Whether you’re already an avid runner or hoping to become one after starting a new training program, you can get more out of your exercise routine if you have some good music. Getting into the zone during a long run with your favorite music, whether it’s rap, classic rock or today’s pop hits, can completely change your experience for the better. To do that, you need to start with a good pair of running headphones.
But not all wireless workout headphones are created equally, and runners need to consider specific factors before investing in a pair like how long your run is, what type of music or other audio you like to listen to and how much you want to block out the world during a session. I’ve tested over a dozen headphones for running to find out which ones are worth your money and which ones are best for all types of runners.
What to look for in running headphones
Before diving in, it’s worth mentioning that this guide focuses on wireless earbuds. While you can wear over-ear or on-ear Bluetooth headphones while running, most of the best headphones available now don’t offer the same ruggedness. Water and dust protection, especially the former, is important for any audio gear you plan on sweating or carrying around outdoors, and it’s more prevalent in the world of wireless earbuds.
Most earbuds come in three designs: in-ear, in-ear with hooks, or open-ear. The first two are the most popular. In-ears are arguably the most common, while those with hooks promise better protection and fit as they have an appendage that curves over your ear. Open-ear designs don’t penetrate your ear canal, but sit just outside it. This makes it easier to hear the world around you while listening to audio, and it may be more comfortable for those who don’t like the intrusiveness of in-ear buds.
Water resistance and dust protection
Water resistance and dust protection are important for the best running headphones because you’re likely to sweat while wearing them. Plus, if you get caught in the rain while running, at least your gear will be protected. Here’s a brief description of the ingress protection (IP) rating, which you’ll see attached to many earbuds on the market today.
The first digit after the acronym rates dust protection on a scale of one to six—the higher, the better. The second digit indicates water-resistance, or in some cases waterproofing, which is ranked on a scale of one to nine. The letter “X” in either case means the device is not rated for the respective material.
See this guide for an even more detailed explanation. All of the earbuds we tested for this guide have at least an IPX4 rating (most have even higher protection), which means they can withstand sweat and splashes, but they don’t have dust protection.
Active noise cancellation and transparency mode
Active noise cancellation (ANC) is becoming a standard feature on wireless earbuds, at least those above a certain price point. If you’re looking for buds that can be your workout companion and continue to serve you when you’re off the trail, ANC is a good fit. It offers versatility by allowing you to block out the sounds of your home or office so you can focus, or give you some solitude during a busy commute on public transport.
But an earbud’s ability to block out the world goes hand in hand with the ability to open things up again when needed. Many earbuds with ANC support some sort of “transparency mode” or varying levels of noise reduction. This is important for running headphones because you don’t want to be completely unaware of what’s going on around you while exercising outside on busy streets. Turning down the noise cancelling level to increase your awareness will help with this.
Battery Life
All of the earbuds we tested have a battery life of six to eight hours. In general, that’s what you can expect from this space, with a few outliers that can offer up to 15 hours of life on a single charge. Even the lower end of the spectrum should be enough for most runners, but if you think you’re close to using all of their juice during a single session, it might be handy to keep the buds’ charging case with you.
Speaking of which, you’ll get an average of 20-28 hours of extra battery from most charging cases, and all the earbuds we tested had holders that provided at least 15 hours of extra battery. This will dictate how often you actually have to charge the device — such as physically connecting the case to the charging cable with the earbuds in, or setting it on a wireless charger to power up.