The 5 Best Headphones For Running - Spring 2023 Reviews

The Beats Studio3 Wireless are the best headphones for running that we've tested. These stylish over-ears are comfortable and have good stability for light runs. They also come with a W1 chip for seamless pairing with Apple devices, and their ANC does a decent job at blocking out chatty gym-goers. While they don't have an IP rating for protection against the elements, they last 23 hours on a single charge, so you can use them through several runs before needing a top-up.

The Beats have a warm sound profile. There's a touch of extra bass to compliment your pump-up jams. Unfortunately, an underemphasis in the treble range means instruments and vocals sound muddy and dull. Their companion app lacks sound customization features, like a graphic EQ or presets, so you're stuck with their sound out of the box. Their control scheme is also hard to navigate due to all the buttons being flush with the body of the ear cups.

Feedback is tactile and clicky, so you'll know when you've input a command. If you're looking for headphones with better controls and slightly more stability, check out the Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless. They aren't as sturdy as the Beats but offer a much more bass-heavy default sound profile, which will please fans of hip-hop and EDM.

While earbuds don't offer the same continuous battery life as over-ears, they're more breathable and often have higher stability and better durability for outside exercise. The mid-range Jaybird Vista 2 Truly Wireless are no exception, as they're sturdy and have an IP68 rating, meaning they're dust-tight and protected from submersion in water. They have a comfortable, stable fit, meaning they won't fall out of your ears during runs, and have an easy-to-use control scheme with music and volume functions.

Their roughly five-hour continuous battery life is on the short side, but they come with a portable case that holds a couple of extra charges and helps protect them from dust and water, thanks to their IP54 rating. These buds have a well-balanced sound profile that's also versatile enough for most kinds of audio content, and their companion app has a parametric EQ and presets, so you can adjust it to suit your tastes. While they have an ANC feature, it's not very effective, especially when blocking out bass-range sounds like rumbling engines if you're jogging near a busy road.

On the other hand, if you're looking for more spacial awareness, you can turn on their transparency mode—a feature that the Beats Studio3 Wireless lack. Although they have a very stable fit, if you're concerned about losing your buds, the Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless have flexible hooks that wrap around your ears, making it difficult to lose them even if you're moving around a lot. They have a longer battery life but aren't as well-built, have worse controls, and aren't as customizable.

In the budget range, the best wireless headphones for running we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. Given that these over-ears only have decent build quality and stability, they're best suited for moderate indoor exercise. Their ANC also does a good job of cutting out ambient gym noise, like squeaky treadmills and nearby conversations, and they're comfortable enough to last through a long jog without causing undue fatigue. They'll likely fall off if you move your head a lot while running.

These headphones have an excited, V-shaped sound profile out of the box. There's a ton of extra bass and treble to complement hip-hop, pop, and rock music. However, the over-emphasized bass can end up overpowering the mix, and the extra treble makes sibilants, like cymbals, piercing. Unlike other models from this manufacturer, like the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, these headphones aren't compatible with a companion app, meaning you can't adjust the mix to something more neutral or better-suited for different genres. On the plus side, their nearly 33-hour battery life will get you through plenty of long runs without needing a recharge.

The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are a good option if you're looking for a pair of cheap but functional earbuds for runs. These offer solid performance for runs and workouts while being inexpensive enough that you don't need to worry as much about losing an earbud along the path or at the gym. Their battery life isn't as good as the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, lasting around nine hours of continuous use, meaning they probably don't need to be recharged after every run. Their case holds roughly three additional charges and has a built-in charging cable, which is one less thing to forget at home, but it means you need to replace the buds if the cable gets damaged.

Out of the box, they have a well-balanced sound profile with a bit of extra bass. Although they don't have a companion app or sound customization features like a graphic EQ, you can use the earbuds' onboard controls to cycle through a few EQ presets, which allows you to customize their sound a little bit. They have a sturdy design and a stable fit. They're also decently comfortable for most people but have a deep fit, and using the onboard controls can push the buds deeper into your ears, which you might find annoying, especially during long runs.

When running outside, it's key to have good spacial awareness to avoid obstacles and stay safe. Some headphones use transparency mode to help you hear your surroundings, but the sound they create can't capture your environment perfectly. Unlike some of the other picks on this list, the Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction bypass the ear canal and use bone conduction to send vibrations via your cheekbones, leaving your whole ear unobstructed and able to hear the world around you. However, this does mean that they don't block out any background sound at all. Their unique sound reproduction may not be for everyone, either. These headphones lack low-bass, so music like EDM and hip-hop lacks body and sounds hollow. However, they can be a solid choice if you like to listen to vocal-centric content like podcasts, thanks to their fairly balanced mid-range.

These headphones hook around your ear, ensuring they don't move too much during intense movement outside. They're well-built and have an IP67 rating for protection against dust and water, meaning you can wear these out in the rain without worrying about damage. They last roughly 13 hours continuously and have a standby mode to help conserve battery life if you forget to turn them off. However, they use a proprietary charging cable, so if you lose or misplace it, you'll need to buy a new one.