The 9 Best Open-Ear Headphones for Running

We logged hundreds of miles to find which deliver the best sound, fit, and durability.

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Running in busy areas or when it’s not well lit can be kind of scary, but with the advent of open-ear headphones, you can keep your music and your awareness. Open-ear headphones play music, podcasts, and audiobooks without sealing your ear canals, so you can still hear traffic, cyclists, and other runners while donning them.

They come in three main styles: clip-on earbuds cuff onto the outer ear or clip over the shell, bone-conduction headphones rest on your cheekbones and behind your ear and send sound through vibration, and a few over-ear designs float speakers just off the ear. Speaker-based styles generally sound fuller, while bone conduction leaves your ears the most open.

I’ve tested dozens at this point, and let me tell you, they are not all made equal. (Some of them straight up suck.) When I am doing my testing, I log every piece of gear I use on every run in my Garmin Connect app, so I know exactly how many miles I’ve put on each pair, and I make very honest, very detailed notes. So rest assured, these puppies have beaten the odds to make it on this list.

TL;DR: The best open-ear headphones for running are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds overall, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 for bone conduction, and the JLab Flex Open on a budget. Open-ear headphones let in more ambient sound than sealed earbuds, which can help you stay aware on roads and shared paths. They don’t guarantee safety, though, so keep the volume low enough to hear what’s around you.

Our Verdict: Want proof these work as real everyday earbuds? Jeff Dengate and I both wear ours constantly around the office. My pair juggles three devices (laptop, phone, and watch), handing off my audiobook mid-chapter as I move from desk to trailhead. They’re an easy fit, play well with hats and glasses, and they don’t bounce.

The engineering nerd in me loves how they beat sound leakage. Most open-ear designs fire audio into the bowl of your ear, and it spills everywhere. These aim the speaker directly at the ear canal, so your podcast stays your business.

The app lets you pick an adaptive mode that reacts to conversation and ambient noise. As someone who’s already hard of hearing, I mostly run mine at full volume, which I don’t recommend as a lifestyle. That’s also my one gripe: in Manhattan traffic, I want a few more decibels than they deliver. On quieter routes, the sound is spot-on.

Bonus points for style. My “sunset” pair has a metallic, color-shifting finish straight out of a ’90s Hypercolor catalog. Jeff and my husband both chose black. You get nine colors, so choose wisely.

Skip it if: You regularly run in heavy rain or need more than about seven hours per charge.

Heads up: Bose is set to release a new pair of open-ear earbuds within the next month. We’ll test them as soon as they arrive and update this guide.

Our verdict: At $50, the Flex Open is the lowest-risk way to find out whether clip-on headphones work for you. It matches the basic Bose design, and JLab rates it for longer battery life per charge than the Ultra Open. Personally, I think they’re pretty great for the price. The sound quality could be better, and I wish there were more options for volume changes, but they’re quite comfy, they aren’t prone to bouncing (but they can stretch out over time), and the sound is loud enough for most environments.

Skip it if: You want premium sound or plan to wear them all day, every day.

Our verdict: If hearing your surroundings is your top priority, bone conduction is the way to go, and the OpenRun Pro 2 is the best version of it. Shokz pairs bone-conduction transducers with small air-conduction speakers for bass, so it sounds noticeably fuller than older bone-conduction models, but it can still feel a bit flat, especially if you’re a fan of show tunes.

They’re comfortable overall, but as a woman with long hair, I have to be especially cognizant of the height of my ponytail on the top of my head. If I don’t place it high enough, the tail of my pony pushes the wire of the headphones; if I go low, it rests oddly and jostles it.

Skip it if: You mostly listen to bass-heavy music, you like a mid or low-pony hairstyle, or you often run in hooded tops or high-collared jackets.

Our verdict: Ten hours per charge covers marathon training and ultra training runs without the battery shuffling off the mortal coil, and several team members who run with these found this claim true. One thing I find fascinating and fun is that the buds detect which ear they’re in automatically, so they’re completely interchangeable. As someone with rampant ADHD, I love that a five-minute charge adds about two hours of playback. Overall, they’re decently loud, and decently comfy, even after hours and hours. (I took them on a 30-mile run!)

One thing I’m not a fan of is that these claim to be super water-resistant, and many people online seem to agree, but I ran in the rain in these and got a little zap. Was it too rainy? Perhaps, but not according to their own ratings.

Skip it if: You want the most performance per dollar. The OpenDots Air cost $129.

Our verdict: Beyerdynamic brings its studio pedigree to the clip-on category, and the result is the most refined, detailed sound here. It’s an absolute gem for music-first runners. The cuff hooks around the ear’s cartilage and feels more secure than earhook styles. I listened to these bad boys blaring the music from The Great Gatsby (iykyk), and it was like Jeremy Jordan was belting directly into my head (and heart), while the ear clips sat comfortably nestled where they should with minimal movement.

One thing I legit loathe? The controls. Why even bother having them, if they’re never going to work properly? The sound and comfort, and even the battery life is impressive, but if I have to yank it out to hear someone instead of just pausing it, that’s a problem

Skip it if: You run longer than about five hours, or you want full volume control from the buds.

Our verdict: The AeroClip 2 gives most of the premium clip-on experience for less. Battery life rivals the OpenDots 2, and 10 minutes on the charger buys about four hours of playback, handy when you realize they’re dead right before a run.

Where these really shine is from run to everyday wear because they have killer built-in mics with noise cancellation, meaning you don’t need to shout to make and take calls. I chatted up my mum for a decent while walking around town, and she didn’t complain about the volume, when it’s usually “I can’t hear you!”

I will say, the bass could be better, but I really do love these.

Skip it if: Sound quality is your top priority and budget isn’t a concern.

Our verdict: These are the most comfortable on the list, which is no surprise as they’re also over ear with a ton of cushioning. That does limit your hairstyles and hat options, but they’re sort of remarkable in their design. They don’t get as hot as other over-ear cans, but they will get warmer than others on this list, but holy wow, these are like little pillows playing your tunes. My Gen Alpha kids especially love these when they’re on their bus and train commutes, and my daughter wears them to track exclusively. If you have sensory issues with clips or bone conduction, but you still want open-ear? Get these.

Skip it if: You have larger ears that tend to get sweaty. They can move a bit.

Garmin-logged miles: Me? 31.4. My kid? Well over 100.

Our verdict: On group runs and crowded paths, nobody wants to hear your playlist. JBL angles the speakers toward your ear to keep leakage down, and a 10-minute speed charge gets you three hours of listening.

The fit was mostly fine for me, but I did have some sliding when I picked up the pace. They don’t hug as much as other clips on the list do. I also noticed that the controls are a little tricky, but overall, pretty good.

Skip it if: You have smaller ears or do fast workouts. Some testers say the clips slide around.

Our verdict: If audiobooks and podcasts fuel your long runs, like they often do mine (I run faster listening to slasher novels—they may catch me) the LinkBuds Clip’s voice-boost mode helps narration cut through wind and traffic.

They’re an ADHD delight, as well. I love that you get nine hours per charge, but love even more that just a few minutes of charging can power a whole run. I don’t love the bass on these, but that’s ok, because these are my slasher buds. They fit really nicely, don’t stretch out, and the velvety texture is my favorite on this list.

Skip it if: You mostly listen to music. Testers found the bass weak and distant.

Every pair was logged as gear in Garmin Connect on every run, so the mileage in each review is exact, not estimated. Testing covered roads, trails, and treadmills, across easy runs, intervals, and long runs of two-plus hours. We rated:

All open-ear headphones leave your ear canal unsealed, but they deliver sound in different ways.

Clip-on open-ear earbuds cuff onto the outer ear or hook over the shell of your ear, with a small speaker aimed at the ear canal. They’re light, discreet, and sound fuller than bone conduction. Fit varies with ear shape.

Bone-conduction headphones sit on the cheekbones and behind the ear and send sound through vibration, leaving the ear canal fully clear. They offer the most ambient awareness, with less bass and a thinner sound.

Over-ear open headphones suspend larger speakers just off the ear. They give big sound and awareness, but they’re bulkier and less secure at speed.

They can make it easier to hear what’s around you, because nothing seals your ear canal. They don’t guarantee safety, though. At high volume, music can still mask a car, a cyclist’s bell, or a verbal warning, and speaker-based models compete more with loud traffic than bone conduction does. Keep the volume moderate, stay visually alert, and pair your headphones with lights and reflective gear in low light.

Can you hear traffic with open-ear headphones?
Yes, at moderate volume. How much you hear depends on the design and the volume, and bone conduction leaves the most room for ambient sound.

Do open-ear headphones stay on while running?
Most modern clip-on and bone-conduction models stay secure at running paces. Fit still varies with ear shape, so check the return policy.

Can you wear open-ear headphones with glasses?
Usually, yes. Clip-ons and bone-conduction headphones generally work well with glasses and sunglasses.

Do open-ear headphones leak sound?
Some sound leaks, especially at high volume. It’s noticeable in quiet gyms and on group runs but rarely an issue on busy roads.

Are open-ear headphones waterproof?
Most are sweat- and rain-resistant (IPX4 to IP57), not waterproof. For swimming, you need dedicated swim headphones.

Cat Bowen, senior editor of commerce; reviews, is a seasoned runner with more than 20 years of distance running experience, including dozens of marathons, half marathons, and even a few ultra marathons. For over a decade, she has tested parenting, fitness, home, and running gear and written in-depth guides to help readers with their next purchase. Holding multiple advanced degrees and currently studying kinesiology, Cat Bowen brings research-backed insight to all of her guides. Passionate about women’s health and neurodivergent inclusion, she advocates for closing research gaps and helping others—especially AudHD people—find joy in running and fitness.

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