There\u2019s nothing quite like getting into the zone during a run, and for many of us, the right soundtrack is a requirement. Whether you need classic rock, reggaeton or an immersive audiobook to properly settle into your morning jog, you’ll get the best listening experience if you have the best running headphones that suit your style and needs. But not all wireless workout headphones<\/a> are created equally, and runners need to consider specific needs before investing in a pair like how long your runs are, what type of music or other audio you prefer listening to and how much you want to block out the world during a session. If you\u2019re just getting into a new running routine and need a pair of headphones that can keep up, or you\u2019re a seasoned pro looking for an upgrade, you\u2019ve come to the right place. We\u2019ve tested more than a dozen pairs to come up with our top picks for the best headphones for running and help you decide which is right for you.<\/p>\n Editor’s note (July 2024):<\/strong> Jabra recently announced it will exit the consumer earbuds business<\/a>, which is disappointing considering the company has made excellent headphones for running (and all other types of exercise). Our top picks include two Jabra models and we feel comfortable recommending them still because Jabra plans to support its current earbuds for “several years.” However, we’re constantly testing new buds and reassessing our top picks, so we’ll update this list accordingly in the future.<\/p>\n Before diving in, it\u2019s worth mentioning that this guide focuses on wireless earbuds<\/a>. While you could wear over-ear or on-ear Bluetooth headphones during a run, most of the best headphones<\/a> available now do not have the same level of durability. Water and dust resistance, particularly the former, is important for any audio gear you plan on sweating with or taking outdoors, and that\u2019s more prevalent in the wireless earbuds world.<\/p>\n Most earbuds have one of three designs: in-ear, in-ear with hook or open-ear. The first two are the most popular. In-ears are arguably the most common, while those with hooks promise better security and fit since they have an appendage that curls around the top of your ear. Open-ear designs don\u2019t stick into your ear canal, but rather sit just outside of it. This makes it easier to hear the world around you while also listening to audio, and could be more comfortable for those who don\u2019t like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds.<\/p>\n Water resistance and dust protection are crucial for the best running headphones to have since you\u2019ll likely be sweating while wearing them. Also, if you have the unfortunate luck of getting caught in the rain during a run, at least your gear will survive. Here\u2019s a quick rundown of ingress protection (IP) ratings, which you\u2019ll see attached to many earbuds on the market today. The first digit after the abbreviation rates dust protection on a scale from one to six \u2014 the higher, the better. The second digit refers to water- resistance, or waterproofing in some cases, ranked on a scale from one to nine. A letter \u201cX\u201d in either position means the device isn\u2019t rated for the corresponding material.<\/p>\n Check out this guide<\/a> for an even more detailed breakdown. All of the earbuds we tested for this guide have at least an IPX4 rating (most have even more protection), which means they can withstand sweat and splashes but do not have dust protection.<\/p>\n Active noise cancellation (ANC) is becoming a standard feature on wireless earbuds, at least in those above a certain price. If you\u2019re looking for a pair of buds that can be your workout companion and continue to serve you when you\u2019re off the trail, ANC is good to have. It adds versatility by allowing you to block out the hum of your home or office so you can focus, or give you some solitude during a busy commute on public transit.<\/p>\n But an earbud\u2019s ability to block out the world goes hand in hand with its ability to open things back up should you need it. Many earbuds with ANC support some sort of \u201ctransparency mode\u201d or various levels of noise reduction. This is important for running headphones because you don\u2019t want to be totally oblivious to what\u2019s going on around you when you\u2019re exercising outside along busy streets. Lowering noise cancelation levels to increase your awareness will help with that.<\/p>\n All of the earbuds we tested have a battery life of six to eight hours. In general, that\u2019s what you can expect from this space, with a few outliers that can get up to 15 hours of life on a charge. Even the low end of the spectrum should be good enough for most runners, but it\u2019ll be handy to keep the buds\u2019 charging case on you if you think you\u2019ll get close to using up all their juice during a single session.<\/p>\n Speaking of, you\u2019ll get an average of 20-28 extra hours of battery out of most charging cases and all of the earbuds we tested had holders that provided at least an extra 15 hours. This will dictate how often you actually have to charge the device \u2014 as in physically connect the case with earbuds inside to a charging cable, or set it on a wireless charger<\/a> to power up.<\/p>\n When testing to determine the best running headphones, I wear each contender during as many runs as possible. I typically run three to five days each week, completing at least a 5K (3.01 miles) each time. I\u2019m looking for comfort arguably most of all, because you should never be fussing with your earbuds when you\u2019re on the tread or trail (as a note, I primarily run outside). I\u2019m also paying attention to fit over time, particularly if the earbuds get slippery or loose while I sweat, or if they tend to pop out or feel less stable in my ears as I pick up speed or make quick movements.<\/p>\n I also use the earbuds when not running to take calls and listen to music, podcasts and the like throughout the day. Many people will want just one pair of earbuds that they can use while exercising and just doing everyday things, so I evaluate each pair on their ability to be comfortable and provide a good listening experience in multiple different activities.<\/p>\n While I am also listening for audio quality, I\u2019m admittedly not an expert in this space. My colleague Billy Steele holds that title at Engadget, and you\u2019ll find much more detailed information about sound quality for some of our top picks in his reviews and buying guides<\/a>. Here, however, I will make note of audio-quality characteristics if they stood out to me (i.e. if a pair of earbuds had noticeably strong bass out of the box, weak highs, etc). Most of the wireless workout headphones we tested work with companion apps that have adjustable EQ settings, so you\u2019re able to tweak sound profiles to your liking in most cases.<\/p>\n Photo by Valentina Palladino \/ Engadget<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Connectivity:<\/strong> Wireless | Style:<\/strong> In-ear with wingtip | Assistant support:<\/strong> Google Assistant, Siri | Water resistance:<\/strong> IPX4 | Active noise cancellation: <\/strong>Yes | Battery life:<\/strong> Up to six hours<\/p>\n Read our full review of the Beats Fit Pro<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Beats Fit Pro<\/a> came out at the head of the pack thanks to their comfortable, secure design, good sound quality and transparency mode and general ease of use, among other things. As Billy detailed in his review<\/a>, the Fit Pro\u2019s wingtip design sets them apart from other Beats earbuds and makes them particularly good for running and other workouts. The buds are fairly small and light, and the wingtip on each is flexible enough to hug your ear snugly without too much pressure. This helps them feel more secure when you\u2019re moving around a lot, be it during a morning jog or while taking a HIIT class. The buds are also rated IPX4 \u2014 not the highest level of protection out of everything I tested, but enough for even my sweatiest sessions.<\/p>\n As it were, the Beats Fit Pro stayed put during every single run and workout. However, adjusting their position on the fly can lead to one of my few gripes: accidental presses of the onboard controls. There were a number of times when I went to move a bud and I ended up pausing my music in the process because the buttons are so easy to trigger. While I do prefer the tactile feedback of a physical button as opposed to the touch controls on other earbuds, Beats should have changed their position on the buds or made them a bit harder to fully engage.<\/p>\n Sound quality is solid and, thanks to its punchy bass and overall balance, is especially suitable for exercising. Spatial audio support is great to have, and while Adaptive EQ means you can\u2019t tweak the EQ yourself like you can with other buds, it does make for consistently good audio quality. It\u2019s also one less thing to play with out of the box, which I expect many people will appreciate; these earbuds are a true unbox-and-go option.<\/p>\n ANC is also great on the Beats Fit Pro, but transparency mode is what really shines. Like I said, full ANC can be dangerous when you\u2019re running outside, whether you\u2019re in the middle of a city or on a trail. It pays to be able to hear what\u2019s going on around you, at least a little bit, and the Fit Pro\u2019s transparency mode was the best out of the earbuds I tried. Similar to Apple\u2019s AirPods Pro, it sounded more natural than on our runner-up pick, and it\u2019s easy to turn on or off either with onboard buttons or from the control panel on your iOS or Android smartphone.<\/p>\n Speaking of, the Beats Fit Pro works particularly well with iPhones thanks to the built-in H1 chip, but Android users can download the companion app to access things like quick pairing, control customizations and a battery status indicator. I didn\u2019t get into detail about the setup process because, well, there isn\u2019t much of one. As soon as you unbox the Fit Pro and open the case, the H1 chip communicates with iPhones and other iOS devices to almost instantly pair the buds and get them ready for use.<\/p>\n I will say, though, that I was surprised by one thing when I unboxed the Fit Pro: how cheap their charging case feels. While it provides an extra 21 hours on top of the buds\u2019 promised six hours of life, the build quality of the case itself feels like a real step down compared to the buds themselves. Some charging cases on much less expensive alternatives felt more substantial than the Beats Fit Pro\u2019s, but I recognize that it won\u2019t deter most people (including me). Aside from that and the touch controls, the Beats Fit Pro offers a complete package for runners and other athletes alike, one that can be used all day, not just during training sessions. Plus, their standard $200 price isn\u2019t too cost-prohibitive, and they can often be found on sale for less.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nWhat to look for in running headphones<\/h2>\n
Design<\/h3>\n
Water resistance and dust protection<\/h3>\n
Active noise cancellation and transparency mode<\/h3>\n
Battery life<\/h3>\n
How we test headphones for running<\/h2>\n
Best headphones for running<\/h2>\n
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