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