Whether you're outside on a long run or grinding on a treadmill, a good playlist can make the miles fly by. But the best running headphones do more than just play music. They need to stay put through sweaty jogs, offer controls you can easily use mid-stride, and sound good enough to keep you motivated when your legs start to fade.
To find the best headphones for running, I tested a wide range of options over several months, using them on daily runs totaling around 500 miles. Along the way, I listened to everything from podcasts and audiobooks to high-energy playlists to see which pairs actually held up in real-world use. The Shokz OpenDots 2 stood out as the most versatile earbuds thanks to their secure, comfortable fit, high-quality sound, and natural open transparency. But if you mainly run indoors, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are especially good for blocking out noisy gyms and treadmill distractions.
Below, you'll find all of my picks for the best running headphones, plus a breakdown of how I tested each pair and the key things to keep in mind before you buy your next set of earbuds.
Our top picks for the best headphones for running
Best overall: Shokz OpenDots 2 - See at Amazon
Best for treadmills: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 - See at Amazon
Best for outdoor use: Nothing Ear (Open) - See at Amazon
Best overall
The OpenDots 2 are our favorite running earbuds. They feature a comfortable open-ear design that lets you stay naturally aware of your surroundings while still delivering excellent sound quality.
What we like
What we don't like
The Shokz OpenDots 2 are the best earbuds for running because they feature an open design that doesn't compromise audio quality while still providing a secure, comfortable fit. Whether you're running indoors on a treadmill or by a busy road, the OpenDots 2 have enough volume to work in most environments while still allowing you to be aware of your surroundings. That's particularly important for road running.
I previously recommended the Soundcore AeroFit 2 as my top pick. Those earbuds are still a great choice for running, especially if you're on a tighter budget, but their over-ear hook design makes them less comfortable when wearing a hat or sunglasses. The OpenDots 2 earbuds alleviate that issue by clipping onto the side of your ear, like a cuff.
The OpenDots 2 don't have physical buttons for media control, which is a potential downside, but since they use a large force-touch area that's easy to find while on the move, the controls are still passable. I also like the included charging case, which is compact enough to travel with and supports wireless charging. With the case, you get a total of 40 hours of battery life.
Of course, a good design and feature set would be moot without high-quality audio. Thankfully, the OpenDots 2 have a big, lively sound that is motivating to run with. Open-ear buds are notorious for lacking depth and bass since they don't create a seal in your ear. But the OpenDots 2 manage to avoid this pitfall. Over the course of more than 75 miles, I could still hear plenty of bass with all the songs I listened to. I thought vocals were clear, too. When I listened to podcasts, voices sounded natural and easy to hear.
The Shokz OpenDots 2 aren't quite perfect, but they're the most versatile running earbuds I've come across after years of testing. If you're looking for headphones to use only on a treadmill or only outside, you can find options tailored slightly better for those uses. But the OpenDots 2 are the best at delivering the complete package runners look for.
Read our full Shokz OpenDots 2 review.
Best for treadmills
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are excellent fitness earbuds with secure ear hooks, great sound quality, and built-in heart rate monitoring. They also deliver solid noise-canceling and use the same H2 chip found on the latest AirPods.
What we like
What we don't like
Unlike my other picks in this guide, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 use an in-ear design with silicone tips that create a seal in your ear canal. This style of earbud is much better at blocking out ambient noise than open-style headphones.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 even have active noise cancellation (ANC), which makes them ideal for quieting distracting sounds when running inside on a treadmill — whether at a facility or home gym. Even the noise your feet make as they pound on the conveyor belt can get loud and may need to be dampened. These work great for that.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 also deliver robust low-end audio that comes through especially well when using ANC. With ANC on, the buds offer a respectable eight hours of battery life (36 hours total with the wireless charging case).
The Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds also have built-in heart rate sensors. This feature works with certain apps across iOS and Android to add another metric to treadmill runners. But be aware that this feature is disabled when you use an Apple Watch with the earbuds, since the watch already has heart-rate tracking.
Beyond their excellent sound quality, I love the earbuds' easy-to-reach volume buttons. The "b" button on each earbud also flexes to provide tactile control for playback or ANC. The fit was stable on my ears and comfortable enough that I nearly forgot I was wearing headphones.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 also have a transparency mode that lets in outside sounds so you can hear your environment when you need to stay aware. This feature works well enough to use out on city streets, but I recommend going with a truly open-ear pair of headphones if you primarily plan to run outdoors. Sadly, there is no adaptive audio mode to block out selective loud noises, but that's less of a concern if you're using these on a treadmill.
Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.
Best for outdoor use
The Nothing Ear (Open) are great earbuds for running. Their open design enables you to stay aware of your surroundings, and music remains audible outside, even at lower volumes.
What we like
What we don't like
The Nothing Ear (Open) are terrific earbuds for running outside. The main reason I recommend these for dedicated outdoor runners is their loud volume and full sound. At the same time, their open-ear fit means they hover just outside your ear canal, providing awareness of cars and people. But in this case, the open style doesn't mean you have to sacrifice good music quality.
Compared to other open-ear-style buds, I found the Nothing Ear (Open) to be more audible outside without needing to turn the volume up quite as loud. Any time you can keep from turning up the volume to the max, the better it will be for your hearing in the long run — pun intended.
Even though the over-the-ear hooks don't allow for any adjustments, I still found them comfortable and relatively secure. The rubbery hooks are flexible enough for different-sized ears, and the soft material feels nice.
Regarding media controls, the earbuds use a hybrid system similar to AirPods' pinchable stems. Squeezing the earbuds will play or pause your audio, while a double squeeze will skip songs. There's no physical button, but there's an audible sound to provide feedback.
However, adjusting the volume is a bit cumbersome. You need to squeeze and hold the right side to raise the volume, and do the same on the left side to lower it. I'm not crazy about this gesture in general, but it's even tougher to do while running than while standing. Still, the controls work well enough that I didn't encounter many false positives.
Battery life is solid: eight hours with the buds themselves or 30 with the charging case. But while the case supports USB-C, it's disappointing that it doesn't support wireless charging.
Beyond performance and function, I find the earbuds' unique, clear design to be attractive. Few running headphones are concerned with their appearance, so it's nice to have an option that offers some added style.
What else we considered
The picks listed above are the three best running headphones I recommend, but I also tested a lot of other earbuds that are worth considering. Here are some quick thoughts on other options that didn't quite make the cut as top picks in this guide.
Soundcore AeroFit 2 - See at Amazon
The Soundcore AeroFit 2 were previously my top pick for the best running earbuds because they strike a strong balance between comfort, awareness, and sound. However, I now give the Shokz OpenDots 2 the edge, as I prefer their audio quality and clip-on design.
Bose Ultra Open - See at Amazon
These high-end open-ear buds use a clip-on (ear-cuff) style for a secure, stay-put fit. They never slipped around, even when I reached for the big, clickable button in the back. While these buds are great for running, they can also be used for everyday listening. If you have a compatible Bose soundbar, you can even use the earbuds to simulate rear surround sound speakers while watching movies. But no matter how you slice it, these earbuds are a premium product at $300, and their feature set is hard to justify at that cost if you're primarily just using them for running.
Sony's Linkbuds Open - See at Amazon
This unique pair of earbuds has a physical hole in its design to let in ambient sounds. The first generation was a good start, but this latest model doesn't quite live up to its potential for an active lifestyle. Compared to other options, the Linkbuds Open don't sound full or loud enough while out running on the road.
Read our Sony Linkbuds Open review.
Sony Linkbuds Fit - See at Amazon
These earbuds use digital processing to let in outside noise. The wing tip kept the earbuds secure during my runs while remaining flexible enough not to put pressure on my ears. They're especially great for cyclists, as the design works well with a helmet. But given their $200 price tag, I wish the Linkbuds Fit sounded just a little better, with fuller bass when listening to music.
Shokz Open Fit 2 - See at Amazon
These are good running earbuds in a lot of aspects, but they're not a master of any area. The midrange sound was a bit muffled compared to other earbuds, and the fit was just a little looser than other picks. I did like the media control button. It was easy to press while running and gave good audio feedback in addition to its tactile feel. That alone isn't enough to push it past other options, but they're certainly worth considering if they're on sale.
Soundcore C40i - See at Amazon
This is another solid cuff-style earbud option. In the context of running, they did everything well, and I like that they have a physical media control button. However, they may not fit all ears equally. I also found the button could be hard to press while on the move, and while running outside, I needed to keep the volume level cranked to 100.
SoundPeats PearlClip Pro - See at Amazon
These headphones are a neat, lower-cost option, but I found them just a little too loose for running. They would probably work best for stationary or walking use.
Belkin SoundForm ClearFit - See at Amazon
Belkin's earbuds are lightweight and open. The sound was okay for an entry-level budget model, but I didn't like the touch controls, and the fit may be too loose for some people.
How we test running headphones
To select the best running headphones, I tested several models and evaluated their performance during actual runs. I ran at least 20 miles with each pair of earbuds, though I logged closer to 50 miles with most of them. I listened to music, podcasts, and other audio to get a sense of how the headphones sounded with different types of content. I ran outside in the rain and frigid temperatures, and in the heat when the sun was out.
My daily routine primarily consisted of running outside with the earbuds, but I did occasionally use a treadmill indoors. I made sure to use each pick in both conditions to test versatility.
Since the best running earbuds are designed for active use, I also checked whether sweat affected any of the charging contacts in their cases. Unless you're extremely diligent about wiping all the liquid from the earbuds, I've seen corrosion prevent headphones from charging in their cases. The AeroFit 2 showed some signs of this after a couple of months, but it was easy to wipe away and never interfered with charging. The Soundcore C40i also showed signs of corrosion, but it was harder to reach inside its narrow case, making it trickier to clean.
While I primarily connected the earbuds directly to my Apple Watch with Bluetooth, I also connected them to my iPhone to check out their companion apps.
Meet the expert behind this guide:
Tyler Hayes, contributing reporter: I've been writing about consumer tech products since 2013 and reviewing headphones for Business Insider since 2019. In that time, I've tested more pairs of earbuds than I can count. But for this guide, I didn't just sit at my desk and press play — I took every pair out on my own runs, logging 20 to 50 miles in them through heat, cold, and sweat. I also used them inside on a treadmill. I'm a daily runner, which means I'm picky about what actually stays put, sounds good when I'm pushing the pace, and holds up over time. The picks in this guide do just that.
Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.
Running headphones FAQs
What makes headphones good for running?
One of the most critical elements that separates the best running headphones from lesser models is their fit. There's a lot of jostling in the sport, so keeping your earbuds secure is key to a good experience. I've found that even if the earbuds aren't at risk of falling out, feeling loose can be distracting and burdensome. If you aren't sure about fit, I would recommend starting with a pair that hooks over the ears or clips onto the sides.
Beyond the fit, you'll want to be mindful of how easy it is to access media controls and whether the headphones are water- or sweat-resistant.
Though the above guidance is geared toward finding the best headphones for running, many of these factors also apply to other uses. For more recommendations outside of running, check out our other headphone guides:
- The best headphones
- The best budget headphones
- The best earbuds
- The best headphones for working out
- The best noise-canceling headphones
- The best over-ear headphones
- The best Apple AirPods
- The best AirPods alternatives
Do running headphones need to be waterproof?
Different headphones can handle varying degrees of water or sweat. This level of protection is defined by the Ingress Protection (IP) rating system. In this system, the first number refers to debris, and the second refers to water. All of our picks for the best running headphones can at least handle liquid splashed from all directions, which is IPX4 — the "X" referring to no protection from dust and debris. A higher number provides better protection, but not all numbers are applicable to simply protecting against sweat from running.
Can any earbuds be used for running?
Though you can technically use pretty much any pair of earbuds for running, the best running headphones have features built specifically for the sport, including open designs, secure fits, and sweat protection.
Do over-ear headphones work well for running?
Generally speaking, over-ear headphones are not the best fit for running. This design tends to feel bulkier, trap more heat, and can shift around during high-impact movement. Their passive noise isolation also makes it hard to hear your surroundings.
If you run outside and prefer over-ear headphones, look for a lightweight pair with a secure fit and an awareness mode that lets you still hear your surroundings.
Why do many running headphones use an open-ear design?
Open-ear buds sit right outside your ears instead of going farther inside to create a full seal. This design allows you to hear more of your surroundings rather than the passive noise-blocking that can come from plugging your ear canals. Being aware of other people and vehicles is good for safety while running outside, so this style is popular for many of the best running headphones geared toward outdoor use.
Is it safe to use headphones for running?
Running with earbuds can be dangerous in busy environments, especially if the volume is turned up so high that it blocks out the sounds of cars and other people. (Turning the volume up too loud is also dangerous for the health of your hearing.) It's fine to use earbuds while running as long as the volume is moderate and you can still hear your surroundings when outside.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@bjinnox.com.
