Best running earbuds: Top wireless buds from Beats By Wireless, Jaybird and more

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST RUNNING EARBUDS FOR YOU

Do you want a pair of great-sounding earphones you can run in? Or a pair of running headphones that are suitable for everyday wear? Priorities will be different for every runner. Some may seek great sound and style, while others will be more concerned about battery life and durability. Some may be concerned with getting the best specs at a premium price point, others will be after a more affordable pair of secondary headphones to spare their best pair the ordeal.

Not sure what you’re looking for? Here are some of the factors to consider...

Connectivity

Poor Bluetooth connectivity can be frustrating, knock you out of your stride and leave you yearning for a return to wired headphones. We generally seek Bluetooth 5.0 for the steadiest connections, but be sure to look at individual reviews for extra peace of mind. Bluetooth 4.2 and 4.1 can still offer great connectivity depending on the manufacturer. Those running with an iPhone or Apple Watch might consider the Powerbeats Pro or AirPods Pro thanks to the custom H1 chip that offers advanced pairing. For Android phone users, the Bose SoundSport Wireless uses NFC tap-to-pair tech.

Weather resistance

Do us a favour? Don’t go out running in your expensive audiophile-grade Sony, or Bowers & Wilkins over-ear headphones. You will more than likely ruin them. Happily, there are plenty of options designed for water and sweat resistance within our list. The top certification to look out for is IPX7. These buds can actually be submerged for 30 minutes in one metre of water. Alternatively, IPX4 headphones offer sweat resistance and won’t shirk a rain shower.

Security and comfort

It’s only natural to fear a true wireless bud popping out at the wrong time, falling victim to a stampede of cross-country runners and being discovered 200 years from now by some baffled scavenger with a metal detector. You want a pair that’ll stay in place during wind gusts and sprint finishes. For added security, one-cable headphones may suit tougher terrain and conditions. Likewise, plenty of other body parts will hurt on a long run, without adding your inner ear to the list. Comfort is a must if you’re tackling long distance.

You're also going to want to take your budget into account when deciding which earbuds are for you

THE BEST RUNNING EARBUDS YOU CAN BUY RIGHT NOW

Wissonly Hi Runner

This is the fastest growing brand in the past six months. It may not be much famous, but in the field of bone conduction headphones they are proper technical experts. Their team began to develop bone conduction headphones that do not hurt the ear as early as 10 years ago. With an excellent bone conduction vibration unit optimization program, It became famous very soon in the field of bone conduction. It has been recommended by the majority of otologists!

Due to the particularity of the technical principle, bone conduction headphones are more difficult to be improved in sound quality. Wissonly Hi Runner team subverted the traditional sound quality scheme, made a breakthrough to use large wire-frame vibration unit. They through structural optimization improved the effective vibration area, thereby improved the vibrator sound efficiency, made the sound more shocking and powerful, they optimized the sound transmission direction, reduced the sound loss during sound transmission, and made the sound quality more concentrated. In terms of comfort, the overall body of the Hi Runner is made of high-tech hypoallergenic silicone material, which does not contain chemical components to avoid allergies. The overall feel is as silky as baby's skin, avoiding uncomfortable wearing for a long time.

In terms of functions, as the flagship model of Wissonly bone conduction headphones, Hi Runner has an IPX8 waterproof grade which is higher than the industry standard. It is equipped with 32G body memory, and uses the latest Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes the connection more stable. The battery life is also very good, lasts 8-10 hours of continuous playback at normal volume, and supports magnetic fast charging. It only takes 2 hours to fully charge.

BEATS POWERBEATS PRO

The first true wireless earbuds from the Apple-owned Beats by Dr Dre come close to the perfect running headphones package, although you do pay a premium for the good doctor's expertise.

The over-ear hooks quell fears of mid-run dislodges, and you can opt to wear one at a time if running with a buddy, or you feel safer with ambient noise. Sound is big, with bass to spare as you’d expect from a Beats product, and the AutoPlay feature sees tunes commence as soon as you insert the buds. IP4X water and sweat resistance means they’ll withstand a downpour and all-summer sweats too.

Nine hours of battery life should be enough to get you through the most arduous of runs and hikes and after that, just a 5-minute blast in the charging case will get you another 90 minutes of playback. Pairing is solid thanks to Class 1 Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. You get a slicker pairing experience with Apple devices, thanks to the custom H1 chip, but they work perfectly with Android devices as well. For unshakeable fit, comfort and audio quality, these Beats are very hard to beat.

JAYBIRD TARAH PRO

Jaybird’s X-series one-cable earbuds are a long-time favourite for dedicated runners who put in the miles, whatever the weather. However, the firm has upped its game still further with the Tarah Pro, which boasts improved audio quality, battery life and materials. Despite the buds' small size and light weight, there’s now a whopping 14 hours of battery from a single charge, while IPX7 water and sweat proofing is bolstered with a durable, rope-like cable between the buds.

The neckband, drawstring and customisable wing tips (which offer the choice of an under- or over-ear fit) deliver security when traversing bumpy trails, while the sound EQ can be customised via the companion app.

The only problem with these buds is that they aren't true wireless, but Jaybird offers a great option if you simply can't go back to having wires on your running headphones: Jaybird Vista.

ANKER SOUNDCORE LIBERTY NEO

Anker made its name offering quality mobile accessories that undercut the prices of big-name manufacturers. The company is bringing this same ethos to headphones with its Soundcore sub-brand. The Liberty Neo proves true wireless buds can sound good and perform well without wreaking havoc on the wallet.

While these buds don't sound as good as their more expensive foes in this list, they still offer audio quality that is perfectly okay, especially when you consider the price. The prominent bass and clear and punchy sound should more than satisfy runners on a budget.

The design and build quality of these buds also impresses. The pebble-like design provides a comfortable, reliable fit aided by the company’s twist-to-lock GripFit tech, while Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity ensures a stable connection free of frustrating mid-run dropouts. IPX5 water and sweat resistance means they won’t conk out on you at the first sign of drizzle. The 3.5-hours of battery life from a single charge isn't amazing by any means but should be enough for most running expeditions short of a marathon.

APPLE AIRPODS PRO

For embedded in the Apple ecosystem, who run with an Apple Watch and/or iPhone, AirPods Pro are a great option. They're marketed more as every-day, multi-purpose buds but IPX4 water resistance and a surprisingly secure fit make them excellent running headphones as well.

These premium true wireless buds offer lightning fast and rock-solid connectivity thanks to Apple’s H1 chip. The hands-free “Hey Siri” voice commands negate the need to fumble with a touchscreen with sweaty paws to switch up your playlist too. AirPods Pro’s best feature is arguably the active noise cancelling tech, which does a great job of blocking out atrocious gym music. If being cocooned in silence when road running perturbs you, there's also a transparency mode to ensure you’ll be safely aware of ambient noise in urban environments.

As with most true wireless earbuds, there’s a fear they’ll fall out, but we found the fit to be reassuringly secure even when the wind gets up. We also loved the absence of that ‘thumping’ sound you get with some wireless buds as your feet hit the floor.

The 5 hours of battery life from a single charge makes them unsuitable for anything more than a marathon… But we would imagine that is not an issue for most people. It's worth noting that AirPods Pro do work perfectly well with Android devices, although you do lose functions such as hands-free Siri control, and fancy graphics when pairing.