The Finest Operating Headphones of 2024

How We Tested the Best Running Headphones

Our Expert Testers

GearJunkie’s runners have tested hundreds of men’s and women’s products on trails, in busy urban centers, and during competitive Adventure Racing. 2024’s running headphones tests built on that theme, with our testers ranging from Texas trails to central California, Singapore, and Thailand.

The testers for this article have combined experience of over 20 years in middle-distance trail running, competitive track racing, and multi-sport activities like CrossFit. Our editorial team includes GearJunkie Adventure Racing team members, and editors for iRunFar.com provided product consultation.  

We’re also real people, so we use headphones just like everyone else — running errands, attending meetings, and taking phone calls. We worked out, traveled, and vibed out to music in our running headphones. One improvised water resistance test took place when we forgot a pair of earbuds in a shorts pocket and threw the shorts in the washing machine.

Our Testing Process

Performance demanded resilience under extreme heat (up to 95 degrees at 80% humidity on the Singapore streets) and during travel. City traffic, sweaty ears, and logistics of battery life and case carrying were constant factors. Testers put water resistance to the test in events including moderate-distance swim training and sauna & cold plunge recovery sessions. 

Testing periods ranged from months to years. We discharged and recharged headphones frequently and retested units to find our favorite applications for each product. Testers used their assigned headphones during recreational runs but considered possible uses during competitions within rule allowances.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Running Headphones

Fit/Comfort

Even if you only go on short, half-hour jogs, the wrong-fitting headphones can still give you an earache. That said, it’s not always as simple as picking the set of rubber tips that feel the best and popping the headphones in. Pain from earbuds can come from the tips, over-ear or concha ridge hooks, or even constant re-adjustment. 

Look for springy but flexible ear hooks like the ones on the JLAB Epic Air Sport, or a bone conduction set like the H20 Audio Tri Pro. For most, Apple AirPods can be a good choice — but because there’s no fit adjustment, there’s some possibility you’ll find yourself constantly fiddling with them to keep them snug.

Battery Life

Not every runner needs best-in-class headphone battery life, like the JLab Epic Air Sport provides. To be honest, most of us can’t run for 10 or more hours straight, no matter if we want to or not. But it’s always best to consider how else you’ll use your headphones outside workouts and what it takes to recharge them if the worst happens. 

If you’re a daily commuter with an office job and an after-work running routine, consider headphones with long battery life on a single charge. It’s possible you’ll want more than 4 to 6 hours of listening time per day, and it’s easiest not to recharge unless you have to. 

If you’re a marathoner, we’d encourage the same thing — start your run or race with a full charge and save precious grams by leaving the case behind.

If you’re a hardcore adventure runner who can do 30, 50, or 100+ miles, look for quick recharge time and a well-built, compact case. You might not hit 0% on your run, but your headphones likely will.

Touch/Voice Controls

The key to success in headphone touch controls for runners: simplicity. 

Most of us don’t want to think about anything while we’re running. Others get their best thinking done while they’re knocking out miles. The common denominator is that the last thing any of us want to think about is how many taps it takes on which ear to activate what function. 

“OK, so do I tap my left earbud three times for the last track, twice slowly then once quickly to activate voice control, and one-touch followed by two clicks to toggle ANC? Or is it only once slowly then twice …” 

Nobody wants that. Our staff also prefers button or voice control over touch control. It may be common for runners to scratch itches, wipe sweat from their faces, etc. Pawing a touch-activated earbud repeatedly can lead to functional frustration. We got along well with the Skullcandy Push Active voice assistant and button controls.

Noise Canceling or Non-Noise Canceling

Active noise canceling (ANC) headphones have skyrocketed in popularity as the technology has improved in smaller and smaller packages. ANC uses one or more microphones to collect, measure, and “cancel” incoming sound by producing counteracting sound waves. 

So, do you need ANC in running headphones? Safety-conscious, urban runners or those who just like listening to the birds and the bees may resist it. As our testing revealed, some of today’s ANC is extremely potent, making it impossible to hear normal noises anywhere nearby. It can be intimidating.  

However, audiophiles or runners who prefer to zone out can revel in the sonic focus ANC provides. To jam out on music and let the vibes take over (testing or otherwise), our testers reach for the loudest pair of ANC headphones. The technology pairs especially well with the surge in custom equalizer tools for headphones . And if you’re ably sighted, you can always keep your head on a swivel to keep yourself safe. 

In-Ear or Open-Ear

Each of these categories carries one main drawback and one main advantage. Headphones with in-ear designs sound louder but can become painful after hours of wear. Open-ear designs are more comfortable, but never bring the same thump as in-ear buds. 

Runners can consider mileage to help call a shot. Do you really want anything in your ears for 10, 24, or 30+ hours? Not all in-ear buds are created equal, it’s true — and the better the fit, the less earache you’ll face. But the advantage of open-ear buds over extended wear periods is that there’s actually a possibility you’ll forget you’re wearing them. Not only that, but you’ll also stay more directly tuned to the outside world. The Soundcore Aerofit Pro showed very balanced open-ear sound quality during our tests.

On the other hand, the whole reason you run might be that you like getting lost in your own world. In that case, an in-ear set can better defend your groove from the ingress of external hassles we all navigate.

Water Resistance/Ingress Protection

The IP system strikes again! Remember, look at the last two digits (either an X and a number or two numbers). The first digit stands for dust and debris resistance, the second is water. The common IP54 means that it can let in some dust but not enough to hurt the device (5), and that it’s protected from splashing water (4). 

Anything beyond this, and you’ve got a pretty robust earbud for running. IPX5 is water jet-protected, and IPX6 gear won’t yield to “powerful water jets” or “heavy seas.” 

Price & Value

Budget

If you’re looking for a budget pair of running headphones, you can expect to spend anywhere up to $100. You can also expect to find some compromises on durability and sound quality. But there are some budget steals out there, like the JBL Vibe Beam ($45). Despite its low price, the 8-hour battery life and good sound quality were pleasant surprises. We did find that they had a tendency to jostle free during runs, but for $45, they’re a solid pair.

Mid-Tier

The middle tier of running headphones ranges in price from $100 to $175 and offers higher sound quality and a few other interesting features. The JLab Epic Air Sport ($100) is at the low end of this tier and offers excellent mid-range sound quality and a secure, comfortable fit on long-distance runs. The Soudcore AeroFit Pro ($170) lies near the top of this price range, but delivers up to 14 hours of battery life and excellent sound quality.

Premium

You can expect to spend $200 or more on top-tier running headphones. At this price range, you’ll find specialty headphones like the waterproof H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro ($199), a set of bone-conduction headphones designed for wear during swim training. If sound quality is your priority, the Beats Fit Pro ($200) delivers some excellent boom and extremely clear sound. Plus, the ANC quality is one of the best of any headphones we’ve tested.

Frequently Asked Questions