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Oct 15, 2024

The 4 Best Headphones for Running of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Lauren Dragan Lauren Dragan writes about audio tech and OTC hearing aids. She has tested nearly 2,000 headphones and earbuds in her decade at Wirecutter. After completing new tests, we have new

By Lauren Dragan

Lauren Dragan writes about audio tech and OTC hearing aids. She has tested nearly 2,000 headphones and earbuds in her decade at Wirecutter.

After completing new tests, we have new picks coming for people who prefer to hear their surroundings: the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 (top pick) and the Baseus Eli Sport 1 (budget pick).

The JBL Reflect Aero TWS and JLab Go Air Sport will remain our recommendations for people who prefer to block out noise.

There’s a little ritual I do before every run. After the required prelude of lacing sneakers and applying Body Glide, I put in my earbuds, close my eyes, take a deep breath, and press play. In that moment, I shrug off the worries and responsibilities of the day. For the time being, it’s just me, the music, and the movement.

The act of propelling your body forward through space can have significant benefits for your physical and mental health, but the hardest part is taking that first step. If a good playlist is the motivation you need to get going, earbuds are an essential piece of running equipment.

Some runners like to block out noise completely. Others prefer to hear their surroundings. We have recommendations for both.

We looked for wireless running headphones that comfortably and securely fit all of our panelists, despite diverse ear shapes.

These headphones should be easy to use. And they should have the buttons you need, so you can put your phone away during a run.

To endure sweat, headphones need a rating of IPX4 or higher. The more punishing the environment, the higher the rating.

Our conversations with runners—from casual beginners to marathoners—have revealed that different runners value different headphone features. So instead of giving you a single top pick for all runners, we’re recommending a variety of earbuds to suit assorted needs.

We have a noise-isolating pair for treadmill runners, a couple of open designs that let you hear your surroundings when running outdoors, and an inexpensive set for occasional runners or folks on a budget.

Our recommendations in this guide come from the research and testing we’ve conducted for our general guide to the best workout headphones. Whereas that guide looks more broadly at sweat-resistant headphones and earbuds for a variety of workout activities, this guide focuses on some of the unique concerns that runners have.

The completely wireless Jabra Elite Active 65t earbuds are our top pick, thanks to good performance, sweat resistance, and a secure, comfortable fit.

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This pair reduces gym and street noise, sounds great, and has easy-to-use controls. But the sealed design isn’t ideal when you need to hear your surroundings for safety.

Runners who want to block out external noise, whether it’s the sound of a treadmill or the general din of big-city life.

The JBL Reflect Aero TWS true wireless earbuds have an exceptionally high level of protection against water and sweat (with an IP68 rating), and these small, light earbuds should stay securely in place when you run, thanks to the stabilizing wings.

The sealed design and active noise cancellation will reduce the sounds of traffic, the gym, or noisy workout equipment. And if you need to have a quick conversation or listen for an external sound, a natural-sounding hear-through mode is a tap away. Or when you want more situational awareness, you can choose to wear only one earbud at a time.

The battery life of eight hours is good for true wireless earbuds, and the pocket-sized case offers up an additional 16 hours of juice. The large, touch-based controls are easy to learn and use—and they’re less prone to misfires than other touch-based controls we’ve tried.

Google and Alexa users will appreciate the hands-free, voice-activated-assistant compatibility. The six-microphone array helps to reduce wind noise and ensures that your voice is clear for phone calls and video chats. This pair can also connect wirelessly to two devices at once.

Out of the box, the Reflect Aero TWS earbuds sound good, with some added oomph in the bass and added energy in the frequency range where consonants sit. Many people will enjoy the sound as is, but we liked it better after doing a little EQ tinkering in the app. If anything goes wrong, JBL covers this pair with a one-year warranty.

You can read more about the Reflect Aero TWS in our guide to workout headphones.

The stabilizing wings may bother people with sensitive ears or small ear canals. Though the winged design is ideal for running because of its grip, it can be fatiguing to wear for hours on end.

While the touch-based controls are easy to use, you can assign only two sets of controls: playback controls, ANC/hear-through controls, or volume controls (not all three at the same time). Alexa and Google fans may not mind this, since their preferred digital assistant is always listening for its wake word—so no tap is necessary.

Apple users can access Siri, but it involves a tap-and-hold on the touch control. (If you want hands-free “Hey Siri” control, consider the Beats Fit Pro instead.) We also wish the case supported wireless charging.

This wireless pair is akin to wearing tiny speakers aimed at your ears. The design keeps your ear canals unobstructed so you can stay alert while enjoying your music.

Runners who want to hear their surroundings while listening to music, and/or those who find conventional in-ear headphones to be uncomfortable.

The Cleer Arc II Sport consists of two speakers that sit outside of your ear canals and project the sound into your ears without blocking out all of the external noises. Many other companies have attempted this design, and the resulting earphones severely lack bass. By contrast, the Arc II Sport has enough bass to keep hip-hop and electronic music sounding enjoyable. And you can use the Cleer+ app to adjust the EQ to your preferred sound profile.

The open design feels as though everyone around you should be able to hear your music, but unless you max out the volume, nobody can.

When I first tried on the Arc II Sport, I was concerned that the fit wouldn’t be stable. But I jumped, shook my head, and went for a jog, and nothing budged. The true wireless design is lightweight, and I quickly forgot I was wearing earbuds at all.

Eight hours of battery life per charge is enough for most folks to run a marathon, and the IPX5 water-resistance rating means that rain and sweat won’t ruin your training. You get the full suite of touch-based controls, and they are large and easy to use—so you can keep your playback device tucked away for your run.

Bonus features include motion-based controls (you can nod your head to answer a call, for example) and UV sanitizing in the case.

The biggest flaw is the size of the case: It’s about the size of a thin bar of soap. That said, none of the devices in this style have small cases, and the eight-hour battery life means you likely won’t need to carry the case on your run.

We appreciate the motion-based controls, but we found them to be really hit-and-miss. This was especially true with the head-shaking to change tracks. Luckily, you can turn them off.

The microphones do a great job of removing wind noise, so if you wanted to take a call mid-sprint, your caller would still be able to understand you. However, the overall sound through the mics is somewhat distant, so don’t expect these to be your go-to for important calls.

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These bone-conduction headphones transmit music directly to your inner ear and keep your outer ear uncovered. Voices are clear, but you won’t hear a lot of bass.

Outdoor runners who want to hear their surroundings but dislike the feeling of earbuds or headphones on their ears, as well as people who wear hearing aids while they run.

The Shokz OpenRun (and its counterpart for smaller heads, the OpenRun Mini) is the best-performing pair of bone-conduction headphones for the price.

Unlike earbuds or headphones that use the air to transmit sound waves to your ears, bone-conduction headphones use vibrations that pass through your skull, bypassing the eardrum. So instead of sitting on or in your ears, this pair has pads that hug the sides of your head. Nothing blocks your ear canals, so your ears are left free to hear your surroundings.

This design can be especially helpful if you wear hearing aids, since both the Shokz and hearing aids can be worn simultaneously.

Fans of bone-conduction headphones will love this set’s clear vocal range, easy-access controls, solid build quality, light weight, and IP67 waterproof design, as well as Shokz’s two-year warranty. People with smaller noggins may prefer the Mini model to get a more secure fit—which is essential for sound to transmit effectively.

The set’s eight-hour battery life should get you through the better part of a day. And the quick-charge function provides about an hour and a half of battery life, after 10 minutes of being plugged in.

The microphone quality is clear but not noise-reducing, so to take calls, you’ll want to stop moving, to reduce windy interruptions.

Bone conduction will not appeal to everyone. If you are accustomed to a thumping bass line to power your run, this style is not for you.

The OpenRun pair has more low-end prowess than other bone-conduction pairs we’ve tried. But to truly hear any deep notes, you’ll need to turn the volume up to an intensity that causes the little pads on your temples to buzz and tickle your face. Voices and higher-pitched sounds are very clear, so fans of podcasts or acoustic guitar will be pleased with the sound, but hip-hop aficionados might be less thrilled—they may prefer the Cleer Arc II Sport described above.

Additionally, the use of a proprietary charging cable means you’ll need to be sure to keep the cable with you when traveling.

If you’re in doubt, Shokz has a 45-day return policy when you purchase through its site. So if you’ve never worn this style of headphones before, you may want to take advantage of that.

This pair is affordable without sacrificing what’s most important—but it doesn’t let you hear your surroundings.

New or occasional runners or anyone who doesn’t want to spend a lot on wireless earbuds.

If you don’t want to spend a ton of cash on running earbuds—either because you’re new to the hobby or you jog only once in a while—the JLab Go Air Sport durable and affordable earbuds are a great option. This true wireless pair is sweat-resistant, with an IP55 Ingress Protection rating.

The hook-over-the-ear design keeps the earbuds in place, even for tricky-to-fit ears or folks with a super-bouncy stride. Eight hours of listening time per charge is ample for most long runs, and the case holds an additional three full charges. You get a full suite of touch-based controls that are reasonably simple to use while you’re in motion—with a little practice.

While the sound quality can’t match that of our more expensive picks, it is still enjoyable—and pretty stellar for $30.

This sealed pair doesn’t let in any outside sounds and has no awareness or hear-through mode, so it isn’t a good match for runners who want to hear their surroundings to be safe. As with any isolating earbuds, the sealed tips of the Go Air Sport earbuds will amplify footfalls and breathing sounds.

Like the JBL Reflect Aero TWS set, this pair lets you use either earbud independently, if you prefer to keep one ear open. The large case likely won’t fit in a pocket, but it should fit in a running belt.

The microphone quality is somewhat muffled—people should be able to understand you, but they may ask you to speak up on occasion if you’re naturally soft-spoken. This pair is the budget pick in our main guide to the best workout headphones, so just pop over to that guide to get more details.

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If you prefer an ear-cuff design: If you’re interested in a design that slides onto the side of your ear, leaving your ear canal completely open and uncovered, the Soundcore Space C30i offers the best combination of design, performance, and price. Though the C30i has less bass response than our Cleer open-ear pick, music is still enjoyable to listen to. Plus, the fit is comfortable and stable, and the call quality is clear.

The downsides are that the touch controls are small and hard to find, and there’s no EQ tool in the app to fine-tune the sound. But if you want this style of earbud, you may be willing to overlook those downsides in a pair that’s this affordable.

In addition to having tested more than 1,750 pairs of headphones for Wirecutter, I’ve contributed articles to Fast Company, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, and Time, and I’ve done segments on Good Morning America, the BBC World Service, and NBC Nightly News. In fact, I’ve likely tested more headphones than anybody in the United States.

I’m also an avid runner in my free time, so I run with our picks on a regular basis.

For this guide, we tested the earbuds with the help of both runners and experienced audio reviewers who have a variety of ear and head shapes.

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We interviewed dozens of runners—from casual joggers to hardcore marathon runners. And the important lesson we learned is that there is no single headphone or earbud design that will please every runner.

However, there are some important considerations that apply to all good running headphones:

We put all of our running headphones through the same gauntlet of fit, sound, water resistance, Bluetooth connectivity, and training tests that we use for all workout headphones. You can read more about our lengthy testing process in our guide to the best workout headphones.

No matter how much testing we do, we can’t possibly account for every variety of ear shape and size (though we definitely try our best). You may have to try a few pairs of running headphones before you commit to one, so look for retailers that allow you to return or exchange. And save the packaging until you’ve had a chance to test out your new earbuds. Shake your head around, jump a few times, and give your running headphones the same sort of trial run that you’d give a new pair of sneakers.

Ill-fitting headphones are like a pebble in your shoe: tolerable for a while but distractingly painful over time. Size up your headphones with the same care you’d apply to any other piece of sporting equipment—miles down the road, you’ll be glad you did.

After completing new tests, we have new picks coming for people who prefer to hear their surroundings: the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 (top pick) and the Baseus Eli Sport 1 (budget pick).

The OpenRun Pro 2 is similar in general design to our current bone-conduction pick, the OpenRun, but it adds standard drivers—which means the Pro 2 provides more bass response and creates less vibration than previous Shokz models. We also like that this pair charges via USB-C rather than a proprietary cable and features an IP55 water- and dust-resistance rating.

The true wireless Baseus Eli Sport 1 earbuds have a hook-over-the-ear design, with a speaker that rests across the ear canal without fully blocking it. We like that this pair has full tap-based controls, IPX4 water resistance, and about 7.5 hours of battery life per charge, with an additional 22 hours in the charging case. For runners who like tethered earbuds that can be hung around the neck when not in use, the Sport 1 includes a removable rope neckband.

The JBL Reflect Aero TWS and JLab Go Air Sport will remain our recommendations for people who prefer to block out noise. Stay tuned for the new writeup.

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We’ve tested more than 250 pairs of workout headphones over the years. Below are some popular earbuds we’ve tested specifically for running that did not earn a spot on our list. If you don’t see a certain model you’re interested in, check out our comprehensive list of workout headphones we’ve tested.

1More Fit Open Earbuds S50: This pair has an open design, with the speakers sitting outside of your ears, but there is a small nub that rests in the ear canal to provide stability. Compared with the Cleer Arc II Sport, this pair has limited controls, a little less bass, and highs that can be a bit harsh.

1More Fit SE Open Earbuds S30: We had high hopes for this affordable pair. The fit feels comfortable and stable, but unfortunately the set is lacking in bass and has limited controls. We’d only recommend them for podcast enthusiasts.

Apple AirPods (3rd gen): These earbuds aren’t rated as being sweat-resistant—and because Apple’s warranty doesn’t apply to water or sweat damage, if the AirPods short out, you’re out of luck.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen): Although the IPX4 rating of the AirPods Pro means they’re protected from some mild sweat damage, these earbuds aren’t our first choice for runners. The controls are fiddly and can be tricky to activate while you’re on the move, and people who do have a bouncy stride may find that the earbuds can slip out of place.

Beats Fit Pro: This is our runner-up workout earbud pick. The wings on this true wireless pair will keep the earbuds in place for occasional jogs, and the sealed design and active noise cancellation can block out gym noise. But the Pro pair is less water- and sweat-resistant than the JBL Reflect Aero TWS, and it lacks full controls. And the “Hey Siri” function doesn’t work consistently well when there is a lot of breeze (like when you’re running). Folks who sweat a lot or run in the rain will want to get a more durable pair.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: The unusual, cuff-like design of this unsealed pair is surprisingly comfortable, especially for those who dislike the feel of standard in-ear headphones. This pair has more low-bass representation than other unsealed earbuds (including our unsealed pick, the Cleer Arc II Sport). However, the microphone quality is incredibly disappointing. Even in a quiet room, voices sound reedy and hissy on phone calls. Add any background noise, and the roaring, static-like cacophony that will greet your caller is distracting (in the case of one tester, it was bad enough for their conversation partner to request a call back with a different device). If Bose could improve the microphones, we might consider recommending this pricey pair—but for $300, we expect a more well-rounded set of earbuds.

Cleer Goal: This pair was a former pick because the earbuds fit securely and allow the wearer to hear the surrounding world. However, the sound lacks low-end presence, so music lovers may be disappointed when the bass line fails to kick in. We like the newer Arc II Sport design more.

Google Pixel Buds Pro: The main reason to get the Pixel Buds Pro is a desire to stay in the Google device ecosystem. Though the earbuds are IPX4-water-resistant and the case is IPX2-rated, the design may not be secure enough, especially for ears on either end of the size spectrum. If you aren’t doing high-impact workouts or don’t have issues with earbuds staying put in general, the Buds Pro earbuds are good, if somewhat pricey.

Jabra Elite 8 Active: We recommend this pair for general workouts, but we don’t think it’s as good for running specifically. The comfortable, rugged, ergonomically designed earbuds are stabilized using Jabra’s grippy coating that gets tackier when damp. We performed a series of very dynamic movements, and the Elite 8 Active set stayed put in our ears—but that may not be the case for people with smaller ears or those who clench and unclench their jaw when running, which might lead to the earbuds working their way out. Overall, we prefer the added security of wings when running outdoors. Plus the muffled-sounding hear-through mode is adequate for brief conversations, but less ideal if you need situational awareness for safety.

Jaybird Vista 2: We like the fit, size, single-bud capabilities, and impressive moisture and dust rating of IP68 (the case is IP54-rated). When they work properly, the Vista 2 earbuds are wonderful. However, we had two separate sets fail during our testing process. Although the third pair worked great, other people continue to experience issues at a frequency that makes us reluctant to recommend these.

Oladance OWS Sports: This pair has almost no bass, and the stiff band that wraps behind your head sticks out so far that you can’t look up without displacing the earbuds.

Philips Go TAA7607: If you like bone-conduction headphones and want a little extra visibility when training at dusk, this pair is pricey but good for what it is. Its performance is similar to that of the less-expensive Shokz OpenRun, but there’s a red LED strip across the cable in the back that can glow solid or flash so you’re easier to spot.

Raycon the Impact: We love the diminutive, pocketable charging case, and the tiny earbuds could be a good fit for smaller ear canals. However, the hear-through mode sounds muffled, and the noise cancellation is minimal. All of the EQ presets have sonic flaws, be it smeared bass or incredibly unbalanced frequencies. And the tiny touch controls are difficult to locate by feel when you’re on the move.

Shokz OpenFit Pro: This pair is very comfortable, and it has a small charging case. That’s why we were so disappointed that the bass distorts like crazy when you turn the volume up even to moderate levels. If you bring down the volume to the level where it doesn’t distort, the highs are still somewhat harsh. We also wish the OpenFit Pro had more controls than play/pause and skip/reverse.

Shokz OpenRun Pro: This pair is nearly identical to the OpenRun but adds quick-charge capabilities and two more hours of battery life. However, it’s less dust- and water-resistant, so unless you need an upgraded battery, we’d stick with our pick.

Soundcore AeroFit: We noticed that out of the box, this open-ear pair boosted male vocals and guitars while lacking in higher-frequency detail. When we adjusted the EQ, we learned why: The highs are terribly coarse and harsh in a way that can’t be fixed by anything except new drivers. Even podcasts are uncomfortable to listen to.

Soundcore AeroFit Pro: These are open earbuds that let you hear your surroundings, and they come with an optional, removable cable that runs behind the head to tether the earbuds. It’s clever for people who occasionally want more fit security, but the cable can’t be stored in or clipped to the case, and it’s cumbersome to carry. The fit is comfortable, and we appreciated the use of physical controls. However, those controls are limited, and this design is less likely to stay put because of its higher, front-heavy weight. The Pro is also lacking in low bass, even when you adjust the EQ.

Soundpeats GoFree2: While we appreciate this pair’s lightweight design and flexible hooks, it has coarse sound with piercing highs. The microphones sound distant and are unable to handle wind noise, essentially muting at the first gust. Worst of all, the app is frustratingly buggy and requires a confirmed email address.

Suunto Wing: We appreciate that this bone-conduction set includes a snap-in-place dock that charges the Wing on the go, much like the cases that come with true wireless earbuds. It’s bulky, but useful if you run out of battery life away from a power outlet. However, the bone conduction is less successful here than on our Shokz pick. Despite the Suunto app’s indoor/outdoor EQ settings, at volume levels sufficient to use outside, the Wing buzzes and vibrates, tickling your face annoyingly. And in quiet settings, people nearby can easily hear what you’re listening to—and your phone calls.

This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.

Lauren Dragan

I review headphones, OTC hearing aids, and other audio gear. Since joining Wirecutter a decade ago, I’ve tested nearly 2,000 headphones and earbuds.

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