The most important piece of workout gear has to be a fantastic pair of running headphones – they're as important to your fitness goals as a brand-new pair of running shoes or endless rolls of muscle tape. Ah, fresh trainers...
Music is truly the greatest motivator, granting that extra motivation to smash your workout, crush your run or set a new PB on the squat rack, but you'll need a great pair of headphones, most likely wireless earbuds, for those tunes to really push you on. Oh, and our best running songs playlist will help too.
The best sports headphones need to deliver great sound, but they must also offer sweat resistance, comfort, security and durability if they're to be of any use out in the real world. We've tested and reviewed all the models below in this guide already, so whether you're looking for the best fit, versatility and sound quality to soundtrack your fitness sessions, you know you'll be getting a recommendation that suits your sporting needs.
Note that we'll be trying Shokz's bone conduction headphones and the new Sony LinkBuds soon, putting them through their paces to see whether they're worth a place on this list. Stay tuned to see if they make the cut.
Read more about our testing process here, or carry on scrolling to see the best sporty headphones that we've tested.
Recent updates
25th October: We've removed discontinued models and replaced Sony WF-C500 with the newer C510 buds. We've also moved the C500 to our also consider section and labelled our What Hi-Fi? 2024 Award winners.
The quick list
Whether you use them for sports or not, the C700N are a delightful pair of noise-cancelling all-rounders.
Arguably the best all-round wireless in-ears also happen to be a brilliant pair of workout buds.
Easy to use, feature-packed and never in danger of escaping your ears, these might just be Beats’ best earbuds
Sony's cheapest earbuds are great value boasting a muscular, well-rounded sound coupled with a fine build and some handy features.
The immensely likeable Live Pro 2 TWS offer plenty of bang for your buck, especially if you need lots of features without forking out a fortune.
I'm a senior staff writer who has already listened to and reviewed dozens of products while at What Hi-Fi?, including a mini mountain of headphones and wireless earbuds. Outside of work, I love my running, be it a quick 5K or a more lengthy leg-burner with a view to another marathon (I'm not showing off, I swear!). As much as I can attest to the quality of every entry found below, choosing a pair of running headphones is a personal choice. Sound matters, of course, but issues of fit, comfort and durability are vital to dictating which set will be right for you. We've broken down those elements for this list, helping you find a pair that will not only sound great but not drive you crazy by mile 10.
The best sports headphones overall
Quite possibly our favourite Sony headphones can seemingly do it all. The Award-winning C700N wireless earbuds aren't explicitly designed for sport, but their small-form, lightweight design combined with their comfortable, secure fit makes them a strong candidate as your gym companion elect. Better still, nattery life is competitive at seven and a half hours, helping to keep your athletic endeavours going the full distance.
For the money, they're great sounding buds that will keep you entertained as the miles go by. The general profile is balanced and refined, with deep, detailed bass, expressive mids and engaging highs. Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches listening modes depending on your location, while Sony's DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales low-res digital audio files to higher quality with impressive results.
Downsides? That lack of support for aptX HD and LDAC is disappointing, while the charging case only provides one extra charge which seems a little mean. Still, for a pair of buds you can use at home, at work or on the track, the C700N are exceptional sporting all-rounders.
Read our full Sony WF-C700N review
The best premium sports headphones
In their own right, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are a very fine pair of wireless earbuds indeed, but their workout potential only sweetens the deal.
With a very comfortable fit that's aided by some subtle in-ear wings, there's a good chance you'll never have to suffer the irritation of the Ultra Earbuds getting dislodged or coming out of your lugs. They're on the bulkier side, sure, but rarely are the Ultra Earbuds cumbersome or intrusive.
Sonically, they're very well suited to making your workouts better. Bose's flagship wireless buds overflow with personality and substance, made more sonically interesting with the introduction of deep, probing levels of detail. That's all great news for runners and athletes truly looking to feel their music.
It's a shame there's no support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD, nor is there wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint. What you do get, though, is some of the best noise cancelling in the business, not to mention high-performance features such as Bluetooth 5.3, decent call quality and an IPX4 waterproof rating, the latter of which should keep your buds safe from splashes and light rain.
Anyone looking to workout with a premium pair of wireless buds will find the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds to be a medal-winning delight.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
The best sports headphones design
There's a lot to love about the stylish and peppy Beats Fit Pro, especially if you're the sort of person who spends most of their day decked out in active sportswear just itching to hit the gym. The Fit Pro might just be the best headphones that Beats make right now, and while the bar isn't sky high, these funky little workout buds are the real deal.
Stylish, secure and full of features - especially if you're an iPhone user - the Beats Fit Pro make for great workout companions if you're seeking something a tad more high-end than, say, the JBL Reflect Flow Pro above. We fully endorse the innovative wingtip design which provides a snug, secure fit when you're belting around the track, and for the most part, they're exceedingly comfortable and light enough to wear for long periods at a time. You can happily get them wet – but not fully submerged – thanks to their IPX4 rating, while a strong 27-hour battery life remains impressive for a pair of ANC-enabled wireless buds.
Sonically, the Beats Fit Pro are delightfully lively and enjoyable, qualities you need from sporting headphones. There's enough detail in the mix whether you’re listening to Wet Leg, Nick Cave or Daft Punk, while the spirit and passion of your music punches through via a sound that feels invigorating and dynamically involved.
Easy to use, cleverly designed fit and a delight to listen to, we're big fans. With the Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker also gaining a very respectable review, is Beats getting back to its best?
Read our full Beats Fit Pro review
If you're an active sort, I'd strongly recommend a pair of wireless earbuds that offer an in-ear wing tip or an over-ear hook. The JBL Reflect Flow Pro provide the latter, while even the excellent Bose QuietComfort Ultra sport a small ridge that nestles just underneath the furrow of your ear, holding the earbud in place no matter how much you move or how violent those movements are. In-ear wings can cause unwanted pressure for some, so if that's the case for you, opt for an over-ear hook which, while it may not secure the internal bud in place quite so well, ensures it's unlikely for the whole bud to come loose in its entirety. It's best to experiment with different designs if at all possible before committing to a purchase to ensure you're getting the best fit.
The best budget sports headphones
Sony's successors to the Award-winning WF-C500 budget buds are another success story. An exercise in squeezing out the most value possible from a set of cheap and cheerful in-ears, the C510 are our pick for anyone who likes to work out without forking out for super-expensive buds.
While they’re not built specifically for sports or working out, the C510 offer a secure, grippy fit, meaning that your precious buds never feel as though they're about to tumble loose after the third mile. They're comfy, lightweight and solidly made, and while they don't exactly look and feel premium, the C510 have enough of that robust Sony build quality to give you peace of mind as you run. The buds' Ambient Sound feature is handy, letting you choose how much external noise comes through so that you can stay safe when you need to be aware of your surroundings or add a bit more isolation when it's just you and the trail. It's not as comprehensive as proper, adjustable ANC, but it does the job.
They also have more useful features than the outgoing pair too, such as Multipoint Bluetooth and Ambient Sound Control. You can control volume and playback using the built-in buttons on each bud so the user experience is as simple and intuitive as you could want when feeling the burn in the gym.
Yes, the WF-C510 look and feel somewhat cheap, but the sound quality here feels anything but. The WF-C510 are a step up from the C500, firing out all the musicality and detail that we loved from the WF-C500 but with a newfound sense of richness and body that helps reinforce their abilities throughout the frequency range. That really helps when you're giving a workout the beans.
It's worth noting that you can now pick up the older WF-C500 with some impressive savings if you shop around online, and while we like the newer model more for running and general use, they're still a decent pair of affordable buds at a great price. Also look out for the new Sony Linkbuds which, thanks to their sporty fit and open design, could be a strong alternative to the C510.
Read our full Sony WF-C510 review
The best mid-price sports headphones
If you've got a decent-sized budget to play with but can't stretch to more premium options like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra above, then these JBL earbuds could be a happy middle ground. As we described them in our review, the JBL are "a step up from sub-£100 / $100 cheap wireless earbuds" which "allow you to access better sound quality without having to make the jump to more premium options".
For the money, you get all the features you could wish for, including ANC, IPX5 water resistance, a thorough control app, a good user experience and a comfortable enough design. A few more ear tip options to help get the perfect seal would've been nice, so maybe a "try before you buy" approach would be prudent here.
Battery life is a solid eight hours with Bluetooth and noise cancelling on, while the wireless charging case will top the total combined time to 30 hours. Touch controls are included at the top of each stem and you also have Multipoint Bluetooth so you can connect two sources simultaneously and switch between them.
The excellent sound quality is the icing on this cake, with the JBLs favouring a lively and entertaining sound that's so conducive to getting your sweat on. Bass weight is nicely judged and there's good extension too, while detail levels and dynamics are similarly excellent.
If you're looking to make the step up from a cheap pair of earbuds to a slightly more premium pair for sports, these JBLs have to be on your list.
Read our full JBL Live Pro 2 TWS review
Also consider
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: Open earbuds are becoming a bit of a thing at the moment (see the Huawei FreeClip and the Sony Linkbuds for choice examples). Bose is the latest brand to have a go at the unconventional, unobtrusive design, and it's done a pretty darn good job. That on-ear clip form won't be for everyone, but if you can get it to work and you can live with the price, they're a superb option for runners and athletes who want to stay aware of the outside world.
Sony WF-C500: Whether you're running or not, we still love the C500 for sporty or home use. They're still some of the finest budget buds of their generation, prioritising great sound and fit to marvellous effect. Expect discounts as they sail off into the sunset.
Jabra Elite Active 4: Despite their lack of wingtips or fins to keep the buds secure, the Elite Active 4 are billed as a sporty pair thanks to their rugged design, peppy sound and durable build. Like many Jabra products, they often enjoy spectacular discounts, so if you can get a good fit, they might be the bargain buddies you've been searching for.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: Despite not being explicitly dedicated as sporting buds, the soon-to-be outgoing QC II are more than up to the task of giving your workouts some pep. Even if they don't fit quite as well as the new Ultra Earbuds, the QC II Earbuds are light and comfy, with stability bands to help grip the buds in place without causing irritation. Couple an excellent fit with exceptionally vivacious sound and unrivalled noise cancelling and you're onto a winner.
How to choose the best running headphones for you
The first thing to consider is battery life. Longer is better, as you're less likely to run out of juice mid-run and be stranded in silence for the next 10km.
If you're exercising in the great outdoors, you'll want some kind of waterproofing in case of a downpour. IPX4 is the minimum you should demand (all of the below have at least this rating), as that means they'll withstand water splashing without risking damage. Some models can be fully submerged for swimming or just a post-workout shower.
Fit matters, too. You could risk it and opt for a standard design, such as the one offered by the Sony WF-C700N, or play it safe and seek out dedicated sporting models that offer greater security via ridges, wingtips or over-ear hooks.
Noise-cancelling will neutralise background noise and help you focus, and be better for your hearing as you can hear the detail of your music without cranking up the volume. But it could be a hazard if you're out exercising as it makes you less aware of approaching cars, so buds that serve up more sophisticated noise-cancelling profiles, such as Transparency Mode, can be a really smart choice.
How we choose the best sports headphones
Here at What Hi-Fi? we review hundreds of products every year – including plenty of headphones - but how do we arrive at our verdicts, and how do you know that can you trust them fully?
We have state-of-the-art, sonically treated testing facilities in Reading and London where our expert team of reviewers performs all our comparative testing. This gives us control over our testing process, ensuring impartiality and consistency no matter what we're assessing.
Headphones and earbuds – especially sporty ones like the above – are rigorously tested in the field, and we use them as if we had bought them ourselves. That gives us a chance to test the wireless performance, noise-cancelling, fit, water-resistance and more, not to mention a good excuse to get out there and set some new PBs.
All products are tested in comparison with rival products in the same price category, and all review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer, again helping to ensure consistency and avoid any personal preference.
The What Hi-Fi? team has over 100 years of experience in reviewing, testing and writing about consumer electronics.
Everything that features in our Best Buys has been reviewed first, and we then take the best of those products to appear on these carefully curated rundowns. If you do end up buying or tying out anything from this or any other Best Buy page, you'll be confident you're getting a What Hi-Fi?-approved product.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here and how we test headphones here.
FAQ
Which type of headphones are the best for running?
For most use cases, wireless earbuds are best, but they're not your only option.
We'd gently steer you away from over-ear headphones, as they're generally too big and bulky to be conducive to proper physical exertion. Wired earbuds remain a solid decent option, especially those models which furnish you with a neckband for greater security (wireless neckband options, such as the Beats Flex, are also available). Most wired headphones are directed more at the "audiophile" end of the market, but they do have the bonus of never running flat out of battery if you're out running far from home. Do bear in mind how tricky trailing cables can be, as wires will get in the way if not properly concealed.
Wireless earbuds are our go-to choice, then, but make sure you're picking models that are somewhat designed for sports. They'll fit better, usually offer better durability, and they'll often deliver a sound profile that's more conducive to physical exertion - peppy, fun and full of life.
Which headphones are best for runners who sweat?
There are two main things to consider with this question: form and the given IP rating. If you're prone to working up a sweat during a workout (hey, it's a good sign), over-ear headphones should likely be avoided. They'll heat your ears and head and harbour bacteria, plus they're just not as good for sporting endeavours in-ear models- they're just too bulky.
If you do happen to sweat a lot, a pair of earbuds' IP rating should dictate your choice. Seek out our IP ratings explainer for a full deep dive, but know that an IPX4 certification will likely be enough to stop sweat and water splashes from harming your buds. That said, there's no issue in aiming for higher numbers, such as the IP57 rating of the Jabras above.
Recent updates
- October 2024: Removed discontinued models and replaced Sony WF-C500 with the newer C510 buds. Moved C500 to our also consider section. Labelled What Hi-Fi? 2024 Award winners.
- August 2024: Streamlined intro and added references to new and upcoming models.
- June 2024: Removed outgoing JBL Reflect Flow Pro and added a grid for easier access to the best models around.
- February 2024: Added FAQ section to help with buying decisions and frequently asked questions.
- November 2023: What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.
MORE:
7 crucial things to consider before buying running headphones
Best running headphones and wireless earbuds
These are the best songs for running and workouts
Want over-ears? These are the best wireless headphones you can buy
