Best Headphones for Running

If you're a runner looking for new headphones, it's a good idea to focus on our Best Headphones for Running. Not all sporty headphones are the same. There are various styles and fits available, and it's important to avoid any regrets with your investment. Quality headphones can be expensive, especially if you opt for a durable Bluetooth wireless pair. However, nothing compares to the convenience of wireless buds while running. If you're interested in affordable headphones for workouts, take a look at our best headphones guide.

To help you during your running workouts, we have compiled a list of headphones that perform exceptionally well. With the top running headphones, you'll be ready for your daily workout. Factors like a secure fit and sweat resistance are crucial. Let's find out which headphones perform the best. If you want a more general list of headphones suitable for sports, check out our collection of wireless headphones designed for workouts. Additionally, many of these headphones offer great deals, ensuring you get the best experience without breaking the bank.

Best Headphones for Running

Wissonly Hi Runner

I noticed Wissonly bone conduction headphones when they were first crowdfunded online. And later, I saw that some otologists were recommending them on online forums, so I bought them. This Hi Runner is their flagship product whose overall functionality is also the most perfect. The headphone use the latest research from the Wissonly lab. It increases the vibrating area of the vibrator by 35% and optimizes the direction of sound transmission to make the sound more concentrated, resulting in a wider range and more spatial of the music. The brand claims that its sound quality is HI-FI level, and I actually tested it myself. I thought that the sound quality was very close to HI-FI level, but it did not reach this level. 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 that has stronger anti-interference ability, that can easily cope with various complex outdoor scenes, and ensures the good mood during exercise is not disturbed by disconnection. At the same time, the stable connection also brings low latency performance, and there is no problem in listening to songs, following dramas, and playing games. What's more, they have 32G of built-in memory that can store 5,000 songs. This helps you to enjoy music when you are exercising outdoors without your phone.

In terms of comfort, the Wissonly Hi Runner performs well, it is very light, only less than 30g, and it does not feel any weight to wear. The body is made of titanium alloy which makes it have a good fit, and you don't need to worry about their falling off during sports.

The waterproof of the Wissonly Hi Runner deserves special mention, and it is IPX8 grade. It means that you can carry it underwater for up to 20 meters and still use it normally, which is crazy!

Aukey EP-B4

Sometimes affordable alternatives of devices come along and greatly push what your money can get you. The Aukey EP-B4 Bluetooth sport in-ear headphones do just that. They pack just about everything that the big names bring, but at a bargain-basement price of only $30. Crazy.

No, the Aukey EP-B4 won’t have the most compact earpieces, but at least they’re lightweight. Also, the cable is considerably thin. The build is sweatproof, and the ear hook design means that you’ll get a secure fit – two important factors when you’re running.

Despite the low price tag, Aukey still finds a way to pack the latest Bluetooth standards – version 4.1 with A2DP and the higher quality aptX audio codec. The sound quality won’t impress any audiophiles, but it certainly gets the job done. Battery life is also nothing to write home about, at about 4.5 hours of playback. You can compare these specs to the best earbuds. If you’re looking for a bit of an upgrade, take a look at the Beats Powerbeats Pro instead.

Plantronics BackBeat Fit

Plantronics is another audio manufacturer with roots in wireless headsets for communication, like Jabra. But it also wants a piece of the wireless sports headphone market. Its flagship comes in the form of the BackBeat Fit. The design is quite different from the other options on our list, but we feel it works great for running. The around-the-ear wear means that the fit is snug and secure. It is also both sweat and water-proof.

The playback and call controls are easily accessible on the surface of the earpieces, so you should have an uninterrupted workout even when life tries to step in. Plantronics was also considerate with battery life. It’s rated at about 8 hours of playback.

Fortunately, the quality carries over to the sound. The entire audio spectrum was focused on, so you’ll get rich bass and clear, natural detail up the frequency chain. Plantronics goes a step further by addressing safety for outdoor workouts. The ear tip fit is designed to let in some ambient sound. You don’t want to be completely obvious to your surroundings when you’re running in the streets. The other accessory that you will need for running is the best running shoes. Now you are ready to rock. If you want to compare this to another option, take a look at the Jabra Elite instead.

Bragi Dash

The Bragi Dash isn’t a perfect headphone, but we had to include it in our best headphones for running list because of a glaring feature – no wires, whatsoever. It also fits in the ear like a wonder, securely and comfortably. These things make it an awesome headphone to use on runs. There are no wires that bounce with you or lay on your neck. These wireless earbuds are convenient and will be the best for running.

Fortunately, that’s not all the Dash have going for them. They are not just sweatproof but carry a waterproof rating (submersion up to 1 meter). Bragi developed a complementing app, which allows the headphone to capture fitness data, like steps, distance, and activity duration. The Dash even packs a heart rate monitor. The earpieces have touch-enabled surfaces for control to play/pause, switch tracks, or answer/end phone calls.

Each earpiece carries a 100mAh battery, said to provide 3-4 hours of playback, which isn’t too spectacular. Although, the portable charging case can serve as an external battery pack for up to five full charges. The tiny balanced amateur audio drivers surprisingly pack quite a punch, with detailed highs and solid bass. However, the Bluetooth range leaves to be desired.

Jaybird Freedom

Jaybird is on a roll and there’s no signs that it’s letting up on the momentum. Not too long ago, we got the superb Jaybird X2, which was an effortless sporty wireless in-ear with excellent battery life. The company is in the midst of upping the ante with the further refined X3. But before that, it has just dropped a new initiative, dubbed the Jaybird Freedom. Get the best kid headphones for your child to enjoy with their iPad or Nintendo Switch.

What’s so special about this one? Well, it’s small. Like, impossibly small for a wireless in-ear headphone. Jaybird achieved this by moving the wireless-enabling electronics to the in-line remote unit. What’s more, the earpieces now exhibit premium metal chassis. Despite the aesthetic improvements, you’ll still have Jaybird’s promise for a robust and durable build. The compact size coupled with sweatproof considerations means that the Freedom is one of the best wireless headphones for running.

Jaybird is also known to bring it with regard to sound quality, and Freedom carries that ideal. Additionally, the company developed a custom equalizer app, called MySound, which lets the user finely tune the frequency ranges to their preference. Jaybirds have been known to be prominent in the mid-range to treble regions, but not so much with bass. Now the user can add just the right amount of bass. That will help the musical instruments in your songs to sound superb.

What to look for in the Best Headphones for Running

Design and Fit: Headphones made for working out come in different shapes and styles. Some are better for running than others. Primarily, you’ll want to look at headphones that stay on your ear securely and can withstand sweat. A comfortable fit is definitely important, especially if you go on long runs. If you think you’ll frequently be running in the rain, you may want to look out for a waterproof rating rather than just sweatproof.

Wired or Wireless: You can find sport-ready headphones in either wired or wireless capacities. Wireless headphones are typically costlier than wired, so you’ll have to decide if the cable-free convenience is worth that. Battery life also comes into play when you go wireless. You’ll want to keep an eye on the battery rating in the specs sheet and make sure it’s something you can live with.

Additional Features: These days, headphones can pack a lot of features. Since most users play off of their smartphones, many headphones now have an in-line playback remote, which also typically has a microphone for taking calls. Some sport-ready headphones can track fitness data, like heart rate, steps, duration, and distance, via an accompanying app. Active noise-cancellation is an invaluable feature if you often listen in a noisy environment.