When it comes to running headphones and earbuds, some things are non-negotiable. Your running headphones need to have some kind of ambient sound feature, whether they simply let sound through naturally or have mics to pick up the sound around you and pipe them into your ears. They also need to be able to withstand the daily wear-and-tear of your hard-earned sweat—not to mention the occasional drizzle of rain. Finally, features like battery life, comfort, and a secure fit are important in every pair of headphones, but they're particularly important when you're away from home for an extended period of time.
The following earbuds and headphones in this roundup are based on these metrics, but also have some other options that might be important to you. If you’re looking for other headphone roundups, like the best bone conduction headphones, the best workout headphones, the best noise-canceling headphones, and the best wireless headphones or earbuds, I've got you covered.
Best open-ear headphones for running
In my experience, there is no ambient-aware technology that is as good as your actual ears, even with the advancements in spatial awareness tech. That's why bone conduction headphones are arguably your best option, making the Shokz OpenRun a great choice. They are small, light, and deliver great sound. The IP67 water-resistance rating makes them perfect for rainy, sweaty, or dusty/sandy runs. You can also take calls and be heard clearly with their noise-canceling mics, which can pick out your voice on a noisy roadway.
Shokz OpenRun ($129.95)
Best running headphones for ambient and spatial awareness technology
On the other spectrum of open ear technology, we have ambient and spatial awareness technology that picks up the sounds around you and plays them in your earbuds alongside your music. While I've tried some impressive technology that does this, I still prefer open-ear earbuds when I run. However, many earbuds with ambient and/or spatial awareness are usable for other things outside of running, like noise-canceling, taking calls, or just listening to music at home or at the gym. For that, I recommend the JBL Endurance Peak 3, which has one of the best ambient aware transparency modes I've tried. They’re also very secure on your ears, thanks to a hook design, and are one of the most affordable earbuds in this roundup.
JBL Endurance Peak 3 ($79.95)
Best running headphones for comfort
Comfort and fit are important: nobody wants to constantly re-adjust their headphones on long runs. If this is your primary concern, consider the Shokz OpenFit. They are very light, coming in at 8.3 grams, and have a soft hook that comfortably wraps around your ear. While these headphones are not conduction headphones, they are open-ear, so you’ll still hear your surroundings. They are rated IP54, meaning they are water and dust-resistant.
Shokz OpenFit ($179.95)
Best running headphones for battery life
If you run very long distances or just don't always remember to charge your headphones, then consider the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC Gen 2. These headphones will give you a total of 70 hours of battery life, with 15 hours after a full charge and an extra 55 from the portable charging case. They are also very secure with an ear hook design and have an IP66 rating, meaning they're waterproof. If you like messing with the EQ settings, the companion app gives you full control to do so.
JLab Epic Air Sport ANC Gen 2 ($99.99 )
Best budget running headphones
One of the most affordable pairs of earbuds you can get also happen to tick all the boxes you would want in a good pair of running headphones: a secure fit, water resistance, open ear to hear your surroundings, comfort, and decent battery life. The 1More Fit SE S30 gives you 10 hours of playtime and 30 with the case; have an IPX5 rating, capable of sustaining sweat and rain; and offers good sound for the price point.
1More Fit SE S30 ($59.99 discounted)