These four picks are wireless and comfortable, and have great sound — even when you're on the move.
What makes for a good running headphone? For starters, it should be wireless, because who needs a wire getting in the way, right? Secondly, they should give you a secure and comfortable fit.
Decent sound is also a requirement, as are durability, decent battery life and reliable performance. With those criteria in mind, these are four headphones CNET has tested that are well-suited for running.
Bose SoundSport Wireless
CNET rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (outstanding)
The cost: $149 at amazon.com
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The good: The SoundSport Wireless is a very comfortable in-ear wireless Bluetooth sports headphone that’s sweat-resistant and sounds great. The earphones fit securely in your ears thanks to winged tips. The headphone works decently as a headset for making cellphone calls and has an auto-off feature to preserve battery life.
The bad: The ear pieces protrude noticeably from your ears (they’re a little bulky but don’t feel heavy).
The bottom line: The Bose SoundSport Wireless is the most comfortable, best overall in-ear Bluetooth sports headphone you can buy right now.
Jabra Elite Active 65t
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (excellent)
The cost: $190
The good: The Jabra Active Elite 65t are fully sweat-resistant, truly wireless earphones that fit comfortably and securely. They sound excellent, perform reliably and are great for making calls, with two microphones in each earpiece. Battery life is decent at 5 hours and the included charging case delivers two extra charges. A quick-charge feature allows you to get 1.5 hours of juice from a 15-minute charge.
The bad: The relatively tight, noise-isolating fit isn’t for everyone. Motion sensor doesn’t have much use at this point.
The bottom line: The Jabra Active Elite 65t truly wireless earphones are the best alternative to Apple’s AirPods, but the step-down non-Elite model will save you a bit of cash.
V-Moda Forza Metallo Wireless In-Ear Headphones
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (excellent)
The cost: $130 at bestbuy.com
The good: The V-Moda Forza Metallo Wireless headphones sounds excellent for an in-ear wireless headphone. They’re sweat-resistant and sturdy, and the included ear fins and tips allow you to get a secure, tight seal, even while running. Battery life is good at up to 10 hours.
The bad: Cords are a little long and the noise-isolating design prevents you from hearing traffic while running or biking.
The bottom line: Quibbles aside, these are great-sounding in-ear wireless headphones that makes for an excellent everyday and sports headphone.
BeatsX
CNET rating: 4 stars out of 5 (excellent)
The cost: $120 at apple.com
The good: The BeatsX is a comfortable, lightweight, water-resistant, neckband-style Bluetooth headphone with a secure in-ear fit and good sound quality. It pairs instantly with Apple devices, rolls up to fit in an included carrying case, and charges quickly via Lightning, not MicroUSB.
The bad: Slight treble push; cords may seem a bit long for some users.
The bottom line: The slickly designed BeatsX is an appealing neckband-style wireless headphone that offers a lot of the “magic” of Apple’s AirPods in a more conventional, sports-friendly design.