The 15 Best Earbuds for All Types of Runners, According to MH Editors

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The 15 Best Earbuds for All Types of Runners, According to MH Editors
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LONG GONE are the days of running with wired workout headphones bouncing up and around with each step. These days the best running headphones come in earbud form and offer top-of-the-line fit and function, meaning they stay put in your ear no matter how many miles you log or how much sweat is pouring down your face.

Read more: Best Running Shoes

Another important factor is sound. For runners that rely on their playlist to keep their energy up throughout the entirety of their run, the sound quality in earbuds are crucial. Some models create a seal to block out all external noise, allowing you to really get in the zone. Others incorporate a little ambient sound, which is a much-appreciated safety precaution if you run out on open or urban roads and need to stay alert.



  • Best Overall

    Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones
    Beats By Dr. Dre

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  • Most Versatile

    AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
    Apple

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  • Best Noise Cancellation

    Elite 85T True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
    Jabra

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  • Amazon’s Choice

    Flex Wireless Earphones
    Beats By Dr. Dre

    Read More



  • Most Rugged

    Vista 2 True Wireless Earbuds
    Jaybird

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Last, consider the battery life and charging features. There’s nothing like walking out the door for a run and realizing your earbuds are dead–or worse, you lose juice mid-run. Look to running headphones with extended battery life to avoid this, as well as pairs that come with portable charging cases to minimize the chance of them dying when you need them most.

Read more: Best Workout Headphones

We know every runner has their own preferences, so we curated the running headphones and earbuds below to cater to all types of individuals. No matter if you’re searching for a high waterproof rating or looking for supreme sounds, there’s bound to be something to fit your needs below.

      Shop the best deals on running headphones on Amazon

      Best Overall

      Beats By Dr. Dre

      Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earphones

      Battery life More than 24 hours with charging case, 9 hours with the earbuds on full charge
      Water resistance rating IPX4

      Most Versatile

      Apple

      AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

      Battery life Up to 30 hours of listening time
      Water resistance rating IPX4

      Best Noise Cancellation

      Jabra

      Elite 85T True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds

      Battery life Up to 25 hours with charging case, 5.5 hours on full charge
      Water resistance rating IPX4

      Amazon’s Choice

      Beats By Dr. Dre

      Flex Wireless Earphones

      Battery life Up to 12 hours
      Water resistance rating No IP rating

      Most Rugged

      Jaybird

      Vista 2 True Wireless Earbuds

      Battery life 24 total, 8 hours of audio with full charge and 16 hours of charging ability with the case
      Water resistance rating IP68

      Best Bone Conduction Headphones

      AfterShokz

      Aeropex Bone Conduction Headphones

      Battery life 8 hours
      Water resistance rating IP67

      Best for Android Users

      Google

      Pixel Buds Pro

      Battery life Up to 31 hours with charging case
      Water resistance rating IPX4

      Skullcandy

      Push Active True Wireless

      Battery life Up to 44 hours with charging case
      Water resistance rating IP55

      Master & Dynamic

      MW08 sport Active Headphones

      Battery life 12 hours per full charge, up to 42 with charging case
      Water resistance rating IPX5
      Battery life 6 hours on full charge, 30 hours total with charging case
      Water resistance rating IPX7

      Sennheiser

      CX sport Wireless Earphones

      Battery life 6 hours
      Water resistance rating IPX4

      Bose

      SoundSport Free In-Ear Headphones

      Battery life 10 hours with charging case, 5 hours on full charge
      Water resistance rating IPx4

      Klipsch

      T5 II True Wireless sport Earphones

      Battery life 8 hours on full charge, 32 with charging case
      Water resistance rating IP67
      Battery life 5 hours full charge, up to 15 hours with charging case
      Water resistance rating IPX4
      Battery life Up to 20 hours with charging case
      Water resistance rating IXp3

      How to Read Dust and Water Resistance Rating (IP Rating)

      You won’t have any problems with sweat and water resistance on the running headphones we curated above, however some are scored with a higher rating than others—which means they’re going to be more durable.

      When you see an “IP” rating what you are really reading is the Ingress Protection rating. A rating can be read by each number, the first being its dust protection and the second being its water protection. Most of the headphones above have an “X” as the first number. The X means there was no data collected on the dust protection. Sometimes it helps to know the dust protection, especially if you’re running in trail environments. If you’re a trail runner it’s probably worth paying attention to the more rugged running headphones that have been given a dust rating too.

      The second number can be read on a scale of how waterproof the headphones are. Zero is the lowest while 9K is the highest (you’re unlikely to see a 9K on headphones because this level is only given to materials that can handle direct, high-temp and high-pressure water).

      So what’s a good number range to look for? We recommend anything between a four and six, but seven and higher would be a premium rating and capable of withstanding full water submersion. Most of what you will see are “IPX4”, which is solid, but if you’re really wanting a pair of running headphones that are made to handle high activity then look for a second number of seven or above.

      For the past two years, we consulted with Men’s Health‘s Fitness and Gear editors on the top running headphones. Experts including our fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S. and senior commerce editor Christian Gollayan, put countless men’s running headphones through the wringer at the gym to evaluate their fit, sound quality, and performance. We also considered top-reviewed running headphones that had at least 100 five-star customer ratings on e-commerce websites that we trust.

      Gear and Commerce Editor
      John Thompson is the Gear and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he covers fashion, grooming, gear, and technology.

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