When it comes to trail running and running, having wireless headphones, whether bone conduction or not, is a real asset. These devices offer total freedom of movement, eliminating the inconvenience of wires that can get tangled up or restrict your movements. Wireless headphones allow runners to stay connected to their favourite music or podcasts, motivating and punctuating their efforts while remaining attentive to the environment around them. Bone conduction models are particularly popular for their ability to transmit sound directly through the bones of the skull, leaving the ears free, which is crucial for safety, allowing runners to be aware of their immediate surroundings, nearby vehicles, other runners or wildlife. So, whether it's for motivation, comfort or safety, wireless headphones are proving to be a great companion for running and trail running enthusiasts.
Here's a look at the best headphones and earphones for running.
Contents
Shokz OpenRun: bone conduction headphones offering the best value for money
Product presentation
Shokz OpenRun headphones are an ideal companion for your sports sessions, allowing you to enjoy both your music and the sounds of your surroundings. These lightweight, snug-fitting headphones feature PremiumPitch2+ technology for rich, dynamic stereo sound, with enhanced bass and reduced vibration thanks to their angled drivers. They work by bone conduction, emitting small vibrations for clear sound without obstructing your ears, and they don't get in your way thanks to Bluetooth connectivity for freedom of movement.
Water and perspiration resistant with IP67 certification, it is made from titanium, giving it durability and flexibility. The headset also reduces noise leakage thanks to LeakSlayer technology and ensures crystal-clear voice calls by attenuating surrounding noise. With a battery life of 8 hours for music and 10 days on standby, they'll last you a long time in all your activities, recharging completely in just 1.5 hours. Its control buttons make it easy to use, and it's designed to protect the battery from moisture when charging. It also weighs just 26 grams, so you'll almost forget about it during your sports sessions, whether you're running, trail running or even cycling.
Product features
| Features | Shokz OpenRun |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes (10m range) |
| Autonomy | 8 hours on |
| Waterproofing | Up to 1m for 30min |
| Microphone | Yes |
Advantages & disadvantages
Benefits
✅ Lightweight and comfortable
✅ Clear, dynamic sound
✅ Good autonomy
✅ Conservation of ambient sound
Disadvantages
❌ Price
Our opinion of the product
Shokz, leader in the design of headphones and earphones for sport, has come up with a high-quality product that is perfectly suited to outdoor sports. This product offers excellent value for money. The on-board technology allows runners to listen to whatever they want without being cut off from the outside world.
Shokz OpenFit: Best wireless headphones for running
Product presentation
Shokz OpenFit earphones are both innovative and lightweight, offering a new way of experiencing your music and staying connected to your environment, whether on your daily commute or during your sporting activities (particularly important when running and cycling). Thanks to their ear-free design, they let you enjoy your favourite tunes while keeping an ear on the outside world.
The DirectPitch technology ensures rich, balanced sound throughout the entire sound range. The OpenBass algorithm enhances bass for an immersive experience. Thanks to the Bluetooth connection and the Shokz app, you can personalise your audio experience with a variety of settings and equalisation modes. Even if you're not a DJ, you can still personalise the sound coming out of your headphones.
These headphones also make it easier to take calls thanks to a dual microphone system that filters out ambient noise, providing enhanced voice clarity. They're designed for long-lasting comfort, with a double layer of silicone that adapts to the shape of your ears and IP54 certification for water resistance, ideal for rainy outings on the run.
With a battery life of 7 hours, extendable up to 28 hours with the charging case, Shokz OpenFit are ready to take you through the day. What's more, their quick-charge function ensures an hour's listening time after just five minutes' charging. With touchpads for easy control and an ergonomic ear hook, they combine technology and comfort to make you forget you're wearing them.
Product features
| Features | Shokz OpenFit |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Autonomy | 7 hours of listening |
| Waterproofing | Sweat resistance |
| Microphone | Yes, with ambient noise reduction |
Advantages & disadvantages
Benefits
✅ Conservation of ambient sound
✅ Sound quality
✅ Lightweight and comfortable
✅ Price
Disadvantages
❌ Fairly poor sealing
Our opinion of the product
This is an excellent product for music lovers practising sport outdoors. Extremely lightweight and noise-permeable, these headphones allow any sportsman or woman to listen to whatever they want while out and about.
Just be careful not to use the headphones underwater or in heavy rain.
Haylou PureFree BC01 : Alternative bone conduction headphones
Product presentation
Haylou PurFree BC01 headphones are specially designed for sports enthusiasts, offering a quality sound experience via bone conduction, allowing sound to be transmitted directly through without occluding the ear canal. This method ensures that you remain fully aware of your surroundings while enjoying clear listening without the discomfort of in-ear headphones.
Its lightweight, comfortable design is ideal for prolonged use, especially during physical activity. Weighing just 28g and made with a titanium frame and skin-friendly silicone, it offers excellent comfort even during intensive training sessions.
In terms of technical specifications, the headset uses Bluetooth version 5.2 for a stable connection with a transmission range of 10 metres (more than enough for running). It promises up to 8 hours of autonomy on a single charge, which takes just 1 hour and 30 minutes. The headphones support SBC/aptx audio codecs for optimised sound quality. With all these features, the Haylou PurFree BC01 is a solid choice for those looking for effective, comfortable sports headphones at a respectable price.
Product features
| Features | Haylou PureFree BC01 |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes, 10m range |
| Autonomy | 8 hours running time |
| Waterproofing | IP67 water-resistant |
| Microphone | Yes + ambient noise reduction |
Advantages & disadvantages
Benefits
✅ Excellent value for money
✅ Bone conduction
✅ Very satisfactory sound quality
✅ Product seal
Disadvantages
❌ Can do better in terms of sound
Our opinion of the product
This is an excellent alternative to the Shokz earphones. It's undoubtedly the best value for money. If you're looking for a pair of bone-conducting earphones, you might want to consider this model, which has all the features a runner would expect from sports earphones.
Jabra Elite 8 active: Running headphones designed for versatility
Product presentation
The Jabra Elite 8 Active headphones are designed to enhance your sporting activities and everyday life with a range of advanced features. They're our editorial darlings!
They offer superior sound quality thanks to Dolby technology, ensuring total immersion in your music with detailed sound reproduction. Via the Jabra Sound+ app, you can easily deactivate this function to remain attentive to your surroundings (which we strongly advise you to do for your own safety 😉.
Their durability is certified by the military standard MIL-STD-810H, offering resistance to water, drops and dust, making them reliable for all types of adventure. ShakeGrip technology ensures a secure fit, even during intense movement. A major asset for us trail runners!
Connectivity is simplified by the ability to pair them with a connected watch, allowing you to access your music without needing your phone. With 8 hours of battery life and a further 24 hours thanks to the charging case, these headphones will be with you all day, so there's no need to charge them every night.
Finally, these headphones guarantee clear calls, equipped with six microphones that actively filter out outside noise, adjusting automatically for effective noise reduction.
Product features
| Features | Jabra Elite 8 active |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Autonomy | 8 hours running time |
| Waterproofing | Water and dust resistant |
| Microphone | Yes with ambient noise reduction |
Advantages & disadvantages
Benefits
✅ Excellent sound quality
✅ Possibility of having ambient noise or not
✅ Good autonomy
✅ Sealing
Disadvantages
❌ Price
Our opinion of the product
These are our editorial favourites. An excellent product, they can be used for all activities, whether you're indoors or outdoors. Over and above all the product's sound qualities and comfort, it allows runners, cyclists and other sports enthusiasts to benefit from a product that lets you listen to what you want while retaining (or not) ambient noise.