Running headphones are for people who prefer their jogging outside and thus need to be able to hear their surroundings to stay safe.

A Lexicon of Listening Language for Active Listeners

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are going to be important. Ingress Protection is directly related to how well or poorly headphones work when impacted by sweat or rain, after all.

Other terms to familiarize yourself with would be ‘wingtips’ and noise cancelling technology. For the tips, allowances are made to the physical design so that they’ll stay put, no matter the workout or the user’s ear shape. Noise cancelling is self-explanatory, with the devices muting ambient sounds so runners and gym rats can stay focused on their fitness playlist, not the sounds of traffic or your gym buddy’s grunting.

Activity-specific material durability is arguably an even greater headache when shopping for sports oriented gear; no one wants a material that’ll crumble after being exposed to salty perspiration for hours on end. Battery life, Bluetooth stability and reliability, all of these factors and more need to line up and be accounted for when researching the best headphones for running and workouts.

Key Points You Need To Know Before Buying

• A design that allows some external noise to get in‚ which is of important for safety when running outside.

• Sweat and water resistance is a must. so their warranties likely won’t cover moisture damage.

• Comfort is always important, but If they fall out, chafe, or snag, you won’t want to use them.

• Ease of use matters more than anything. You don’t want to have to stop to skip a track or adjust the volume.

Top 8 Best Running Headphones/Earbuds To Buy Right Now!

• Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

• Beats Fit Pro Wireless Earbuds

• Jabra Elite 8 Active Wireless Earbuds

• Apple AirPods Pro 2

• Sony WF-SP800 Sports Wireless Earbuds

• Sennheiser Momentum Sport Wireless Earbuds

• JBL Reflect Aero TWS Earbuds

• Bose Ultra Open Wireless Earbuds

Scores of Hi-Fi listeners, especially those with prestige-earning iPhones, are going to pick AirPods. And why not? They have great spatial audio and superb adaptive noise cancellation technology, too. Consider JBL Reflect Aero TWS Earbuds, assuming you’re going to be in a shower after your workout and want uninterrupted listening. We’ve referred to the IP (Ingress Protection) standard when reviewing most of these headphones, so do know what these numbers mean. A click over to this link will help you out. Basically, the higher the number, the better.

For every top-notch adaptive noise cancelling mode, adjusting audio dynamics on-the-fly as you enter different environments, there’s a similarly advanced transparency mode to learn about. At the most basic level, this mode restores all ambient sound, returning the sound of a busy gym or outdoor traffic. Other models, equipped with advanced algorithms and AI features, pull out voices, leaving loud machinery and traffic muted.

Battery life is the other important feature no one can afford to ignore. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 has a lower lifespan, the Bose set, at 8.5 hours, is firmly in the middle, and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds keep right on working for 12 whole hours.

The above figures assume you’re using ANC, which is as it should be. No one wants to hear the grunts and groans of a nearby fitness enthusiast when they’re caught up in their exercise routine, right? Without active noise cancelling turned on, these best headphones for running and working out activities automatically gain a lifespan boost, streaming rich, audiophile grade music through their wingtip stabilized forms, straight into your ear for several extra hours.

Blocking out packed gym grunts or cranking up the tunes on a jog, these headphones all let you focus on your workout—no distractions, just comfort-fit, high-quality listening on-the-go.

If you've found this buying guide useful, please drop us 1 upvote and comments below. Thanks so much for your interest!

Goodluck!

I will be going back the gym soon, so I'm looking for some headphones I can wear while exercising. What can you recommend to wear for 2-4 hours at a time, most likely wireless (to use with phone for convenience), while sweating and listening to a wide range of tracks (edm, d&b, rock, punk, jazz and whatnot). I'm aware they might not be the best sounding or best looking, might not even have the longest battery but simply put, what are the best headphones to wear while exercising? I guess budget is flexible, ideally something under $500. The only ones I'm considering (or know of) ATM are the Bose sport, those go for like $150.

Hi runners! I need your advice, what are the best headphones for running? Something that sits well in the ears while running, thank you.

I have JBLs that fall out all the time. Same with apple airpods. Looking into over the ear options. For running, i am thinking that 'open ear' is safer, esp bc i am running in the city. What ear buds do people like?

I haven’t really run with headphones in, but as I start layering in more training, I think music (plus training feedback from watch) could be great.

I live in the PNW and between wildlife and my dog, I appreciate the idea of NOT in-ear headphones

I ordered some Shokz knock-offs off Amazon (Sonato). Clearly much cheaper alternative. Sound quality is mostly sub-par but I also find their volume quite low. It’s almost like 90% passive hearing and 10% sound from the headphones. I don’t feel I need THAT much disparity…

While not as compact, I do like the connected one-piece design it does feel more secure overall. But the “back hoop” also feels a bit large and ends up hitting my ponytail if it’s bouncing or I bend my neck.

So, anyone got some solid recommendations for running headphones that will absolutely stay in and are NOT in-ear sealed buds?

Running headphones are for people who prefer their jogging outside and thus need to be able to hear their surroundings to stay safe.

Choosing the best ones for your needs should let you zone out to your favorite playlist or podcast without bouncing around, cutting out, or getting in your way.

A Lexicon of Listening Language for Active Listeners

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are going to be important. Ingress Protection is directly related to how well or poorly headphones work when impacted by sweat or rain, after all.

Other terms to familiarize yourself with would be ‘wingtips’ and noise cancelling technology. For the tips, allowances are made to the physical design so that they’ll stay put, no matter the workout or the user’s ear shape. Noise cancelling is self-explanatory, with the devices muting ambient sounds so runners and gym rats can stay focused on their fitness playlist, not the sounds of traffic or your gym buddy’s grunting.

Activity-specific material durability is arguably an even greater headache when shopping for sports oriented gear; no one wants a material that’ll crumble after being exposed to salty perspiration for hours on end. Battery life, Bluetooth stability and reliability, all of these factors and more need to line up and be accounted for when researching the best headphones for running and workouts.

Key Points You Need To Know Before Buying

• A design that allows some external noise to get in‚ which is of important for safety when running outside.

• Sweat and water resistance is a must. so their warranties likely won’t cover moisture damage.

• Comfort is always important, but If they fall out, chafe, or snag, you won’t want to use them.

• Ease of use matters more than anything. You don’t want to have to stop to skip a track or adjust the volume.

Top 8 Best Running Headphones/Earbuds To Buy Right Now!

• Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

• Beats Fit Pro Wireless Earbuds

• Jabra Elite 8 Active Wireless Earbuds

• Apple AirPods Pro 2

• Sony WF-SP800 Sports Wireless Earbuds

• Sennheiser Momentum Sport Wireless Earbuds

• JBL Reflect Aero TWS Earbuds

• Bose Ultra Open Wireless Earbuds

For people who have run a marathon before, what are the best running headphones? I’m looking for something that will last me throughout the entire race and are sweat resistant. My current AirPods have broken.

Update: thank you all for the wonderful suggestions (:

I've been looking for ages for some good gym headphones ahead of gyms re opening, but i've had to send a few back. I don't have unusual ears or anything - but they just don't stay in my ears when doing things like running etc.

Also a massive requirement is for them to block out gym music.

Are there any you would actually recommend?

I'd spent up to around £100 if they definitely last for a good amount of time and are worth it

Looking to buy some new running headphones (preferably wireless). Just wondering what is the best option and value? I have had a look online but alot of articles recommend some then I research them and the user reviews are terrible (most likely paid for reviews). Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you!

EDIT: thank you for the feedback everyone. Have received some good insight! Much appreciated. Happy running!

EDIT 2: Went in today and picked up a pair of Bose Soundsport Wireless and I also got a Garmin instinct watch. Super happy with both and going to try them out this afternoon. Thank you for the help guys!

Right, it is the new year, so I would like to know.

What earphones or headphones should I buy?

I do casual running on busy/noisy roads, as well as in the quiet countryside.

I also do races, particularly parkrun, so hearing callouts is useful.

My main concern is battery life, as my current airpods (they have been excellent, but are nearly 5 years old now) die within an hour, which is very frustrating. I would like earphones that could survive a full average-pace marathon (I do not achieve sub-2-hours (yet!)).

Looking for high quality sport ear buds.

I've used Jlabs in the past and I really like them. Although I broke one or the buds so now I need a new pair of wireless earbuds that I can use while exercising. I tried my buddies Bose earbuds and the quality is tremendous.

I've seen some reviews for bose not sticking in ear as good as they shoipd for sports. I've seen the beats fit with great reviews for staying in ear. Although I've always loved bose sound and thought beats was a little flashy... Like they pay a lot for advertising and endorsements and you get them to look "cool" so I never really considered getting them. But maybe they are a great option.

What do you think? What other brands or specific sport wireless earbuds would you recommend?

I've searched the sub and don't see anything recent on this topic, so I hope this post is okay.

I'm aware that the Shokz Openrun pro is the best pure running earphones but I need something that's a bit more all round. Details below.

Been using the Jabra elite active 75 for the last 3.5 years but the right side earbud no longer produces sound. These earbuds were generally awesome, except for massively amplified wind noise on hearthrough mode. I looked at the latest model (elite active 8) and while it looks great, I want to know what else is out there.

I travel a lot, so something that's comfortable on short flights with ANC is preferred. Especially if I can also use it for virtual meetings and calls. Small form factor case makes it convenient in laptop bag, rather than my full size headset.

My gym is super loud, so open profile or bone conduction headphones are a problem since I often can't hear my own music over gym noise

I'd like hearthrough/environment sounds so that I can hear cars when running on the roads, but without the massively amplified wind noise.

ETA: I don't have an iPhone

Are headphones comfortable when you're running, not to heavy and big? And sweat doesn't damage headphones? What's the best over ear headphones for running?

Right now I have the one plus nord buds 2 and they fall off the moment i start to sprint really fast or try to do anything involving a lot of agility or jumping.

Are there any headphones or earphones that aren't too bulky, can stay on and also don't get affected by sweat under 200-300$ ? (I'm from india so everything may not be available)

I have a wonderful new job mapping footpaths which takes me out and about 4 days a week walking in beautiful places. I still can't quite believe it, all expenses and accommodation paid, it's doing wonders for my mental health.

A fair bit of the time I don't want to listen to music as the sounds of nature/sea/rivers/trees/birds are calming. However, some of the time I would like to listen to music. It's quite important that when I do so I can also hear ambient sounds. This leads me to consider either open backed headphones or some noise cancelling ear/headphones with ambient sound options.

A fair bit of the time I wear a wide brimmed hat like this https://eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/product/quandary-brimmer-hat-wide-brim/195699630093.html to keep the sun/rain off my face. For context I would describe myself as an audiophile. I have a reasonable headphone collection, plus a few hifi systems at home .

The ideal would be to find some ear/headphones which I could wear whilst also wearing my big hat. Something like shokz openrun pro 2 would be convenient, however, I highly doubt the sound quality.

I've considered taking my hifiman sunduras powered off a portable amp and just wearing a sports cap instead. Not ideal in terms of keeping them safe and if it rains it's not great.

Basically I would be interested in what people consider the best sounding open ear sports headphones out there? Thanks so much.

I'm looking for a good pair of gym earphones with good ANC, never falls out, and good sound quality.

I was looking at Powerbeats Pro 2, Bose quietcomfort, and Sennheiser sport momentum.

Any suggestions? Price doesn't matter.

Thank you

I'm looking for an all-in-one earphone solution, since I really want to be able to go on runs and train in them as well as have good sound quality and ANC. I has been using these very cheap wireless earphones, which you can't run with and want an upgrade too something which will stay in my ears without falling out. I have been looking at the beats fit pro because I have tried them on before and they haven't fallen out of my ears and I liked the fit overall because it has the small inner hook that works really well. However, they are quite old so I'm wondering if its still worth purchasing them, especially since many new earphones have come out.

Another one I've looked at is the new Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, which looks very good for quality, but I'm having doubts about whether they will stay in no matter what training I'm doing (running, sprinting, etc), and whether the wing that's attached is any good. If anyone has any other recommendations please mention them as well.

Headphones for running are a specialized type of headset designed specifically for use during sports and exercise. They are typically crafted to fit snugly and securely, ensuring they don’t easily fall out during movement. Common designs include ear-hook, in-ear, or neckband styles. Notably, these headphones are often equipped with effective water and sweat resistance features.

It seemed like an easy enough to choose some good options at first, but this kind of gear is expected to cope with a number of challenges. From falling out due to a heavy running stride to being impacted by sweat or outdoor jogging rain, they need to shine both sonically and performance-wise.

Out to make the most of his workout jams and running playlist, we thoroughly choose which devices made our shortlist. They’ll need to be built tough, durable and sweat-proof. More challenging still, they’d better impress our audiophile experts, no compromises allowed, even if they’re booming out a playlist while drenched in perspiration.

Best Headphones for running – Our recommendations currently

• Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

• Beats Fit Pro Wireless Earbuds

• Sennheiser Momentum Sport Wireless Earbuds

• Bose Ultra Open Wireless Earbuds

• Apple AirPods Pro 2

• Jabra Elite 8 Active Wireless Earbuds

• Sony WF-SP800 Sports Wireless Earbuds

Hit the Finish Line with the Best ANC Fitness Headphones

Scores of Hi-Fi listeners, especially those with prestige-earning iPhones, are going to pick AirPods. And why not? They have great spatial audio and superb adaptive noise cancellation. Consider JBL Reflect Aero TWS earbuds if you’re in a shower after a workout and want uninterrupted listening. We’ve referred to the IP standard, so know what these numbers mean. A click over to this link will help. The higher the number, the better.

For every adaptive noise cancelling mode adjusting audio on-the-fly, there’s a transparency mode to learn about. At the most basic, this restores ambient sound, like a busy gym or traffic. Advanced models pull out voices, muting loud machinery and traffic.

Battery life is key. The AirPods Pro 2 have less, Bose sits at 8.5 hours, and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 lasts 12 hours. These figures assume ANC is on—no one wants to hear gym grunts mid-routine. Without ANC, battery life boosts, streaming rich music for extra hours.

Blocking out gym grunts or cranking tunes on a jog, these headphones let you focus—no distractions, just high-quality listening.

What's your opinion about these options?

Leave some other great options you've known of bellow if you have any.

Thanks a lot for your interest!!!