Best headphones and earbuds for running in 2020

An assortment of the best running headphones to help you get the most out of your workout.

I've tested a lot of sports headphones and wireless headphones over the years and have found that some work better for running than others. So what makes for decent headphones for running? Well, for starters, the best running headphones should be wireless -- and ideally, true wireless earbuds -- because who needs a wire getting in the way of their stride, right?

Secondly, and more importantly, they should give you a secure and comfortable fit, whether they're over-ear headphones, bone conduction, or wireless in-ear buds. This is especially important because losing one earbud on your run would be the worst. Decent sound quality is also a requirement, as are battery life, durability, noise cancellation and reliable performance (with minimal dropouts). And lastly, they need to be sweat resistant, for obvious reasons. That's why the otherwise awesome Sony WF-1000XM3 isn't on this list of best running headphones. (While Apple does not claim water resistance for the standard AirPods, they're on the list because we've found them to handle sweat reasonably well.) 

After many tests (and many miles run), I've formed strong opinions on which headphones are the best for running. To share my hard-earned knowledge, I've put together a selection of wireless headphones I've tested that I think are well-suited for runners. This list includes in-ear headphones, on-ear headphones, headphones with noise isolation, bone conduction headphones and many other options, so we've got good options no matter what you're looking for from your wireless headphones for running. And I'll update this list as I review even more of them.

Update 29 March 2020
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