9 Best Earbuds for Running, According to Fitness Enthusiasts

A 2023 Good Housekeeping Fitness Awards Winner, this pair impressed our testers with its sleek, comfortable design that features wingtips to keep earbuds securely and tightly in your ears as your run or work out. Our Lab analysts love the crisp sound quality of the Beats Fit Pro, which feature active noise cancellation (ANC) so you can effectively block out the drone of the treadmill at the gym (or stay aware of your surroundings and traffic when you’re jogging outdoors). Testers also raved about the audio performance of the Beats. “The sound quality was unmatched,” says one tester. “I truly have never heard music sound so clear and sharp with in-ear headphones before. I also loved the sound cancellation capabilities — as soon as I put them in, the whole world went quiet.”

Compatible with both Apple and Android, these earbuds feature a total of 24 hours of battery life with the provided case. Just keep in mind that if you’re running long distances, you’ll only get six hours with ANC turned on so make sure to keep the case at hand. Some testers did mention that the earbuds fell out of their ears so it’s important to select the right silicone tip for your ear canal before use and insert the earbuds properly with the wings hooked inside your upper ear.

Look no further than the X3 Pro if you’re seeking an affordable pair of earbuds for grueling sweat sessions. Our Lab analysts were impressed by how quickly these earbuds paired to Bluetooth and found the sound quality to be solid. With a waterproof IPX7 rating, according to the brand, these are some of the most weather-resistant earbuds you can get so no need to worry if you get caught in a rainstorm.

While the earbuds aren’t the most comfortable out there and the case is on the larger side, we found that they fit securely into the ear canal and that the external hooks kept them in place during cardio workouts. Though we haven't put the battery life to the test in the Lab, the brand claims that you can get nine hours of use out of a single charge!

These open-ear running headphones are made to be taken outdoors for runs, bike rides and more. Our pros found audio quality to be impressive, especially considering that it’s delivered through your cheekbone via bone conduction technology (that’s right, these headphones don’t actually sit inside your ear canal — rather, they rest next to it). We like that the headphones feature physical controls so you can easily adjust the volume as well as start or pause your music, and we could barely feel them on during workouts. “These felt very comfortable and more secure on top of my ears compared to typical earbuds I’ve used that go in your ear,” says one tester. “I ran outside and indoors on a treadmill and wasn’t scared they would fall out of my ears.” Testers do point out, however, that these aren't ideal for indoor gym use since they do not block out any sound like existing gym music.

According to the brand, you should be able to get 10 hours of battery life on a single charge; just keep in mind that the case will not recharge your headphones so what you see is what you get. While we wish the case that protects these headphones were smaller and rechargeable, the OpenRun Pro are undeniably the best choice for anyone who doesn’t love the feel of in-ear earbud or has a hard time finding the right fit. “It’s nice that you don’t have to worry about ear size or ear shape compared to typical earbuds,” says one tester.

Hate having earbuds inside your ear or find them painful after a while? Consider the ARC II, which sports an open-ear design so can you have conversations with your running buddy while also listening to your favorite music. Just hook them around your ears and you’re ready to go. “I like that these sit a little outside of your ear, which I appreciate as someone who listens to music very often and sometimes at rather high volumes,” says one tester. “The volume and sound were good, and I appreciate how if you take out one earbud, music continues to play.”

Though we wouldn’t recommend these for use in a very noisy area since they don’t feature any form of noise cancellation, our pros like how securely and comfortably they fit so you don’t have to worry about your earbuds falling out, though they may feel a bit chunky. Although we find the case quite large, we love its sleek, slim design and that it’s rechargeable via USB-C.

Bose products have consistently performed well in our Lab tests, standing out for their superior audio quality and premium design. The QuietComfort II earbuds have a similar design to the now-retired Bose Sports Earbuds (a 2023 Good Housekeeping Fitness Awards Winner), featuring sharp, clear sound and a snug fit. “Bose is known for its high-quality audio products, and these earbuds are no exception,” says one tester. “They deliver clear, balanced sound with deep, rich bass and crisp highs.”

While pricey for a pair of earbuds and a bit bulkier than we’d like, this versatile pair of running headphones will function effectively both in the gym as well as in the office thanks to features like noise-cancellation and transparency mode. “The earbuds have a soft silicone wing that helps keep them securely in place,” says one tester. Plus, each bud has four microphones built-in, making these a go-to for taking a call while you’re on the go. They’re also sweat-resistant with an IPX4 rating and offer around six hours of battery life, according to Bose.

Our product analysts love Jabra earbuds for their great value, sound quality and comfortable design, and you can’t go wrong with the Elite 4 Active when working out. With seven hours of battery life, these should provide enough music to last the average duration of a marathon, and with the case, you can extend the battery life up to 28 hours, according to the brand.

Like other Jabra earbuds, we love that this pair features physical button-on-ear controls to make it easier to play and pause music (as opposed to tapping your earbuds). Plus, these feature active noise cancellation to block out the sound of traffic and their IP57 rating means that they're built to withstand most weather conditions (and sweat)! Serious runners can also consider the slightly more expensive Jabra Elite 7 Active earbuds, which feature a smaller design and even longer battery life.

If you like the idea of AirPods but want something more affordable, consider this pair of earbuds from JBL. While they may not be made for running and there are sportier pairs to consider like the Endurance Peak 3 or Reflect Aero), our Lab pros were impressed by the sound quality of these as well as their comfortable design that stayed put during runs.

We found on-ear controls to be responsive and intuitive to use, and appreciate the small, compact case that should easily fit into gym shorts or leggings. These also feature adaptive noise canceling, meaning that the earbuds will automatically adjust to your surroundings for the best experience. We also like the claimed battery life, which is impressive at 10 hours on a single charge.

There’s a reason AirPods seem to be everywhere, and it’s not just for the convenience of their seamless connection to iPhones. The AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) feature fantastic sound quality and impressive noise cancellation for times when you need to tune out the world. Silicone tips offer a comfy, secure fit inside your ear. Some testers did claim that their AirPods fell out, but they’re still a popular choice for quick jogs and workouts. “These are very good for athletic use, though not quite as stable in the ear when jogging as other earbuds I’ve used,” says one tester.

Our pros found the on-ear controls extremely intuitive and easy to use. “Touch volume control on the Gen 2 is a huge improvement in usability, especially when walking or running,” says one tester. This pair comes with six hours of battery life with ANC turned on (and a whopping 30 hours total with the case), in addition to support for wireless charging. “I'd recommend these to anyone who values clear sound when listening to music,” says another tester. “They’re easily the best-sounding earbuds I've ever tried.”

The Sony LinkBuds are unique for their innovative design that features an open-ring that manages to find the perfect combination of ambient sound and music as you run. They’re the perfect choice for anyone that doesn’t feel comfortable having their ear canal completely sealed off while outdoors or hates the feel of bulky earbuds. Just note that if you’re looking for noise cancellation, this isn’t the pair for you.

Our pros found the Sony LinkBuds both small and compact, and the tiny case is easy to transport. In our tests, the earbuds stayed secure inside ears during use, though they did take some initial fiddling and getting used to. But once inside the ear, the earbuds felt comfortable and lightweight. We also like that they’re water-resistant, though do wish battery life was slightly longer than 5.5 hours.