The Best Running Headphones In 2025

Welcome to our Best Running Headphones guide in which we have selected the best wireless earbuds and over-ear headphones for running, whether that’s on roads as well as trail running and ultra running.

The features that make these the best headphones for running, also make them great headphones for workouts, the gym, hiking, and day-to-day use.

Wireless headphones, including in-the-ear earbuds, are much more affordable than they used to be and the Bluetooth connection is so much more stable, so all headphones in this list are wireless and connect to your music device (for example, your phone) using Bluetooth.

Some of these running headphones are attached to each other, which has its pros and cons which are explained in the brief reviews for each of the wireless running headphones below.

After reading our best running headphones list you will find more information on choosing the best running headphones for you, including the key features you should be aware of, and a comparison between outside-the-ear headphones, over-ear headphones, and in-ear earbuds.

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1. Suunto Wing

• Sound quality: Good (bone conduction)
• Waterproof rating: IP67 (dustproof and water-resistant)
• Weight: 1.2 oz (headphones), 2.5 oz with power bank
• Battery life: 10 hours + 20 hours via power bank
• Key features: Bone conduction, LED visibility lights, head movement controls, NFC pairing, anti-wind noise

The Suunto Wing (links to review) headphones are perfect for runners who prioritize situational awareness and safety. Using bone conduction technology, they let ambient noise in for safer urban or trail runs. At just 1.2 oz, they’re lightweight, secure, and comfortable—even with hats or sunglasses.

Key features include LED visibility lights, head movement controls for hands-free track skipping or calls, and anti-wind noise to enhance sound clarity in windy conditions. The battery life is exceptional, with 10 hours of playtime plus an additional 20 hours via the power bank, and a quick 10-minute charge offers three more hours of use.

If you value comfort, safety, and innovative features over immersive sound, these are my top pick.

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2. Apple AirPods Pro

• Sound quality: Excellent.
• Waterproof rating: IPX4 – Sweat and water-resistant
• Battery life: 24 hours total with charging case.
• Active Noise Canceling: Yes
• Transparency Mode: Yes, great for awareness of your surroundings
• Wireless charging: Yes

The Apple AirPods Pro are versatile earbuds perfect for running and everyday use, especially if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. They feature Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, active noise cancellation, and transparency mode to let ambient noise in when needed—ideal for situational awareness.

With 24 hours of total battery life (4.5 hours per charge + quick charging case), they’re great for long runs or workdays. For immersive sound, they include spatial audio with dynamic head tracking—a bonus for movies and music. While not as breathable as outside-ear options like the Suunto Wing or Shokz OpenRun Pro, they’re unmatched for all-around use.

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3. Shokz OpenRun Pro

• Sound quality: Good
• Waterproof rating: IP55 water-resistant
• Weight: 1.02oz (29g)
• Battery life: 10 hours

The Shokz OpenRun Pro are the best bone-conduction headphones for running, offering excellent durability and the ability to hear your surroundings while listening to music. Their outside-ear design keeps your ear canals open for better breathability, reducing nausea and keeping you cooler during runs.

With dual-device connectivity and two microphones for noise-canceling calls, they excel in functionality. While the sound quality isn’t audiophile-level (a limitation of bone-conduction technology), they deliver more than enough clarity for safe and enjoyable runs.

Perfect for anyone who finds in-ear earbuds uncomfortable, they combine comfort, safety, and reliability. To learn more, read my Shokz OpenRun Pro review.

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4. Beats Powerbeats Pro

• Sound quality: Excellent
• Waterproof rating: IPX4 (water-resistant)
• Weight: 0.71oz
• Battery life: 9 hours (total 24hrs+ with case)

The Beats Powerbeats Pro deliver excellent sound quality in a comfortable over-ear design, making them a great option if in-ear earbuds aren’t your style. With 9 hours of battery life on a single charge (plus over 24 hours with the case), they’re ideal for long runs or workdays. A quick 5-minute charge provides 90 minutes of playback, ensuring you’re never caught without music.

Rated IPX4, they can handle sweat and light rain, though they’re not waterproof. The slim design fits well with running hats, but wearing sunglasses may feel slightly bulky. A solid choice for runners seeking great sound and comfort without earbuds.

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5. Bose Soundsport Pulse

• Sound quality: Excellent
• Waterproof rating: IPX4 (water-resistant)
• Weight: 0.81oz
• Battery life: 5 hours

The Bose Soundsport Pulse Wireless headphones offer excellent sound quality paired with a built-in heart rate sensor, making them perfect for music lovers who want to track workouts without a GPS watch. The heart rate data syncs in real-time with the Bose Connect app for added convenience.

These headphones are wired to each other, reducing the risk of losing an earbud during a run. They connect to your device wirelessly via Bluetooth, providing freedom of movement. Ideal for gym workouts or trail runs, they’re a reliable choice for both fitness and music enthusiasts.

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Wireless Running Headphones Buyer’s Guide

Compared to choosing wireless headphones for everyday use, there are specific features that a good pair of headphones need to have in order to be suitable for wearing when running and working out.

Key features to be aware of when buying running headphones

These are the most important features to be aware of when choosing headphones for running, and are therefore also the key criteria used in selecting the wireless earbuds and over-ear headphones that made it onto this list:

1. Fit: They must feel comfortable, and fit securely so they don’t fall out while running fast or climbing over uneven terrain on a trail run.
2. Weight: If they are lightweight then they won’t become a burden when running for long periods of time.
3. Sound Quality: The better the sound quality, the more you’ll enjoy the overall experience.
4. Battery Life: Ultrarunners, hikers, and thru-hikers will prefer headphones with a long battery life. Don’t get left without music when it’s needed the most, in the pain cave. It’s also generally just more convenient to not have to charge your headphones after every use.
5. Durability: Generally we runners need headphones to be as weatherproof as possible, to protect them from sweat, dust and preferably rain too!

Being robust is also helpful when it comes to workouts and running on roads, because even if earbuds stay in your ears, you can accidentally drop or knock them out and it would be preferable for them to still work after being dropped, when you’re spending so much money on wireless headphones.

Are true wireless earbuds good for running?

With the introduction of faster, more secure wireless connection technologies like Bluetooth V5.0, true wireless earbuds are in my opinion are the way to go! Some, like the KLH Fusion wireless headphones even come with noise-canceling technology now and many are very comfortable to wear in your ear for extended periods of time.

Wearing wireless earbuds for running is so much more enjoyable than managing a cord between your phone and headphones, and stopping it flapping around, getting caught or pulling your headphones out of your ears when you run. The best true wireless earbuds come in a compact, robust case that also holds some battery charge.

This means that you can put your earbuds back in the case when they’re low on battery, and charge them fully (or at least partially) to extend the number of hours of playtime you can get from them before having to plug them in.

This is a great feature to look out for if you are planning to run long distances such as ultra-marathons or do multi-day running or hiking weekends where you intend to use your headphones for long periods and don’t want to have to worry about them running out of battery.

Are over ear headphones good for running?

Yes, nowadays it is possible to find good over-ear / on-ear headphones that work well for running. Most stay put even when rigorously working out in the gym – they’re also sweat-proof, and you can remove and wash the ear cushions.

One of the things in particular that we love about sports headphones that use bone conduction technology (another form of non-earbud headphones), is that you can listen to music but still be aware of ambient sounds from the world around you. This includes sounds from people trying to get your attention while you’re running or working out, potential hazards, like cars or bikes, but also the wonderful sounds of nature while on the trails.

Having the luxury of being able to listen to music and ambient surrounding sound, does however mean that the sound quality will never be quite as immersive as wireless earbuds. “Horses for courses” as they say, and many people will love these for the safety benefits while running.

Are Airpods good for running?

If you have an iPhone, and especially if you are used to using your iPhone regularly for phone calls and listening to music while commuting or at work, you have probably considered whether you can go running with Airpods and if they’d be good for running.

In my experience, Airpods are really comfortable to wear for long periods of time, including long conference calls and listening to music at work and commuting. You can definitely wear Airpods for running, and if they are comfortable and don’t fall out when you run, then that’s great!

However, the main downside to Airpods when it comes to wearing them for running and workouts, and that is that they are not the most robust, and are prone to breaking if you drop them.

Additionally, I have found my Airpods to have a relatively short battery life, so this makes them less-well-suited to running than the other wireless headphones on this list.

Why do so many people enjoy running with headphones?

• You can listen to your favorite music to help you through challenging moments in your workout.
• If you use a Virtual Trainer app then you need headphones to get your real-time coaching as you run.
• You can listen to your favorite podcasts or Audio Books that you may not be able to find time for in the rest of your day.
• If absolutely necessary, you can answer phone calls without requiring access to your phone. I don’t recommend talking on the phone during a run though, that time should be yours and only yours, so don’t let yourself get distracted.
• Inadvertently let people know that you don’t want to be disturbed/asked for directions to the local tourist attraction, you tend to not get asked questions when wearing earphones.

Safety considerations when running with headphones

A quick word on safety considerations when running with headphones, especially if you’re wearing in-ear earbuds.

If you are running near or around traffic or other people, it is sensible to either take your earphones out, turn the volume down very low, or run with only one earbud in. By doing this you can pay greater attention to what is going on around you and who is near you – for your safety and that of other people.

Some runners swear that running with headphones makes them even more aware of their surroundings (by limiting your hearing perhaps you are more vigilant than you would otherwise be).

However, in our experience, it’s best to err on the side of caution and save the earbuds for quieter areas, parks, trails, and workouts in the gym, and if you really want to listen to music in busy places, consider bone conduction wireless headphones, instead. Now you know what features to look out for when picking a pair of wireless headphones for running and workouts.

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Key of running headphones water protection ratings

IPX4: Is resistant to water splashes from any direction.

IPX5: Can resist a sustained, low-pressure water jet spray.

IPX6: Can resist high-pressure, heavy sprays of water.

IPX7: Can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes.

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I hope you found this list of the best running headphones useful, and if you have any questions drop us a comment below!