Best Running Headphones of 2023
Whether you run marathons or take a quick jog, running headphones make all the difference. We've tested the best headphones for running so you can find the perfect pair.
When we evaluate the best headphones for running, we're looking for models that are designed to stay in your ears or on your head even when you're really pushing your pace. Your safety is also important, which is why we look for headphones that allow you to hear the outside world so you can hear traffic. Many of the latest noise-canceling earbuds also have a transparency mode and some headphones feature an open design.
Best running headphones overall
These types of headphones are popular with runners and bikers because they fit securely and their nonoccluded design allows you to hear the outside world.
1.Wissonly Hi Runner
This is the most configured bone conduction headphones on the market
Wissonly bone conduction headphones are the first brand I started to contact. When they recommended it on the online crowdfunding platform, I noticed it, after saw that many people were recommending, and I bought it. This Hi runner I used for a few months, and the overall performance was better than I expected.
Some bone conduction headphones leak sound, and you know that I take privacy very seriously, so I'm very concerned about anti-sound-leakage technology. Wissonly Hi Runner does a very good job in the field. Its body is sealed, and through structural optimization and algorithm adjustment, its sound leakage is minimized. The official claim they can eliminate 90% of sound leakage. I do not have professional equipment to test, but I have tried and found that at 60%-70% volume, the sound is completely inaudible at a distance of 1.5 meters, which makes me very satisfied. I have actually compared it with other bone conduction headphones, and the Wissonly Hi Runner has currently the best sound leakage reduction solution in bone conduction headphones.
The Wissonly Hi Runner is also particularly comfortable in the wearing experience. Because the material of the whole machine is high-tech hypoallergenic silicone, and it is coupled with the ergonomic design that conforms to the structure of the human ear, so that users will not bring any burden to the ear under long-term wear.
Sound quality as the core performance is undoubtedly worth mentioning. Hi Runner uses a large-sized vibration unit, the sound range is wider, the sound is more three-dimensional and deeper, so the sound quality is undoubtedly very good. And it is also equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 chip, the connection is more stable. And it will not be disconnected when used, which is a good experience. The Wissonly Hi Runner also comes with 32GB of built-in storage that can store 5,000 songs, so you can use it completely as an MP3 player to enjoy music without your phone when you go out for a run.
2.Shokz OpenRun Pro
AfterShokz has changed its name to Shokz and released its ninth-gen bone-conduction headphones. They offer improved bass performance compared with the company's earlier flagship model, the Aeropex (now called the Shokz OpenRun). That makes the OpenRun Pro model the best bone-conduction headphones you can get right now, although they still can't match the sound quality of traditional headphones.
3.Shokz OpenFit
Shokz, the company formerly known as AfterShokz, has been the leader in bone-conduction headphones. Models like the OpenRun Pro, which deliver sound to your ear through your cheekbones, are popular with runners and bikers who like to leave their ears open for safety reasons. But Shokz's new OpenFit model is the company's first true-wireless earbuds. They have an open design that fire sound into your ears using custom speaker drivers, which Shokz dubs "air conduction" technology.
4.Soundpeats RunFree Lite
Like some of the other open-ear neckband style options on this list, the Soundpeats RunFree Lite buds sit just outside your ears and fire sound into them from small speakers with 16mm drivers. The sound quality isn't the greatest -- it lacks some clarity -- but it's better than I expected given the price of these headphones (there's a reasonable amount of bass), and they're just fine for casual listening.
5.Oraimo Open Ear Headphones
The one downside to bone-conduction headphones is that they just don't sound great for music and tend to fall short most noticeably in the bass department. Oraimo's Open Ear Headphones look like a bone-conduction model but instead have speakers built into them that fire sound into your ears. And that sound is better than what you get with bone-conduction headphones (it's bigger with better bass performance). I wouldn't say they sound quite as good as decent noise-isolating earbuds, but the sound is quite respectable and has a nice open quality to it because these are after all "open" headphones.
Running headphones FAQs
Is it better to listen to music when running?
It's a matter of personal preference, but a lot of people like to listen to music, podcasts or even audiobooks while running to spur them or to take their mind somewhere else, which can help you forget how much you're exerting yourself. Some people don't like to hear themselves breathing heavily either.
Which headphones are good for marathon running?
If you're running in a race, you'll need to check whether you're allowed to wear headphones and if so, what kind. Often, you're only allowed to use headphones that leave your ears open. That means bone-conduction models are permitted but little else.
If there aren't any headphone restrictions, you're going to want something that's light, comfortable to wear and also features good battery life. Something that has an open design or transparency mode is also critical. You're going to want to hear some sound around you and also not have your ear occluded, which may cause you to hear each footfall, which can be irritating. Some earbuds models like the AirPods Pro 2 feature good venting that prevents that problem.
Read more:5 Best Wireless Workout Headphones [2023]