Best Overall · Best for Workouts
1
Beats
9.3
★★★★★
Editors' Score
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless Workout Earbuds
- ✓Fit: Secure earhooks — 1,500 hours of athlete testing
- ✓Heart Rate: Built-in optical sensor, pulses 100x/second
- ✓ANC: Best-performing Beats ANC ever made
- ✓Battery: 18 hrs buds / 45 hrs total with case (Qi wireless)
- ✓Chip: Apple H2 — seamless iPhone/Apple Watch integration
- ✓Water: IPX4 — sweat and rain resistant
The most advanced headphone Beats has ever made — secure-fit earhooks that stay locked in at any intensity, with heart rate monitoring accurate enough to replace a chest strap.
— Tom's Guide
A worthy successor to the Jabra Elite Active range that defined workout earbuds for half a decade. The earhook design locks in where AirPods would slip.
— Tom's Guide
Best ANC · Best for Apple Users · Heart Rate Sensing
2
Apple
9.2
★★★★★
Editors' Score
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds
- ✓ANC: World's best in-ear ANC — 2x more noise removal than Pro 2
- ✓Heart Rate: In-ear sensor, 50+ workout types in Fitness app
- ✓Sound: New multiport architecture — deeper bass, wider soundstage
- ✓Battery: 8 hrs ANC on / 30+ hrs total with case
- ✓Water: IP57 — first AirPods with submersion protection
- ✗Fit: No earhook — can loosen during high-impact runs
We kept coming back to the AirPods Pro 3 regardless of how many other options we tried. The heart rate accuracy is astonishingly good — far better than the Powerbeats Pro 2.
— iRunFar
The AirPods Pro 3 are an outstanding option for runners — with best-in-class ANC and the most accurate in-ear heart rate we've ever tested.
— The Run Testers
3
Shokz
9.0
★★★★★
Editors' Score
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction Sport Headphones
- ✓Technology: Bone conduction — ears stay completely open
- ✓Safety: Hear traffic, pedestrians, and trail hazards at all times
- ✓Fit: Titanium wraparound frame — zero movement, ultra-light
- ✓Battery: 12 hours, 5-min quick charge = 1.5 hours
- ✓Mic: Dual noise-canceling for clear calls mid-run
- ✗Sound: Less bass vs. in-ear options
Shokz is the biggest name in bone conduction, and the OpenRun Pro 2 is the best in class — combining bone and air conduction for better sound while keeping ears fully open.
— The Run Testers
The only type of headphones allowed in many races — and the only option for runners who need full situational awareness at all times.
— iRunFar
4
JBL
8.7
★★★★½
Editors' Score
JBL Endurance Peak 3 True Wireless Sport Earbuds
- ✓Waterproofing: IP68 — fully submersible to 3m for 30 minutes
- ✓Fit: PowerHook wraparound earhook — extremely secure
- ✓Battery: 10 hrs buds / 50 hrs total with speed charge case
- ✓Sound: JBL Pure Bass + Ambient Aware + Talk Thru modes
- ✓Price: Strong value at $100
- ✗Comfort: Less comfortable for all-day wear vs. competitors
One of the best value running headphones — at nearly half the price of AirPods Pro, these offer excellent fit, solid waterproofing, and reliable sound.
— iRunFar
The best choice if you want an ear hook and added security — they seem made for extreme circumstances, and the IP68 rating backs that up.
— TechRadar
5
Jaybird
8.5
★★★★½
Editors' Score
Jaybird Vista 2 True Wireless Sport Earbuds
- ✓Durability: IP68 + MIL-STD-810G military grade — nearly indestructible
- ✓ANC: Active Noise Cancellation + SurroundSense ambient mode
- ✓EQ: Fully parametric via Jaybird app — most customizable here
- ✓Battery: 8 hrs buds / 24 hrs total with case
- ✓Charging case: Also IP54 rated — protected from the elements
- ✗Fit: Some users report difficulty achieving perfect seal
Nearly indestructible — IP68 and MIL-STD-810G certifications mean these earbuds can handle submersion, drops, dust, and the most punishing workouts.
— SoundGuys
If you're a multisport athlete who needs earbuds that transition from running to weightlifting to cycling, the Vista 2 is built for exactly this lifestyle.
— Various Experts