Best running headphones 2019

The fifth-generation of the Freedom earbuds, these Bluetooth sports headphones are remarkably small and light. They come with various sizes of foam and silicone tips, plus different sizes of 'wingtips' which help to lock the buds into your ear.

It takes a while to try out all the combinations and figure out which works best (you should also try wrapping the cable over your ears as well as dangling down under them) but once set up, they're super secure.

We tried them while running and although sound quality was great with no dropouts, the fact they seal so well means you can't hear the outside world. That's ok unless you're running in an urban environment where you need to cross roads.

Battery life is only four hours, but a charging clip attaches to the remote control and gives you an extra four hours. The microphone is also on the remote, and it works well for phone calls even if it's behind your head.

There's a companion app called MySound that lets you change the EQ and saves the settings to the headphones themselves. It's only a shame they can't store multiple presets so you can switch between them without the app.

They come in various colours, but if you want Rose Gold or Space Grey to match your iPhone, you'll have to buy them (for the same £169.99 price) from Apple.

Launched at £199.99 but now available for about half that, the Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless in-ear headphones offer something slightly different to the standard headphone experience. As well as Bluetooth connectivity, the headphones have a built-in heart rate monitor, negating the need for a smart strap over the chest (which similar products require). This, along with your own built-in virtual trainer and dedicated smartphone app provides users with a pair of headphones that’ll put you through your paces.

All you need to do is select your workout before hand on the app, and the headphones will provide live audio feedback on both your BPM and HR Zone, while also getting updates on your overall distance by using your phone’s GPS. The data is all collected and digested, and is available to view in-app after your workout – nice and easy. If you’re interested, you can check out our full Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless headphones review.

Veho’s ZS-2 in-ear headphones are the cheapest in our roundup at only £9.99, making them ideal for those of us that always seem to misplace our headphones. The in-ears feature ear-hooks that should help the earbuds stay securely in place during even the most vigorous workouts, and the anti-flex cable should help avoid any tangled wires. The IP64 rating of these headphones mean they’ll be relatively protected from water, rain and sweat, although we wouldn’t submerge them to test it out!

The ZS-2’s feature 10mm acoustic drivers but, at this price, quality isn’t mind-blowing. If you get the best-fitting earbud tip (the headphones come with a few tips) the audio quality is surprisingly decent.

Skullcandy’s Method headphones were also designed with exercise in mind, and boasts some interesting features. The first is a specially designed earbud that the company claims is so comfortable and snug that "you’ll barely know it’s there" and the accompanying Sticky Gels technology should stop your headphones from falling out. The company claims that the technology makes the headphones "30 percent more secure" but we’re not quite sure how they worked out that percentage…

Further to this, the Method headphones are sweat resistant, and are covered in a hydrophobic nano coating that should protect the more sensitive components within the headphones. The Method’s also feature ‘Supreme Sound technology’. Put simply, for £25, they sound decent with punchy bass.

And there's good news if you want a Bluetooth version. For around £45, you can get the Method Wireless.

Yurbuds Inspire 300 in-ear headphones are some of the more interesting sport headphones currently on the market, namely because of the Twistlock technology. The company claims that due to the unique design of the Yurbuds, they’ll “never” fall out once locked in place and this makes them well-suited for sports.

The headphones come with multiple tips to find the perfect fit, and also include additional sets to provide a decent level of noise cancellation.

If that wasn’t enough, the cable itself is made from Kevlar (yes, the stuff used in body armour) which should make them pretty durable. The headphones also boast JBL Signature Sound technology, which deliver warm bass that's robust but not overpowering.

Overall, they're good value at this price.

The Sennheiser PMX 685i in-ear headphones are some the lightest around at only 9g, making them ideal if you’re looking for a lightweight pair of headphones. As you can see, these are neckband headphones, which will rest at the back of your head when worn, and should provide some extra security when exercising – the last thing you want is to constantly keep putting the headphones back on, right?

The headphones feature a remote control and built-in microphone for music control and taking calls, and they can even be rinsed clean after an especially sweaty workout.

Unlike many earbuds here which rely on a tight seal to provide good bass, the 685i puts safety first and - although bass is compromised - these are surprisingly good for running or cycling as you can still hear what's happening around you. (And yes, they even fit when you're wearing a cycle helmet.)

What they're not so good for is indoor exercise on the floor where the band might get in the way. But for some fitness enthusiasts, the price and design will be just right.

You can spend a whole lot of money on Bose headphones, but not the SoundSport, which are considerably more affordable than the flagship models.

These aren't wireless, though, so this goes some way to explaining the sub £100 price.

The earbuds have 'StayHear' tips that’ll fit to the shape of your ears, which should stop them from falling out, and there are three different sizes to try.

The headphones are also sweat and water resistant, making them ideal for exercising outside. They also feature an inline microphone and a remote control for music playback and taking calls (be sure to buy the right version for your phone - Android or iPhone). Plus, they come in five different colours.

Like the Sennheiser PMX 685i, the SoundSport allows external sound to filter in, which is good if you don't want to isolate traffic noise when you're out running. But if you do want to, many owners recommend spending around £8 on a pair of StayHear+ or Ultra tips.

Read next: 20 best headphones to buy in 2016

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