Tag Archives: best headphones for running

Best Running Headphones 2020: Headphones, Earphones, True Wireless and Bluetooth

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Our pick of the best headphones for running to motivate your outdoor workout or in the gym

True Wireless earbuds have become the go-to choice for fitness users, whether its running, gym use, outdoor workouts or just going for a nice long walk. For this list, we decided to include a range of different earphones and headphones to suit all your needs from wired, wireless, Bluetooth and True Wireless – we have you all covered from as little as £20.

BEST RUNNING HEADPHONES UNDER £50

1. Final E500 – £19.99 – BUY HERE

final E500

The Final E500 is not a typical sports earphone, yet they have features that come in handy for your daily run. Firstly, they are the best value for money earphones we have tried. At just under £20, nothing else we have listened to in this price range comes close to the sound achieved from the E500. They are also very small, which means you will get a great fit and the E500 is less likely to fall out of your ears when sprinting towards your personal best.

2. Flare Audio Flares Jet 1 – £49 – BUY HERE

Flare Audio Flares Jet 1

To help you push through and motivate a big run, the Flares Jet 1 has the sound to keep you going. Big and powerful bass with crisp, snappy clarity means that music will really pop! These earphones have a big sound, so your favourite running tunes will do their job. The Jet 1 is also built to withstand constant use, with a robust design – you can be sure that they will last and last.

BEST RUNNING HEADPHONES UNDER £100

3. SoundMAGIC E11BT – £69.99 – BUY HERE

SoundMAGIC E11BT

The award winning SoundMAGIC E11BT has been a firm favourite since its release – gaining praise for its design, comfort and most importantly – sound quality. The E11BT is ideal for those wanting a Bluetooth earphone, that prefer a neckband design. The neckband provides added support while in use, then when you’re finished using them – they can conveniently hang down so there’s no need to keep packing them away.

4. Lypertek PurePlay Z3 – £99 – BUY HERE

Lypertek PurePlay Z3

Lypertek’s first True Wireless release – the PurePlay Z3 – exploded onto the TWS scene, quickly gaining awards and the label of ‘best under £100’. Today it is still considered one of the best, and just so happens to make a good running partner too. ThePurePlay Z3 has a few standout features which will come in handy during your workout such as 70 hours battery life (including the charging case), IPX7 waterproof rating for those rainy days and audiophile worthy sound quality – to get the most from your tracks.

BEST PREMIUM RUNNING HEADPHONES

5. Bowers & Wilkins PI3 – £169 – BUY HERE

Bowers & Wilkins PI3

For those after a more premium feel to their wireless earphones, then B&W has you covered with the PI3. Another neckband design, the PI3 will blow you away with its superb build, design and comfort, with only the best materials being used. Then the sound – using the latest codecs you can be sure that you get your money’s worth. To make these suited to running, there are ear fins included with the PI3, which will improve comfort and provide a secure fit for active listening.

6. Bowers & Wilkins PX5 – £269.99 – BUY HERE

Bowers & Wilkins PX5

If you prefer a traditional headphone fit instead of in-ears, then the B&W PX5 would be our top pick for running. They are small and fit on the ear – not over and around the ear like larger sized headphones. This means they will be less bulky for running and will stay nice and secure on your head. These wireless headphones have active noise cancelling (ANC), so they will do a great job of keeping you focused on your fitness goals.

 

Have We Missed Anything Out?

Please feel free to leave a comment below and let us know…

The London Marathon 2017 – The Feat of the Feet

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The London Marathon 2017

Cor Blimey! It’s that special time of year when people can travel around the capital at speeds greater than five miles per hour, and all of London turns out to offer support to racers and plodders alike. The London Marathon is back, and promises to torture participants with its gruelling tour of the Big Smoke.

Despite all this wonderful support and encouragement however, a surprising number of runners elect to don headphones. It’s perhaps testament to the fact that a musical accompaniment is a more powerful motivator for many.

Here are some things to consider if you’re considering some musical impetus.

Isolation

It’s all very well being in your own world, but sealing in-ear models will leave you less aware of environmental sounds such as traffic. Also, something called the occlusion effect can magnify the sounds of footfalls through the bones, breathing or speech for example. This might affect your enjoyment but sealed in-ear designs remain popular with runners, such as the MEE Audio M6P –

MEE Audio M6P Isolating Earphones

Comfort

When your body is aching and you’re in a world of pain at the 18 mile mark, you don’t want to be worrying about pain coming from your head too. A lot of on-ear models are designed to remain in place on the head and so grip a little bit tighter than their full-size counterparts which usually stay at home. Also, the earcups tend to be of a leather (or leatherette) material which will not release moisture so you’ll get awfully sweaty under there. Again, there are a lot of people who like to wear this style on a run but we’d recommend the Koss SportaPro –

Koss SportaPro Sports Headphones

 

They are light, comfortable on the head and are an open-back design, so the ears can breath a bit. Also, environmental sounds make it through for a safer experience.

Bluetooth

Many runners are now finding Bluetooth technology to be very useful for this type of activity; gone is the danger of catching your cable on a passing Beefeater, and it’s easier to change volume or the track being played. One thing to be aware of however is how the battery is designed into them. A few have huge capsules and some people find difficulty getting the right fit. Other models have a bulky battery on one side of the cable which tugs on the cable.

The SoundMAGIC E10BT has the battery in the middle of the cable so it’s well balanced, and it also has a clip to secure it to clothing. The E10BT can be a sealing or isolating earphone, but the included ‘vented’ tips, if fitted, will allow some environmental sounds to come in for a safer run.

SoundMAGIC E10BT Bluetooth Earphones

 

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WATCH VIDEO: Our Best Sports Headphones and Earphones of 2017

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So this is our pick for the runner’s perfect headphone; you’ll have the music AND the adulation of the crowd to get you the full 26 miles and beyond!