8 Best wireless headphones for running – tried and tested

FINDING the perfect pair of headphones for running isn’t as simple as grabbing any old set.

The best wireless headphones for running will stay put, sound great, and won’t die halfway through your workout.

I’ve tested a range of options, from budget-friendly picks to high-end choices, to find the best of the best for fitness and exercise.

Whether you’re smashing out marathon training, or like me, just trying to survive a quick 5K, the right headphones make all the difference.

A solid pair will stay secure, resist sweat, and motivate you with crisp, powerful sound.

No one wants their earbuds slipping out mid-sprint or their battery dying before the finish line.

Comfort is just as important too, because if they start pinching after ten minutes, you’ll be too distracted to focus on your pace.

Below are my top picks for the best wireless running headphones. They have all been tried and tested to help you achieve your fitness goals.

• Best overall: Beats Fit Pro, £199
• Best budget buy: Baseus Eli Open Earbuds, £49.99
• Best open-ear: Shokz OpenFit Air, £94
• Best for durability: Shokz OpenRun Pro, £169
• Best sound quality: Sennheiser Momentum Sport, £199

How I Tested

To find the best options out there for running, I put each pair of headphones through its paces (literally).

I tested them on jogs, dog walks, and commutes to see how they fit into everyday life and whether they could keep up. 

Sound quality, comfort, and fit were top priorities. The right pair should feel secure, sound great, and stay comfortable no matter how long you’re on the move.

Battery life and durability were just as important; no one wants their music cutting out mid-run or their headphones falling apart after a few weeks. 

I also focused on water resistance because a little sweat or rain shouldn’t be a dealbreaker. 

And since safety matters just as much as sound, I looked at situational awareness to ensure you can still hear what’s happening around you when it counts.

8 best wireless headphones for running

Shokz Open Fit Air, £94

Shokz Open Fit Air, £94 at Shokz

Pros: Comfortable open-ear design, good situational awareness, crisp, clear audio.

Cons: Laggy touch controls, pricey for open-ear style.

Rating: 8.5/10

The flexible ear hooks on the OpenFit Air are a game-changer, especially compared to the OpenRun Pro 2’s headband design.

They’re lightweight and fit snugly, so you can wear them all day without any discomfort while staying secure during your workout.

Shokz really sold me on the open-ear design—it’s perfect for runners who need to stay aware of their surroundings while on the road.

The sound quality is clear and balanced, though don’t expect thumping bass or total noise isolation in busy spots.

Battery life is pretty solid, giving you 7 hours of playback and an extra 17 hours from the charging case.

With an IP54 rating, they’re sweat- and rain-resistant, so no worries if you get caught in a downpour or push yourself through a tough workout.

One small downside? The manual controls can be a little slow or unresponsive mid-run, but the comfort and awareness they provide make them a firm favourite of mine.

Read my full Shokz OpenFit Air review for more of my insights.

Type: Open-ear bone-conducting, IP rating: IP54 (Water and dust resistant), Noise-cancelling: No

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, £169

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, £169 at Shokz

Pros: Great situational awareness, solid battery life, very durable.

Cons: Not the best in noisy environments, bass doesn’t hit as hard as regular headphones.

Rating: 8/10

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones take a different approach to most wireless headphones, prioritising safety and comfort over blocking out the world.

Designed for an active lifestyle, they’re tough enough to handle daily wear and tear, making them a solid choice for runners, cyclists, and commuters alike.

With open-ear bone-conduction tech, you get your tunes without sealing off your surroundings, which is a big plus for road safety.

The fit is secure and lightweight, though they might feel a tad loose during high-intensity workouts.

Audio-wise, they deliver crisp vocals and decent clarity, but you might be left wanting if you love deep, thumping bass.

In noisy environments, you may need to crank up the volume to compensate.

That said, battery life is a win, with up to 10 hours on a full charge, plus a quick five-minute boost gives you an extra hour of playback, perfect for those last-minute runs.

Take a look at my full Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review for a deeper dive.

Type: Open-ear bone-conducting, IP rating: IP55 (Water and dust resistant), Noise-cancelling: No

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, £199

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, £219 £199 at Amazon

Pros: Great sound quality, strong noise cancellation, comfortable for long-wear.

Cons: May not fit all ear shapes, not the most secure fit, expensive for wireless earbuds.

Rating: 6/10

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are a solid choice, especially for Android users, offering a snug and comfy fit that you can wear for hours.

The sound quality is impressive too, rich, balanced, and with a bass punch that puts Google’s buds toe-to-toe with Apple’s AirPods.

You get different ear tip options to help you find a decent fit, but the small wing support didn’t provide enough stability for me.

While they’re comfortable, they’re not the most secure for intense runs, so you might find them slipping a little when you pick up the pace.

On the plus side, they’re lightweight with an IPX4 rating, so they can handle sweat and light rain.

The haptic touch controls are easy to use, making it simple to adjust your music without breaking your stride.

Bear in mind, that these buds are optimized for Android, so Apple users might want to look elsewhere.

Check out my full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review for more of my thoughts.

Type: In-ear buds, IP rating: IPX4 (Water and dust resistant), Noise-cancelling: Yes (for Android)

Philips A6219 Go, £99.99

Philips A6219 Go, £109.99 £99.99 at Amazon

Pros: Solar-powered, so practically never needs to be charged, extremely lightweight, very durable build.

Cons: No active noise cancellation.

Rating: 9/10

If you’re a runner who hates constantly recharging your gear, the Philips A6219 Go Solar headphones will be a dream.

With a built-in Powerfoyle solar panel on the headband, they soak up sunlight (or even indoor light) to keep the battery topped up. 

I’ve had them for three weeks now, and I’ve not even come close to needing to charge them, so they always feel ready when you are.

Even if you do need to plug in, you’ll get a massive 80 hours of playback on a full charge, way more than most wireless headphones out there.

These are over-ear headphones, and honestly, they’re the lightest I’ve ever used. The earcans are super comfortable, making them great for long runs or all-day wear.

They’re designed for sports, with a lightweight, flexible frame and sweat-resistant build, so they stay comfy and secure even on intense runs.

Sound-wise, they’re crisp and well-balanced, and while they’re not noise-cancelling, they do a great job of blocking out external noise so you can stay focused.

But if you want a pair of running headphones that essentially charge themselves, the A6219 Go is a no-brainer.

Type: Over-ear headphones, IP rating: IP55 (Water and dust resistant), Noise-cancelling: No

Beats Solo4, £129

Beats Solo4, £199.95 £129

Pros: Long battery life, quick charging, stylish and lightweight, punchy bass.

Cons: No IP rating, pricy option, unstable for vigorous workouts, uncomfortable after long wear.

Rating: 5/10

If you’re after wireless over-head headphones that balance style and sound, the Beats Solo4 tick those boxes, but they’re not built for sweaty runs.

With no IP rating, they aren’t sweat or rain-resistant, so they’re better suited for indoor sessions or dry-weather workouts.

That said, they pack a 50-hour battery life, easily outlasting even the longest training sessions. 

And if you’re low on charge, a 10-minute Fast Fuel charge gets you 5 hours of playback, handy for those last-minute workouts.

These on-ear headphones are lightweight with plush ear cushions, offering decent comfort. 

The fit is snug but not overly tight, though they’re not the most stable for vigorous workouts and can cause discomfort with extended wear.

Sound-wise, they deliver punchy bass, great for high-energy playlists. 

They lack active noise cancellation, which is reserved for Beats Studio and Pro lineup, but they do a decent job of blocking out background noise.

If you’re after great sound and long battery life for casual training, the Solo4 fits the bill, but they struggle in the fitness realm.

Type: On-ear headphones, IP rating: None, Noise-cancelling: No

Beats Fit Pro, £199

Beats Fit Pro, £219.99 £199 at Amazon

Pros: Excellent sound quality, stylish and lightweight, solid water resistant rating, decent battery life.

Cons: May not fit all ear shapes

Rating: 9.5/10

The popular on-ear Beats might not cut it for workouts, but the Beats Fit Pro are a different story, with a secure fit, sweatproof design, and top-tier sound.

The wingtip design keeps them firmly in place, and they didn’t budge, even on the less-than-ideal trails of the Essex countryside.

They’re super comfortable too, with the wing hugging your ear’s contours without feeling too tight, even after hours of wear.

That said, if you’ve got smaller ears, you might find these a bit on the large side.

While Beats include different ear tips for a better fit, the wingtip design won’t work for everyone.

For nearly £200, I expected great sound, and they delivered with built-in Apple smarts getting you spatial audio to make everything feel more immersive.

They give me the same experience I get with my AirPods, with active noise cancellation and my go-to transparency mode, but built for fitness.

Battery life is decent enough at 6 hours per charge (24 with the case), and a quick 5-minute top-up gives you an extra hour of playtime.

Overall, they tick all the boxes, secure fit, all-day comfort, and seriously impressive sound.

Type: In-ear buds, IP rating: IPX4 (Water and dust resistant), Noise-cancelling: Yes

Baseus Eli Open Earbuds, £49.99

Baseus Eli Open Earbuds, £69.99 £49.99

Pros: Open-ear design for awareness, lightweight and secure fit, sweatproof, does a great job at reducing background noise.

Cons: Weak bass, struggles in noisier areas.

Rating: 7/10

If you’re into the idea of open-ear buds that keep you aware of your surroundings, the Baseus Eli Open Earbuds are a great choice.

Let’s be real, not everyone wants to spend a fortune on running headphones (myself included).

Much like Shokz, the Baseus have an open design that sits just outside your ears, so you can hear traffic, chatter, and everything else going on around you.

They’re super lightweight, with a rubber ear-hook design that keeps them secure, and they never feel bulky or uncomfortable.

Sound-wise, they’re decent, but the bass isn’t their strong suit, I definitely had to crank up the volume even indoors.

If you’re after deep, powerful sound, these might not hit the mark.

Instead of ANC, they use Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC), which does a surprisingly good job of reducing background noise. 

It’s not total silence, but it’s better than nothing, especially at this price.

They deliver up to 10 hours of battery life, and I was pleased they have an IPX4 water resistance rating, so I wasn’t fearful of sweating in these.

Type: Open-ear, IP rating: IPX4 (Water and dust resistant), Noise-cancelling: No (reduces background noise with ENC)

Sennheiser Momentum Sport,

Sennheiser Momentum Sport, £279.99 £199 at Sennheiser

Pros: Premium sound quality, adaptive active noise cancellation, and transparency mode, lightweight, with a solid water resistance rating.

Cons: Battery life could be better for the price, expensive at full price.

Rating: 9/10

If you’re after premium sound in a sport-friendly package, the Sennheiser Momentum Sport are exactly that.  

These felt built for intense workouts, with a lightweight, secure design that sat comfortably inside my ear.

The IP55 water resistance is a huge win, whether you’re sweating buckets or caught in a downpour, these can handle it.  

The real standout, though, is the adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC). 

It adjusts automatically based on your surroundings, blocking out distractions so you can focus on your pace.  

There’s also a transparency mode for when you need to stay aware, which I’m always happy to have in a pair of running headphones.  

At £279.99, full price, I expected top-notch sound, and it delivered: deep bass and rich sound that will add some punch to your playlist.

The battery life is pretty standard, with up to 6 hours on a full charge and an extra 24 hours from the case, but at this price, I’d hoped for a bit more.  

Overall, if you’re after top-tier sound, solid noise cancellation, and a secure fit for your runs and your budget is flexible, the Momentum Sport is definitely worth it.

Type: In-ear buds, IP rating: IP55 (Water and dust resistant) , Noise-cancelling: Yes (Adaptive ANC)

Where to Buy

When it comes to running headphones, the choices are endless, so finding the right pair can feel a bit overwhelming.

The good news? You won’t have to search far! The top picks in this list are easy to find at major retailers.

Here are our top picks:

• Amazon
• Currys
• Argos
• Shokz

What type of headphones are best for running?

It comes down to preference, but wireless is the way to go; you don’t want cables bouncing around while you run.

The best headphones for me feature bone conduction, which is a great choice if you like staying aware of your surroundings.  

True wireless earbuds are another solid shout, but look out for secure ear hooks or wings so they won’t budge, even on sprints.

But, at the end of the day, the best running headphones are the ones that feel comfy and stay put.

What should I look for in running headphones?

A secure fit and comfort are key, nothing kills a good run like stopping to adjust your earbuds.

You’ll want to ensure they are durable and can go the distance too, so look for at least an IPX4 rating, to keep them safe from rain and sweat.

Battery life matters, so aim for at least 6 hours per charge to cover long runs and workouts.  

Noise cancellation is great for focus, but transparency mode is safer if you need to hear traffic.  

And, of course, great sound quality, because your running playlist deserves to shine too.

How much should I spend on running headphones?

You don’t have to break the bank, there are solid options out there under £50.

Mid-range (£50-£150) gets you better sound, secure fit, and solid waterproofing.

Premium (£150+) means top-tier audio, longer battery life, and advanced features like adaptive noise cancellation.

If you run casually, budget-friendly models work just fine, but for anyone training regularly, it’s worth investing in comfort and durability.  

The best headphones are the ones that fit your needs, so go for quality, but don’t overspend if you don’t need all the bells and whistles.