The top wireless earbuds for running allow you to enjoy music, audiobooks, and podcasts while keeping you entertained throughout your run. They should have great sound quality, some level of water resistance, and user-friendly controls. However, the most critical aspect is the fit. These reliable running companions should securely stay in place even when you're sweating more than your feet can keep up with.
Wireless running earbuds come in various designs and styles, each offering a different fit and feel that some runners may prefer over others. You don't want to constantly worry about your earbuds falling out or having your music drowned out by passing cars. They should be an accessory that enhances your running experience, not complicates it.
In this guide, we present our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for running, along with a buying guide to assist you in making a decision. Take a look and get your playlist ready for wireless headphones that can match your running pace.
Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly is one of the few bone conduction headphone brands that have mastered bone conduction vibrator technology, and one of the few brands in the industry that have sustained experience in using bone conduction technology to protect hearing. Wissonly Hi Runner advocate a healthy way to listen. They perfectly combine the principles of healthy hearing and bone conduction sound transmission, to create a non-in-ear and non-ear-damaging bone conduction headphone which can effectively protect hearing.
Due to the particularity of the technical principle, sound quality of bone conduction headphones is more difficult to be improved . To this end, Wissonly Hi Runner subverts the traditional sound quality scheme, makes a breakthrough to use the large-size bone conduction vibrator. Through structural optimization, the effective vibration area of the vibrator is increased by 35%, thereby improving the vibrator sound efficiency, making the sound more powerful.It also optimizing the direction of sound transmission, reducing sound loss during sound transmission, and making the sound more concentrated.
The skin-friendly silicone material of the Wissonly Hi Runner body is a product that can be in contact with the skin for a long time. It is naturally a better choice and feels good to the touch. Because the entire headphone is made of skin-friendly material, it is very comfortable to wear. Even if you wear glasses, you can still hang it firmly on your ears. The headphone frame uses memory titanium, which has the advantage of being stretchable and lightweight.
JLab GO Air Sport Earbuds
Earbuds for running tend to come with a steep price tag. If you’re on a budget, the JLab GO Air Sport Earbuds come at a fraction of the price of other models—they cost $30, compared with $249.99 for the AirPods Pro 2nd generation. These over-ear running earbuds come with three sets of gel tips to help you get a better fit. They’re sweatproof, and have a good battery life of eight hours. Their quick charge mode leaves a little to be desired, but if you’re in a hurry, 15 minutes in the case can get you an extra hour of listening time.
The low price is most noticeable in the Bluetooth range—it’s supposed to be 30 feet, but users on Amazon report that it’s much less. Additionally, reviewers on the JLab website say that they can be a little quiet, even at max volume.
Jabra Elite 7 Active Earbuds
The Jabra Elite 7 Active Earbuds have many of the same features as other earbuds for running, but with a little extra flair. For example, they have ANC, but the level can be customized. Additionally, a feature called ThroughHear lets you customize sound levels in the low, mid and high frequencies. That customization allows you to make adjustments based on your running environment. Wind noise reduction tech further enhances audio while you run. Finally, the Elite 7’s can also connect with Amazon Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant.
A weak spot for this model is voice calls. As one Amazon reviewer put it, “Every phone call I’ve been on, the person on the other line said that they couldn't hear me and my voice sounds muzzled.” That sentiment wasn’t shared by a majority of reviewers, but it was a pattern.
Anker SoundCore Sport X10 Earbuds
The Anker SoundCore Sport X10 Earbuds work well for those who like custom control over their audio. The Soundcore app lets you customize the audio, and a technology that Anker calls BassUp gives the X10s a boom that you don’t usually find in wireless earbuds for running. They get our pick for the best mid-range earbuds because of the accompanying app’s sound customization features. As one Amazon reviewer put it, “For sound, these are def bass heavy. That's great if you love bass, but if you're like me, you might also love mids and highs. No need to worry. Soundcore also has the best accompanying app in the audio world, and you can go in and tweak the sound however ya like.”
These in-ear headphones have ear hooks that adjust up to 210 degrees for a more secure fit, though some Amazon customers say it takes a few tries to find the right fit. The X10s also combine an IPX7 waterproof rating with an additional sweat-protective coating. All of these features, plus a reasonable price of $79.99, make the Anker Soundcore Sport X10s a great choice for those on a mid-range budget who prefer a mid-range sound.
Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless Earbuds
Bluetooth keeps your running earbuds connected, and the Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless Earbuds have a strong connection when you’re within 30 feet of the connected device. You can also audio share with a friend if they’re within 15 feet and have a SKULLIQ-enabled product.
The strength of the Bluetooth connectivity isn’t the only feature worth mentioning with these running earbuds. The Push Actives have SkullIQ, which basically gives you a long list of voice commands. You can do everything from turning the volume up and down and activating a voice assistant to turning on the stay-aware feature. Stay-aware, another helpful feature for runners, lets you wear the earbuds while running, but lets you hear certain environmental sounds to improve situational awareness. However, be aware that their sound quality isn’t top-notch. It’s good, but won’t impress audiophiles.
How to Choose the Best Running Earbuds For You
Stability
While running, your earbuds should be kept in place by ear hooks or snug earbud tips. The hooks may go over the ear or flex within the concha—the dish-like portion of the ear that’s just outside the ear canal. Flexible or adjustable pieces often offer better stability and a more comfortable fit because they can fit in ears of different shapes and sizes.
Fit/size
You may not have spent much time thinking about the shape and size of your ears, but it’s time if you’re looking for running earbuds. Models that come in different sizes or that include several ear tips offer better chances of getting a snug fit. The earbud should be snug, but not tight. If it’s tight, the pressure can create discomfort or pain in the ear canal.
Water/sweat resistance
Check the earbud's ingress protection rating, also known as the IP rating. The first number in the rating is the dust/debris rating, which may be X if the earbuds haven’t been rated for dust. The highest score for dust/debris is six. The second number is the water-resistance rating, with a top rating of eight. Look for a water-resistance rating between four and eight. An IPX4 means the earbud can withstand a light splash of water, which is enough to survive average perspiration. A rating of eight means the earbud can survive being submerged. If you sweat heavily or run in the rain, you might want a pair with at least an IPX5 or IPX6 rating to better resist water damage. Also, pairs with a dust rating offer another level of durability, though it’s not absolutely necessary.