There’s nothing quite like shutting out the world with a pair of headphones and hitting the pavement (or the treadmill). Aside from the motivation the right song can provide (for me, it’s anything Limp Bizkit), the best running headphones offer a secure fit, easy controls, and solid connectivity that’s not going to cut out every time your foot lands.
On the flip side, wearing the wrong headphones for high-impact exercises like running can be really annoying. We’ve been there and done that too many times, so we wanted to separate the good from the bad to help you find a pair of running headphones that you actually love.
After several weeks of testing, we landed on a few top picks. Whether you’re looking for over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds, or bone-conduction technology, we’ve got an option for you.
We’re Avid Runners (And Self-Proclaimed Audiophiles)
The Garage Gym Reviews team consists of certified personal trainers, CrossFit coaches, former collegiate athletes, and nutrition coaches who really love running and a good music experience. We’ve tried dozens of pairs of headphones along the way, and we’ve put them through the ringer.
We know what makes headphones good for running (a secure fit, excellent sound quality, and a volume you can hear over a treadmill motor) and what makes them terrible (constant slipping, low volume, and clunky connectivity). And it’s important to us to share that unbiased knowledge so you can fit the best workout gear for you.
Best Running Headphones In 2023
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.
PowerBeats Pro Earbuds
If you’re more of an earbud type person, you can’t go wrong with the Beats PowerBeats Pro. Yes, they’re expensive, but these true wireless earbuds have great sound , feel secure during runs,and have a pretty generous 9-hour battery life, according to Nicole Davis, certified personal trainer and GGR editor.
The headphones themselves are really light, so they feel comfortable in your ears and they have incredible noise reduction. Nicole says you “can’t hear much of anything when they’re in.” While we do love this feature, remember that if you’re running outdoors, you should be on high alert regarding your surroundings.
They’re also loaded with tech features. Each earbud has full volume and track controls so you don’t have to fumble around with your phone mid-run to change your music. They’re also voice-activated so they can integrate with Siri for hands-free control and have an auto play/pause function—they can detect when they’re in your ear and play or pause music accordingly.
Shokz Trekz Air Bone Conduction Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Okay, so we know that open-ear bone conduction headphones may not have as much mass appeal as earbuds or cushy over-the-ear models, but hear us out: If you find earbuds uncomfortable or you don’t like to run with bulkier models, the Shokz (formerly Aftershokz) Trekz Air Bone Conduction Headphones provide amazing sound and stay put through all types of exercises.
“I love bone conduction headphones. I actually hate having stuff in my ears, so bone conduction or over-ear headphones are my go-tos,” says Amanda Capritto, certified personal trainer and GGR editor who has worn Shokz headphones for years of running workouts, adding that the sound on these is nice and clear.
Amanda harps on the Trekz Air for their ability to keep her feeling safe out on the roads while running, and didn’t have any issues with comfort, but our other tester, Anthony O’Reilly, wasn’t as pleased with the Trekz Air. He said “maybe it’s just my big head, but I wasn’t able to wear these comfortably.”
JLab Go Air Sport Wireless Workout Earbuds
Noise-cancellation is a nice feature to have in most cases, but if you take the majority of your runs outdoors, you might not want it—and don’t want to pay extra for it. (The more you can hear around you, the safer you are.)
The JLab Go Air Sport earbuds don’t have a lot of extra features, but they have good sound quality (GGR staff writer Lauren said she was actually surprised at how good it was) at a great price. Basically you’ll get everything you’d expect, and more, for $30.
Noise-cancellation is a nice feature to have in most cases, but if you take the majority of your runs outdoors, you might not want it—and don’t want to pay extra for it. (The more you can hear around you, the safer you are.)
The JLab Go Air Sport earbuds don’t have a lot of extra features, but they have good sound quality (GGR staff writer Lauren said she was actually surprised at how good it was) at a great price. Basically you’ll get everything you’d expect, and more, for $30.
Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
The Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are a nice balance of quality and value.
At a retail price of about $100, they’re not exactly cheap, but they’re a lot less expensive than other similar models without sacrificing sound quality. Lauren says this pair has the best sound quality of all the ones she tested, and that the active noise cancellation (ANC) was stellar, too. She couldn’t hear any ambient noise or her husband talking on the phone during the workday.
Her one callout is that they were a little big for her (admittedly small) ears. They felt like they were jutting out a little bit which made them feel a little heavy. But she says this might not be an issue for those with bigger ears. They do come with different size ear tips, though, so they’ll fit snugly even if they do protrude a little bit.
Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones
Earbuds are often the go-to for running headphones, but don’t sleep on over-ear models like the Beats Studio3. Although they’re not marketed as sports headphones, they earned the highest ratings in all of our tests. Caroline Lubinsky, CF-L1 trainer and GGR fitness writer, was especially impressed with the sound quality, saying they emulated surround sound in her ears and made her feel like she was right where the music was.
Unfortunately, they’re not fully waterproof, but they have a ton of features that may make you look beyond that. (The splash-resistant rating means they’ll hold up to moderate sweat sessions, anyway).
These sport active noise canceling, real-time audio calibration (which means the sound will adjust as needed), and you get a 22-hour battery life on a single charge. They’re also super comfy. Caroline says they’re snug on her ears like ear muffs and didn’t slide down even when bending over to pick something up.
And while they’re not as small as earbuds, Beats did its best to make them as compact as possible.
How We Picked And Tested
We don’t need to tell you that there are so many headphones and earbuds out there. To narrow things down for this guide, we looked at pairs with features that made them especially beneficial for running, like ear hooks that would provide a more secure fit. We researched a few dozen, from high-end pairs to budget models, but landed on testing the ones we thought had the best combination of features for runners.
To test the headphones, we took them on outdoor runs and wore them on the treadmill. We jogged lightly and at a heart-rate-pumping sprint to see how well they stayed in place and how well we could hear them over the sound of the treadmill belt. We also just wore them around the house, during walks, and while doing errands to see how versatile they are. After all, if you’re paying $200+ for headphones, you probably want to be able to use them all the time.
During our testing, we rated each pair of headphones on comfort and fit, price, ease of use, sound quality, noise reduction, durability, and range. We also factored in warranty, customer service, battery life, and whether or not they were sweat- and water-resistant. We considered their IP rating, but also how they performed when things heated up a bit.
After the testing period was complete, we tallied up all the scores and found the six with the highest average rating (and no major complaints). These are the ones that we recommend to you.
Benefits Of Running Headphones
Studies1 show that listening to music during high-intensity exercises like running can boost energy, improve mood, increase motivation, and lower your perceived level of exertion. In other words, you can go faster for longer—and you’re happy about it. Of course, running headphones help provide that motivation-in-the-form-of-music for you, but there are also specific benefits beyond that.
“Unlike other pairs, running headphones are specifically designed to stay put while you’re on the move,” Amanda says. “They often have ear hooks or over-ear designs that eliminate (or reduce) the risk that you’ll lose one along the way. Have you ever tried to find a black earbud on a wet running trail? Not a good time.”
Read more:The best running headphones for 2023
