The 9 Best Running Headphones of 2024, According to Trainers

These wrap-around earbuds from Beats have made our lists of best noise-canceling headphones and best sweat-proof earbuds. And the recommendations don't stop there: New York–based certified personal trainer Noam Tamir, CPT, recommends the Powerbeats Pro earbuds for intense, movement-heavy workouts, and they're a favorite of NiQyira Rajhi, senior social media editor for LIVESTRONG.com.

"I love that these headphones stay put no matter what kind of workout I'm doing," she says. "Whether I'm doing yoga or lots of jumping and cardio, I'm never having to adjust them or worry about them slipping out. The sound quality is also really great! Hands down the best workout headphones I've had."

In addition to the A+ noise-canceling, you get nine hours of listening time off of one charge, and the charging case bumps that to 24 hours.

The noise-canceling feature on these earbuds is top notch, thanks to Apple's use of outward- and inward-facing microphones that isolate sound. They also come with three sizes of silicone tips, which have an internal taper that conforms to the shape of your ear.

“These buds have a ‘barely there’ feel, and I can answer calls in a breeze if someone happens to call me while I’m out on a run,” Hayden says. Plus, with these earbuds, you can dictate messages and have Siri read them through your AirPods — without interrupting your run.

For less than $60, these earbuds hold up to eight hours of battery life, and the charging case can supply an additional 122 hours (yup, you read that right). Like other running headphones on this list, these sweat-proof and water-resistant buds allow you to pause, play and skip songs and take calls.

“These buds have 130 hours of battery life, which is way more than most wireless earbuds,” Hayden says. “Not only that, but the carrying case can also charge your phone, and I haven’t seen a headphone case do that, so it’s a really convenient added function.”

Made for your sweatiest, most adventurous runs, these running headphones have moldable hooks that wrap around your ears to help keep them in place. They can get wet, sweaty and muddy and still work well under challenging conditions.

In fact, they have three listening modes for music, movies and podcasts, all of which allow you to hear your surroundings so you stay safe on your outdoor runs.

“I like that the buds have six hours of playtime and then you can pop them in the case and it recharges them extremely quickly,” says Noam Tamir, CSCS, owner and head trainer of TS Fitness in New York City.

These headphones from sportswear giant Adidas are made for working out: The durable fabric that encases the headband offers extra grip against your head, so they won't slip off as easily as other over-the-ear options. The best part is that the fabric is also removable for an easy wash.

Sweat- and waterproof, these headphones sit comfortably on your head while you pound pavement — and can even keep your ears warm during cold-weather runs.

Enjoy up to 40 hours of playtime (plus self-charging thanks to built-in light converters) and set up your own commands with the control knob and action button. “I like that you can program shortcuts into the headphones to make it easier to control the use of them while you’re running or working out,” Tamir says.

These best wireless running headphones don’t go in or around your ear, but rather sit on the bone directly in front of your eardrum. Through bone-conduction technology, these headphones deliver sound through your cheekbones, keeping your ears open to other sounds on the road.

“No matter how sweaty you get, these headphones manage to stay in place,” Tamir says. “And they’re waterproof, too, so you won’t have to worry about them getting damaged by sweat or rain.”

Use the control buttons on the headphones to turn up the volume or skip tracks for eight whole hours of listening.

"I can count on these headphones to last the entire length of my long runs when I'm marathon training, and I love how comfortably they fit on my ears," Ciara Lucas, RRCA, run coach and LIVESTRONG.com Health Writer, says. "I hardly notice that they're there. It's also amazing how clear the music is without having the headphone directly in my ear, and while still allowing me to hear my surroundings."

Take these nature-proof earbuds for a run through rain, snow, mud or a desert sandstorm, and you'll be surprised by how shock absorbent they are.

Tested by athletes performing in treacherous weather conditions, these headphones hold up to 32 hours of charge and provide great sound quality, taking you from zero to beast mode on the trails.

“Their protection from the elements, secure sport fit and sound quality make these headphones the answer for adventures in the great outdoors,” Hayden says.

These are also the go-to headphones for LIVESTRONG.com Senior Fitness Editor Jessica Campbell-Salley. "The trails where I live run the gamut of dusty, muddy, snow and rainy, depending on the time of year," she says. "The sound quality on these holds up through all the elements, and I love the simple one-touch functionality for pausing music."

All about that bass? Then you’ll thoroughly enjoy the sound coming from the 12mm speaker in these stylish and sleek earbuds. In addition to powering your buds, the case can charge your phone.

“I like that you can use the built-in voice assistant while you’re working out to send a quick text or set a reminder,” Tamir says. You can also turn on or off ambient sound, so you can be more aware of your surroundings when running outside or shut out all distractions if you’re on a treadmill.

These over-the-ear headphones are pricey, but they deliver unmatched acoustics, so you can really get in the zone. Their patented noise-canceling technology keeps ambient noise out. And there are 11 levels of sound control, ranging from full noise canceling to full transparency.

“The size of these is nice, because you won’t accidentally misplace them, as you do with some small individual earbuds,” Tamir says. “And they sound awesome.”