Best Running Headphones for the UK in 2020 (January Update)

Whether you prefer to pound the pavements, take in the views of a trail, battle a treadmill or any combination of the three; music or a favourite podcast can help make the miles fly by.

But when you need comfort and clarity of sound on the go, you need the right headphones.

Top 3 Best-Selling Running Headphones

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If you’re only an occasional runner, or someone who prefers the sounds of the world around them while exercising, then taking your time to select the right running headphones may seem like a strange concept.

For those who love to listen to something while they’re keeping up with their fitness, it’s time well spent to ensure you buy the best running headphones for your needs, rather than make do with normal headphones used by non-runners.

Best Wired Headphones

If you’ve been running for some time and have always used wired headphones and feel confident and comfortable using them, then if you need to replace your existing ones, you may want to stick with fully wired headphones.

To help you make your choice, we’ve taken a look at the vast array of wired running headphones that are currently on the market and selected our top pick.

Bose SoundSport In-Ear Earphones

Bose are well-known for the sound quality and with this set of wired running headphones, you won’t be disappointed!

When you buy a pair of wired running headphones, there are two things that are important, that the sound quality is amazing and that the wire is hardy and won’t get in the way.

Both of these details are definitely covered with the Bose SoundSport earphones. They’re also available in Apple and Android version to plug in to your smartphone of choice.

A nice addition to the earphones is that, as well as ticking the all-important box of being sweatproof, Bose have added three different sized ear tips.

This ensures your in-ear earphones will fit you securely and comfortably and won’t dislodge while you’re on the move, either indoors or outdoors.

They also represent excellent value for money as you’re buying a premium Bose item, for well under £100. Another great user detail is the inline remote which allows wearers to adjust the volume and manipulate other controls without the need to unlock your phone.

Overall, they’re great wired running headphones that are reliable, secure in your ear with brilliant sound quality. Bose sounds for a very attractive price.

Best Semi-Wired Headphones

Semi-wired running headphones, which are also called wireless because they don’t plug into a jack, even though a wire connects the two earphones, are super popular for running.

Due to the broad selection, we’ve selected a top two.

Jaybird Tarah Running Headphones

If you want a pair of semi-wired, Bluetooth connected headphones that will stay secure in your ears while running and also provide the sound quality you’re looking for, then the Jaybird Tara is an excellent option.

Jaybird have a good reputation for their running headphones and the Tarah’s don’t disappoint. They’re a good fit for different sizes and the silicone ear gels help stop noise leakage too, while the wing tips are soft and comfortable.

As expected, they’re sweat and rain proof with a great sound quality which is enhanced to your preferred balance via the app.

While its another item that requires charging, Jaybird provides a customized cable which is good because its designed for the earphones, but means you need to buy a new one if you lose it. However, it charges the earphones quickly which is a plus.

The Jaybird Tarah running headphones also come with a cinch so that the wire connecting the two earphones don’t become loose or get tangled around your head or neck. They look pretty good too, but the most important thing is they sound good and stay put!

The Jaybird Tarah running headphones offer amazing value for money for a tried, tested and reliable running headphones brand.

Optoma NuForce BE Sport4

Another good option for not quite fully wireless running headphones is the Optoma NuForce BE Sport4.

They are the follow on from the award-winning BE Sport 3 and the improvements are welcome, particularly as the price tag remains under the £100 mark.

Optoma had to come up with something good to follow up the BE Sport4’s award-winning predecessor Be Sport3 and they’ve managed it! The in-ear fit is secure and comfortable due to the choice of ear bud sizes and the high-quality silicone used.

Sound quality is excellent, particularly for the price and you’ll be able to hear your choice of music or audio nice and clearly regardless of whether you’re using Apple or Android.

In fact, the sound quality is so good and the fit so comfortable that you could happily wear them on a day-to-day basis as well as when your legs are eating up the miles.

Another nice feature is the noise isolation that ensures no sounds from the real-world filter through your earphones, leaving you free to focus on your run.

The 10-hour battery life is also impressive and blows a lot of other semi and true wireless headphones out of the water. A nice extra is the quick charge feature where you can get two hours’ worth of power from a 15-minute charge.

It also comes with the expected and useful inline mic and remote for ease of use without having to bother with your phone.

The Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 running headphones are a n excellent product that should satisfy most expectations for not fully wireless running earphones.

You get a lot for your money and a pair of earphones you can be comfortable won’t fall out while you’re working out.

Best TRUE Wireless Running Headphones

Truly wireless running headphones can be the perfect answer to a lot of runner’s prayers.

It’s also good news that while they’re still on the pricier side of the running headphones market, prices are coming down.

To help you choose the right wireless running headphones for you, we’ve picked out two great pairs for you to consider.

Jabra Elite 65t True Wireless Running Headphones

The Jabra Elite wireless earbuds are similar to Airpods or Beats, but they’re ore affordable and offer some excellent features specific for runners, including superb sweat resistance and battery life.

Jabra’s Elite 65t Sport running headphones are an excellent wireless option for all runners. The fit is snug and comfortable while the sound quality is great too – lots of base for those who like that when they’re running. You can also use the Jabra app to personalise the sound quality for your preference.

In addition, even though there’s no noise cancellation claim from Jabra, they do a pretty good job of reducing the outside noise that comes in due to the design of the earbuds themselves.

The choice of earbud sizes means that you’ll always get a perfect fit from your sweat and rain proof wireless earbuds. The charging case is of good quality too which charges the earphones 3 times for a total of 15 hours without having to plug it in.

Having Amazon Alexa built is a nice touch and the voice control means you can access Amazon music easily through your wireless earphones.

The Bluetooth connectivity is excellent and once you pair them, they’ll auto connect to your device whenever you switch them on.

The Jabra Elite 65t Sport running headphones are a great option of you’re set on true wireless headphones but don’t want to pay for Airpods or Beats. They have many of the same features and stay in the ear very well while running – which is a major plus.

You get a lot for your money and a pair of earphones you can be comfortable won’t fall out while you’re working out.

Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Running Headphones

Yes, the price of Powerbeats Pro running headphones is higher than anything else in this review, but if you want the best true wireless running headphones on the market, then these are the ones you should buy.

They have everything you expect and much more.

Beats are among the best for sound quality so to have that available while you’re running in a pair of running headphones you know are sweat-proof and won’t fall out of your ears is just great.

So many runners really love their music as much as their running so to be able to enjoy both together is a real bonus.

Indeed, the sound is so good that to begin with, you’ll be convinced it’s coming from your phone and not the earphones.

The charging case is big but gives an additional 15 hours charge on top of the initial 9 hours you get from the headphones. Also, the box is big and has plenty of room for the unique design of these Beats running headphones.

Another plus is a quick charge option where 5 minutes’ worth of charging gives you 90 minutes use – perfect for when you want to fit in a run but forgot to charge your PowerBeats.

They also look great and feel comfortable which means that if you go on a long run your ears won’t ache and you won’t be tempted to take them out.

They’re completely sweat and rain resistant and really do make for a great pair of running earphones. And did we mention the sound quality? 😉

There’s really not a lot to not like about the PowerBeats Pro running headphones. They look good, sound great and last for miles!

Best Bone Conduction Running Headphones

Bone conduction running headphones aren’t for everyone because they deliver the sound of your music or audio choice through the cheekbones, rather than into the ear.

Aftershokz Trex Air Bone Conduction Running Headphones

If you like to remain super aware of what’s happening around you while also listing to music as you run, then the Aftershokz Trex Air Bone Conduction running headphones are a great option.

Aftershokz have come up with a reliable design for bone conduction headphones that work well and deliver reasonable sound quality while running and remaining fully aware of what’s going on around you.

For some runners, particularly if you’re racing or running outside, this is an important safety feature that helps them feel more comfortable while they exercise.

The Aftershokz Trex Air running headphones use technology that allows users to hear the music or audio they select through their cheekbones, while leaving the ears open.

The Bluetooth connection is reliable and the 6-hour charge is decent for wireless headphones.

Due to the design of these running headphones, the sound quality isn’t the best available. But that’s not why people buy bone conduction headphones, so it’s not a major issue.

The lightweight design of the Air model is down to the titanium frame and means they’re comfortable to wear while also feeling secure as you run.

If you want bone conduction running headphones you’ll struggle to find a better pair than the Aftershokz Trex Air running headphones.

They deliver on everything you could want from this style of running headphone.

Best Overall Running Headphones

We’ve researched and tested a number of different running headphones and have selected our overall best running headphones.

Based on the criteria we outlined at the top, we’ve chosen the following headphones:

MPOW Wireless Headphones

The MPOW Wireless Headphones perform on a number of levels that runners will appreciate.

As you can see, they’re well-priced, but more importantly for when you’re on the move, they don’t fall out!

The combination of over the ear and in ear of these headphones ensures they’re secure no matter how long you run for. In addition to the security they offer when worn, they’re also comfortable in and around the ears, with a memory foam tip being a nice touch for comfort and fit.

The bud wire connector is also a good length and doesn’t tangle or get caught.

The sound quality is something of a surprise, particularly at this price. It’s well-balanced and doesn’t go ‘tinny’, even when the battery is close to giving up. Another useful feature these headphones have is that you can skip and pause your music racks or podcasts, on the earphones, without using your phone.

Meanwhile, the close fit and style ensure very minimal noise leakage while the wearer will only hear what’s coming out of the earphones.

The MPOW running headphones also come with a cute little bag to keep everything safe and secure when you’re not enjoying wearing them while keeping up with your running fitness.

Overall, these headphones are our pick due to the amazing value for money and surprisingly good quality of the features they offer. A great option among the many running headphones out there.

With so many different options for the best running headphones, it’s not always easy to choose the right ones for you.

But hopefully our guide has given you a good idea of what’s available and achievable for different budgets and preferences.

Running is something that you should be able to enjoy without poor quality of music or worrying about your headphones falling out.

How to Choose Running Headphones

When you begin the search for your new headphones to run in, there are a few details to consider from the beginning:

• Style of headphones
• How solid a sound you’re looking for
• Value for money
• Sweat proof
• Water proof
• Battery life
• Ease of use
• Heart and fitness monitoring

It’s important to take a look at a variety of options and decide what elements of use for your running headphones are the most important to you.

When you’re running, no matter what surface, scenery or weather, you need to know your headphone will do the job you bought them for so you can concentrate on your goal of completing your run.

Wired or Wireless

When you’re looking at the style of running headphones that are right for you, there are three main options:

• Wired
• Truly wireless
• Partly wired but connect via Bluetooth, like wireless

Even though it might seem that one of the wireless options is best for runners, not everyone feels that way. For some, the possibility that Bluetooth might fail, or the price of the better-quality Bluetooth versus top quality wired headphones are key details. It’s also worth considering that some people just prefer a wired headphone!

Truly wireless headphones, meanwhile, have to fit well in your ear to give you the confidence to run like you usually do. You also need to feel happy with the connectivity of the Bluetooth and know that the sound quality is as clear as you like it to be.

For the semi-wireless headphone option, it’s still important to have a good, comfortable fit in your ear, although a little less so than with truly wireless running headphones. However, that Bluetooth connection remains important.

Style of Fit

How you wear your running headphones is also important to runners. There are a number of options, but which one is the most comfortable depends on the individual. You can choose from:

• In ear.
• On ear.
• Hooked over ear.
• Loose wire round neck.
• Bone conduction fit.

With a wide variety of running headphones to choose from, you can see various versions and combinations. Which one is best for you is entirely down to your needs and preference.

However, where runners are concerned, one thing that is non-negotiable is that they’re sweat resistant and have a reasonable battery life.

Sound

Looking at the sound element of your running headphones, some runners like to hear nothing but the music or podcast and expect excellent sound quality that is clear and loud. For others, though, they prefer a sound that ensures they can hear both their download of choice, their feet pounding the surface and other real-time noise that goes on around them.

Both options might sound as though they’re difficult to achieve but manufacturers of the best running headphones know their audience well.

That means they have created headphones that cater to the variety of preferences runners have.

Running Headphones – Amazon BEST Sellers

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