The 9 Best Headphones for Running in 2021

Best Overall: Beats Powerbeats Pro

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Beats is one of the biggest names in audio right now, due to its association with Apple and these earbuds are Beats' running model. The headphones sound great and bring along with them NFC pairing. That means you can simply hold the headphones near your phone and they pair automatically (Android requires an app to accomplish this). They also come with Apple's H1 chip for headphones which is a bit of a double-edged sword. The Apple H1 chip has the AAC codec on board which is Apple's standard, but leaves off higher quality codecs like AptX. It's the kind of distinction that most people won't care about, but if you're an audiophile, you might want to make a different selection.

Each earbud can independently adjust volume and track selection with a series of touches. Plus each earbud can give you access to your voice assistant. Nine hours is pretty good for a single charge in this space, and you'll get a total of around 24 hours of listening time with the charging case. But all of that comes at a cost because these earbuds are on the expensive side.

Best Waterproof: Jaybird X4

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The Jaybird X4 Wireless Bluetooth headphones are about as close to an easy recommendation as you can get in the field of audio. There's a very wide range of headphones out there, but ask the experts, and the Jaybird X4's will almost always be in the top three. That's because they deliver reliable quality and great sound at a great price. These are wired, as in they have a wire connecting each other, but they connect to your phone via Bluetooth. They're also sweatproof which is great for runners.

The headphones also deliver really good isolation with their silicone ear tips which is great for audio quality, but not great when you're running and need to keep an ear out for traffic and other noises. The headphones also deliver about eight hours of battery life which will certainly get you through a run, and even a work day, but they'll need to be charged often.

Best Quick Charge: Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones

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Bose is a great name when it comes to audio technology. Bose is most well known for its noise-cancellation tech, but a close second is Bose sound quality. These buds are no exception. At just six hours, the battery life isn't the best, but they charge up to full in 90 minutes according to our testing, and that's pretty fast, all things considered. 

One other great thing about these buds is built-in Tile connectivity. Tile, the location tracker, leased its tech to Bose to make these headphones findable if they get lost on a run or even just around the house.  Just pop open the Tile app, and you'll get the latest known position. That's something more earbuds should do, no question.

Runner-Up, Best Quick Charge: Sennheiser CX Sport

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The Sennheiser CX Sport headphones are designed for the run. These earbuds are connected by a wire between them, and that wire has an adjustable cinch on it, so you can find the right area for your comfort.  Add to that, the shirt clip makes sure you'll never lose your earbuds while out on a run, or anywhere else. 

These earbuds offer exceptional sound, but that's only if you can seat them correctly.  Our reviewer had a hard time finding a good fit with the provided tips and wings, which can be troublesome. These earbuds also top out at six hours of battery life which is enough for most workouts, but not even a full work day. But on the flip side, just 10 minutes of charging will get you one hour of listening time which is pretty great.

Best Splurge: Plantronics BackBeat Fit 3200

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The Plantronics BackBeat Fit 3200 earbuds are a great set of true wireless earbuds for runners. The earbuds hook onto the ears with a comfortable rubber hook and still let in noise from the outside. The buttons on the earbuds are also touch-sensitive meaning you can control play/pause, track skipping, and volume, which is a great amount of versatility in a true wireless earbud.

You'll get around eight hours on a single charge and the case gives you a total of around 24 hours, which is pretty good. The case for the headphones is on the larger side, so it's not very pocketable. That's especially true for someone going out running. A battery meter inside lets you know how much charge the case has left, which is nice. It also charges via MicroUSB which is a bit dated at this point.

Best Budget: Urbanears Stadion

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The UrbanEars Stadion headphones have a unique design that is supposed to adjust to the shape of your head and your ears. The control and battery pack rest on the back of your head which can be a little awkward, especially for those with long hair.  The cable is coiled along each side to give you a great fit around your head and keeps excess cable compact and neat. But that puts the controls at the back of your head too which can be a little weird.

Plus, with a battery and control panel that large, you'd expect more than seven hours of advertised battery life on a single charge. The headphones also charge via micro USB which is a little outdated with so many phones and accessories moving to USB Type-C. Still, these are some of the least expensive on our list, so if you're looking for a budget option, these will do the trick.

Runner-Up, Best Budget: Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100

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The Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100 are another great budget option for runners. These headphones are designed with a reflective material that helps runners stand out in the dark which is a great option.  The headband is a hard band that sticks out behind your head and neck which is a matter of taste, but doesn't tend to work well for those with long hair, so that's important to keep in mind.

Plantronics also designed the BackBeat 2100 headphones to pair with its app that allows you to customize the controls on the headphones so you can set a timer or start a stopwatch with a single tap. That's a great option that keeps you in the zone and focused on your workout, rather than fiddling with your phone.

Best Battery Life: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4

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If you're looking for a set of headphones to power you through your day and your workout, the Opotoma NuForce might be right for you. These are wired earbuds, with an inline remote on the right side. The remote is quite versatile controlling power, track skipping, volume, voice assistant and more. Plus the remote gives you ten hours of battery life. If that's not enough, 15 minutes of charging will give you another two hours. That's a battery champ.

The headphones come with a large soft case, which is nice, but if you're a runner, you'll probably leave the case at home. Graphene coated drivers will give you great bass too, so you can thump through your workout as well. Twin blade ear tips will give you a secure fit, but will also block out noises from the environment, so a runner will have to be very careful when using these.