The best headphones for running in 2025

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The best running headphones include models from brands like Beats, Soundcore, SoundPeats, and Nothing.

Tyler Hayes/Business Insider

Many people enjoy listening to music while running, whether they're exercising outside or jogging inside on a treadmill. Wireless headphones are the perfect solution, but some models are better for running than others. Reliable media controls, a secure fit, sweat resistance, and solid audio quality are all important things to look for. Many top models also use open-ear designs that let in outside sounds, so you can stay aware of your surroundings. However, this means you don't get noise cancellation.

To find the best headphones for running, I spent months rotating through several popular earbuds on my daily runs. Collectively, I've tested these headphones across 500 miles of running. I used them to listen to podcasts, stream the latest songs, and dive into audiobooks. The Soundcore AeroFit 2 earbuds are my top recommendation overall. This model balances detailed sound, adjustable comfort, and a myriad of features at a price point most shoppers can stomach. On the budget side, I suggest the SoundPeats RunFree Lite2. Though they lack certain conveniences that pricier headphones offer, they still sound good for the money.

Below are all of my picks for the best running headphones, along with details on how I evaluated each model's performance and key factors you should consider when shopping for new earbuds.

Our top picks for the best headphones for running

Best overall: Soundcore AeroFit 2 - See at Amazon

Best on a budget: SoundPeats RunFree Lite2 - See at Amazon

Best for outdoor use: Nothing Ear (Open) - See at Amazon

Best for treadmills: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Soundcore AeroFit 2 are the most versatile running headphones I tested. They do the best job of balancing all of the key features that runners look for, enabling them to suit a variety of running styles. Shoppers specifically searching for headphones to use only on a treadmill or just outside can find options tailored slightly better for those uses, but the AeroFit 2 are a more well-rounded option for people who want the total package.

They feature an open design that keeps them from plugging up your ears while also letting in some ambient noise for awareness. Despite not going directly into your ear canal, the AeroFit 2 deliver plenty of volume and low-end bass. Music sounds good, and spoken word isn't overly high-pitched. To be clear, open-ear buds like this won't ever match the sound quality you'd get from in-ear headphones, but this model still delivers solid performance, and this style is better suited for running since it lets you hear your surroundings.

The AeroFit 2 earbuds use an adjustable hook design for a secure yet comfy fit.

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The headphones use an over-the-ear hook, which I found to be lightweight and secure. The ear hooks are adjustable, which means they should work with a wide range of ear sizes and shapes.

Other smaller details help make the AeroFit 2 stand out from similar competitors. For instance, the included charging case accommodates the adjustable ear hooks in whatever position you leave them in, so you don't have to readjust them every time you take them out. The case even supports wireless charging, which is somewhat rare for fitness earbuds. Battery life is also impressive at around 10 hours with the buds and a total of 42 hours with the case.

If there's a downside to the AeroFit 2, it's that they don't have a physical button for media controls. It's always nice to have a tactile button you can feel for. The saving grace is that the touch controls perform well. Instead of making runners do a triple-tap for skipping a song, both earbuds use a double-tap gesture for different controls. On the right earbud, a double-tap will pause or play audio, while doing the same thing on the left earbud will skip tracks. This can be customized in the mobile app if you prefer something different.

Best on a budget

The SoundPeats RunFree Lite2 headphones retail for about $30 and are often on sale for even less. As budget-friendly earbuds, the RunFree Lite2 won't outdo the quality of pricier picks, but they still deliver good performance for the money.

The RunFree Lite2 use a wrap-around neckband design. At first glance, they resemble a typical pair of bone-conduction headphones, which send audio vibrations through your jawbone rather than your ears. However, despite their appearance, the RunFree Lite2 actually use open-buds that hover on top of your ears. This means they have better (and louder) audio quality than similar neckband-style headphones that use bone-conducting drivers.

The RunFree Lite2 headphones wrap around your neck and have earbuds that rest outside your ears.

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The neckband is lightweight and didn't slip around while I ran. The whole unit is bulkier than my other recommendations, but the extra size means there's room for physical buttons to handle volume and playback. The buttons are small and feel cheap during actual use, but they got the job done, and some users may prefer them to touch-sensitive controls.

The headphones' plastic feels flimsier than more expensive options, and overall durability is still a question over the long haul. You'll be sacrificing some fullness and crispness in the sound quality, too. But the performance is still respectable given their low cost, making the SoundPeats RunFree Lite 2 the best running headphones for anyone who wants to spend under $50.

Best for outdoor use

The Nothing Ear (Open) are terrific earbuds for running, especially if you're planning to focus on using them outside on the go. The primary reason I recommend these for outdoor runners is because of their loud volume and full sound. At the same time, their open-ear fit means they hover right outside your ear canal to offer 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 remain 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.

The Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds use the brand's unique clear design.

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In terms of the 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 is an audible sound to give a sense of 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 in my testing.

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 does not 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.

Best for treadmills

Unlike the other picks included 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 generated by your feet pounding on the conveyor belt can get loud and may need dampening. 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 are rated for a respectable battery life of eight hours (36 hours total with the wireless charging case).

With their in-ear design and ANC, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are great for blocking out noise while running in a gym.

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The Powerbeats Pro 2 even have built-in heart rate sensors. This feature works with certain apps across iOS and Android to add another metric to treadmill runners. Be aware, however, that these can't connect to gym equipment for native heart rate monitoring and streaming music at the same time. This feature is also deactivated if you use an Apple Watch with the earbuds since the watch already has heart-rate tracking.

Beyond their excellent sound quality, I like the earbuds' easy-to-reach volume buttons a lot. The "b" button on each earbud also flexes to create a tactile control for playback or ANC control. 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 are using these on a treadmill.

Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

How we test running headphones

We tested more than a dozen earbuds to find the best headphones for running.

Tyler Hayes/Business Insider

To select the best headphones for running, I tested several models, evaluating their performance during actual runs. I ran at least 20 miles using each of the 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, as well as 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 of the picks in both conditions to test their versatility.

Since the best running earbuds are designed for active use, I also kept an eye on 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 keep headphones from charging in their cases in the past. 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 that one was harder to reach inside its narrow case, so it was 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.

What else we considered

The Shokz Open Fit 2 performed decently in our tests but didn't quite make the cut as one of our top picks.

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The goal of this guide is to keep things simple to help you find the best earbuds for running. The picks listed above are my four top recommendations, but I also tested a lot of other solid headphones that are worth considering. Here are some quick thoughts on other options if you want to dig deeper.

Bose Ultra Open - See at Amazon
These high-end open-ear buds use a clip-on (ear-cuff) style that provides a secure fit that stays put. 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 them 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 are aimed at being dedicated fitness headphones that use digital processing to let in outside noise. The wing tip kept the earbuds secure during my runs while also being flexible enough not to cause pressure. But considering their $200 price tag, I wish the Linkbuds Fit sounded just a little bit better with more fullness 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 even included a physical button for media controls. 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.

Baseus Eli Sport 1 - See at Amazon
This is another pair of well-equipped budget earbuds for running. The open-style buds fit securely and are plenty loud. Unfortunately, they don't seem to be widely available, and they have touch controls that I found harder to activate than others.

Running headphones FAQs

Many headphones designed for active use feature hooks or wings to keep them secure during movement.

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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 that comes with 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, if they feel loose, it can be distracting and burdensome. If you aren't sure about fit, then I would recommend starting with a pair that hooks over the ears or ones that clip onto the side of the ears.

Beyond the fit, you'll want to be mindful of how easy it is to access media controls and whether the headphones support water/sweat resistance.

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 wireless 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 designated 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 has better protection, but not all the numbers are applicable to simply protecting against sweat caused by running.

Can any headphones be used for running?

Though you can technically use pretty much any pair of headphones to run with, the best running headphones have features built specifically for the sport, including open designs, secure fits, and sweat protection.

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 instead of the passive noise blocking that can come from plugging up your ear canal. 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 audio is turned up loud enough to block 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 at a moderate level and you're still able to hear your surroundings when outside.

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