3 things to pay attention to when buying sports headphones

There’s still time and a little “mini research” can save you a lot of trouble when it comes to potentially making the wrong purchase. So the question is, which running headphones will suit you best. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned runner looking to upgrade your gear for your next marathon, we’re here to point you in the right direction and help you get the best sports headphones for your needs.

As with any piece of equipment, there are many factors to consider before making the final purchase. While appearance is an important element for most runners, getting through long distances at your best takes more than a nice set of headphones. You have to consider audio performance, water resistance and overall fit, because no one wants uncomfortable headphones right?

To make the task at least a little easier, we have identified three basic areas that you should pay attention to when hunting for running headphones. Throughout the guide below, we've also included some recommendations that we think best fit each element.

Awareness of surroundings

If you choose a set of noise-cancelling headphones, your listening experience will likely be smooth and uninterrupted. While this generally provides excellent sound quality, it's important to be aware of your surroundings while running, especially if you're running through cities and more congested areas.

While some of the best noise-cancelling headphones can help improve overall sound quality, they lack the ability to be aware of your surroundings. When it comes to running, personal safety should come first. With that in mind, it's worth checking out which bone-conduction headphones might be an alternative.

The best headphones of its kind, such as H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport, they let outside noise in by sending sound vibrations through the bones in your ear and jaw, leaving room for the sounds of traffic, cyclists and, say, loud drivers.

You will achieve the same effect with the best “open ear” headphones, such as Shokz OpenFit, which don't place the technology directly in your ear canal, leaving room for you to take in your surroundings. If you don't like the "open ear" design, the transparency modes found on earbuds like the AirPods Pro 2 could help if you keep the volume at a low to medium level.

Water resistance

This one is probably pretty obvious right? Water resistance is definitely the next very important factor when buying running or sports headphones in general. Somehow it even seems to be becoming a more important factor year by year, as the amount of precipitation is increasing and also everything indicates that the weather will be even more capricious in the future.

The easiest way to check water resistance is to look at the IP rating. What exactly is an IP rating? Simply put, headphones rated IPX4 or higher will provide a reliable level of water resistance. This means that such headphones can be worn in the rain without any worries and we do not need to worry about damaging them or affecting their performance in any way. The online portal Tech Radar recommends, for example, two models of headphones that offer a high standard of water resistance: JBL Reflect Aero (IP68), or already mentioned H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport (IPX8).

In addition to easily surviving rainy conditions, headphones with IPX4 or higher water resistance standards are also sweat resistant. This is an important piece of information, especially for those who engage in high-intensity sports. If, for example, you are a regular attender of HIT exercises, the rain probably doesn't bother you, but you also need to think about water resistance against sweat. A very popular model for such occasions for sure Beats Powerbeats Pro (IPX4), which are headphones that, among other things, also have a long battery life, which is certainly useful for long-distance runners.

The fit

One thing runners especially appreciate is comfort. The same applies to sports shoes as it does to headphones. There is nothing better than quality, comfortable headphones.

Unlike classic and rather than fashionable headphones, sports headphones are important in that they provide a secure fit, which of course allows for a reliable running experience. Many manufacturers have approached headphone design in a different way, and the most popular is certainly the “over-ear” design, such as the Shokz OpenFit model.

Shokz's extensive line of over-ear headphones puts them at the top of the list of highly reliable devices when it comes to sports technology. However, Shokz also specializes in headphones with a strap that goes over the head and neck, such as the model  Shokz OpenRun Pro. Otherwise, the latter are in a higher price range, but they are worth the investment if comfort and audio quality are your priorities.

In the last few years, brands like Bose have taken a different approach to headphone design. We're talking about the "open-ear" principle, which with the so-called "clip" style ensures that the ears remain open, allowing us to be more aware of our surroundings. Huawei has done the same with its latest Freeclip headphones, which we are also testing in the editorial office.