not have professional equipment to test, but I have tried and found that at 60%-70% volume, the sound is completely inaudible at a distance of 1.5 meters, which makes me very satisfied. I have actually compared it with other bone conduction headphones, and the Wissonly Hi Runner has currently the best sound leakage reduction solution in bone conduction headphones. The Wissonly Hi Runner is also particularly comfortable in the wearing experience. Because the material of the whole machine is high-tech hypoallergenic silicone, and it is coupled with the ergonomic design that conforms to the structure of the human ear, so that users will not bring any burden to the ear under long-term wear. Sound quality as the core performance is undoubtedly worth mentioning. Hi Runner uses a large-sized vibration unit, the sound range is wider, the sound is more three-dimensional and deeper, so the sound quality is undoubtedly very good. And it is also equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 chip, the connection is more stable. And it will not be disconnected when used, which is a good experience. The Wissonly Hi Runner also comes with 32GB of built-in storage that can store 5,000 songs, so you can use it completely as an MP3 player to enjoy music without your phone when you go out for a run.
Jabra Elite 4 Active Wireless Earbuds
While we loved Jabra’s now-discontinued Elite Active 75t for all-around use, the Elite 4 Active are the headphones you want if you plan to use them for running only. And, at just $120, they’re a heck of a bargain. For that low price, you don’t expect features like active noise cancelation, ambient noise pass-through, and customizable EQ, but that’s all standard in these running earbuds. Plus, compared to the Elite Active 75t, this model gives you more playback time on a single charge—seven hours from just the buds and up to 24 hours with the rechargeable case. Furrer finds the Elite 4 Active quickly connect to her Garmin Forerunner 745 every time she takes them out of the charging case. The earbuds completely seal your ears so, if you’re worried about hearing cars on the road, take one bud out—they work independently, unlike many running earbuds.
Jaybird Vista 2 Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds
The Vista 2 lasts eight hours on a single charge—long enough to get you to the finish line of your next 26.2—and two hours longer than the original Vista. Plus, you’ll get an additional 16 hours with the charging case. This update preserved the same earbud shape, with a secure fit that seals out dust and moisture. Speaking of moisture, the sweat- and waterproof 2 improves to a rating of IP68 from the first version’s IP67. Double-tap (don’t press) to change between Active Noise Canceling (ANC) and SurroundSense (ambient noise pass-through) modes.
Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) Wireless Earbuds
Apple overhauled its open-ear design to be a version that sits between its existing base model and the noise-canceling Pro. The third generation has a shorter stem and smaller case, like the Pro, but keeps that open-ear design (the Pro has sound-isolating ear tips). It’s been a love-hate feature of the original AirPods for many runners—they just don’t stay put for some people. The housing has been redesigned here and is a little more rounded. “To me, it feels like they almost don’t fit as well as the originals when I first insert them, but then they feel more secure as I start running
Urbanista Phoenix
Some GPS running watches now have solar-powered batteries that allow the watch to charge whenever you’re using it in direct sunlight. The tech inside the Urbanista Phoenix works a bit differently, but still gets you more playtime before you need to reach for the charging cord. The black portion of the Phoenix’s charging case is a textured solar cell material called Powerfoyle. Any time the earbuds are placed inside the case under direct light—natural or artificial—the buds and the case will charge continuously. In the Urbanista companion smartphone app, you can actually watch the needle move along a dial as the case registers light in your environment. It then displays how much battery you’ll gain in terms of hours and minutes of playtime. While I’ve found this feature works best in the bright outdoor sunshine, I still achieved a decent charge with the case placed under a lamp at my desk. But, you’ll need to keep the case close to the bulb to soak up any significant amount of juice quickly. That’s not especially convenient, though it does come in handy if you forget the charging cable at home.