If you are a runner, you probably already understand how important it is to find that perfect pair of earphones. A good pair of ear phones can help you amp up your run. You can listen to music or catch up on your favorite podcast while you run and exercise.
However, I speak from experience; buying athletic earbuds is one of the most frustrating things to do. It’s almost as if the perfect pair doesn’t exist. Either they are wired, or they have too short of a battery life, or they keep falling out while you run; most ear phones advertised as ideal for runners end up being more of a nuisance.
However, recently I have been in luck!
After buying more than a dozen wireless earphones over the years, I have finally picked a few good quality favorites and do their job well. The best part – they are sturdy and don’t fall out. I am sharing some of my picks with you; they are all highly rated ear phones suited for runners and athletes.
Hopefully, this guide might help you find your perfect pair 🙂
3 Things to Look Out for When Buying Earbuds for Runners
Apart from the sound quality, bass, and other technical aspects, there are a few specific things to always check for before buying earbuds for running purposes.
You cannot use a regular ear bud for running since it has been built differently in terms of design and utility. If you want to find a good pair for running, you must check for specific features.
Here are a few things to look out for whenever you buy ear buds for runners –
Adjustable Size
The main reason earphones fall out of your ears is that the size and fit are not right. Most companies manufacture a standard size that is meant to fit everyone. While that might work well for regular use, it would be a disaster if you plan to use them while running. The ear phone should snugly fit inside your ear, and a slight difference can also cause it to fall out.
Hence, to avoid such issues, it's best to purchase earbuds that can adjust the size. An adjustable set will come with two to three different pieces of interchangeable silicone earbuds (also called eargels). You can simply adjust your size on the earphone and start using them without any hassle.
Water-Resistant
Obviously, you are going to sweat when you run. And, some of that sweat will find its way into your ear and eventually will damage your earphones as well. So, it would help if you had a pair of water-resistant ear phones.
To make sure that they are indeed water resistant, look for the IPX rating. A rating of 4 or above indicates good resistance to water. This will allow you to enjoy music without worrying about damaging the ear phones.
Battery Life
The primary concern with wireless earphones (and the only reason I miss the old-school wired versions) is the battery life. It is such a let-down when you want to go for a run and discover that your ear phones are dead.
Buying a pair with good battery life is crucial to enjoying the overall experience; especially, for runners who go for long runs or marathons.
The Top 6 Wireless Earbuds to Buy Online
So, finally, here are my top choices of earbuds for runners that I am sure you would love –
The Biggest Benefit? - Best completely wireless earphones
If you are looking for a truly wireless pair of high-functioning earphones, then this Powerbeats Pro is an ideal choice. It has a unique, stylish design that is optimized for running and exercise. The design helps to block sweat from dripping into your ear.
It is a highly rated pair for its size, fit, and utility. The sound quality is also good, with decent battery life. As a bonus, it is also fitted with a high-quality mic and external noise filter that allows you to make calls while on a run.
Highlights to love about the Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless
The Biggest Benefit? - Best battery life
The Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Earphones offer an industry-leading battery life. On a full charge, you can listen to music for almost 15 hours. It is the ideal choice for people who like to run marathons or go for endurance runs; you will never have to worry about your earbuds dying out in between.
The look and feel are also lovely. However, there is a minor downside – this pair of ear phones is not genuinely wireless; they are connected to each other with a small wire. Regardless, they make an excellent choice for long runs.
Highlights to love about the Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless
The Biggest Benefit? - Best adjustable size
If you are looking for the perfect fit, I doubt there is a better option than the Apple AirPods Pro. It comes with three different sizes of interchangeable silicone tips that ensure that you can easily find an excellent, snug fit. They are a classic white, and if you have other Apple products as well, you will appreciate the ability to cross-use them across different devices.
However, while it offers a high level of functionality, there is a slight downside as well – it only gives the user about 4 hours of listening time on a charge.
Highlights to love about the Apple AirPods Pro
The Biggest Benefit? - Best look and feel
If you want a high-functioning product that also looks good, then the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ is an excellent choice. It has a class apart look and feel. The earbuds are so small in size that not much of it is seen once you wear them.
The sound quality is good, and it also allows you to accept calls while on the run. The earphones also have a tap functionality so that you can attend calls, switch songs, and do other things with a single tap.
Highlights to love about the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Plus
The Biggest Benefit? - Best bone-conducting
This is a unique kind of earphone. It utilizes bone conduction technology to deliver sound via your cheekbones. While the design is excellent and different, the best part is that you don’t have to block out the world while you run.
You can still listen to the traffic and the humdrum around you while enjoying your music or an audiobook; it makes running safer, especially if you run on the road. It comes with a wraparound band that fits well.
Highlights to love about the Aftershokz Aeropex Open Ear Wireless
The Biggest Benefit? - Best waterproof earphones
If you live in a hot and humid climate or sweat a lot, then the Jaybird Vista is for you. It is a real sweat and water-resistant earbud that will allow you to enjoy your runs more than ever. It fits well and doesn’t fall out. It is also completely waterproof and will not get damaged regardless of how bad you sweat.
It is a good option for runners who love to sign-up for endurance runs or marathons or like to train hard. Additionally, if you download the Jaybird mobile app, you can also track your earbuds if you ever lose them.
Highlights to love about the Jaybird Vista True Wireless Waterproof
3 Tips to Care for Your Ear phones
Here are some small tips and tricks that can increase the life of your earphones and help you get more than your money’s worth –
- 1Clean the earbuds (or eargels) once in a while -- The ear phones accumulate a lot of dirt and sweat throughout your runs and workouts. It is essential to clean them every once in a while. It is good for you and will also help extend the life of the earphones. You can simply wipe them clean with a baby wipe or a damp cloth. You can also remove the silicone bud and clean the cervices with a toothpick or a small brush. You are sure to notice that the sound is louder than ever before after cleaning them out!
- 2Store them properly in a case -- If your wireless earbuds come with a charging case, always store them in the case after use. If you use a wired ear phone, lightly loop the wire and keep it carefully in a case. Avoid placing your ear phones just anywhere since it can cause unforeseeable damage. Also, avoid carrying them in your pocket; store them properly in a case.
- 3Don’t turn up the volume too high -- Listening to music at a loud volume can not only damage your ears, but it is also bad for your earphones. Consistently listening to loud sounds can often cause your speaker to blow out, leading to irreparable damage. It is this reason mainly why often one of the buds stops working while the other functions correctly. To avoid such an issue, don’t listen to loud sound for a consistent period of time.
Plug-in, Run and Enjoy
Listening to music or a podcast while running or working out can help you achieve the best results. So, plug in and enjoy as you burn those calories and listen to something nice!
Some Questions That You Might Have
I am sure you have some questions just like I had when I started searching for a good pair of earbuds for my runs. So, I am trying to answer some of the frequently asked questions here –
If the ear buds keep falling out every so often, then the most obvious reason is that you don’t have the correct size. You might want to switch the silicone bud on them to one that is more suited to your ear. This will ensure that the earbuds don’t fall out of your ear.
Well, finding the right size is more of a trial and error process. However, the best size is an earbud that will fit snugly in your ear canal. Neither should it be too tight to cause discomfort and nor should it simply slide out of your ear.
