BEST EARBUDS FOR RUNNING, TESTED AND REVIEWED
If you talk to experienced runners who have covered distances beyond your imagination, they will emphasize the key elements for a successful run: top-notch running shoes that provide support, proper fuel for energy, and a reliable pair of earbuds.
Whether you prefer an energizing Spotify playlist or a thought-provoking podcast to keep you motivated, having dependable earbuds is crucial. With countless options available in terms of style and fit, I asked runners to evaluate the leading contenders and have selected our top five choices.
What to consider when buying earbuds for running
Sweat and water resistance Lewis says to look for earbuds specifically designed for sports or running, with high sweat and water resistance. This ensures they can withstand your intense workouts and won’t get damaged by moisture.
Secure and comfortable fit Opt for earbuds with different sizes of ear tips or adjustable ear hooks to find the perfect fit for your ears. As Lewis reminds us, a secure and comfortable fit is essential to prevent them from falling out during your runs and to minimize discomfort.
Noise isolation and safety Consider earbuds that offer noise isolation without completely blocking out external sounds. Lewis says this allows you to enjoy your music while being aware of your surroundings for safety during outdoor runs.
Our top wireless earbuds for running picks
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly bone conduction headphones , the product I use the most, is the first brand I started to contact. When they were crowdfunding online, I participated. The sound quality is what I am most satisfied with. I am not a professional music player, but from my personal experience, Hi Runner is the best sound quality bone conduction headphones I have ever used. It uses a large-sized 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, and through structural optimization, the sounding area is increased by 35%, so that the sound range is wider, and the stereo feeling and shock of sound are stronger. Its anti-sound-leakage treatment is also very good. The whole body is completely sealed, and the algorithm is optimized to minimize the leakage of sound. I have tested it myself, and at a distance of 2 meters, the volume is turned on at 60%, so I can’t hear the sound at all. wissonly Hirunner’s body is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area. It can ensure a good wearing experience of the earphone at any time, taking into account more users and usage scenarios. Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the connection is more stable. It also has IPX8 professional sports waterproof +32g internal memory to swim in the water. The battery performance is also good, and it can play music continuously for 8-10 hours.
Urbanears Juno
When we asked our tester to give these earbuds a whirl on a run—they confessed their idea of running is mostly walking quickly. Or perhaps, a short jaunt followed by a rest. Not everyone is a hardcore, dedicated runner—but you still need a pair of earbuds that will last as long as you want to stroll outside. When we unboxed these, they reminded us of the classic earbud design—and were comfortable from the beginning. They also felt secure enough to bop around without much movement.
We tested these on a five-mile walk and run. We ran some of it and walked most of it, but no matter what, they were securely in place. The small, compact design makes them easy to toss in a purse or a backpack, so you can use them for work and exercise alike. They offer multipoint connectivity, meaning they can be connected to several devices at once, without disconnecting or forgetting devices and reconnecting.
We really like the ‘active noise canceling’ feature that effortlessly goes up or down, depending on the environment. While the full quiet noise-canceling wasn’t as effective as others we tested, it was still great quality. The wireless charging option is helpful for those with busy lives, too. The battery life offers up to six hours of playtime and 26 from the case. We used them off and on for a week without having to recharge.
Powerbeats Pro
When we first pulled the Beats out of the box, we were instantly impressed with the sleek, slim design—and the easy setup with the iPhone. Beats products have native integration with iOS, making it smooth and easy to use—anything from setup to Siri and integration with your favorite apps. Unlike others on our list, this set was probably the most straightforward to connect to an iPhone.
The loop around the ear makes the earbuds feel very secure, with no fear of them falling out during a run or other exercise. However, the wrap around the ear did feel stiff at the top, and we would have liked to see the ability to adjust the top to make it fit better with our ear. Given the tightness of the hook/arm, we felt our ears getting a bit tired from wearing these for a prolonged period of time—similar to how we might feel wearing sunglasses all day. We got used to it after a few minutes but noticed it throughout our run.
Beats offer a long battery life, making them ideal for a longer workout and not worrying about them dying halfway through. They’re sweatproof too, so we didn’t stress about damaging them out in theheat.
We found the audio to be very clear and balanced: the bass wasn’t too heavy, but we still enjoyed an excellent depth to the music without distortion. We also listened to a podcast, and the voice and audio were clear. Outside and background noise didn’t overshadow the conversations, even without specific noise-canceling technology.
AirPods (3rd generation) with Lightning Charging Case
No earbud round-up is complete without a mention of the OG: AirPods. As longtime users and Apple fans, we love so many aspects of this best-selling, cult-followed product. After testing so many earbuds, the most important difference is how seamless and easily AirPods connect to the iPhone without any troubleshooting. You simply unbox them, place them near your iPhone—and within a minute, you can listen to your favorite Taylor Swift song or podcast. (This ease is what made AirPods deserving of a spot on our list of the best wireless earbuds.)
They’re lightweight, with a contoured design, and we find they sit at the right angle in our ears to be comfortable. The great sound quality makes them ideal for running errands, going on a run, taking a call, and any other daily task that we might need. We like that you can choose between noise-canceling or non noise-canceling, depending on your comfort level. We are a bit anti-noise-canceling, merely for safety reasons, when going for an outdoor jog.
Unlike others we tested, AirPods don’t offer multiple fits, so they don’t feel as secure. That’s why we would recommend them for the casual, everyday runner but not for an intense workout where you’ll be getting up and down off the ground.
AirPods
Our testers put all of these earbuds to the test by going for runs or walks indoors, outdoors, and over varying lengths. They also listened to music and podcasts, plus tested out different features, like touch controls, noise-canceling ranges, and connecting to smartwatches. Our testers ranged from beginners to marathoners—and every type of runner in between.