The 9 Best Running Headphones of 2024, According to Trainers

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Bose Sport Earbuds — Wireless Running Headphones on a Blue Background
Apple Airpods Pro — Wireless Running Headphones on a Blue Background
Back Bay Duet 50 Pro Earbuds — Wireless Running Headphones on a Blue Background
UE Fits Wireless Earbuds
Yellow Skullcandy Push Ultra True Wireless Earbuds for Running  on a Blue Background
White Powerbeats3 Wireless Headphones on a Blue Background
Orange and Blue Adidas RPT-01 On-Ear Wireless Headphones on a Blue Background
Black Jabra Elite Sport Wireless Earbuds on a Blue Background
Blue Shokz OpenRun Headphones on a Blue Background
Black Under Armour True Wireless Flash X Earbuds on a Blue Background
Grey and Yellow Jaybird Sport Vista Earbuds on a Blue Background
Black Samsung Galaxy Buds Live — Wireless Running Headphones on a Blue Background
Blue and Grey Plantronics Backbeat Fit 3100 True Wireless Earbuds on a Blue Background
3 Pairs of Bose Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones — white, grey and black on a blue background
Senior man running in the city
Investing in high-quality headphones can transform your runs.
Image Credit: Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages

When you're racking up miles, some motivating sounds can go a long way in ensuring an epic run. But to get the most out of any podcast, playlist or audiobook, you need the best running headphones to withstand sweat and tough weather while delivering a quality soundtrack.

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"Options range from wired pairs to over-the-head options and wireless earbuds, too," Meghan Hayden, CPT, a certified personal trainer in New York City, tells LIVESTRONG.com. "You need a pair that won't absorb sweat, can withstand sweat — and water if you're running in the rain or snow — and ones that can hold a charge for the entirety of your workout."

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The Best Running Headphones

How We Chose

We chatted with Hayden and other personal trainers, who offered product recommendations and helped us break down what to look for in the best running headphones. We selected our products based on our own testing as well as their criteria, including:

  • Secure fit
  • Charge length
  • Sweat-proof
  • Features
  • Price
  • User reviews

1. Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds

Pros

  • Sweat and splash proof
  • Works with iPhone and Android
  • Volume and track control

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Wrap-style not for everyone

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.

2. Apple Airpods Pro

Pros

  • Active noise cancelation
  • Silicone tips for comfort
  • Sweat and water resistant
  • Charging case

Cons

  • 6-hour battery life
  • Expensive

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.

3. Back Bay Duet 50 Pro Earbuds

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Sweat and water resistant
  • 8-hour battery life

Cons

  • Sound quality not the highest

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.”

4. Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless Earbuds

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Sweat and water resistant
  • Hands-free voice control

Cons

  • 6-hour battery life
  • Ear loops might be uncomfortable for some

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.

5. Adidas RPT-02 Sol

Pros

  • Super comfortable
  • Sweat-proof and splash-proof
  • Self-charging via light-converting cells

Cons

  • Pricey
  • No active noise canceling

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.

6. Shokz OpenRun Headphones

Pros

  • Safety-first
  • Sweat and waterproof
  • 8-hour battery life

Cons

  • Sound quality isn't the best

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."

7. Jaybird Vista 2 Earbuds

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Sweat and waterproof
  • Both active noice canceling and ambient aware

Cons

  • Connectivity can be tricky

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."

8. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Multiple colors
  • Both noise canceling and ambient aware settings
  • Compatible with both iPhone and Android

Cons

  • 6-hour battery life

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.

9. Bose Noise-Canceling Over-the-Ear Headphones 700

Pros

  • One of the best for sound quality
  • Easy pairing
  • 11 levels of sound control

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Bulky

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.”

How to Shop for the Best Running Headphones

You have a lot of features to consider when shopping for the best headphones for running. For example, do you prefer wireless earbuds or an over-the-ear design? Do you want headphones that allow you send and read messages? Prefer a noise-canceling pair or ones that tune out all outside sound? Think these things through before picking your ultimate pair.

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1. Structure

You can opt for over-the-ear headphones that connect the right and left speakers with some sort of headband, or you can go totally wireless with earbuds. For some people, over-the-head options aren't as secure, while others find that earbuds just won't stay put in their ears.

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"Whatever option you choose, it's important to be sure they provide a secure fit over or in the ears for running," Brown says. You also want to consider whether they're shock-absorbent and water-resistant if you frequently go on outdoor runs that might make them more vulnerable to weather.

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2. Sound Quality

For some people, sound quality is at the top of their list. They don't want to just listen to music; they want to hear and feel the vibration, too. But if you want to hear your jams at their best, you will probably need to pay for it. The more expensive headphones tend to offer the best sound quality. However, you can find exceptions.

3. Bluetooth Connectivity

Wireless headphones are the popular choice nowadays, but remember that these tools connect to your phone or music device via Bluetooth. The best Bluetooth headphones for running come from established tech brands, such as Bose, Samsung and Jaybird.

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If your headphones aren't great quality and don't provide a good connection, your music may cut in and out, which can be extremely distracting on runs, Brown says.

4. Battery Life

If you're a marathon runner and frequently go for long runs that last hours, you need a pair of running headphones or earbuds that can last as long as your legs do. You don't want to lose that pump-up mix in the final miles when you need the boost the most, Tamir says.

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