The Best Running Headphones

Running headphones are for people who prefer to do their jogging outside and thus need to be able to hear their surroundings to stay safe. Whether you’re dodging traffic in a city or avoiding wildlife in rural areas, it’s important to know what’s going on around you. Women who run alone especially understand the relevance of this. We’ve found that most runners prefer wireless earbuds. Not only because many newer music devices lack headphone jacks, but also because you don’t have to put up with cable snags or tuck excess cord down your shirt to keep it from banging around. Sweat and water resistance is a must. Standard headphones aren’t built to withstand the beating that running headphones can take, so their warranties likely won’t cover moisture damage. Comfort is always important, but especially with running headphones. If they bang against your head, fall out, chafe, or snag, you won’t want to use them. The best ones stay on and out of your way. Ease of use matters more than usual in this category. You don’t want to have to stop jogging just to skip a track or adjust the volume. A good pair of sport earbuds has intuitive controls that you can use without much thought. The sound quality should be solid and not distracting. Running headphones are a piece of sporting equipment, so in this category we’re a little more forgiving of sonic flaws. Additionally, the unsealed design that makes running headphones safer also can make bass notes more difficult to hear. Some companies try to compensate by applying EQ to unsealed headphones accordingly. Ideally, you’d have both great fit and great sound, but when in doubt, comfort comes first.