The best wireless earbuds
It can be tricky to find the perfect pair of true wireless earbuds- they’ve got to sit comfortably in your ears, have good battery life and most importantly of all, play your favourite music and podcasts at the highest quality. It can be an overwhelming task to try and sieve through the endless options that are out there, to find the right pair for you, so we’ve taken out the groundwork and compiled a list of some of the best true wireless earbuds out there. Whether you’re an avid gym-goer or a music buff, we’ve got the pair for you.
The best true wireless earbuds
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly is a headphone brand that attaches great attention on health, and that does not hurt the ears. Their team is also the first one to design non-in-ear headphones that are used to listen to songs. They began to explore the application of bone conduction technology to Bluetooth headphones as early as 10 years ago. After 10 years of accumulation, they have made great progress in the sound quality improvement and sound leakage reduction of bone conduction headphones. And these technologies are applied to their Wissonly Hi Runner headphones, their flagship product.
In order to solve the problem of sound leakage of bone conduction headphones, wissonly developed full closed sound leakage reduction technology. They comprehensively improved the vibration of the headphones, body design, software optimization and other directions. They finally reduced the sound leakage by 90%. In terms of sound quality, most of the bone conduction headphones have average sound quality, but the sound quality of Wissonly Hi Runner is undoubtedly better in bone conduction. They used a large-sized vibration unit, and through structural optimization, and finally increased the effective vibration area, so that the sound range was wide. The official claimed sound quality reach the HIFI level, but I don't think that they reached. They are just close to the HIFI sound quality, which is enough to satisfy me.
The excellent performance of these two characteristics, sound leakage reduction and sound quality, makes Wissonly Hi Runner have the basic conditions to become an excellent bone conduction headphone. Their other configurations are also very good. They are with a built-in 32GB of memory, and can play music even without connecting the phone. You can use them as an MP3 player. They support IPX8 waterproof level in swimming, even in underwater scenes that do not support Bluetooth, they can be used with MP3 function.
1More Stylish
A sleek, comfortable design and a bucket load of functionality, meets affordability in 1More’s latest wireless earbuds, making them our current go-to when friends and family members ask what to buy.
You get an awesome 6.5 hours of listening time between trips to the included charging case, with three full charges in the case meaning that you’ll get up to 26 hours of playback before you need to hunt for the micro USB cable. Unfortunately, there’s no way to control volume levels — not an uncommon omission on some true wireless earbuds — and the built-in mics can’t be used to pass through external sounds, which is a handy feature, especially when jogging in busy places. These are not deal-breakers by any means, but are definitely worth keeping in mind.
Unlike AirPods, these headphones do feature sweat resistance, alongside built-in earfins and silicone ear tips, meaning they remain in your ears during even the sweatiest and most head-wrenching workouts. That, plus great sound and an included aptX codec for awesome Bluetooth audio, make the 1More Stylish an excellent pick. If you’re after a pair of truly wireless earbuds, we suggest you start here.
Apple AirPods Pro
AirPods have become the poster child for the true wireless earbud revolution, thanks to their iconic design, ease of use and tight integration with the iPhone and other iOS devices. But they’re far from perfect. Middling sound quality and no sweat- or water-resistance have been among the top critiques.
That’s why the AirPods Pro are so welcome. They address both of these concerns and up the ante even further, by adding active noise cancellation, an in-ear design that’s more snug and secure and an intelligent EQ system that automatically adjusts to each users’ ears. We were frankly blown away by both the improvement in sound quality and the effectiveness of Apple’s noise-cancelling tech.
Meanwhile, all of the features that Apple fans have come to rely on, like Siri connectivity, intuitive touch controls and auto accelerometers, are all preserved. Battery life is unchanged at 5 hours of music streaming per charge — a number that is less impressive now than it once was — but you get a wireless charging case.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
With a compact, ergonomic fit, a wireless charging case, and six hours of listening time on the go, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 offer listeners the cutting edge in terms of both tech and design.
The headphones are designed for go-anywhere, do-anything performance, with built-in earfins and IPX2 sweat-proofing that allow them to be a companion during rainy runs and sweaty workouts alike. We found the design to also be extremely comfortable, even for extended periods. The charging case is one of the smaller ones we’ve seen — not quite as compact as the AirPods charging case, but very close. The only disappointment is that it only carries a little more than one recharge’s worth of juice, which means there may be times when these earbuds can’t quite make through a full day without needing either a plug or a wireless charging mat (or phone).
App-based customisations let you control what the touch-sensitive surfaces on the earbuds do — changing volume or skipping tracks can both be assigned to the side you prefer. You can adjust equalisation, find your headphones and even pipe in sound from the outside world — which is especially useful during outdoor workouts or unfamiliar trips on public transport. Such an assortment of useful features makes Samsung’s Buds 2 your everyday listening pal.
Beats Powerbeats Pro
Battery life remains one of the biggest challenges to the true wireless earbuds category, which is why the PowerBeats Pro’s claimed nine hours of playback time per charge is so noteworthy. You’d be hard-pressed to find longer play time in a similar product at any price. With this kind of stamina, you can probably leave the charging case at home, which is a good thing — the charging case is one of the biggest we’ve seen. But beyond the PowerBeats Pro’s herculean batteries, you’ll find they have an excellent fit, with ear hooks that may look bulky, but are surprisingly easy to get on and off from your ears when the time comes. Thanks to the built-in optical sensors, removing an earbud instantly pauses the music, making for a quick and easy transition from listening to talking.
Though the PowerBeats Pro share many of the same features with Apple’s AirPods, they’re different where it counts: sound quality — especially low-end bass — is far better on the PowerBeats Pro, which benefit from having a sound-isolating design. The PowerBeats Pros aren’t perfect; we experienced some frustrating connection problems even though the earbuds use Apple’s new H1 wireless chip, which should be better, not worse, than its W1 predecessor.
Read more:The Best Running Headphones
The Best Running Headphones
Balancing work, hobbies, and a bustling social life can make it difficult to stick to a consistent workout routine. However, incorporating a top-notch pair of workout headphones can completely transform your exercise regimen, giving you the opportunity to listen to podcasts or get lost in new music.
If you're on the hunt for the perfect pair, look no further than our highly recommended workout earbuds, the Wissonly Hi Runner. These earbuds possess all the desired qualities: a sturdy and water-resistant design, a wide range of features, and user-friendly controls that make it effortless to monitor your heart rate.
Of course, there are plenty of other exceptional earbuds available that perfectly complement a workout routine. We've meticulously tested numerous options to ensure that you can find the ideal pair to suit your specific needs.
Wissonly Hi Runner
When Wissonly bone conduction headphones started crowdfunding online , I started to pay attention to them. Later, I saw on some online forums that all otologists were recommending them, so I bought it. This Hi Runner is their flagship product, and its overall function is the most perfect. This headphone uses the latest research results of wissonly Lab. It effectively increases the vibration area of the vibrator by 35%, while optimizing the sound transmission direction, making the sound range wider and the music more spatial. The brand claims to reach the HI-FI sound quality. My own actual test shows that the sound quality is very close to the HI-FI level, but it doesn't reach this level indeed. Of course, the current sound quality is satisfactory enough.
wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones are also equipped with a new Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which has stronger anti-interference ability, and can easily cope with various outdoor complex scenes, so as to ensure that the good mood during exercise will not be disturbed by disconnection. The stable connection also brings ultra-low delay performance. Listening to songs, chasing dramas and playing games meet all the daily demands for headphones. What's more, it has 32G of built-in memory, which can store 5,000 songs, which allows you to enjoy music without your mobile phone when you are outdoors.
Wissonly performs well in terms of comfort. It's very light, less than 30g, and you don't even feel like you're carrying it when you wear it. The headphone body is made of titanium alloy, which makes it fit well. You don't need to worry about falling off during exercise.
The waterproof of Wissonly Hi Runner needs special mention. It reaches IPX8 grade, which means that you can carry it under water for 20 meters and still use it normally. This is crazy!
JLab Epic Air Sport ANC
These truly wireless headphones offer an outstanding 15 hours of battery life in the buds, and with another 55 hours in the carry case they will need only rare trips to the socket. And when they do, having the cable tucked into the carry case means you won’t have to hunt for your charger.
The fit is secure thanks to the ear hook design, and the headphones have an adjustable Be Aware mode so you can set how much noise you want let in from your surroundings. The active noise cancellation is unimpressive, barely making any difference, but the overall sound quality is good for sub-$100/£100 buds.
Adidas RPT-01
On-ear headphones bring with them the benefit of more space to cram in bigger batteries and drivers, so they last longer and sound better than small buds, but they don’t tend to do well on runs because they work themselves loose and fall off. Not the Adidas Sport RPT-01 headphones, which have as tight a fit as you can get with on-ear cans, as well as ear cushions and an inner headband that can be removed and washed after a sweaty session.
I still prefer the smaller, less intrusive fit of in-ear or hook headphones, but the RPT-01 are good for relaxed runs when you really want the extra sound quality of on-ear headphones. The headphones last for 40 hours on a single charge and the lightning-fast charging cable really does live up to its billing.
Shokz OpenFit
The OpenFit is the first set of headphones from Shokz that doesn’t use bone conduction technology. Instead it uses “air conduction”, which amounts to putting a speaker near your ear canal but not blocking it. The sound quality is a noticeable upgrade on bone conduction buds, even if it still falls short of the standards of in-ear headphones.
I found the fit of the OpenFit headphones excellent—both secure and comfortable over long runs—but the hook design doesn’t work for everyone and others I know have found it too loose. The OpenRun still offers better value and more awareness, but the OpenFit are a bit more suitable for general use outside running thanks to the better sound quality.
Cleer Arc II Sport
If you’re after the best sound quality you can get while remaining aware of your surroundings, the Cleer Arc II headphones provide it. As with all open buds, you lose out on some bass and passive noise cancellation compared with in-ear buds, but the Arc II are more powerful and clear than rivals like the Shokz OpenFit.
I didn’t love the fit of the Cleer Arc II, because the way they clip to the top of the ear put pressure on my ears that became uncomfortable when I wore them for long periods. They are more securely fastened in place than other hook headphones owing to this clip, which might make them good for those who find the Shokz OpenFit buds shake loose on runs.
Read more:The Best Waterproof Headphones for 2023
The Best Waterproof Headphones for 2023
When it comes to exercising, having music as your companion is ideal. However, it's important to choose the right headphones before heading to the gym. Don't settle for just any old headphones. If you're planning to engage in intense physical activities or run in the rain, it's crucial to select a pair that can withstand being soaked. Every year, we meticulously test numerous headphones, ranging from noise-cancelling ones that isolate you from the outside world to earbuds specifically designed for workouts, capable of enduring exposure to sweat, rain, and other liquids.
Below, we present our favorite waterproof earphones, which have undergone thorough testing. Additionally, we provide valuable buying advice, including essential tips to help you find the perfect pair for your needs.
Delving Further: Our Highly Recommended Selections
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly bone conduction headphones, the product I use the most, is the first brand I started to contact. When they were crowdfunding online, I participated.
The sound quality is what I am most satisfied with. I am not a professional music player, but from my personal experience, Hi Runner is the best sound quality bone conduction headphones I have ever used. It uses a large-sized 360-degree bone conduction vibration unit, and through structural optimization, the sounding area is increased by 35%, so that the sound range is wider, and the stereo feeling and shock of sound are stronger. Its anti-sound-leakage treatment is also very good. The whole body is completely sealed, and the algorithm is optimized to minimize the leakage of sound. I have tested it myself, and at a distance of 2 meters, the volume is turned on at 60%, so I can't hear the sound at all.
wissonly Hirunner’s body is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area. It can ensure a good wearing experience of the earphone at any time, taking into account more users and usage scenarios.
Hi Runner is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and the connection is more stable. It also has IPX8 professional sports waterproof +32g internal memory to swim in the water. The battery performance is also good, and it can play music continuously for 8-10 hours.
JBL Reflect Aero
The JBL Reflect Aero earphones sit in a sweet spot between budget and high-end picks. They have an impressive IP68 rating, offer decent noise cancellation, and output engaging audio. Rounding out the experience is hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant support and a quality companion app with adjustable EQ.
These midrange earbuds are a suitable alternative to top-end models if you want active noise cancellation and a fully sealed design.
LG Tone Free Fit (TF8)
The LG Tone Free Fit earphones are a bit pricey given their average noise cancellation, but the charging case is the main appeal here. It functions as a Bluetooth transmitter (thus allowing you to use the earphones wirelessly with any device that has a 3.5mm headphone jack), and LG further claims that it sanitizes the earbuds with UV light when they are docked. An IP67 rating rating also means you don't need to be particularly careful with them.
The ability to listen wirelessly from any source with a headphone jack is what makes the LG Tone Free Fit earbuds most appealing. That's a nice convenience for everything from in-flight entertainment systems to smart gym equipment.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Just like how AirPods (and Beats earphones) offer extra conveniences for iPhone users, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have some special tricks for Galaxy phone users, including support for 24-bit hi-res audio playback. They also fit well, sport an IPX7 rating, produce deep bass and clear highs via their dual drivers, and deliver decent noise cancellation. Like many Samsung products, however, they have a premium price.
Audiophiles with newer Samsung Galaxy devices should pick these. Just make sure your phone is running at least Android 8.0 and One UI 4.0, plus has 1.5GB of RAM.
Tribit MoveBuds H1
The Tribit MoveBuds H1 have the longest battery life of any earphones on this list at up to 15 hours. The case provides another 50 hours on top of that, so you can count on these earbuds to still function even if you forget to charge them now and then. They are extremely waterproof too, with an IPX8 rating.
If you seldom find yourself near an outlet to recharge your devices, this Tribit model is a suitable choice because of its extensive runtime. Just keep your sound quality expectations in check and prepare to deal with a large carrying case.
Best bone-conduction headphones in 2023
Whether you're a seasoned user of open-ear headphones or a newcomer to the scene, it's crucial to grasp the concept of bone conduction headphones, their functionality, and the suitable options for you. Fortunately, we are here to provide assistance. Bone conduction headphones enable you to enjoy your favorite music or engage in phone conversations without any direct contact with your ear canal or eardrum. Although this may seem like some kind of futuristic technology, it is worth noting that evidence of bone conduction dates back to the 1700s.
Despite being a niche product in the audio realm, there is a wide array of models available for you to choose from. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the circumstances and environments in which you will be using bone conduction headphones. Allow us to assist you in getting started and familiarizing yourself with the concept of open-ear listening.
How do bone conduction headphones work?
Different from traditional over-ear headphones that rely on air conduction, bone conduction headphones bypass the eardrum entirely. Instead, they utilize a device or transducer, such as headphones or a metal rod like Beethoven's, to analyze sound waves, convert them into vibrations, and transmit them through the facial bones to be received by the inner ear or cochlea. Essentially, the cochlea receives the vibrations in the same manner, regardless of the pathway through which they are "heard." It is worth noting that bone conduction does not cause your entire face to shake. Many users find these headphones to be secure, comfortable, and easy to wear. However, individuals sensitive to pressure may experience dizziness or headaches after prolonged use.
So, who can benefit from bone conduction headphones? The answer is anyone! The open-ear design is particularly useful for those who prefer to remain connected to their surroundings. Remember all those times your mother advised against walking home alone at night with headphones on? Bone conduction allows you to stay aware of your environment, ensuring a safer hiking, biking, walking, or running experience. Swimmers who enjoy listening to music will also find bone conduction headphones advantageous, as the vibrations can still be transmitted underwater, unlike air conduction which is significantly hindered. With a waterproof pair of bone conduction headphones, you can stay connected to your workout playlist lap after lap. While we have yet to discover exceptional bone conduction earbuds, if you're looking to expand your collection, we recommend checking out our favorite wireless earbuds. However, we do have some excellent suggestions for the best bone conduction earbuds.
Our favorite bone conduction headphones
Wissonly Hi runner
Wissonly bone conduction headphones are recognized by the market with its leading bone conduction vibrator technology. Their team has accumulated more than 10 years in the field of bone conduction technology, which has been affirmed in terms of product quality and hearing protection effect.
Wissonly Hi Runner uses a large-size bone conduction vibrator, which increases the vibration area by 35%. When you wear it, the diffusion direction of sound quality will be more comprehensive, the coverage will be wider, and the sound will be more stereo. Its sound will be deeper in low frequency and more transparent in high frequency. They have also made a lot of efforts in the technology of sound leakage reduction, including the built-in reverse sound wave system and the all-closed-body design, thus reducing the sound leakage by 90%.
It is comfort: Wissonly Hi Runner's whole body is made of high-tech and low-sensitivity silicone, which contains no chemical components to avoid allergy. The overall touch is as silky as baby's skin, which can avoid uncomfortable situations when worn for a long time.
wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones are also equipped with a new Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which has stronger anti-interference ability, and can easily cope with various outdoor complex scenes, so as to ensure that the good mood during exercise will not be disturbed by disconnection. The stable connection also brings ultra-low delay performance. Listening to songs, chasing dramas and playing games meet all the daily demands for headphones.
SHOKZ OpenComm2 UC
We all know what it feels like to keep your traditional noise-canceling headphones on all day, shuffling from Zoom meeting to Zoom meeting and eventually suffering from headaches and ear fatigue. An open-ear design puts less pressure on the ear itself and can help you remain comfortable during a busy day. Call quality can be a struggle for many Bluetooth earphones, and bone conduction models are no different. If you need a pair of open-ear headphones to get you through stretches of those work-from-home meetings, reach for one specifically designed to handle high-quality phone calls like the SHOKZ OpenComm2 UC.
This is an updated model following the standard OpenComm UC. Though pricier than other models, this set comes with a DSP noise-canceling boom mic which makes a huge difference when it comes to clarity and vocal isolation. The boom is flexible and can be adjusted for optimal fit or rotated away when not in use. The battery is particularly impressive, lasting for up to 16 hours of talk time and 8 hours of music with an additional two hours from a 5-minute quick charge. Multipoint connectivity means you can switch quickly from chatting on your smartphone to FaceTiming from your computer. Each pair comes with a USB-A or USC-C Loop 110 wireless adapter, which helps establish a more secure connection between the headphones and your computer up to a whopping 98 feet away.
SHOKZ OpenSwim
Aside from one or two models, almost all headphones rated for complete submersion utilize bone conduction to connect swimmers to their favorite music. The SHOKZ OpenSwim can withstand submersion in up to 6.5 feet of water for up to two hours and holds up to 4GB of music (roughly 1,200 songs). Yes, it is a bummer that you can’t just connect to your phone and cue up individual playlists, but Bluetooth doesn’t exactly work well underwater yet. With the OpenSwim you’ll have to upload songs the old-fashioned way: dragging and dropping them into the model’s hard drive, but you can create separate music folders to maintain some control over your tunes. The OpenSwim accepts most file types, including WAV, MP3, FLAC, and AAC. An onboard multi-function button will let you access the music library, and the volume buttons will let you cycle through the different folders. Two EQ modes, Swimming and General, allow you to easily transition from land to water and vice versa without having to pause your content. Headband design hooks around the ears and fit easily underneath goggles and a swim cap. Eight hours of battery life will keep you in business, even during long swims, and onboard controls make for easy control, so you can skip tracks, change volume, and pause without missing a stroke.
myFirst Headphones BC Wireless Lite
The myFirst bone conduction headphones are our pick for anyone looking for an introductory pair for their kids. An open-ear design is a great way to keep kids safe while encouraging their independence. Leaving the ear canal open means your child can stay attuned to their surroundings; they’ll be able to hear your instructions, pay attention to traffic, and monitor what’s going on around them without turning off their favorite music. Plus, this pair had a built-in volume limiter, so there also won’t be any risk of damage from the unit itself.
Beyond the safety measures, the myFirst BC headphones are IPX6 rated, so they’ll be protected from your little one’s spills or splashes, and 5 hours of battery life should keep them entertained for long periods of time. Each pair comes with earplugs to keep unwanted noise out and a versatile USB-C cable for charging, so you can minimize carrying around extra cables during travel. The fit is similar to adult models with rubber contact points that should be irritant free
Mojawa Run Plus
We've recently seen these Mojawa Run Plus headphones top a few charts, and based on the reported specs, they seem like a great contender for the top spot when it comes to premium options for bone conduction. Mojawa was founded in 2021, so its products are still quite new. The company currently sells three pairs of bone-conduction headphones, and the RunPlus has certainly caught our eye. Rated IP68, this pair is suited for all types of exercise including swimming; they can be submerged in up to 2 meters of water for two hours. You can also upload and store up to 32GB of music or roughly 8000 songs while touchpad controls allow you to play/pause, skip, and adjust additional features.
Notable premium features include voice assistant compatibility and patented noise-canceling technology which purports to reduce "echoes and external environmental noises by up to 40dB". This pair introduces the "world's first dual suspension anchor system" which works together with Physical Bass Strengthening tech to produce more present bass. User reviews report impressive audio performance across the board.
Read more:5 best wireless headphones for the gym
5 best wireless headphones for the gym
The best headphones can add a new-found intensity to an otherwise indifferent run, walk or workout, providing a pulsating soundtrack to push you to new personal bests.
However, it’s important to find a set that can deliver powerful sound and a secure fit to make sure they help — not hinder — your exercise efforts.
To aid you in your pursuit, we’ve tested some of the best in-ear wireless headphones to find the five top performers below.
What to look for in a pair of true wireless headphones
Type. There are three main types of headphones: on-ear, over-ear and in-ear. Here, we’ve tested in-ear headphones as these tend to offer a lightweight, discreet and snug fit that’s better suited to sport.
Fit.True wireless headphones usually consist of two separate earbuds that play music from your phone via Bluetooth. Without any cables connecting them to your phone, there is no safety net if they fall, so you’ll want to make sure you buy a pair with a secure fit. For example, the Apple AirPods Pro come with a range of silicon tips and offer an Ear Tip Fit Test to find which ones are best for you.
Sound quality. You'll likely want your headphones to produce the best sound possible. We sent our tested pairs to an independent sound expert to tell us which ones could do our exercise playlists justice.
Battery life. When you're using your headphones for lengthy workouts (and those tedious commutes), you'll need them to last the distance. Luckily, all but one of our favourites come with a portable charging case, and deliver up to 28 hours of playback time.
Noise cancellation. If you would rather your music was void of interruptions and background noise, pick a pair of headphones with noise cancellation. This can also be helpful when in the gym, helping you get in the zone without external distractions.
Controls. Many modern headphones will have touch controls on the earbuds, meaning you can control the volume, play, pause and skip tracks while leaving your phone in your pocket. Some also allow you to summon voice assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa.
How we test
All headphones included below have been tested while still and active, with points awarded for a secure, comfortable fit, practical and pleasing design, and intuitive controls.
We also sent each set of headphones to an independent sound technician who analysed the quality of their sound, including their treble, bass, sound leakage and noise cancellation claims.
Only the top-performing pairs made the final cut.
Wissonly Hi Runner
wissonly's core team is a team engaged in the research and development of bone conduction products earlier. They have accumulated 10 years' technology in this field. They have adopted the best acoustic laboratory in the Eastern Hemisphere for sound adjustment. Wissonly Hi Runner has good technical solutions to the problems of sound leakage, sound quality and waterproof of pseudo-bone conduction headphones.
Wissonly bone conduction vibrator adopts a unique full-wrapped design, which makes the vibrator work in a closed environment, reducing the impact on the shell, thus reducing the vibration of the shell and finally reducing the sound leakage by 90%.
Wissonly uses a large-size bone conduction vibrator, and the effective vibration area of the vibrator is increased by 35% through structural optimization. At the same time, the sound transmission direction is optimized, the sound loss is reduced, and the sound is more concentrated.
wissonly HiRunner adopts integrated molding technology, with no holes in the headphones’ body and it is no splicing, which realizes IPX8 waterproof, and can be used for swimming and bathing. Even in the depth of 20 meters, diving is no problem.
It also has 32G of built-in memory, which can store 5000 songs. You can use it as amp3 player when you don't have a mobile phone.
In a word, wissonly hi runner is a product with powerful functions, stable technology and high cost performance.
Apple AirPods Pro
The Apple AirPods Pro boast sumptuous sound, comprehensive noise cancellation and intuitive touch controls, making them hard to fault.
We were also impressed by their Ear Tip Fit Test, which can tell you which out of the small, medium and large silicon tips provided will fit best. The right set will make a good seal with your ear canal, providing optimal comfort and sound quality.
Jabra Elite Active 75t Earbuds
These impressive earbuds are custom built for sport. They’re sweatproof, waterproof and workout proof, providing excellently balanced treble and bass throughout our jogs and gym visits.
They are comfortable and discreet to wear, barely protruding from the ears at all when compared to their competitors. The Jabra Elite Actives also benefit from both touch controls and a voice assistant, so there is no need to unlock your phone while exercising.
Bose Sport Earbuds
Bose has been at the top of the audio game for decades now, and these earbuds did not betray the brand’s sterling reputation. Our expert was impressed by their powerful bass, which is helpful when pacing your cadence while jogging.
The touch controls worked well, and you can assign different functions to a tap on the left earbud (such as checking your battery level and skipping tracks) via the Bose Music app, which we liked.
Beats Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Earphones
If the idea of wearing two small, wireless buds during a workout has you worried about losing your earpieces, try the Beats Powerbeats. They have hooks that loop around your ears to keep them in place, and the two buds are connected by a quality cable that acts as a safety net in the unlikely event one does come loose.
We found they offered a balanced sound that was powerful without ever feeling overbearing, and buttons on the earbuds made it easy to pause, play, skip tracks and adjust the volume without looking at our phone. The fast-charge feature is useful too, with the headphones offering an hour of listening from just five minutes of charge.
Best Earbuds for Running, Tested and Reviewed
Ask any runner who has logged more miles than you can imagine, and they’ll say a few things are essential to a successful jog: High-quality, supportive running shoes, the right fuel, and a solid set of earbuds.
Whether a killer Spotify playlist or an inspiring, exciting podcast motivates you to put one foot before the other, a reliable pair of earbuds is a must-have accessory. While there are hundreds of styles and fits, I challenged runners to put the top contenders to the test and narrowed down our picks to five.
What to consider when buying earbuds for running
Sweat and water resistance
Lewis says to look for earbuds specifically designed for sports or running, with high sweat and water resistance. This ensures they can withstand your intense workouts and won't get damaged by moisture.
Secure and comfortable fit
Opt for earbuds with different sizes of ear tips or adjustable ear hooks to find the perfect fit for your ears. As Lewis reminds us, a secure and comfortable fit is essential to prevent them from falling out during your runs and to minimize discomfort.
Noise isolation and safety
Consider earbuds that offer noise isolation without completely blocking out external sounds. Lewis says this allows you to enjoy your music while being aware of your surroundings for safety during outdoor runs.
Our top wireless earbuds for running picks
Wissonly Hi Runner
This is the most configured bone conduction headphones on the market Wissonly bone conduction headphones are the first brand I started to contact. When they recommended it on the online crowdfunding platform, I noticed it, after saw that many people were recommending, and I bought it. This Hi runner I used for a few months, and the overall performance was better than I expected.
Some bone conduction headphones leak sound, and you know that I take privacy very seriously, so I'm very concerned about anti-sound-leakage technology. Wissonly Hi Runner does a very good job in the field. Its body is sealed, and through structural optimization and algorithm adjustment, its sound leakage is minimized. The official claim they can eliminate 90% of sound leakage. I do not have professional equipment to test, but I have tried and found that at 60%-70% volume, the sound is completely inaudible at a distance of 1.5 meters, which makes me very satisfied. I have actually compared it with other bone conduction headphones, and the Wissonly Hi Runner has currently the best sound leakage reduction solution in bone conduction headphones.
The Wissonly Hi Runner is also particularly comfortable in the wearing experience. Because the material of the whole machine is high-tech hypoallergenic silicone, and it is coupled with the ergonomic design that conforms to the structure of the human ear, so that users will not bring any burden to the ear under long-term wear.
Sound quality as the core performance is undoubtedly worth mentioning. Hi Runner uses a large-sized vibration unit, the sound range is wider, the sound is more three-dimensional and deeper, so the sound quality is undoubtedly very good. And it is also equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 chip, the connection is more stable. And it will not be disconnected when used, which is a good experience. The Wissonly Hi Runner also comes with 32GB of built-in storage that can store 5,000 songs, so you can use it completely as an MP3 player to enjoy music without your phone when you go out for a run.
JLab Epic Air Sport ANC
There’s nothing more disheartening than preparing your body for a long endurance run—and your earbuds die a few miles into your training. While nearly all earbuds promise an impressive battery life, this JLab set is the most dependable. The runners testing out this set ran a handful of miles four days a week and didn’t need to charge them once! While they might not look as sleek as others that were tested, the fact that these could be used for days without having to remember to plug in the case was appreciated
Both music and a 30-minute podcast were part of the tests, and overall, the sound quality was amazing. While they are noise-canceling, they don’t have to be since you can choose from three different modes: noise-canceling on, noise-canceling off, and Be Aware, which lets in the ‘outside world’ for extra safety.
The earbuds come with six gel ear tip sizes, and after trying out two of them, it was easy to find a comfortable, secure fit that didn’t cause trouble during our runs. They also have an IP66 rating for water, so if you did get caught in the rain, you wouldn’t have to worry about ruining our electronics. When testing, it was easy to pull out one of the earbuds—and the music stopped automatically. This feature is great since finding your phone and pausing your jams can be a pain.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
After many years of being a dedicated Apple products megafan, our tester—reluctantly—agreed to test out these Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, generation two. And much to their surprise—they have been converted to a Bose groupie! At first glance, these look mighty similar to Airpods, just slightly bigger, with a longer case. These could easily fit in our expandable running belt and felt comfortable enough to hold in our hand, as some runners prefer to do.
After charging and pairing these, we took them out on a trail run in our community—about a 2.5-mile hilly trek. Instantly, the sound quality was much better and balanced, providing a crispy, enjoyable listening experience. The earbuds' shape was very comfortable after we found the right ear tip fit. They didn’t move or jiggle out of our ears while running, even over rocky terrain with branches. They offer touch controls to turn the music up and down or skip a song straight from our ear. Though it took us a bit to master it, once we did, it was second nature.
For our second test, we ran on a treadmill with them to see how noise-canceling they truly were (those belts are loud!). They passed the test with flying colors—and we appreciated the range of cancellations to choose from, with 0 being ‘Aware’ to the outside world and 10 being completely quiet.
Sony Float Run Open-Ear Wireless Headphones
Though these do have an open-ear design, we counted them as earbuds and gave them a spot on our list because they offer increased safety and awareness for solo runners. And there are more and more long-distance runners who are turning to this approach to listening to music and protecting their hearing health.
When we first unboxed these, we noticed they had a cool look and were nicely organized in all recyclable packaging. The shape is a little unusual, but it makes sense based on the open-ear concept.
Because these are all one rigid piece, they fit securely, and you hook them over your ears to hold the speaker portion just outside of the opening of your ear canal. Our tester wore glasses and found the rigid over-ear style a bit less comfortable than other over-ear styles connected by a flexible cord.
To put them to the test, we took these out on a 5K run. We really liked the fact that they allow us to still hear what’s happening around us while still having your running tunes. This made us feel more safe, aware of what was happening around us, and have the best of both worlds: hearing the sounds of nature and life and our pump-up beats.
Soundcore Sport X10
Earbuds come in various shapes and sizes, sometimes with hooks or a neckband. This top-selling pair from Soundcore offers a rotatable over-the-ear hook that not only increased our comfort level but also gave us security during our run. Unlike others, where we needed to test out a few fits before finding a comfortable way to wear these earbuds, these were much faster to unbox, charge, and use.
We took them out for a marathon training run, and from the first moment the beat dropped, we were impressed with the powerful sound. It’s so well-balanced, without being too loud, making it ideal for runners who enjoy music over podcasts. We liked that the earbuds didn’t move up or down or even slightly fall out.
They were incredibly dependable, allowing us to focus on the task at hand: increasing our mileage before race day. A fun feature for runners going on casual jogs where they can still have a conversation is the ‘wind reduction’ feature, allowing you to hear better and be heard on a call.
Because these were used for longer runs, we did need to recharge them at the end of the week, but overall, we were impressed with the battery life. They have a waterproof and sweatproof coating, and we didn’t notice any damage, even in the humidity of our area.
The 5 Best Adventure Headphones
I live half the time in Tucson, Arizona—where I run on saguaro-studded trails and cycle on endless highways—and half the time in Manhattan, where I travel by subway and work in coffee shops. Which means music is often an inspiration or a needed distraction from the noise of the world, and most of the time it’s both. As I write this, for example, I’m in a Starbucks, successfully avoiding their latest, cloyingest mix, and instead listening to the soaring guitars of Scotland’s We Were Promised Jetpacks, who sound way better than 25-year-old kids have any right to.
Maybe I lose something when I choose Blue Öyster Cult over the sound of quail in the underbrush, or when I stay inside my audio cave while riding the 1 train in New York. But everyone else on the subway is doing it, and as much as I try to convince myself that those people are listening to Tolstoy novels or teaching themselves Chinese, the truth is probably much scarier. At any rate, it’s their own business: if they want to rock the Glee soundtrack, they have the right, which makes the private listening experience one of the greatest protectors of democracy we have.
If you’ve slept through the past ten years, you might have missed that there’s a vast and varied world of specialized headphones and earbuds and in-ear monitors and Bluetooth devices that will make your experience more enjoyable—and make your investment last. Because whether you’re trying to psych yourself up on your Monday morning commute or facing the final uphill of your morning workout, the quail aren’t going to help you—but a good sonic kick in the butt just might.
Wissonly hi runner
This is the fastest growing brand in the past six months. It may not be much famous, but in the field of bone conduction headphones they are proper technical experts. Their team began to develop bone conduction headphones that do not hurt the ear as early as 10 years ago. With an excellent bone conduction vibration unit optimization program, It became famous very soon in the field of bone conduction. It has been recommended by the majority of otologists!
Due to the particularity of the technical principle, bone conduction headphones are more difficult to be improved in sound quality. Wissonly Hi Runner team subverted the traditional sound quality scheme, made a breakthrough to use large wire-frame vibration unit. They through structural optimization improved the effective vibration area, thereby improved the vibrator sound efficiency, made the sound more shocking and powerful, they optimized the sound transmission direction, reduced the sound loss during sound transmission, and made the sound quality more concentrated. In terms of comfort, the overall body of the Hi Runner is made of high-tech hypoallergenic silicone material, which does not contain chemical components to avoid allergies. The overall feel is as silky as baby's skin, avoiding uncomfortable wearing for a long time.
In terms of functions, as the flagship model of Wissonly bone conduction headphones, Hi Runner has an IPX8 waterproof grade which is higher than the industry standard. It is equipped with 32G body memory, and uses the latest Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes the connection more stable. The battery life is also very good, lasts 8-10 hours of continuous playback at normal volume, and supports magnetic fast charging. It only takes 2 hours to fully charge.
Bowers & Wilkins C5
you won’t find better acoustics in a small package, but they’re worthwhile only if you’re good at taking care of your property and don’t sweat much—they’re a bit fragile and not waterproof. If you’re hard on headphones and don’t mind medium-quality sound, you might go with a more replaceable pair, like Skullcandy’s Fix ($40) or twist-locking, water-resistant Yurbuds (from $30). Still, I hate it when earbuds slip out when I’m on the trail, and B&W’s Secure Loop keeps the C5 in place on runs better than any headphone I’ve tested. The semi-rigid cord that comes out the top bends into a small, adjustable loop that wedges the earphone perfectly under the inner cartilage of your ear; that also keeps them from colliding with your sunglasses the way over-the-ear clips do. Additionally, they’re weighted with tungsten on the side closer to your noggin, further securing them in place. But there’s just no getting around Bowers & Wilkins’ sound quality—and yes, they sound that good. Just remember to pop them out and put them back in their case when you finish your run.
Ultimate Ears 200
Only good skiers should listen to tunes, which rules me out. So I polled my skier friends, who say that, with the cord tucked inside your coat and the earbuds tucked under your headwear, a secure fit is less important than durability and the ability to control volume with gloves on. And given the abuse headphones will endure on the mountain—snow, sweat, and cold—investing a lot of money probably isn’t the way to go. For above-average sound in a cheap, waterproof package, Logitech’s Ultimate Ears 200 Noise-Isolating Headset is hard to beat. It has an inline volume control and mic, letting you answer important calls, like buddies summoning you to the lodge for lunch. Noise isolation is a mixed bag, however: you’ll get better sound quality at a lower volume, but you’re less likely to hear someone coming up behind you. If that makes you nervous, the standard earbuds that come with iPods and iPhones will do.
A lot of brands these days are touting their noise-isolating technologies, which in most cases is a “passive” form of blocking noise—that is, headphones with lots of insulation, or in-ear phones that create a seal, like earplugs, and voilà: less external noise. Bose is one of the only companies to use active noise cancellation, which detects incoming noise and emits an inverse signal to literally cancel it out. (Both types of technology allow you to listen at lower volumes, which is better for the health of your ears.) If you’ve ever worn Bose’s now legendary QuietComfort headphones on a plane, you’ll immediately hear the difference. The high-pitched drones of jet engines and crying babies fall away, letting you enjoy a quiet podcast or violin concerto as if you were lying in bed. That said, $300 (plus two AAA batteries) is a lot to drop on something you can accidentally leave behind in the seat pocket—so don’t leave them behind in the seat pocket. (Do I sound angry at myself?) Still, bring these on an overnight flight to Europe (just turn them on and play silence) and you’ll remember why God made headphones.
Crossfade M-80
Headphones from Beats by Dr. Dre and Skullcandy are popular, but in the event of a wipeout, V-Moda’s Crossfade M-80 are what you’ll want. Built to military specifications from Kevlar and steel, these are likely the toughest headphones in the world: they’re rated for extreme high and low temps, can absorb multiple drops from six feet and up, and won’t yield to yanking and bending. Acoustically, they’ll also surpass most other models, with rich, symphonic sound and enough bass to satisfy hip-hop lovers. And for $25, you can customize the outer “shields” with your own art. If you expect lots of falls, protect your player or phone, too, with an OtterBox case (from $20).
Read more:Best headphones for working out in 2023
