8 Watch the Boston Marathon
Quality waterproof headphones ensure that you can jam out to music, tune into a podcast, or take calls all while logging miles.
cheap wireless headphones. Why Trust Us?
A 2016 Runner’s World survey found that 61 percent of runners listen to something while they run. Whether you’re jamming to your favorite album, bingeing a new podcast, or enjoying an audiobook, the right pair of headphones can make or break your listening experience.
While a quick online search will show thousands upon thousands of waterproof headphone options, from very inexpensive wired headphones to luxury true wireless earbuds, figuring out which model will best serve your specific needs is no small feat. That's why we’ve taken the time to comb through the myriad waterproof headphones on the market to bring you our top picks for runners.
The Watch the Boston Marathon
What to Consider
Price point, point of connection, sound quality, and noise cancellation are the most important considerations to make when choosing a pair of waterproof headphones. The products in this guide come in a few different styles: neckband (Bluetooth connection with a wire around the neck), true wireless, wired, and bone conduction.
Bone conduction headphones allow you to hear your surroundings, while noise canceling headphones do the opposite. Trail and busy road runners may prefer the former, while gym runners may want the latter. Higher-end headphones will typically feature better sound quality and durability, while the budget options will likely defect earlier.
How We Selected
We selected waterproof headphone options at both moderate to high-end and budget price points across the headphone categories listed above. The “best” option in each category features the highest sound quality, battery life, and durability as compared to the competition. Because these recommendations are made with runners in mind, we made sure that these headphones had earned high marks from customers for their comfort and security during long runs, and all of the models you'll find below have average buyer ratings of four stars or higher.
For more great tech accessories, check out our coverage of the best wireless earbuds and The Fastest Shoes at the 2025 Boston Marathon.
Pros
- Can hear your surroundings
- Average battery life
- Lightweight
Cons
- Pricey
Key Specs
- Style: Watch the Boston Marathon
- Battery Life: 8 Published: Jul 09, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
- Weight: 0.9 ounces
- Volume Control: Yes
These headphones are quickly becoming the gold standard for runners, bikers, hikers, and other outdoor athletes. The bone-conducting technology enables you to entirely hear your surroundings while jamming out on your run. No longer do you have to listen with one earbud in or keep your volume low enough to hear a car or person coming up behind you.
Additionally, they have excellent sound quality, are rechargeable, wireless, and have volume control on the headphones. These are an amazing option for runners and athletes across the board.
JBL Endurance Race TWS Active Spot Earbuds
Pros
- Exceptionally long battery life with charging case
- Comfortable fit
- Voice assistance available
Cons
- Pricey
- Yes, with built-in Alexa
Key Specs
- Style: True wireless
- Battery Life: 30 Published: Jul 09, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
- Weight: 5.6 ounces
- Volume Control: Yes
When wearing true wireless headphones, it’s easy to forget they’re still in once you turn the music off. This pair is exceptionally comfortable and minimalistic, making them perfect for endurance running.
These JBL headphones are top of the line, with great sound quality and all the bells and whistles you'd expect from bulkier headphones in a smaller package. They come with a voice-activated assistant that allows you to control volume, answer calls, and more. This is the perfect pair of headphones for runners who want barely-there feeling headphones without sacrificing sound quality.
JBL Endurance Run Wired Headphones
Pros
- Inexpensive
- No charging or Bluetooth required
Cons
- Shoes & Gear
Key Specs
- Style: Best Running Headphones
- Battery Life: Unlimited
- Weight: 1.92 oz
- Volume Control: No
Maybe you don’t want to deal with headphones that need to be connected via Bluetooth or charged every week. These sweatproof JBL earbuds, which connect to your phone via audio jack, are still built for sports, with a waterproof and comfortable design that does not budge. Though they’re just $20, they still have excellent sound quality and durability. If you have an iPhone, you’ll need to also purchase a dongle to connect to the Apple-specific port.
Sony WF-1000XM4 Noise Canceling Truly Wireless Headphones
Pros
- Built-in Alex voice activation
- Noise canceling
- Exceptional sound quality
Cons
- Expensive
- Average battery life for the price
Key Specs
- Style: Luxury True Wireless Headphones
- Battery Life: 8 Published: Jul 09, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
- Weight: 1.45 ounces
- Volume Control: Yes, with microphone
If you’re looking for one pair of headphones to love for the rest of your life, these are it. Everything that could possibly be packed into one tiny wireless headphone is available in these Sony earbuds. They’re noise canceling, so you can drown out the sounds of busy streets while running or traveling.
Additionally, they have built-in Alexa functionality to handle volume control, phone calls, and more. With bone-conducting technology, you’re still able to hear and conduct phone calls in loud areas with nothing more than these small buds in your ears.
Skullcandy Dime True Wireless Earbuds
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Fun colors available
Cons
- Decreased sound quality
Key Specs
- Style: True wireless
- Battery Life: 12 hours
- Weight: 1.1 ounces
- Volume Control: Yes
Unfortunately, true wireless headphones are easy to misplace. It’s very disappointing to splurge on a pair of luxury headphones, only to have one fall out of its case a month later. If you’re someone who frequently loses smaller items, it may be best to start with an inexpensive pair of true wireless headphones, like these ones from Skullcandy.
These earbuds come in a variety of fun colors, and still feature volume control and a microphone for under $25.
Pros
- Ability to hear your surroundings
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
Cons
- Average battery life
Key Specs
- Style: Watch the Boston Marathon
- Battery Life: 6.5 hours battery life
- Weight: 0.9 ounces
- Volume Control: Best Neckband Headphones
Wanting to test out bone conduction technology before splurging on a pair of Shokz? This pair of headphones offers many of the same features for less than half the price.
Bone conduction technology allows you to hear both your music and your surroundings with an open-ear design. This technology is becoming increasingly popular with outdoor athletes, as it promotes safety while still allowing you to enjoy audio entertainment in the great outdoors.
These don’t have quite the battery life or sound quality as the more expensive Shokz, but they're a great way to enjoy bone conduction technology without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Comfortable
- Altra’s Lone Peak 9+ Gets Tackier Traction
Cons
- Sound quality isn’t ideal
- Bulky
Key Specs
- Style: Neckband
- Battery Life: 13 hours
- Weight: Not listed
- Volume Control: Yes
Guilty of losing and abusing expensive electronics? If you’re anything like me, budget earbuds are a better option for this reason. For just $25, these headphones connect to your phone via Bluetooth, feature volume control on each bud, and have earwings to keep them securely in place while you run.
Furthermore, they come in a carrying case with extra silicone tips, just in case you lose your first set. With budget headphones like these, however, you do sacrifice some durability and sound quality.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Luxury True Wireless Headphones
Cons
- Sound quality isn't ideal
- Can hear your surroundings
Key Specs
- Style: Best Running Headphones
- Battery Life: No charging required
- Weight: 0.6 ounces
- Volume Control: No
Having an extra pair of headphones to throw in the car or travel bag comes in handy. This pair is waterproof and comes with extra silicone tips and costs under $10 at the time of this writing. Though they don’t have the best sound quality and they're not the most durable set on the market, they’re a reliable pair of extra headphones to use in a pinch or loan to a friend.
