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13 Ear buds, case, USB cable, 4 silicone tips
Pump it louder with the best running headphones, as tested by our experts
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Looking for a reliable pair of headphones to wear as you clock up the miles? We've put the best running headphones from the biggest brands – including Beats, Shokz, Bose and Samsung – through their paces to help you decide.
At a glance, here are the best headphones for all budgets and needs:
What to look for when buying running headphones
A comfortable fit
There's nothing worse than your headphones digging into the side of your head in the final miles of a long run. These days, you can get all sorts of options designed for sport that wrap around your ears in various weird and wonderful ways.
When scrolling through the list below, think about whether you'd prefer wireless headphones that are still connected to one another with a cable, or earbuds. It's worth highlighting the Powerbeats Pro here, which have an innovative over-ear hook design that all our runners found extremely comfortable during testing.
Waterproof casing
Sure, you can run with a 'normal' pair of headphones, but they probably won't be built to withstand heavy rain showers, or a large amount of sweat (nice). A good pair of running headphones will have a waterproof casing that, while not suitable for submerging underwater, will save them from getting destroyed if you're running in a downpour.
Sound quality
Of course, you're using headphones to distract yourself as you clock up the miles. They may not pick up as much as your day-to-day cans, but a good pair of running headphones should offer decent sound quality, while still letting you hear the traffic.
How we test
The touch controls on the earbuds were straightforward to use Runner’s World Expert Tested logo as they've been put through the wringer by our expert testers.
At a glance, here are the best headphones for all Three tips, USB charging case repeatedly striking the tarmac didn’t send them tumbling to the ground. They were also judged on their design, ease of use and performance, with the final category included criteria such as battery life, comfort and sound quality.
Products were also sent to an independent sound technician to make sure they could provide the crisp treble and powerful bass needed to help us push our pace.
Editors' Choice
The 'Editors’ Choice' earbuds listed below are those that have been tested – and highly rated – by the editors and contributors on our team. Over the years, we’ve tried and tested our fair share of running headphones and, as technology has evolved, so have our expectations when it comes to comfort, sound quality and performance.
The best headphones for runners 2024
Jodie is our Health and Fitness product tester. She runs tests on a wide variety of products, including gym leggings, walking boots, fitness trackers and more. Jodie has managed the testing for 577 products to date, including working with over 600 panellists.
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