Best running headphones
For road running, the best headphones are the ones that let you hear the car behind you. That's why open-ear bone-conduction headphones have taken over running clubs and parkruns.
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Quick picks
Best for most road runners: Shokz OpenRun. Best sound in open-ear: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. Best earbuds that stay put: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. For swimmers and triathletes: Shokz OpenSwim Pro.
Why open-ear matters on the road
In-ear headphones, especially with noise cancelling, make it hard to hear bikes, cars and marshals. Many races, including UK Athletics-licensed events, discourage or ban headphones that block your hearing. Open-ear headphones rest on your cheekbones and leave your ear canal open. The trade-off is sound: less bass, and they're hard to hear next to a busy road. See our bone conduction vs earbuds comparison.
Shokz OpenRun
The standard-setter for open-ear running headphones: light, secure wraparound band, sweat- and rain-proof, and you can hear the road around you. The one most UK running clubs will point you to.
£129.95
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Shokz's flagship open-ear running headphones. They sit in front of your ears, not in them, so you still hear traffic, cyclists and marshals, and the Pro 2 adds a separate air-conduction driver for fuller bass than older bone-conduction sets.
£169
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Earhook earbuds that stay put on a run, with noise cancelling for the gym or treadmill and a heart-rate sensor built into the buds. Better sound than open-ear, but you hear less of the world around you.
£199
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
Bone-conduction headphones that are fully waterproof for the pool, with Bluetooth on land and built-in MP3 storage for swimming. For triathletes and runners who also swim.
£199Frequently asked questions
Are bone conduction headphones good for running?
Yes, especially on roads. They leave your ears open so you can hear traffic, and the wraparound band stays put. Sound is thinner than earbuds.
Can you wear headphones in UK races?
It depends on the event. Many races discourage them and some ban them for safety; check the race rules. Open-ear headphones are more widely accepted.
Do Shokz headphones fall out when running?
No. They clamp gently around the back of your head rather than sitting in your ears.
Are Powerbeats Pro 2 good for running?
The earhooks keep them secure, and the heart-rate sensor can replace a chest strap for some apps. But noise cancelling isn't safe on roads, so use transparency mode outside.
Keep reading
How we choose: we don’t lab-test products. Picks are based on published specifications, what each product is designed for, brand track record with UK runners and UK availability. Prices on the buttons update hourly from Amazon UK. About Run For It.