Top 5 best running headphones in 2025
I’ve been testing the best running headphones for almost ten years, and choosing the right pair can make a big difference in your training. While headphones that fit well and sound fantastic will make the miles fly by, headphones that don’t fit well can be a constant source of frustration while running.
I’ve run hundreds of miles wearing our top pick, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, which are the best option for most people because they combine a secure fit with great sound quality, durability, and battery life.
However, there are options below to accommodate all types of runners, including conventional earbuds as well as open and bone conduction headphones.
Table of Contents
Best overall
1. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
best budget
2. JLab Go Air Sport
best bone conduction
3. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
best everyday
4. Apple AirPods Pro 2
best open
5. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
1. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
The redesigned buds are lighter and smaller than the original Powerbeats Pro, making them more pleasant to use for extended runs. When I also wore glasses and a cap while running, the earhook remained in place and provided a secure fit, even more so than in-ear buds with wings.
As you would expect from Beats buds, the Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver excellent sound quality and tremendous bass during workouts. They also have ANC and a transparency mode, the latter of which helps me keep aware of my surroundings when I’m running outside in crowded locations.
They also include HR tracking, which some runners might find helpful, but I found it to be difficult to use and not always reliable. At launch, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can only be used with seven apps on iOS, and it cannot be connected to a watch.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are ideal for runners on all other counts, though, and they even have physical button controls, which are far more convenient to use during workouts than touch panels.
2. JLab Go Air Sport
Given the quality you’re getting, the JLab Go Air Sport headphones shouldn’t be this inexpensive. As you might think, the sound quality isn’t as high as more expensive headphones, but it’s still quite nice and strong enough to keep you going while working out, and the rest of the headphones are on par with more costly models.
I found the fit to be really secure on runs of any length and intensity because of the earhook design, and the battery life is also remarkably long. Additionally, the IP55 rating ensures that perspiration and rain won’t harm the headphones while you’re running.
It was fine while using a jogging belt or armband phone holder, but I didn’t like the controls because they were frequently unresponsive and difficult to operate when running, and the connectivity can be erratic if you keep your phone in a shorts pocket by your thigh.
The JLab Go Air Pop buds are even less expensive if you don’t require an earhook to ensure a secure fit when running, but I thought the hook on the Sport model was a nice touch to add extra security.
3. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Shokz’s DualPitch technology is the key to the improved sound quality on the OpenRun Pro 2 compared to other bone conduction buds. The OpenRun Pro 2 uses both an air conduction speaker and a bone conduction speaker, with the former beefing up the bass considerably.
The OpenRun Pro 2 set new standards for sound quality in bone conduction headphones, and while they still can’t match the best in-ear buds on this front, they do sound great while still offering the extra awareness you get from open headphones. This is why I wear the OpenRun Pro 2 most often for my own runs.
The OpenRun Pro 2 has an outstanding 12-hour battery life, which is longer than any other bone conduction headphones I’ve tried, even if I noticed that it decreased to more like 10 or 11 hours when I had the volume at its highest most of the time.
The regular Shokz OpenRun are an excellent choice if you’re looking for a less expensive pair of bone conduction headphones for your runs. They cost less and provide the same level of awareness and a safe, comfortable fit as the OpenRun Pro 2, but they don’t sound as nice or last as long on a charge.
4. Apple AirPods Pro 2
A drawback of the wing-less design is that the AirPods Pro 2 are not as secure in the ear as more sports-focused headphones, and occasionally on runs they did come loose for me. Nevertheless, the AirPods Pro 2 are great lifestyle headphones that also work well for running, making them the best choice for people who just want one pair of buds for everything.
The sound quality and ANC are excellent, the fit is very comfortable for in-ear headphones, and they offer easy connectivity with other Apple devices, as you might expect.
Third-party memory foam ear tips or even wings that you connect to the buds specifically for running can help you get a better fit when jogging, but if that doesn’t work, the Jabra Elite 8 Active are another fantastic pair of lifestyle headphones that work well for sports.
5. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
The innovative design of the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds allows a speaker to rest close to your ear canal without obstructing it by clipping onto the side of your ear. In addition to enjoying the greatest music quality available from open headphones, this enables you to be conscious of your surroundings while running. That’s whether you utilize the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds’ Immersive Audio setting or not. I generally didn’t because the headphones still sounded fantastic and Immersive Audio significantly shortens the battery life.
The headphones are more comfortable than in-ear buds for everyday usage, and I found the clip-on design to be very secure for all of my runs. However, the absence of passive or active noise reduction lowers the sound quality. I know folks who have unintentionally flicked their buds loose while running, so be careful not to knock them off.
When not using Immersive Audio, the battery life is remarkable, and the button controls are simple to use during workouts. Although the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds’ IPX4 water resistance certification isn’t as high as that of other sports buds, it’s still good enough to endure perspiration and rain while you’re running.
Which headphones are ideal for running?
During training, runners need their headphones to be comfortable, fit snugly, and not perspire. Although there are few exceptions, such as the Beats Solo 4, most runners find that on-ear or over-ear headphones are not the best option.
Because they stay in place when you’re pounding the pavement, in-ear headphones with a wing or earhook are generally the best option for runners. Although they are less comfortable than wings, earhooks are the safest choice.
Because they don’t obstruct the ear canal, bone conduction and open headphones have gained popularity among runners due to safety and awareness concerns. These headphones are often athletic, sweat-resistant, and fit snugly, making them ideal for jogging. However, their sound quality isn’t as high as that of in-ear headphones.
When I run, how can I prevent my headphones from slipping out?
If your headphones fall free when you’re running, you need more secure headphones that feature an earhook that fits over the top of your ear or a wing that protrudes within your ear.
Even if you currently have in-ear headphones without wings that are coming loose, you may be able to purchase an earhook or wing that fits them. Most sports headphones will use one of these characteristics to ensure a secure fit.
This is particularly true for well-known headphones like the Apple AirPods Pro 2, which come with a variety of third-party solutions, such as hooks or wings that can be attached to help keep them in place while you run.