10 Best Running Earphones in 2018

The Elite from Jabra has undergone some subtle evolutionary tweaks and now stands, not quite in a class by itself, but pretty close. The molded shape of the 65t provides a more customized feel that its predecessors were capable of mustering so there’s no more worrying you’re going to lose your buds when you jump a curb or puddle. Once they’ve been inserted with a gentle quarter turn they’re there for the duration yet they don’t ever feel like they’re imposing on your ear or overstaying their welcome.

The Active 65t allows you to adjust the amount of ambient noise that’s fed into the speakers from the built-in external mics. They call this feature “HearThrough”, we call it “welcome”. In addition, the Sound+ app provides comprehensive control and you can select among five different listening modes. The EQ is a particular highlight, providing the type of sonic control you normally only get in high-end home audio systems. Albeit on a reduced scale. With Alexa compatibility also standard and a wireless range of up to 33 feet, the Jabra Elite Active 65t are the best sports earbuds available and snag our Best Choice designation. These also make a great gift for runners for your loved ones. 

The X3 is the third iteration of Jaybird’s X line and seems a legitimate step in the right direction after the previous version fell somewhat flat. This time around they’re a bit more compact and the company has addressed lingering battery issues. As such the old NiMH battery has been replaced by a lithium-ion battery that delivers eight hours of operation on a full charge. The l-io battery also charges faster and will provide an hour of performance on just 15 minutes of charging. The X3 also allows you to tweak your audio experience by way of the Android and iOS compatible MySound app.

As you begin to tweak those settings to bring the sound in line with your tastes it’s likely you’ll be overcome by the realization that what you’re hearing is on another level from anything you’ve heard from other running earphones. In addition, the X3 utilizes Bluetooth 4.1 and you should have no trouble whatsoever syncing it with your handset, regardless of operating system. The icing on the cake is that the X3 sports a sweatproof/waterproof hydrophobic nano-coating. 

Anker SoundBuds are extremely light, hold their position regardless of how much high impact activity you subject them to and produce the kind of audio quality you normally only expect in earphones costing twice as much. The SoundBuds are fully sweat resistant and won’t shy away from an April shower. They’re an in-ear system that comes with a variety of tips so you are sure to find a fit that’s right for you.

SoundBuds Slim Wireless running headphones provide flawless wireless streaming via Bluetooth 4.1 at a distance of up to 33 feet and with its updated drivers they’ll compete against many of today’s most expensive headsets when it comes to sound quality. The IPX5 shell is as handsome as it is practical, the lithium-ion battery provides up to 7 hours of operation per full charge and the price would bring a smile to Scrooge’s face. Add it up and you have our Best Value. Be sure to also check out our list of the best running jackets for more great items like this.

There is no way Bose was not going to make a play for the sports headphone market and their SoundSport Pulse Wireless Headphones for running make a serious push for best in class. Overall the sound is full and rich, with robust bass and clear, crisp high notes. Just as you’d expect from Bose. Regardless of the ambient noise level where you’re running, you’re going to experience the full sonic range from these headphones and you won’t have to crank them to 11 to do so.

The SoundSport Pulse may be the best wireless headphones for running the company has made yet. While the earpieces look a bit unwieldy they actually hug the inside of your ear in a gentle yet firm fashion that optimizes security and sound delivery without ever feeling like an anchor. In fact, if you turn the sound off and just use them to cancel out the environmental noise you may even forget at some point that you have them on. Battery life, however, is an issue the company will need to address in the near future.

AfterShokz take a different approach to wireless earphones with their open-air conduction headphones. Whereas most earphones pump the soundwaves straight down the ear canal to the eardrum AfterShokz Trekz uses bone conduction to completely bypass the eardrum and send sound waves through your cranium directly to the inner ear. This leaves the outer ear free to receive environmental noise so that you can stay more properly alert to your surroundings when running on the path, sidewalk or road.

Beyond practicality and safety, the Trekz from AfterShokz provide outstanding sound quality that’s more than a little surprising to those of us without doctorates in audiology. Perhaps the biggest surprise is not that you can hear clearly while the Trekz are jacked but that there is virtually no loss in quality even at the very low ends of the volume spectrum. At the end of the day, AfterShokz are not going to win the award for best running earphones based on sound quality alone. But when you consider what they’ve done here they may be pointing the way forward. Our handy guide to the best running shoes features more great products like this.

The BackBeat FIT Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for running have an agreeable soft feel that rests against your skin rather than rubbing against it. They loop over the top of the ear and rest gently in the ear canal where they deliver clean, crisp audio at all volume settings. Because of their visually solid appearance, you expect the BackBeat FIT is going to be something of a dead weight on your neck but they’re actually lighter than about 75% of the sports earphones out there.

The main controls are located on the exterior of the earpieces. Bluetooth pairing is simple and reliable and when synced to your handset call quality is actually quite good. You’ll get on average about 8 hours on a fully charged battery which isn’t bad but isn’t necessarily great. Although if you get stuck in the rain someday don’t worry, your Plantronics BackBeat FIT Wireless headphones for running can take it. Love this product? Check out our review of the top running socks for our top picks.

66 Audio have outdone almost everyone with their BTS Pro Wireless Bluetooth Headphones. These are classic over-ear headphones for running with a few design twists that allow them to be transported easily. They produce some of the highest quality sounds you’ll hear from running headphones at any price. This is an upgrade of their previous BTS headphones and the changes start with Bluetooth 4.2. Battery life is also improved and has been ramped up from the already outrageous 25 hours of the standard BTS to 40 hours for this upgraded version.

Controls are easy to master and conveniently located on the exterior of the device. The fit is generally outstanding and extremely comfortable and they tend to stay in place no matter how hard you are hitting the pavement. You’re going to pay more for 66 Audio’s BTS Pro, but there’s no denying you’re going to get what you pay for in this instance. As such, they’ve earned the right to be our Premium Choice. 

SOUL Electronics X-TRA Performance Wireless Headphones are one of the few to acknowledge that people actually run both before the sun rises and after it sets. As such they include LED safety lights that help protect you from the scourge of half asleep or distracted drivers. Beyond that much-appreciated feature, these X-TRA Performance headphones are also an audio force to be reckoned that provide typical over ear clarity and focus, along with an outstanding 24 hours of operation from a full charge.

The LED lights we mentioned early come on automatically when internal sensors detect the gathering gloom and there are two different modes (still and flashing) associated with those lights. Inside there are also HD drivers and circuitry designed to provide firm, clear bass lines along with crisp highs. If you’re in a hurry you can plug your X-TRA headphones in for 15 minutes and enjoy an impressive 2 1/2 hours of playtime. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best Gore Tex running shoes.

There’s nothing terribly new about the look of the new Powerbeats3 Wireless earphones and that seems just a tad curious. After all, if the Powerbeats2 had a drawback it was the design which flirted pretty heavily with looking cheap. So here we have Powerbeats3 and they still look a bit cheap. However, unlike genuinely cheap (as in poorly made) earphones the Powerbeats3 provide all-day comfort with few equals.

One of the many things we like about the Powerbeats3 (aside from the look) is that they don’t push so far into your ear that they cause irritation. Of course, this somewhat relaxed fit also means that they’re going to allow environmental noise to drift through the mix. But a bit of the real world is a good thing when you’re running on the road or busy urban sidewalks. The battery life is also notable. At 12 hours per charge, it’s in the upper echelons of running earphones. In addition, Bluetooth pairing is both painless and reliable. That’s particularly true if you’re pairing with an Apple device.

The KuaiFit Sport Headphones have one of the most agreeable designs out there. They wrap more than halfway around your ear and do so comfortably and effectively by way of their flexible build. They produce outstanding audio at any volume level, have 8GB of built-in memory, pair effortless with your Bluetooth handset and offer an array of fitness plans, a heart rate sensor and an ANT+ connected bike sensor. They have a music control joystick, provide 7 hours of operation per full charge and are fully sweat and waterproof.

We love the way these puppies feel, love the fact that they come with interchangeable earpieces – including indoor and outdoor earpieces – and love the accelerometer that lets you keep track of speed, distance and even laps if you’re running a track. They do an effective job of blocking out environmental noise and that’s great too. Except that it isn’t when you’re road running. So you may want to keep one of them a bit loose so you can hear what’s going on around you. Other than that they’re among the best Bluetooth sports headphones. Don’t forget to also check our list of top running backpacks for more great running products.