We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-06 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want true wireless earbuds that stay put through sweat and rain on a run, choose JBL Tune Flex; if you need over-ear cans that fold up small and have a longer single-charge listening stretch for running, choose Skullcandy Hesh ANC.
• JBL Tune Flex — biggest strength: in-ear, IPX4 sweatproof and water-resistant design with 12mm drivers and up to 32 hours of total playtime (8 in the buds plus 24 in the case).
• JBL Tune Flex — biggest trade-off: it's an in-ear bud, so fit and ear-tip size matter a lot, and the case adds bulk you have to carry.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest strength: over-ear 4-mic active noise cancelling with a flat-folding, collapsible frame and Tile finding technology built in.
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC — biggest trade-off: 22 hours of battery life on a single charge, with no charging case to top it up mid-run.
• Who the JBL Tune Flex is for: runners and gym-goers who want a locked-in, sweatproof bud with a pocketable charging case.
• Who the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is for: anyone who prefers an over-ear fit, wants the headphones to fold flat, and needs a longer continuous session per charge.
The Tune Flex is a true wireless earbud built around a stick form factor, and JBL pairs that shape with 12mm dynamic drivers to push its Pure Bass Sound. For running, the part that matters most is the IPX4 water resistance and sweatproofing. That's the spec that tells you these buds are meant to survive a workout and a downpour, not just a commute. The in-ear placement also means they sit inside your ear rather than around it, which is generally the more secure option when you're moving.
Noise control here is active noise cancelling with two microphones, and JBL adds Smart Ambient: Ambient Aware lets you tune into your surroundings, and TalkThru lets you hold a quick conversation without pulling the buds out. That's a genuinely useful pairing for a runner who has to cross a street or hear a car behind them. Calls get four microphones in total, plus VoiceAware, which lets you dial in how much of your own voice gets routed back to you. Battery is rated up to 32 hours total (8 plus 24), dropping to 6 hours in the buds plus 18 in the case with noise cancelling engaged. Speed Charge gives you 2 hours of playtime from a 10-minute top-up.
Skullcandy Hesh ANC: Who It's For
The Hesh ANC takes the opposite approach: these are over-ear Bluetooth headphones in a flat-folding, collapsible frame. Skullcandy builds in 4-mic active noise cancelling so you can disappear into music, movies or podcasts, and the over-ear cup design is the classic choice for people who find in-ear buds uncomfortable over long stretches. For running, the collapsible build and lightweight design are the selling points — they pack down for a gym bag without giving up durability.
Battery is rated up to 22 hours, and Rapid Charge gives you 3 hours of listening from a 10-minute charge. That's the trade-off to understand: 22 hours on a single charge is a long continuous session with no case to manage, but there's no case to top the headphones up either. Controls are push-button rather than touch — answer or reject calls, adjust volume, skip or repeat tracks — which some people prefer because buttons don't misfire the way touch panels can when you're sweaty or wearing gloves.
Skullcandy also includes Tile finding technology, so you can locate the headphones near and far once you register the product in the Tile App. The bundle ships with an extra 1.6 ft USB-C to USB-C charging cable. Buy the Hesh ANC if you want an over-ear fit, a folding design for portability, and a long uninterrupted listening window. Skip it if you need the smallest possible footprint, want a charging case, or specifically want in-ear buds that seal inside the ear canal. The age range is listed as Adult.
• Best for running → JBL Tune Flex. IPX4 water resistance and sweatproofing is the spec that matters when you're moving and sweating; the Hesh ANC sheets list no water-resistance rating.
• Best for a long single-charge session → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. 22 hours on one charge with no case involved, versus 8 hours in the JBL buds before you reach for the case.
• Best for total listening time with a case → JBL Tune Flex. Up to 32 hours total (8 plus 24), or 6 plus 18 with noise cancelling on, topped up by Speed Charge.
• Best for over-ear comfort → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Over-ear cups, foldable and collapsible, which is the shape to pick if in-ear tips bother you.
• Best for finding lost headphones → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Built-in Tile finding technology after you register the product in the Tile App; the JBL app offers a find-my-earbuds function instead.
• Best for situational awareness on a run → JBL Tune Flex. Ambient Aware and TalkThru let you hear your surroundings or take a quick chat without removing the buds.
• Best for portability → Skullcandy Hesh ANC. Flat-folding design packs down; the JBL alternative is a charging case you carry in a pocket.
• Best for call clarity → JBL Tune Flex. Four microphones plus VoiceAware for controlling how much of your own voice you hear.
My Verdict
For running specifically, I'd buy the JBL Tune Flex. In my opinion, IPX4 sweatproofing, an in-ear seal that stays put, and Ambient Aware for hearing traffic are the three things a runner actually needs, and the case means you can top up between sessions. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is the better call if you want an over-ear fit and a single 22-hour charge with no case to manage — but the lack of a water-resistance rating makes me hesitant to recommend it as a running-first pair. If you're specifically after the best ANC on-ear headphones for running rather than in-ear, the Hesh ANC's 4-mic cancelling and folding frame are still worth a look. If you want the best low latency open ear headphones for running, neither of these is that product — both are sealed designs.
They're headphones that connect over Bluetooth with no cable and use microphones to actively reduce surrounding sound. Both picks here qualify: the JBL Tune Flex is a true wireless in-ear bud with 2-mic ANC, and the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is an over-ear model with 4-mic ANC.
Microphones pick up ambient noise and the headphones generate sound to cancel it out. The Hesh ANC uses four microphones for this; the Tune Flex uses two and adds Smart Ambient, so you can switch to Ambient Aware or TalkThru when you want to hear what's around you.
In my opinion the JBL Tune Flex fits running better, because it's IPX4 water resistant and sweatproof, sits in-ear, and lets you hear your surroundings via Ambient Aware. The Skullcandy Hesh ANC is over-ear and foldable with longer single-charge battery, but its sheets list no water-resistance rating.
It depends on fit and battery habits, not on specs being objectively better. Pick the Hesh ANC if you want over-ear cups, a 22-hour single charge, Tile finding, and a folding frame; pick the Tune Flex if you want in-ear buds, a charging case, and sweatproofing. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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