13 best earbuds and headphones for workouts and runs, tested

Score: 96/100

Specifically designed for exercise, our winning buds scored highly for security – they won’t budge no matter how many star jumps or burpees you do – and they proved highly sweatproof, too.

Our expert loved their lightweight design and found them extremely comfortable, even after having them in for hours. They boast effective noise cancelling tech to help you get in the zone during challenging workouts, but there’s also an open adaptor to let outside noise in – useful when you’re exercising outdoors.

In terms of audio quality, our expert was impressed with their “smooth sound” and said there was next to no leakage, so you can turn up the volume without disturbing your fellow gymgoers.

All in all, an excellent pair of earphones for all your workouts, including running, HIIT and strength training. Juste note, the twist-in style may not be for everyone.

Score: 93/100

There’s a lot of hype around these good-looking Beats buds and after testing them, we can see why.

According to our sound technician, the audio quality is “nearly flawless” and there’s zero sound distortion, so rest assured, they’ll do your workout playlist justice. The ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) is also top-notch, as is the transparency mode for letting in external sound – a feature runners will appreciate. They stayed put even when exercising vigorously (they didn’t come loose or slip out once) and they have a handy quick-charge feature, giving you an hour’s playback from a speedy five-minute charge.

Unlike many of Beats’ competitors, smart features – including voice activation and ‘Find My’ integration – are available for both Android and iOS users. The buds also scored bonus points for their stylish transparent case.

Score: 92/100

These iconic Beats earphones went down a treat with our tester, who said they remained firmly in place during their bounciest workouts and felt comfortable even when things got sweaty.

In terms of audio quality, our sound expert gave them a big thumbs up, praising their “rich sound” and we were highly impressed with their noise cancelling capabilities while working out and commuting.

The sleek, compact carry case means you can easily slip them into your pocket, and they have a handy quick-charge feature, offering an hour’s playback from a five-minute plug-in, so you’ll never have to plod through a silent workout again. As a bonus, they also come in a range of attractive colourways.

Score: 87/100

Though not specifically designed for exercise, Apple’s top-of-the-range AirPods Pro 2 are the dream for gym workouts, bike rides and runs, as well as your commute. They come with four silicone ear tips and there’s an ‘ear tip fit test’ to ensure your buds are comfy and they don’t budge mid-activity.

Our audio expert described the sound quality as “outstanding” and said the buds provide an extremely immersive listening experience. They also praised the active noise cancellation, noting it was better than any buds they'd tried previously. There’s a ‘Conversation Awareness’ mode that automatically reduces the volume when talking is detected and an ‘Adaptive Audio’ mode, which adapts the level of noise control based on your surroundings and listening behaviour. If all that wasn’t enough, the buds even have clinical grade hearing aid capabilities.

They’re quick to connect, the touch controls on the stems are super responsive, and the case has a built-in speaker to help you find it if you misplace it. Overall, a set of do-it-all buds for dedicated Apple users. The only downside? The hefty price tag.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review.

Score: 86/100

If you’re after earphones that will block out a busy gym, look no further. The advanced noise-cancelling tech and multiple microphones will let you immerse yourself in your playlist and get in the zone. You can also take calls on the go, without any distracting background noise.

Despite all the fancy tech, our tester found them a doddle to set up and use thanks to the step-by-step instructions. Plus, they’re lightweight and ultra comfy so you’ll barely notice they’re in.

From top-quality sound to impeccable noise cancellation, there’s plenty of substance to back up the sleek style. The fit may not be secure enough for super vigorous workouts, but for lighter sessions and everyday use, these neat little buds are hard to beat.

Score: 85/100

Samsung’s latest buds – which resemble the Apple Airpods Pro – won't slip out of your ears during exercise and our audiophile couldn’t get enough of the “well-balanced sound” with minimal sound leakage and impeccable active noise cancellation. Additional features like voice detect, which turns on ambient mode and lowers the volume when you’re speaking, and neck-stretch reminders sealed the deal for our in-house expert.

They come with three different ear tips to ensure the perfect fit, we found them comfortable to wear for extended periods, plus you can opt for voice controls as well as pinch gestures to control playback. Though compatible with both Android and iOS devices, those within the Samsung ecosystem can enjoy high tech extras like 24-bit audio (enhanced sound quality) and 360 Audio with head tracking for a surround sound experience. As a bonus, the carry case is compact, and the buds offer wireless charging.

Score: 84/100

This is the third Beats design in this round-up, but are you really surprised? The Powerbeats Pro 2 feature ear hooks for an ultra-secure fit, quality ANC and even built-in heart rate monitoring.

They’re extremely lightweight and comfy, so you can happily wear them for hours and, rest assured, they'll stay in place, even during your most vigorous gym sessions or runs. With an IPX4 waterproof rating, they’re resistant to sweat and light rain, too.

Our audiophile scored the buds highly across the board, noting a “very smooth” treble and bass, minimal sound leakage and top-notch noise cancellation (with a handy transparency mode if you’re exercising outdoors). You also get spatial audio with head-tracking. All in all, they said there was “not much to fault.”

The Powerbeats Pro 2 were a pleasure to use – our expert liked the buttons and volume rocker for faff-free adjustments mid-workout. The case is a bit chunky but thanks to the lengthy battery life, there's no need to carry it in your pocket.

Score: 83/100

These clever headphones, which combine bone conduction and air conduction technology, are ideal for runners who want to stay safe on the roads. The bone conduction speakers vibrate along your cheekbones to send sound to the inner ear, while the open-air speakers direct music towards the outside of your ears.

Our audio expert was impressed with the “smooth, detailed sound” and “good vocals”. They also appreciated the equaliser in the Shokz app, which allows you to tailor the sound to your personal preferences.

Our tester also rated the design and fit, saying the band felt lightweight, comfortable and secure when on the move, and praised the quick-charge feature, which provides two and a half hours of juice with one speedy five-minute charge. The buttons on the body of the headphones allow you to control playback and take calls, although our tester though the call quality wasn’t the best.

Still, if you want to be aware of your surroundings when running, without compromising on sound quality, they’re the best you can buy.

Read our editor's full Shokz Open Run Pro2 review.

Score: 82/100

A quality pair of wireless headphones doesn’t have to cost a fortune; these reliable JLab earbuds are proof of that. They're lightweight, incredibly comfortable and come with three different ear tips to help you find the perfect fit.

Although they don’t offer noise cancellation, we found they did a decent job of blocking out external sound. The touch controls were responsive, and we appreciated the in-ear assistant, which tells you when your headphones need a charge. The sound quality isn’t up there with Beats or Sennheiser, but the long battery life (32 hours) makes up for this, and when you consider the price, it’s hard to complain. Oh, and did we mention they come in seven subtle skin tones?

Score: 82/100

For under £100, the Soundcore C40i strike the perfect balance of “weightless” comfort and “crisp, clear” audio quality. Their solid battery life and secure, open-ear design make them ideal for long runs, ensuring you stay aware of your surroundings while clocking those miles.

Testers praised the seamless in-app connectivity, allowing you to customise your sound and manage updates with ease, while an intuitive rear button lets you play, pause, and skip tracks, too. With AI-powered noise reduction helping to minimise background interference during calls and a pocket-friendly charging case, these affordable earbuds will be a welcome addition to your daily routine – whether you're WFH or working out.

Score: 81/100

If you're looking for some Airpods for under £200, consider the brand's classic AirPods. You can either opt for the buds with active noise cancellation (ANC) or, for £50 less, the regular buds without noise cancelling tech. We tested the ones with ANC.

Looks-wise, they have a more angled design and shorter stems than previous generations, which the brand claims will provide a more comfortable and secure fit. Sure enough, they didn’t fall out when our tester put them through their paces, and they remained comfy after wearing them for hours on end.

Our audiophile was impressed with the sound quality, praising the bass, smooth treble and dynamic range. They also rated the ANC, which provides three different modes to suit all needs, including a transparency mode for safety and a conversation awareness mode, which automatically lowers the volume when you’re speaking. The spatial audio, which provides a surround-sound effect, is an excellent addition, too.

Unlike the third-gen buds, the AirPods 4 are water-resistant, making them suitable for your sweatiest workouts. There’s a built-in speaker on the case, which will emit a sound to help you find it, and you can take or reject a call by simply nodding or shaking your head.

Check out our tech editor's full Airpods 4 review.

Score: 81/100

We’re big fans of Soundcore’s sleep earphones so we were interested to see how its ANC buds performed during testing. They boast a range of clever features, including a touchscreen on the case so you can easily keep an eye on the battery level and tinker with the noise cancellation settings. Then there's HearID, a feature that tests your hearing and creates a bespoke sound profile for your ears.

Our tester found them extremely comfortable, noting that they stayed firmly in place as they were moving around, and our audiophile was impressed too. Not only did the buds block out significant background noise, but the audio was smooth, powerful and punchy. They thought the bass was a little ‘muddy’, but appreciated the option to customise the sound in the user-friendly Soundcore app.

The battery is long-lasting (with up to 7.5 hours on a single charge and an extra 30 hours from the case), plus there are safe volume limits, an ‘easy chat’ mode, which automatically lowers the volume when it detects talking, and plenty more.

Just note, they’re sweat-proof, but not fully waterproof, so we’d save them for low impact workouts like hiking, cycling and relaxed gym sessions.

Read our tech editor's full Soundcore Liberty Pro 4 review.

Score: 70/100

If you're tempted by the bone conduction headphones above, but aren’t sure about the headband that loops around the back, consider these open earbuds from Sony. They feature a unique open ring design to let sound in and help you stay aware of your surroundings while you work out.

Our tester said the set-up process was foolproof; they rated the battery life (up to eight hours on a single charge) and liked the simple tap controls to control music playback – you can tinker with the settings by saying ‘Hey headphones’ or tapping on your cheek. Our expert didn't have issues with the fit – the buds remained snug in their ears – but as they don’t come with interchangeable tips, finding the perfect fit may not be easy for everyone. On the plus side, you do get a set of silicone ‘Air Fitting Supporters’ to improve comfort and stop them slipping out.

Due to the open construction, the audio quality isn’t going to blow you away. It won’t do bass-heavy bops any justice and our audiophile described the sound as “tinny and lacking in detail”. However, the buds do offer features like ‘Adaptive Volume Control’, which automatically changes the volume based on surrounding noise levels, and ‘Conversation Awareness’, which pauses the music if you start speaking.