Best Products > Audio The 9 Best Headphones for Running in 2022 Find the right fit for your run By Adam S. Doud Adam S. Doud Twitter Writer Adam has been writing about mobile technology since 2011. He is the former host of the Android Authority podcast, and his work has appeared in numerous publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 16, 2021 04:42PM EST Tweet Share Email Audio Headphones The Ultimate Headphones Buying Guide Earbuds Speakers Home Theater Instruments Accessories We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. The best headphones for running are going to give you great sound, while also being lightweight and sweatproof, and keeping you aware of your surroundings. Isolation is important when you're kicking back to some tunes on the couch, but when you're out there in the world among traffic and pedestrians, you need to make sure you can still hear everything around you. Additionally, your headphones need to have great battery life and be wireless. This is for two reasons. First, you don't want to get tangled up in a cord while you're out there hitting the streets. Wireless headphones keep distractions to a minimum and help you keep your head in the game. Also, a growing number of phones are ditching the headphone jack, and that's only going to increase in the future. Like it or not, Bluetooth is the way to go. The Rundown Best Overall: Beats Powerbeats Pro at Amazon Best Waterproof: Jaybird X4 at Amazon Best Quick Charge: Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones at Amazon Runner-Up, Best Quick Charge: Sennheiser CX Sport at Amazon Best Splurge: Plantronics BackBeat Fit 3200 at Amazon Best Budget: Urbanears Stadion at Amazon Runner-Up, Best Budget: Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100 at Amazon Best Battery Life: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 at Amazon Best Bone Conduction: Aftershokz Trekz Air Headphones at Amazon Best Overall: Beats Powerbeats Pro 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like NFC and Apple H1 connectivity Volume and Track controls What We Don't Like Expensive Limited to AAC codec 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. Beats Powerbeats Pro Review "If you use your earbuds regularly, you’ll find a lot to like with the Powerbeats Pro. They’re durable, comfortable, and deliver sound quality that is par excellence." — Jeffrey Chadwick, Product Tester Best Waterproof: Jaybird X4 4 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Great sound Good price What We Don't Like Short battery life Good isolation which is bad for runners 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. Jaybird X4 Wireless Sport Headphones Review "Durability is probably the most impressive aspect of the Jaybird X4." — Jason Schneider, Product Tester Best Quick Charge: Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones 4.3 Amazon View On Amazon View On Best Buy View On Bose.com What We Like Built in Tile connectivity Charges in 90 minutes What We Don't Like Short battery life 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's 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. Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones Review "What you get with these headphones is an easy-to-use and great feeling set of earbuds, with water resistance and a subjectively great sound for an objectively premium price." — Jason Schneider, Product Tester Runner-Up, Best Quick Charge: Sennheiser CX Sport 3.5 Lifewire / Yoona Wagener View On Amazon What We Like 10 minute charge gives you one hour of listening Adjustable cinch strap and shirt clip What We Don't Like Short battery life Not a lot of fit options 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. In addition, 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. Sennheiser CX Sport Review "The Sennheiser CX Sport wireless offer an attractive mix of features that check the boxes for workout earbuds: sporty styling, tools for achieving a closer fit, a lightweight build, and quick charging." — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester Best Splurge: Plantronics BackBeat Fit 3200 Courtesy of MaxGaming View On Amazon View On Plantronics.com What We Like Lot of controls on the earbuds True wireless earbuds On-ear buds that don't block out outside noise What We Don't Like Big case 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. The 9 Best Workout Headphones of 2022 "These buds deliver great sound and a comfortable grip on the ear. The touch-sensitive buttons on the outside allow you to control volume and track skipping. They're incredibly versatile!" — Adam S. Doud, Product Tester Best Budget: Urbanears Stadion Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Neat coiled design What We Don't Like Buttons are a little awkward to reach Bulky battery/control pack 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, 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. The 9 Best Headphones for Under $50 in 2022 Runner-Up, Best Budget: Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Reflective finish for runners Customizable buttons What We Don't Like Hard loop connecting the ear phones together 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 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like 10 hours of battery life Versatile inline remote 15 minute charge gives you 2 hours or listening time What We Don't Like Large case 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 10 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 also will block out noises from the environment, so a runner will have to be very careful when using these. Best Bone Conduction: Aftershokz Trekz Air Headphones Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Bone conduction is really cool What We Don't Like Bone conduction takes a lot of getting used to Still design might not adapt well to runners Bone conduction is a really cool innovation in the audio industry that hasn't caught on as much as its potential suggests. Put simply, bone conduction sends reverberations through your skull to your ear, which generates sound. It's awesome, but it takes some getting used to. The Aftershokz Treks Air headphones are an open headphone system, which means nothing actually covers your ears. You can definitely hear everything that's going on around you, which makes them very safe for running. However, the nature of bone conduction means that the entire headset is stiff plastic that encircles your head and sticks out the back a bit. This can make for an awkward feeling while running, especially for those with longer hair. But if you want to listen to your music or a podcast, and still be very well aware of your surroundings, these headphones should do the trick. The 8 Best Wireless Earbuds of 2022 for Great Sound Final Verdict Overall, the Beats Powerbeats Pro get our vote as the best on this list. They bring everything to the table including great sound, lots of control, and easy pairing. They also get very good battery life on a single charge, and come with a case that will get you through a day and more. If you want something a little different, the Plantronics BackBeat 3200 earbuds are also great. They're true wireless earbuds that also give you about 24 hours including the charge in the case. Most importantly, they keep you aware of the world around you while you're out there. Running is great and music is great, but running, music, and safety is even better. How We Tested Our expert reviewers and editors evaluate headphones based on design, audio quality, comfort, and features. We test their real-life performance in actual use cases, running/working out, listening to music or podcasts while we commute, watching films, playing games, and working both at home and in an office environment. We also consider each unit as a value proposition—whether or not a product justifies its price tag, and how it compares to competitive products. All of the models we reviewed were purchased by Lifewire; none of the review units were furnished by the manufacturer or retailer. About our Trusted Experts Andy Zahn has spent over 200 hours testing headphones and other home audio products for Lifewire. He is rarely to be found not plugged into his tunes. Whether he’s typing away at his latest article, working on his small farm in Western Washington, or staying up late to photograph the starry skies over the Grand Canyon, he is most likely to be wearing headphones while doing so. He prefers to spend his free time pounding the trails of National Parks in the company of a good audiobook. Jeffrey Chadwick has published hundreds of articles, reviews, and videos on Top Ten Reviews. His most recent position was Multimedia and Home Improvement Editor, where he reviewed products related to video editing, computer security, and media players, as well as home improvement gadgets like power tools and robot lawnmowers. Taylor Clemons has three years of experience writing about consumer technology and video games for outlets like TechRadar and GameSkinny. She has also worked in e-commerce, product management, and digital marketing, allowing her to break down technical terms into easy to understand language. Adam S. Doud has been writing about the tech industry for almost a decade. As a podcaster, he's always got his head under a set of headphones listening to the latest show or jamming to some music while writing. What to Look for in the Best Headphones for Running Waterproof - Headphones built for running need to be waterproof, both for the instances you get caught out in the rain and to repel sweat. Headphones built for runners will always have waterproofing, but some of the headphones in this list were not specifically intended for running, so it's important to make sure those basics are there. Battery life - Your earbuds are only helpful if they power on. Most of the earbuds in this list will get you through a long workout, which is great, but multiple chargings eventually will wear down batteries. It's best to get as much out of a charge as you can. Controls - When you're on a run, easily accessible controls are a must. You don't want to have to pull out your phone to turn the volume up or down, or to skip a track. All of that should be accessible from the headphones in some way. Be sure you have as much control as possible at your fingertips. FAQ As a runner, what are the benefits of wireless? Wireless headphones are great for runners for two different reasons. First, there are no wires to get tangled up in as you run. The back and forth motion of your arms and legs can cause snags or trips while you run. Second, a lot of phones are losing the 3.5mm headphone jack these days, leaving Bluetooth the only game in town. What is isolation, and how does it affect running? Isolation is how much the headphones block out surrounding noise. The benefit to isolation is you get a more pure sound. Plus, you can keep your volume lower and reduce hearing damage from listening to music too loudly. For runners, though, isolation is a bad thing because it blocks out noises around you, which include traffic, signals, and other pedestrians. Music helps you get in the flow, but blocking out surrounding noise is dangerous. How are true wireless earbuds (TWS) different from wireless earbuds? The difference between wireless earbuds and true wireless earbuds is in the wire that connects the earbuds together. True wireless earbuds do not have a connecting wire. They communicate with each other wirelessly. It's one less wire to worry about on your run. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit