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The 10 Best Headphones for Running
Running while distracted by your favorite music, podcast or audiobook can make your life a lot easier. It takes your focus away from the exercise and puts it on something much better. The problem has often been that headphones are useless for running.
Thankfully, that has changed. There is now a range of brilliant headphones out there that can cope with the demands of a running motion.
There are so many options now that finding the best headphones for running can be a difficult task. That’s where we want to help as we’ve found 10 headphones that will give you stability, high-quality audio, and excellent reliability.
It’s important to get headphones that match your needs. This includes looking at their design, usability, and connectivity. There will also be other considerations such as the style, color, and budget. We’re sure you’ll find the perfect headphones for you here.
Read on to find the best headphones for running!
Best Buy
1. Sennheiser CX Sport Wireless Headphones
Want the perfect workout headphones? The Sennheiser CX Sport headphones are the way to go. They allow you to enjoy the music during any type of workout. With features such as sweat and splash resistance, you can fully concentrate on your running.
They have an outstanding speaker system made especially for delivering high-quality, clear, and detailed audio with prime bass response. This makes them great for running outdoors where you have to deal with a lot of background noise.
The battery life of these headphones is excellent. They give you a 6-hour running time from just 1.5 hours of charging. There’s also the option of a 10-minute quick charge that adds one hour of life. It comes with four different sizes of ear adapters, allowing you to have a secure fit while running.
2. Bose SoundSport Wireless
The Bose SoundSport headphones are perfect for anyone looking for premium quality. The in-ear headphones are ideal to take to the gym or use when running. Since Bose headphones have active EQ, they allow for the audio to be consistent on any level of volume which means crisp and clear delivery of sound.
The headsets are user-friendly thanks to the voice prompts that guide you with how your Bluetooth and NFC pair up. With these headphones being sweat and water-resistant, they provide reliability with their high-quality sound.
The battery life is around 6 hours so you won’t have to worry about them dying mid-run. They’re also comfortable, allowing you to run without constantly readjusting them.
3. Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless In-Ear Earbud
The Skullcandy Ink’d wireless in-ear earbuds tick most of the boxes of what makes great running headphones. They have a very unique design you won’t find in any other headphones. The flex-fit collar allows the earbuds to rest comfortably in your ears as you run. There are stylish color choices too.
The battery life for these wireless earbuds is an impressive 8 hours and recharging them is very simple. The sound quality here isn’t elite but is good enough, especially given the exceptional price.
The Skullcandy earbuds come with the functions of call, track, and volume control which are very simple to use. Overall, these headsets are a good buy for anyone on a budget who still wants excellent features and good audio.
4. Jabra Elite Active 75t
The Jabra Elite Active 75t is a must-have for exercise enthusiasts who require a good set of earbuds. The earbuds fit in with a special grip coating that prevents them from falling out. On top of that, these earbuds are water and sweat-resistant and IP57 certified. They are made for running and you can use them anywhere, even in bad weather.
The buds allow you to fully focus on your music as they have noise cancellation technology that filters out the outside distractions. You get high-quality audio through four microphones with amazing technology instilled that allows you to have a comfortable experience during calls.
These earbuds are compatible with all three main voice assistants of Siri, Google, and Alexa. They also have sensors that pause or play songs based on removing and inserting the buds, allowing them to maximize energy usage.
The battery life is extraordinary. With 24 hours of running time and the pocket-sized charging case, you can stay connected and listen to songs all day long.
5. JBL Reflect Mini 2.0
The JBL Reflect Mini 2.0 is a lightweight, comfortable, and affordable running solution. Having features such as water resistance, a secure fit, and an intuitive design allows them to be loved by many running enthusiasts. They have an IPX5 rating which makes them ideal for anyone who loves running in the rain.
They come in colors of dark blue, black, light blue, or neon green. They are made to be extra secure with their ergonomic silicone ear fins, which come in three sizes, and also the silicone ear tips. It’s user-friendly as it has a 3-button control box that allows you to easily skip songs or answer calls.
The battery life of these buds lasts around 10 hours of music. Usability is very high here and they even come with a pouch and charging cable.
6. Bowers & Wilkins P13
If your main priority for buying running headphones is the sound quality, the Bowers & Wilkins PI3 is what you’re looking for. This is due to dynamic drivers which give it crisp highs along with mid’s and low’s on a separate amplifier.
The battery life usually lasts for 8 hours and if you’re in a rush, it only takes around 15 minutes to charge the buds back to 2 hours of runtime. Another great feature is they’re lightweight to the point you’ll forget you’re wearing them at all.
The earbuds stick to each other when you’re not using them and form into a small necklace which makes it easy to walk around with and prevents them from getting tangled. They are comfortable and secure so you can focus on your running and whatever is playing in your ears.
7. Jaybird Tarah Pro
The Jaybird Tarah Pro is made for running in harsh weather conditions with its design and performance. That’s due to them being waterproof and coming with an IPX7 rating. You don’t have to worry about any rain or sweat and they are also crushproof.
They come in three color options of black-flash, mineral blue-jade, and titanium-glacier, which all look great. The cord is made out of reflective material that can be seen even in limited light conditions, making them ideal for road running.
These headphones can fast charge for 5 minutes to provide a 2-hour use. The audio is amazing and the user can also choose to use the EQ settings to control and save customized frequencies that provide you with clear audio.
8. Beats Powerbeats Pro
These powerful, noise isolation earphones are loved by many users. Being the next step for Apple’s workout series, the Beats Powerbeats Pro is comfortable, sounds great, and is secure in your ears. They are designed to be water and sweat-resistant and target workout enthusiasts. These buds have improved technology with the new H1 chip which provides exceptional audio.
The control here is very high with its intuitive design that can even be controlled while running. The headphones can customize shortcuts with the help of the action button that is placed on the left side. You can also adjust the sound to your preference with the EQ. The technology included is very impressive and includes a micro-laser barometric venting hole that reduces the sound pressure.
The battery life is more than 24 hours with the charging case and up to 9 hours on a single charge. In the box you’ll find the Powerbeats Pro earphones, charging case and cable, ear tips (with four sizes), start guide, and warranty card.
9. Adidas RPT-01 Wireless On-Ear Sport Headphones
The Adidas RPT-01 is perfect for any runner looking for on-ear headphones. They strike a fantastic balance between being highly secure and lightweight. It means you can run without the usual problems caused by larger headphones.
The audio quality is perfect for a running fanatic that needs the motivation to push through the last few miles. With them being larger than earbuds, you also get the advantage of exceptional battery life as these will go for 40 hours between charges.
Another brilliant feature is they’re water and sweat resistance. They have an IPX4 rating so you won’t have to worry about being out in the rain. We were also very impressed by the headband and earbuds being washable so you don’t need to worry about them getting too sweaty.
10. AfterShokz Areopex
These headphones are a unique solution that is perfect for a wide range of different sports, including running. They allow you to listen to your music and do your exercises without completely blocking you out from your surroundings with their bone conduction technology.
These have become the go-to for runners competing in races as they are not a safety hazard. They leave your ear canals free to pick out any vital sounds such as a car horn.
With PremiumPitch 2.0, you get premium sound quality with louder volume. They are waterproof with the IP67 rating for high performance in any condition. The battery life gives you 8 hours to listen to music with just half an hour of charge. While 15 minutes of fast charge allows you to play music for an hour.
Finally, they are lightweight, and even though they may look bulky, the headphones are comfortable to wear on a long run.
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Headphones for running FAQs
Perhaps the first thing people look for in a running headphone is enough stability that they won’t drop out while running. After that, audio quality is obviously vital and there are other factors too such as battery life, connectivity, and comfort. You need to factor all of this into account before making your choice.
This depends on what is important to you. Noise-canceling can improve the clarity of your audio but that comes with a few disadvantages. They are more expensive and also have shorter battery life. They also make you less aware of your surroundings which may be an issue if you’re running through a city, for example.
When you look for the best running headphones, you’ll invariably see names such as Sennheiser, Bose, and Skullcandy. While these are great brands, there are many great makers of headphones. Instead of the brand, it’s important to see if you love its features and check whether its reviews are positive or not.
