Best Running Headphones

Enjoy epic soundtracks to your cardio sessions with our pick of the best running headphones… 

From motivational beast-mode playlists to distracting podcasts, science shows that being immersed in audio on your runs can boost your enjoyment and your performance. So what better way to pump up your potential than with this tried-and-tested selection of the best running headphones.   

What makes good running headphones?

The most important thing to look for in a set of running headphones is good, lock tight fit. It doesn’t matter how good your headphones sound, if they don’t stay put when you’re picking up the pace. Ear hook designs offer a more guaranteed stay-put fit so if your ears don’t play nice with in-ear buds, this is the way to go. 

Durability is crucial. Reliable waterproofing is a must but also look for salty sweat and rainproofing too. The sound quality of running headphones has massively improved. Given their compact size, it’s impressive that even cheaper options can now deliver acceptable quality, while the best headphones kick out really rich, nuanced and balanced audio that’s often customisable, too.  

The best running headphones now offer a range of extra smarts like geolocation for misplaced buds and cases, fast charging so if you get caught low on power, you can get a workout’s worth of juice in 5-10 minutes. You can expect other bells and whistles like custom controls, Active Noise Cancellation and awareness modes, plus wind filtering for mid-run all quality.  

How are running headphones different from normal headphones?

While regular headphones prioritise audio quality and easy-listening comfort, running headphones prioritise reliable fit, good durability and easy operation on the move. Fortunately the days of battling big over-ear cans and fighting wires are gone. Running headphones are now light, compact, wireless and don’t get in the way during workouts .  

The most popular in-ear buds use ergonomic shapes, wing tips and special grippy coatings to keep them in place. But there are also ear-hooks and neck-band options.   

Running headphones often kick out louder, bassier sound to help boost motivation. Along with Active Noise Cancellation and awareness modes, specially tuned to filter the outside world in or out, depending on your needs. Some open-ear running headphones use bone conduction technology to leave your lugholes wide open to the world around. 

Sports headphones tend to be more durable than regular buds, generally with higher Ingress Protection (IP) ratings and increasingly they’re even tested to military standards. Battery life tends to be longer and the charging cases – at least on the best running headphones – are designed to be easy to stash in a running belt, or running shorts pocket, too.  

These are the best running headphones

1. Jabra Elite 8 Active ($199 / £199, amazon.co.uk)
2. Nothing Ear 2 ($149 / £129, amazon.co.uk)
3. Apple Airpods Pro 2 ($249 / £229, amazon.co.uk)
4. Shokz OpenFit ($197.95 / £179, amazon.co.uk)
5. JBL Endurance Peak 3 ($99.95 / £89.99, amazon.co.uk)

Jabra Elite 8 Active

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$199 / £199, jabra.co.uk 

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Pros:

• Great battery life 
• Excellent customisable sound 
• Good reliable fit 

Cons:

• In-ear style might not work for all 
• Might shake loose on steep downhills 

Sound: 5
Fit: 4.5
Battery life: 4.5
Overall: 5 

The Elite 8 Active earbuds are the latest in a long line of excellent running headphones from Jabra and offer a surprisingly secure fit for wing-free buds. Sound quality is first class, with a deep, rich sound and no distortion however high you crank them. There are plenty of presets or custom sound profiles available for those who like to tinker and they shrug off showers or sweat as well as any running buds we know. 

Read our full Jabra Elite 8 Active review

Nothing Ear (2)

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$149 / £129, nothing.tech

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Pros:

• Great battery life 
• Good all-round value 
• Excellent versatility  

Cons:

• Battery could last longer 
• No map location on the buds finder feature 

Sound: 4
Fit: 4.5
Battery life: 4
Overall: 4.5 

We think these Nothing Ear (2) offer incredible value. They’re versatile in-ear buds that look as good as they sound. And their running credentials aren’t bad either, with reliable fit, good splash and sweat resistance and the lightest weight of any earphones we tested. Active noise cancellation, transparency modes, 29-hour total run time and custom EQ round out this impressive package.

Read our full Nothing Ear (2) review

Apple Airpods Pro 2

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$249 / £229, apple.com

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Pros:

• Excellent sound quality  
• Seamless connectivity for Apple users 
• Good versatility  

Cons:

• You’ll pay a premium 
• Not the most secure fit 
• Bud have a fairly short battery life 

Sound: 5
Fit: 3.5
Battery life: 4
Overall: 4.5 

This premium do-it-all set of buds from Apple will go toe-to-toe with most specialist sports headphones, and they’ll look the business while they do it. Their fit is improved on previous models and they’re light enough to stay in place on all but the hilliest of trails. You get 30 hours of total run time and a design that’s sealed against dirt and moisture. But we think its the adaptive and customisable audio features that really steal the show.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

JBL Endurance Peak 3

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$99.95 / £89.99, uk.jbl.com

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Pros:

• Unshakable fit 
• Month-long battery life 
• Good durability  

Cons:

• No ANC 
• Bulky case 
• Fiddly controls 

Sound: 3.5
Fit: 4.5
Battery life: 4
Overall: 4 

There’s one piece of good news during this cost of living crisis: the quality of running headphones for under £100 has improved drastically over the past few years. These JBL buds have no right offering such decent build quality and battery run time. We particularly like how secure they feel even when you’re hurtling down hills. Durability is remarkably one of the best on test too.

Read our full JBL Endurance Peak 3 review

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