The 15 Best Pairs of Running Headphones, Reviewed by Our Editors

No drumroll here. We’re coming in hot with the winner of the all-around best running earbuds. You can sprint, leap, and even flip, and these babies will stay put, pumping out consistent sound you'll love. They last for 9 hours on a single charge with an additional 15 hours in their carrying case.

You get expansive, best-in-class listening (let’s be honest, Dr. Dre wouldn’t steer you wrong) and the same seamless iPhone connection as you would with regular AirPods. Powerbeats Pro comes with an IPX4 rating, which translates to splashproof and weather resistant (just don’t submerge them entirely). The low profile and lightweight design fits most ear types without falling off or causing any pain, even on longer runs. With over-ear headphones, a common complaint is that they weigh down your ears over time, but these are too light for that to happen.

Plus, you can pick from a wide array of colors to express your personality. If you’re one to claim that AirPods never feel quite right in your ears, but love the ease of connectivity in them, these are for you.

“The true wireless earbud revolution has been terrific for fitness overall. But no pair matches the ear security and confidence delivered by the Powerbeats Pros, which let me comfortably do Superman pushups, power cleans, headstands, and sprints with ease.” — Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Fitness Director

Read more: Powerbeats Pro Review

If you’re already an Apple AirPods fan, you probably can’t remember life without them. Now the 2nd generation Pros are here and they're better than ever. Not only will you get up to 30 hours of listening time (6 more hours than the 1st gen) but you also have a wider customized fit thanks to the four different-sized ear pieces the headphones come with.

What shocks users the most about the new Active Transparency Mode, which drowns out impromptu noises that could be harsh on hearing (like passing by a firetruck or when you're walking by a construction site). They also have that IPX4 rating, so you can run and sweat in rain or shine with total peace of mind.

“I love the Apple AirPods Pro when I go out for a run because they tick all the boxes for me: fit, comfort, sound, and battery life. I can dial in the fit for a great seal that feels snug from the first step until I am taking them off. They stay comfortable and in place, no matter how cold it is when I start out or how sweaty I get by the end. And the sound is always so rich. The active noise cancellation lets me totally get lost in my run, while the ease of toggle allows me to switch it off in a snap when my run takes me into traffic. I give the case just one full charge a week. The rest of the time, they are always at the ready to grab-n-go.” — Jamie Prokell, Creative Director

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Don’t let the design of these wireless headphones fool you. Sure, they don’t look like your typical earbud, but the technology is pretty major, allowing for true ambient noise when you are running. These bone-conduction wireless headphones deliver sound through your cheekbones, so you can enjoy an open-air flow of sound. Runners who hate the feeling of having something in their ears or can never find the right “fit in a bud” love this option. These headphones also bring on a major safety feature, especially for long-distance runners. You can hear traffic, race coordinators, and even nature.

The sound quality is good, but with any pair of bone-conduction headphones, you give up optimum bass listening. With that said, the Aftershokz Aeropex technology is pretty advanced. They use micro magnets to control the field of sound vibrations at a higher efficacy than competitors and previous models.

You’ll get 8 hours of music playback, voice prompt features, and these headphones have an IP67 waterproof rating, which means you can submerge them in 1 meter for 30 minutes.

“The Aeropex has become my go-to audio option for any type of workout I do outside near busy streets, especially if I'm riding my bike somewhere unfamiliar. I can get turn-by-turn audio directions while keeping my ears open, which makes me feel much safer on the road.” – Brett Williams, Fitness Editor

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The Beats Flex wireless headphones bring major bang for not a lot of bucks. For just less than $70, you can get Beats quality sound in yet another minimal, sleek, neck-wired design. A common turn-off to this kind of earbud is how easily they can pop out of your ears, but what’s not pictured here eliminates that fear. They come with 4 ear tips for custom sizing and ear-in-place security. Plus, the neck wire is another added layer of locked-in listening.

The Beats Flex even has an audio-sharing option with other Apple-owned products, so you can listen together with a friend, but still on your own. The magnetic closer feels way more expensive than the actual price tag (so does the brand name). It’s worth noting this product doesn’t come with a full noise cancellation option or water-resistant capabilities.

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Spatial audio, adaptive EQ, and an active noise cancellation and transparency mode made the Fit Pros a top earbud all around. They're excellent for all listening needs, but due to their high-quality sound, we found them great for listening to podcasts and audiobooks—two mediums that not all running headphones are capable of putting out.

On top of the audio tech, the Fit Pros have a comfortable and secure wingtip earbud fit, a sleek and powerful charging case, and side controls on the earbud itself. They also come in a ton of awesome colors and pair seamlessly with iPhones thanks to its Apple H1 chip.

The 85Ts are the most advanced buds from Jabra to date. The popular AirPod alternatives come with Bluetooth multipoint connection, which means you can take an incoming call without having to manually switch your connectivity.

What truly sets them apart from the rest is a new internal chip dedicated to active noise cancellation. Unlike other types of noise-cancelling earbuds, you can control the feature on a slider via the Jabra app, thus giving you the opportunity to further customize your listening experience depending on where you're running.

Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds

While everyone with an iPhone is rushing to jump on the latest AirPods Pro, you should be doing the same for the Google Pixel Bud Pros. The top of the line for Google’s earbuds is the easiest Android-friendly pair of running headphones to set up and use on this list.

Beyond setup, they offer touch controls on the outside of each bud, so you can lower the volume and change the song. And the sound brings great depth and base, comparable to that of the AirPods Pro. These have a higher sweatproof rating, longer battery life, and a more distinguished, comfortable design. What's great about the Pixel Pro's is they come with a quality noise cancellation that's going to help you stay locked in all through your run.

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The Bose Sport Earbuds are made with the same high-quality acoustics as the brand's other top-performing models. It's true these don't come with noise cancellation, but what you get in return is an awesome price point. They have deep bass, clear call quality, and easy-touch side controls. Lest we forget to mention the incredibly comfortable fit in-ear.

Of course, Bose is a huge player in the audio world in general, but we feel like the Sport Earbuds don't get enough credit in the running and fitness space. This is an underrated running headphone pick when you consider how much tech you get for the price point.

Under $100 and offering up to 44 hours of battery life with the charging case, the Push Active is one of the best affordable running headphones on the market. Two features we love the most; the ear hooks and the accompanying Skullcandy app you can use to adjust your bass levels and other instrumentals to your liking.

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The Jaybird Vista 2s are some of the toughest pairs of earbuds on this list. These are the best running headphones for your most adventurous, rugged outdoor trails. Sure, they work perfectly great on the road, but they are made for so much more. The brand calls the construction EARTHPROOF, which means they can withstand the elements—shock, dust, water, sweat, you name it, these can handle it. They have an IP68 construction, after all.

On top of their durability, the new generations get your 8 hours of uninterrupted listening (2 more than the 1st gen), and another 16 hours from their magnetic closure carrying case (6 more than the 1st gen). The major draw to these earbuds is how weightless they feel. You can have them in for the entire charge time and completely forget you have them in. If that sounds scary to you out of fear of losing them, you can rest assured knowing the wing tip gently hooks in the ear to lock it in place. But if you’re still nervous, maybe you should rethink the whole “true wireless” thing.

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Designed with an IPX5 waterproof rating that's sweat and rain-repellant, these headphones from Adidas are a solid pick for those who like the secure fit of wingtip earbuds. If you don't like how the ear tips fit, you also get a set of different sizes to find your best size. As far as sound goes, the FWD-02s do not have noise cancellation technology but they do have an awareness mode, which can be turned on to let more noise through the earbud so you have a better idea of your surroundings.

Other features we like about these earbuds are the play/pause intuitive controls and the rechargeable case. What's great is the FWD-02 carries a solid price point for the amount of tech that's inside. Pro tip: they go on sale every now and then, so if you see them discounted we say strike fast.

With a waterproof rating of IP68 and a whopping battery life of up to 50 hours total when used with the charging case, these rugged buds are a wallet-friendly option for your running tunes. Unfortunately, they don't carry any noise cancellation, but they do have an ambient mode for transparent listening and a talk thru mode for better call quality (yes, these bad boys can make and take phone calls too).

The ear hooks are comfortable and great at keeping your buds in place, and the headphone's overall design is made to go through the toughest wear and tear. In our eyes, you can easily make these dedicated running earbuds and then use a pair of high-end headphones for your everyday use.

Another pair of running earbuds that seems to do it all is the T5 II True Wireless Sport Earphones from Klipsch. If you know anything about audio devices, you know that Klipsch is another major household name. The price point is pretty premium, but hear us out.

You get 8 hours of listening per charge, and 32 hours total with a charging case. If you’re someone whose devices always find a way to die, you might want to consider these. They even have a rapid 10-minute charge feature that can bring you almost 90 minutes of playtime.

Master and Dynamic is an audiophile’s go-to listening brand. The attention to detail and design is unparalleled in everything they do. While they are typically known for their over-ear headphones, the MW08 Sport is tailor-made for running and working out.

In terms of sound quality, these buds are outfitted with 11mm beryllium drivers to deliver crystal clear tunes for 12 hours on a full charge and up to 42 hours when using the charging case. What's great is you get 5 different sizes of silicone ear tips and 2 sizes of memory foam ear tips to give you a comfortable, custom fit.

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Just as their name entails, they provide a system called Lightform technology that is changing the game when it comes to custom fit. Once secured, you’ll feel the ear tips are filled with a gel that hardens when you activate the molding process on your phone. It’s sort of like a remote control. The process becomes permanent, so the mold fits snugly into the personalized and detailed conch of your very own ear. If there is any pair of headphones that guarantee they will stay in your ears while running, it’s these.

This system provides a natural, comfortable, and pain-free fit, even after extended use. And on top of comfort, the custom fit acts as a seal to ambient noise, allowing for greater noise isolation. You’ll also get an 8-hour battery life with an additional 20 hours with the carrying case. To make runners even happier, this technology remains sweat-proof and water-resistant. This is the latest and greatest tech you’re going to want to try.