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Best Running Headphones: Run to your favourite tracks

In This Article

Headphones for sports are typically more heavy duty than ones for personal use, so if you’re someone whp works out regularly, you’ll want a pair of headphones that can hold up to the intensity of your workouts.

And everyone has their personal preference in terms of which headphones to go for. There are some who prefer to be aware of the surroundings, others who want tune out and focus, and so we’ve tried to review and cover as many different types of pairs as we can.

And how do we know these are the best running headphones? Well, we put them through their paces, taking them on runs, using them in the gym and listening to how good they sound. If they have ANC we’ll put that to the test, as well as see how durable they are over longer periods of time. No headphone exists in a void either, so we’ll compare to similarly priced efforts to see how competitive they are in terms of performance.

It’s not only running and sports headphones that we test. If you’re looking for another pair, have a look at ourbest headphones,best wireless headphones,best wireless earbudsandbest noise-cancelling headphonespages.

Best running headphones at a glance

How we test

The best test of a pair of running headphones is, of course, running.Our reviewers have amassed marathons’ worth of miles, pounding the park surfaces and hitting the treadmill to put these running headphones through their paces.We make sure they’re not going to fall out of your ears, and that they can survive sweaty conditions without ending up in a sad heap (even that’s exactly what we do sometimes).We’re also conscious you might want to use your running headphones for other exercise, such as the gym. We wear them under different scenarios, from an explosive Olympic weightlifting session to a spin class, and we also test running headphones away from the track or gym to see how they cope with regular listening.We also take into account factors such as how securely they fit, their durability, sound quality and battery life.

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2

Pros

Cons

TheJabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2are a worthy successor to the already class-leadingElite 8 Active, bringing with them a better fit, improved sound and enhanced noise cancellation.

The Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are smaller and offer a more secure fit than their predecessor without sacrificing the comfort level. This is ideal during runs and gym workouts as it means there’s less of that fear that the earbuds will fall out of your ears. They also carry an IP68 rating, allowing them to stand up to water and sweat.

The Bluetooth LE Audio smart case is capable of transmitting audio from analogue sources to the earbuds wirelessly, which comes in handy when using the running machines at the gym. There’s also Bluetooth multipoint for connecting to two devices at once, as well as Google Fast Pair for Android devices and Microsoft Swift Pair for Windows.

Adaptive Hybrid Noise-Cancellation isn’t as powerful as that on theJabra Elite 10 Gen 2, but it does do a decent job suppressing traffic, wind noise and gym equipment. The HearThrough mode is also clearer than that on the original Elite 8 Active.

The battery life hasn’t seen much change, with the earbuds continuing to offer eight hours of listening per charge, while a quick five-minute charge gives you an hour of music when you’re about to head out the door.

When it comes to audio quality, the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 deliver a clearer, more balanced performance than their predecessor. These earbuds are less bass-heavy, with better clarity and detail heard across the frequency range at normal volume levels, which the bass becomes noticeably richer when the volume is pushed up.

If you’re looking for the best running earbuds, these are it.

Reviewer:Kob Monney

Full Review:Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2

Back Bay Tempo 30

Pros

Cons

TheBack Bay Tempo 30are true wireless made for the sports fanatics among us, featuring a toughIPX7 water resistancethat makes these buds fully sweatproof and waterproof. You won’t be able to take them swimming, but on solid ground Tempo 30 are protected against rainy weather.

We found the Tempo 30’s battery life of 32 hours in total to be excellent, especially in the $39.99 / £29 price bracket. That’s double the endurance of the more expensiveBose Sport Earbuds, although don’t expect fast charging or wireless charging support at this low price.

We liked the design of the Tempo 30 with its attractive, marble-like, glossy finish that’s a step up on the likes of theJlab Go Air Sport.The charging case is pocketable, though over use we found it susceptible to scratches and scuff marks. We found the to be snug when using the earphones, and they didn’t fall out once, offering excellent noise isolation that’s as good as some running headphones with noise cancellation.

Several ear-tips are provided to keep the earphones tucked in, and they also affect how the Tempo 30 sound, adding or reducing bass. The default ear-tip produced a crisp and sharp tone that didn’t offer much bass. The ear-tip we settled on offered more weight, turning its strained performance into a more energetic one with a stronger bass output. The soundstage is wide, and while the definition of instruments is not be as good as more expensive buds, the overall sound quality makes the Tempo 30 a steal for the price.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Back Bay Tempo 30

Avantree E171

Pros

Cons

Good audio quality shouldn’t need to cost the earth, and theAvantree E171are a testament to that. With a low asking price of just £14.99, they are some of the cheapest wired earbuds you can find and could be the perfect pick for anyone who’s just getting into running and doesn’t want to invest in a premium pair ofAdidas RPT-02 SOLorOpenRun Proright off the bat.

We found them easy to wear and position, with no incidents of them coming loose or falling out during workout sessions. These headphones pack anIPX7water rating, meaning that they can be submerged in water up to 1m deep for thirty minutes. That type of protection makes them more than serviceable for any workouts in the rain.

These are wired headphones and connect via a 3.5mm headphone jack. The cable comes with an in-line mic/control that allows you to adjust the volume and speak into the microphone. It’s worth noting that these controls are not compatible across the board – with no support for the built-in volume control on PCs and laptops – so you may need to test your devices to ensure that they are supported.

We found these headphones to offer a well-balanced audio experience, although they are clearly tuned towards bass rather than higher frequencies. Kept at a lower volume, the bass was better balanced with a powerful low end in songs like Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain. The soundstage held a lot of presence, however, with natural midranges throughout.

While you can find more premium running headphones on this very list, you won’t find anything as affordable as the Avantree E171. These could be the perfect starting point for runners hoping to indulge their musical side while working out and arguably a steal for under £15.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Avantree E171

Cleer Arc II Sport

Pros

Cons

TheCleer Arc II Sportare a well-conceived and executed pair of open-ear headphones that exceeded our expectations. They sport an over-ear hook design wedged between your ear and head, with no earbud or eartip entering your ear. This makes them ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to be completely cut off from their surroundings; whether you’re on a run and want to listen out for traffic and pedestrians or don’t want to miss your train announcement at the station, you will have a better awareness than with a traditional pair of earbuds.

Each earbud weighs just 14g each and we found that they were solid in the comfort department. The tap controls were alert and responsive, even during runs, and were easier to use than expected. They are also rated IPX5, which means that they can handle water, rain and sweat without issue. They cannot be directly immersed in water however so you shouldn’t try and use them in the shower or during any water activities.

The Arc II Sport produce a sizeable amount of bass with genuine depth and punch that adds a lot of excitement to the music. Bone conduction headphones are known for missing out on bass, but these bring a pleasing amount of weight to low frequencies. There are some smaller issues here and there, but what the Cleer can do is very commendable for open-ear headphones.

Overall, if you’re interested in trying out bone or air-conduction headphones, then the Cleer Arc II Sport are a great place to start. Audio execution is done very well and the secure fit means that they won’t come flying off during your next run. If you’re happy with the admittedly high $189/£199 price tag then these are a very easy recommendation for most runners.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Cleer Arc II Sport

Adidas RPT-02 SOL

Pros

Cons

TheRPT-02 SOLis part of a new breed of headphones like theUrbanista Los AngelesandPhoenix, that integrate a solar charging panel into its design. This helps to charge the headphones both when in use or simply turned on, absorbing sun and ambient light to give it a power boost.

We found that while solar panel doesn’t provide enough charge to add to the battery when in use, it is enough to reduce the battery discharge. Over the course of six weeks, using the headphones in the gym and for runs for several hours, the percentage drop in battery was only 8%. Overall battery life is around 80 hours, so these headphones have plenty left in the tank even if they’re not being topped off by the solar panel.

The design continues the eco-conscious outlook of the originalRPT-01with machine-washable fabrics and the use of recycled plastic for its construction. For a pair of on-ears, they’re stable and comfortable enough to wear, pinching on the ears only occurring when deep into sessions, and we found them to be lightweight at 256g to not be uncomfortable when worn. With anIPX4 rating, they can dispel splashes of water and sweat easily enough.

We found the sound quality to differ quite significantly from the original model. Where the RPT-01 was clear and crisp, the sequel is more rich and bombastic, especially with bass frequencies. It describes tracks with more energy, but loses out on the subtlety of the (still available) original pair. Nevertheless, we found them to be a fun, energetic-sounding pair of headphones that complement high-energy workouts.

A couple things to note is that they’re not in stock at many retailers, and that they are more expensive than the original were at £199 / $199. If you are looking for a pair of on-ears for sports and workouts, it’s worth checking out the less expensive RPT-01.

Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Adidas RPT-02 SOL

Shokz OpenRun Pro

Pros

Cons

The brand formerly known asAftershokzwas rebranded as Shokz, but that didn’t manifest any different change in approach. When it comes to bone-conduction headphones, Shokz is probably the most known entity out there, and theOpenRun Promodel is one of the better proponents of the technology.

Bone conduction works by producing vibrations through your cheek/jawbone to your ear. This means the design is an open-ear model, which also allows you to hear what’s around you. This is especially useful if you’re using them in an outdoor environment.

The OpenRun Pro are lightweight at 29g and we found them comfortable to wear. Despite the lightweight frame, our reviewer found they stayed put during exercises, so there’s no fear that they’d be dislodged when running. A rating of IP55 means the OpenRun Pro can resist the likes of sweat, water and dust, though in fact, this is a weakerIP ratingthan older Shokz headphones.

The Shokz promise 10 hours of battery life, which is up from the eight hours of the original OpenRun. Using them with the volume set pretty much at its maximum, we managed to get five hours of use, though Shokz was testing at 75% so if the volume is lowered you’re likely to eke out more battery life. Multipoint Bluetooth is supported, so you can switch between two devices simultaneously. There’s no built-in MP3 player that you’ll find on theNaenka Runner Promodel, as this only supports audio overBluetooth.

When it comes to audio performance, the OpenRun Pro promise a sound that offers enhanced bass and premium sound quality. We found it didn’t quite live up to those expectations, especially when it comes to bass, which has been a shortcoming with most bone-conduction headphones. If you do want a bassier, bigger sound, however, thePhilips TAA6606is an alternative.

There are two modes to choose from in Standard and Vocal, and the latter presents a greater focus on clarity, while the Standard mode offers a punchier sound than previous Shokz headphones. These aren’t as good as a true wireless pair such as the Adidas FWD-02 in terms of audio, but they are one of the best bone-conduction headphones.

If you find the OpenRun Pro too expensive, there is the option of the less expensiveOpenRun. There’s also theOpenRun Mini, which is a version for smaller heads that costs the same as the ‘Pro’ model.

Reviewer:Mike SawhFull Review:Shokz OpenRun Pro

Sivga S01

Pros

Cons

It almost goes without saying that if you want to listen to your favourite songs during a run in the safest way possible then open-ear or bone conduction headphones are a must. These designs keep your ear canals open, making it a great deal easier to stay in tune with what’s happening around you. The only problem is that the high-end models don’t come cheap, but the Sivga S01 are here to set the record straight.

Going against the grain, these open-ear headphones are surprisingly affordable with a price tag of just £69.90/$69.90, making them ideal for any runners tied to a strict budget. What’s even more surprising than the price tag is that, in spite of their affordability, the Sivga S01 still pack a ton of great features.

For starters, the headphones boast IPX5 water and sweat resistance so you won’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain or taking the S01 on a particularly intensive run. You can expect a battery life of up to nine hours on a single charge which is more than enough to get you through a marathon.

When it comes to topping them up, the S01 come with a compact charging case that not only has wired USB-C charging but also wireless charging compatibility (something of a rarity at this price range).

The design itself is also incredibly thoughtful for the needs of runners, as the use of physical buttons to control volume and playback is much easier to contend with when your hands are sweaty, and the use of ear-hooks allows the Sivga S01 to comfortably sit in place without worry that they might fall.

While the Sivga S01 don’t exactly beat out the competition on sound quality – in-ear and over-ear options will always come out on top – they still manage to outdo themselves. Audio is well-balanced so nothing crucial gets lost in the mix, and there’s a fair amount of bass too. There is theSO2model available, but we don’t feel they’re as good as the original pair.

Reviewer:Mike SawhFull Review:Sivga S01

We also considered…

Bone conduction headphones for smaller heads

Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) brings quick charging to a rebadged Aeropex and not much else

We’ve reviewed

FAQs

IP stands for Ingress Protection, meaning the extent to which objects or substances are prevented from entering the device in question. In the case of an IP rating, this refers to the capability of a product to withstand exposure to water and dust.

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Comparison specs

After graduating with an MA in History from University College London and cutting his teeth for several years as a journalist in the film and TV industries, Tom joined the Trusted Reviews team as a Co…

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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

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Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.