Best Running Headphones in 2026, Tested Over 500 Miles

Whether you’re outside on a long run or grinding on a treadmill, a good playlist can make the miles fly by. But the best running headphones do more than just play music. They need to stay put through sweaty jogs, offer controls you can easily use mid-stride, and sound good enough to keep you motivated when your legs start to fade.

To find the best headphones for running, I tested a wide range of options over several months, using them on daily runs totaling around 500 miles. Along the way, I listened to everything from podcasts and audiobooks to high-energy playlists to see which pairs actually held up in real-world use. The Soundcore AeroFit 2 stood out as the most versatile earbuds thanks to their comfortable fit, practical features, and reasonable price. But if you mainly run indoors, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are especially good for blocking out noisy gyms and treadmill distractions.

Below, you’ll find all of my picks for the best running headphones, plus a breakdown of how I tested each pair and the key things to keep in mind before you buy your next set of earbuds.

Our top picks for the best headphones for running

Best overall: Soundcore AeroFit 2 – See at Amazon

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

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

Best overall

The Soundcore AeroFit 2 are the most versatile running headphones I tested. They do the best job of balancing the key features runners look for, making them great for a variety of running styles. If you’re searching for headphones to use only on a treadmill or only outside, you can find options tailored slightly better for those uses. But the AeroFit 2 earbuds are a more well-rounded option for those who want the total package.

They feature an open design that keeps them from plugging up your ears, so you can hear 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 speech 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 headphones use an over-the-ear hook design, 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 set the AeroFit 2 apart from 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, with around 10 hours from the buds and a total of 42 hours with the case.

If there’s a downside to the AeroFit 2, it’s that there’s no physical media control button. 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 tap three times to skip a song, both earbuds use a double-tap gesture for different functions. On the right earbud, a double-tap pauses or plays audio; on the left earbud, it skips tracks. This can be customized in the mobile app if you prefer something different.

Best for treadmills

Unlike my other picks 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 your feet make as they pound on the conveyor belt can get loud and may need to be dampened. 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 offer a respectable eight hours of battery life (36 hours total with the wireless charging case).

The Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds also have built-in heart rate sensors. This feature works with certain apps across iOS and Android to add another metric to treadmill runners. But be aware that this feature is disabled when you use an Apple Watch with the earbuds, since the watch already has heart-rate tracking.

Beyond their excellent sound quality, I love the earbuds’ easy-to-reach volume buttons. The “b” button on each earbud also flexes to provide tactile control for playback or ANC. 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’re using these on a treadmill.

Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

Best for outdoor use

The Nothing Ear (Open) are terrific earbuds for running outside. The main reason I recommend these for dedicated outdoor runners is their loud volume and full sound. At the same time, their open-ear fit means they hover just outside your ear canal, providing 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 be 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.

Regarding 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’s an audible sound to provide 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.

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 doesn’t 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.

What else we considered

The picks listed above are the three best running headphones I recommend, but I also tested a lot of other earbuds that are worth considering. Here are some quick thoughts on other options that didn’t quite make the cut as top picks in this guide.

Bose Ultra Open – See at Amazon
These high-end open-ear buds use a clip-on (ear-cuff) style for a secure, stay-put fit. 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 the earbuds 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 use digital processing to let in outside noise. The wing tip kept the earbuds secure during my runs while remaining flexible enough not to put pressure on my ears. They’re especially great for cyclists, as the design works well with a helmet. But given their $200 price tag, I wish the Linkbuds Fit sounded just a little better, with fuller bass 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 I like that they have a physical media control button. 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.

How we test running headphones

To select the best running headphones, I tested several models and evaluated their performance during actual runs. I ran at least 20 miles with each pair of 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, and 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 pick in both conditions to test versatility.

Since the best running earbuds are designed for active use, I also checked 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 prevent headphones from charging in their cases. 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 it was harder to reach inside its narrow case, making it 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.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Tyler Hayes, contributing reporter: I’ve been writing about consumer tech products since 2013 and reviewing headphones for Business Insider since 2019. In that time, I’ve tested more pairs of earbuds than I can count. But for this guide, I didn’t just sit at my desk and press play — I took every pair out on my own runs, logging 20 to 50 miles in them through heat, cold, and sweat. I also used them inside on a treadmill. I’m a daily runner, which means I’m picky about what actually stays put, sounds good when I’m pushing the pace, and holds up over time. The picks in this guide do just that.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

Running headphones FAQs

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 in 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, feeling loose can be distracting and burdensome. If you aren’t sure about fit, I would recommend starting with a pair that hooks over the ears or clips onto the sides.

Beyond the fit, you’ll want to be mindful of how easy it is to access media controls and whether the headphones are water- or sweat-resistant.

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:

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 provides better protection, but not all numbers are applicable to simply protecting against sweat from running.

Can any earbuds be used for running?

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

Do over-ear headphones work well for running?

Generally speaking, over-ear headphones are not the best fit for running. This design tends to feel bulkier, trap more heat, and can shift around during high-impact movement. Their passive noise isolation also makes it hard to hear your surroundings.

If you run outside and prefer over-ear headphones, look for a lightweight pair with a secure fit and an awareness mode that lets you still hear your surroundings.

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 rather than the passive noise-blocking that can come from plugging your ear canals. 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 volume is turned up so high that it blocks 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 moderate and you can still hear your surroundings when outside.