It isn't easy to find the right pair of running headphones. Whether you run once a day or once a year, a good pair will make it all the more enjoyable – but finding ones that fit (and stay in place), are comfy for long periods, can withstand the elements and sound great? That's not easy, and we haven't even started on considerations such as battery life or the fun world of ear hooks, wings and clamps.
While it's tempting to think of running headphones as a niche audio category, the criteria for picking a proper pair are often the most strenuous. Running buds go through the ringer and are made useless if they don't satisfy most, or all, of the above criteria. A model that can't get wet isn't an option for more hardy adventurers, while sub-par sound makes your workouts a slog rather than a pleasure.
To sort the sporting all-stars from the couch potatoes, we've compiled the best running headphones we've reviewed when hitting the track. If they aren't good enough, they don't make it - it's survival of the fittest, after all.
Read more about our testing process here, or carry on scrolling to see the best running headphones that we've tested.
Recent updates
19th June: Removed outgoing JBL Reflect Flow Pro and replaced them with the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds. Added an Also Consider section to give even more consumer choice.
The quick list
For proper sonic accompaniment when you’re pounding the pavements, look no further.
For doubling up as running companions and premium buds with great ANC, you can't go better than the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds.
An inexpensive pair of buds that will still sound good on the treadmill.
Intuitive, feature-packed and comfortable to wear, these buds are perhaps Beats’ best.
I'm a staff writer who has already listened to and reviewed dozens of products during my time at What Hi-Fi?, including a lot of headphones. Outside of work, though, I love running, be it a quick 5K around our office's surrounding business park or a more lengthy leg-burner scrambling across muddy hillsides and soggy verges. As much as I can attest to the quality of every single earbud found below, choosing a pair of running headphones is a deeply personal choice. Sound matters immensely, of course, but issues of fit, durability and comfort are vital to dictating which will be right for you.
The best running headphones overall
If you're looking for a pair of mid-range running headphones that provide stunning sound (for the price) alongside some of the best in-ear comfort anywhere in the Sony range, you need to find yourself a pair of the superb WF-C700N. They're not conceived as a pair of sporty buds, but the C700N are such great all-rounders that you could easily have them as part of your gym setup.
The C700N are impressively dinky and unobtrusive thanks partly to their smaller driver, while their light weight helps make them even more comfortable than Sony's WF-1000XM4 or XM5 models. That makes them ideal for times when you'll be testing the buds' capacity to stay secure, something we've always found them to be excellent at doing. That said, if you want added peace of mind, the bespoke sporty designs of the JBL Reflect Flow Pro or the Beats Fit Pro are always worth considering.
The C700N are ideal for anyone who values a proper sonic accompaniment to their sporty activities. Sony's mid-range buds are a masterclass in getting the most out of a pair of relatively inexpensive in-ears, offering up a meaty, detailed and surprisingly musical sound that will make your workout tunes pop with life. Sound quality is excellent across the frequency range, too, from rumbling bass notes to those all-important highs just when you need them most.
As a pair of reliable, comfy, well-made and super-sounding running headphones that won't break the bank, we'd struggle to recommend many better, although if you're not keen on noise-cancelling and want to save a few bob, the more affordable siblings Sony WF-C500 are your best bet.
Read our full Sony WF-C700N review
The best running headphones for noise cancelling
It's true, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds aren't just some of the best true wireless earbuds of any form and price, they're also absolutely excellent for getting a sweat on.
Why? Much of the credit goes to the Ultra Earbuds' small, unobtrusive and semi-rigid flap of material at the top of each bud. Acting as a sort of pseudo-wing tip, that little ridge nestles perfectly under your external ear's ridged furrow, offering a secure fit that trickier rivals (see the Sony WF-1000XM5) struggle to attain. We've tested the Bose out on the streets and can confirm that they do an exceptional job in providing comfort and security for mile after mile.
That's just one of the Boses' aces. The US brand are pros at noise cancelling, something that continues with the Ultra Earbuds. ANC is excellent and comprehensive, and you adjust the amount of noise blockage you receive via the smooth Bose app, as well as cycle through modes on the fly via the buds' on-ear touch controls.
As for sound, it's balanced, punchy and wonderfully musical, and as we said in our review, "there is a good sense of openness and spaciousness to the whole presentation." Immersive Audio is a tad hit-and-miss and will hit your battery life hard, but considering the buds' punchy, musical sound, you probably won't be too bothered anyway.
It's a shame there's no support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD, nor is there wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint. Still, the pros very much outweigh the cons, and for work, life, on the treadmill or hitting the pavement, there aren't many better.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
The best cheap running headphones
While not specifically designed for working out, Earfun's cheap and cheerful wireless buds are certainly worth considering if you want to work up a sweat on a budget. Running or no running, they're still some of the best-priced buds on the market.
What's so impressive about the Earfun Air is how feature-packed they are. While you won't get active noise cancelling at this price, the noise isolation of these comfortable, well-fitting earphones does an excellent portion of the job anyway. They're waterproof to truly impressive IPX7 standards (1m submersible for up to 30 mins), they have voice assistance built-in and they even support Qi wireless charging.
They can handle calls, too, something which they do with clarity and responsiveness, while the battery life is a pretty stonking 35 hours when using the charging case. What's brilliant is that the Air feel fairly premium and sturdy, with a Bluetooth 5.0 connection that never lets you down alongside a build quality that doesn't seem like it will fall apart as soon as you've passed your first mile.
What's more, they even sound pretty good, with much more musicality and depth than we'd expect at this level. There's detail and genuine organisational cohesion, not to mention that all-important element in a pair of workout buds: fun.
If you’re after something inexpensive that’ll sound good on your run, the Earfun Air buds could just be the ideal alternative to the cheapest Sony contenders. Do bear in mind that we're currently testing the Earfun Air 2, so watch this space to see if they have the sonic chops - plus the durability and features - to oust their first-gen predecessors.
Read our full Earfun Air review
The best running headphones for design
Some of us in the What Hi-Fi? office, mentioning no names, really love the innovative and attractive Beats Fit Pro. Say it quietly, they might be the best headphones that Beats make right now, and while that bar isn't set too high, these clever little buds are the real deal.
Stylish, workout-friendly and packed with features, especially if you're an iPhone user, the Beats Fit Pro are a great workout companion for anyone seeking to spend a little more than you'd find with the cheaper JBL Reflect Flow Pro. We love the innovative wingtip design which provides a more secure fit when you're throwing yourself around, and for the most part, they're lightweight and exceedingly comfortable to wear for long, arduous periods. You can get them wet – but not submerged – thanks to the IPX4 rating, while the 27-hour battery life is impressive for a pair with active noise cancellation.
Sonically, they're delightfully lively and enjoyable, which is exactly what you want from a pair of sports headphones, and there's enough detail in the mix whether you’re listening to Wet Leg, Nick Cave or Daft Punk. The spirit and passion of music really pulse through the Beats, with a sound that invigorates you with energy, punch and surprising musical insight.
Easy to use, secure in fit and immensely fun to listen to, this is probably the best Beats has to offer.
Read our full Beats Fit Pro review
If you're a keen runner, you really should consider a pair of wireless earbuds that sport (no pun intended) an in-ear wing tip or an over-ear hook. Found on the Beats Fit Pro, JBL Reflect Flow Pro (both above) and even the new Bose QC Ultra Earbuds, it can either come in the shape of a small ridge, a flap or a full-blown wing that nestles just underneath the ridged furrow of your external ear, anchoring it in place no matter how much you move. Some users don't like it for comfort reasons, but most will find that an in-ear wing offers unparalleled security for running and working out.
Also consider
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Open earbuds are the new design du jour (also see the Huawei FreeClip and the Sony Linkbuds, with Bose the latest brand to have a go at the unconventional configuration. The US brand has done a solid job, too, and while that on-ear clip form won't be for everyone, they're a superb option for runners who need to stay aware of the outside world.
Jabra Elite Active 4: Despite their lack of any wingtips or fins to keep the buds secure, the Elite Active 4 earn their sporty credentials thanks to their rugged design, fun sound and durable build. Better still, they often enjoy spectacular discounts, so if you can secure a good fit, they might be a clever bargain option. There's an Elite Active 8 Gen 2 pair coming soon, too, so those could be a decent premium alternative.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: Like the newer QC Ultra Earbuds, the soon-to-be outgoing QC II are great companions for your workouts, offering a light and comfortable fit that benefits hugely from the stability bands provided. They're also enjoying major discounts due to their recent ousting, so deals are never far away.
How to choose the best running headphones for you
There are a few things to consider when picking your new running partner. First, do you want wired or wireless headphones? All of our models below are wireless, because of the added convenience and freedom they provide, especially when you want to avoid snagging your arms on a pesky dangling cable.
Second, choose the mechanism by which the earbuds are secured in place. You can risk it and go for a "standard" model, such as the Sony WF-C700N, which simply lodges in your ear as any classic earbud would, or seek out rivals that offer ridges, wingtips or over-ear hooks to provide security at all times. They're not included on this list, but the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (not to be confused with the also-conducive Bose Ultra Open Earbuds) are a good example of a great-fitting pair of earbuds that aren't explicitly designed for sports.
And then, of course, you'll need to consider the cost. There's a nice spread of prices on this list, from inexpensive, sub-£100 / $100 models to some relatively premium designs, so maybe think about how much you'll actually use the things in the first place. If you're a seasoned marathoner, definitely think about spending a decent amount of cash. If not, maybe start a little lower and see if you catch the running bug.
How we test running headphones
Testing running headphones is a bit different to testing your standard models, for obvious reasons. While we do have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Reading where our team does almost all of their testing, some products have to be given a run out (pun intended) in the real world. That means digging out our best running shoes and seeing how they perform when it comes to their primary function.
That said, just because we're testing a sporty product, it doesn't mean all of our protocols, standards and processes go out of the window. All of the products we test are compared with similarly-priced rivals in the same category, and all of the verdicts we arrive at are agreed upon by the team. This gives us consistency without falling into the traps of bias or personal preference.
The What Hi-Fi? team has more than 100 years of experience reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics, as well as quite a few miles under their collective belts.
From all of our reviews, we pick the best products to feature in our Best Buys, and we hardly ever feature a product that we haven't reviewed first. That's why if you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended above, or on any other page, you know you're getting a What Hi-Fi? approved product.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
FAQ
Which type of headphones is best for running?
If you pressed us for a definitive answer, we'd say wireless earbuds are ideal for most people most of the time, but they're not the only choice you have.
Over-ear headphones are generally too big and bulky to be truly conducive to physical activities, and their fit often won't be as secure as well-nestled in-ear buds. Wired earbuds can still be a decent option, though, especially those which sport a neckband for greater security (you can also get wireless neckband options, such as the Beats Flex). Most wired headphones are aimed more at the "audiophile" side of the market these days, though they do have the benefit of never running out of battery while you're out on a 10-miler. Just bear in mind how you're going to manage where that trailing cable goes, as wires can always get in the way if you're not careful.
Wireless earbuds remain our go-to choice, though, but make sure you're picking ones (as seen above) that are at least somewhat designed for running or working out. They'll fit better, usually have better durability and build quality, plus they may boast a sound profile that's more conducive to physical exertion, i.e. fun, peppy and full of life.
Which headphones are best for runners who sweat a lot?
There are two things to consider here: one is form and the other is IP rating. If you're prone to getting a bit sticky during a workout (there's no shame in it), over-ear headphones aren't the way to go. They'll heat up your ears and head, harbour bacteria and make things a pain. Plus, over-ear headphones are not, in our experience, as good for running or working out as in-ears - they're just too big and bulky.
If you do sweat a lot, your earbuds' IP rating will be a factor. Check out our IP ratings explainer for a proper deep-dive, but know now that an IPX4 certification should be enough to stop sweat and water splashes from damaging your buds, although there's no harm in aiming for higher numbers, such as the IP57 rating boasted by the Jabras above.
Recent updates
- February 2024: Updated copy to reflect the announcement of Sennheiser Momentum Sport running earbuds and Earfun Air 2.
- February 2024: Added FAQ section to help with buying decisions and frequently asked questions.
- November 2023: What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.
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Bose's QC Ultra Earbuds have a serious ace up their sleeve – and it isn’t their ANC