What Headphones Are Good for Running and Exercising?

Driven by the fast-paced modern life, more and more people are less exercising and more staying at home. This trend is not necessarily a good thing. But there are still many people who choose to give up their rest time and spend part of their time running and exercising every week, even in the gym. So, what kind of person are you? Today we will talk about the topic of running, and also talk about which headphones we like to wear when we run, and which headphones are more suitable for running.

I): Which running headphone is the best?

1. Semi-in-ear headphones for running, recommended index: ★★★★

I believe that until today, TWS wireless Bluetooth headsets are still our first choice. As for the semi-in-ear headphones, due to their portability, comfort, and applicability in various scenarios, I believe that many people are currently using semi-in-ear headphones as running equipment, and I did the same before.

 However, semi-in-ear headphones are not without disadvantages, such as: easy to fall, and it will fall if you do some difficult and large-scale movements. Secondly, semi-in-ear headphones basically have no noise reduction function, so you can't enjoy pure sound quality during sports and running.

 2. In-ear headphones for running, recommended index: ★★★

In-ear headphones are also currently recommended by many people. It is nothing more than two extra ear caps and noise reduction functions. Many in-ear headphones are equipped with ear caps of different sizes, which can be adapted to people of different ear sizes and help users better isolate external sounds.

 But why do I not recommend in-ear headphones for running? I'm only giving it three stars because it is prone to danger. Because some in-ear headphones can easily isolate the external sound completely due to the physical noise reduction plus their own ANC or ENC or CVC noise reduction function, even when crossing the road, vehicles passing by can't be noticed,which is very dangerous.

 However, some in-ear headphones with better quality and functions are equipped with multiple modes, such as mild noise reduction mode, deep noise reduction mode, transparent mode, etc., which are relatively safe.

 3. Bone conduction running headphones, recommended index: ★★★★★

At present, bone conduction headphones are still relatively suitable for running and sports. Due to the design of the open ears, the sound is transmitted through the ear bones, and the sound can be heard without being in the ear. This kind of headphone seems to have natural advantages for sports and running. In addition, when we run daily, we often sweating and need to be cleaned, and bone conduction headphones are also relatively waterproof.

 The other is the built-in memory function of bone conduction headphones, which can be convenient for those who don’t want to carry mobile phones while running. A bone conduction headphone can act as an MP3, which can open both ears and reduce the burden. It is indeed suitable for running. But then again, some big-name bone conduction headphones do not support built-in memory, which is actually worse, please pay attention to this before buying bone conduction headphones for running.

 4. Air conduction headphones for running, recommended index: ★★★★

Air conduction earphones are bone conduction headphones improved from bone conduction headphones. Its shape is exactly the same as bone conduction headphones, but the principle of sound production is quite different. Air conduction headphones have the same sounding principle as the headphones we use every day, but they can also listen to songs without putting them in the ears. It can be said that air-conduction earphones have the advantages of bone conduction headphones, and at the same time are more in line with the hearing experience of normal people.

 Another advantage of air conduction headphones is that they will not have the tingling sensation of bone conduction headphones, but there are also disadvantages. For example, air-conduction headphones have air holes, so they are not as waterproof as bone conduction headphones. As for the problem of sound leakage, so it is not the best choice headphones for running.

 5. Neck-mounted earphones for running, recommended index: ★★★

Neck-mounted headphones are also suitable for running and sports . They are also worn behind the head, somewhat like bone conduction headphones, but their coils may be heavier and longer, so there may be more weight and discomfort during running. Some. Due to their own organizational structure, neck-mounted headphones also have certain advantages, such as stronger battery life and better sound quality, which is why many people choose neck-mounted headphones.

 6. Head-mounted headsets, recommended index: ★★

Head-mounted headsets are not really suitable for running, even if you wear wireless type. But you will find that many NBA players like to wear head-mounted headsets while practicing and listening to songs. The disadvantage of the head-mounted headsets is that it is bulky, relatively uncomfortable to wear, and not suitable for large-scale movements, let alone jumping.

 But it also has advantages, such as good sound quality, good sound insulation, and good noise reduction function, and it can keep your ears warm when exercising outdoors in winter.

 In this way, you should know which headphone you choose is better! From my experience, the comfort of sports headphones is always the first. As long as the sound quality is good, you don’t need to be so entangled! On the whole, for sports, my suggestion is bone conduction headphones > air conduction earphones > semi-in-ear earphones > in-ear earphones > neck-mounted earphones >  head-mounted headsets

II): Explanation of bone conduction running headphones

 Many people may have heard of bone conduction headphones, but are not particularly familiar with them.

 1: Working principle:

 Bone conduction running headphones are not worn directly in the ear like traditional earphones but transmit sound by vibrating the cartilage of the temple and ear, and it does not need to transmit sound through the eardrum. Therefore, it has this feature that allows it to be used for a long time without feeling pressure on the ears.

Its working principle brings many advantages and makes it the best running headphones.

 2: Disadvantages:

① Easy to leak sound, not suitable for public places. The disadvantage of bone conduction running headphones is that the sound outlet is not blocked,so when the bone conduction vibrator vibrates the cartilage, it also vibrates the surrounding air, which is prone to sound leakage. Therefore, it is not suitable for use in public places such as trains, coffee shops, and libraries.

②Vulnerable to noise. Because the bone conduction headphones do not block the ears when worn, the noise is easily transmitted to the ears through the ear canal, which interferes with the sound of the earphones. As a result, bone conduction headphones can be difficult to hear on windy days, on roads with heavy traffic, or in crowds. If you want to suppress noise as much as possible, choose a model with noise cancellation. 

③The price is generally more expensive. The price of ordinary earphones is about 30 US dollars, while the price of bone conduction headphones is 50-150 US dollars, which is relatively high.

 3: Advantages:

① There is no burden on the ears, and it is not easy to get tired after wearing it for a long time. bone conduction running headphones don't need to be inserted directly into the ear to use, so its advantage is that there is no pressure on the ear when worn, and it does not cause ear pain or fatigue. It's not only suitable for long online meetings but also useful for working while listening to music.

②It is very suitable for "listening while listening" because you can hear the ambient sound. bone conduction headphones that won't clog your ear holes are great for the "listen-while-you-listen" scenario, as you can hear your surroundings. For example, it fits perfectly when you need to listen to music at work or pay attention to the sound of cars or bicycles while running.This also makes it the safest running headphones.

③ Safety: I believe that many people will have a question, that is, are bone conduction headphones harmful to our ears, and will they cause hearing loss? Because it does not transmit sound through the eardrum, it will not put pressure on your ears, and it will not cause hearing loss even if you wear it for a long time. 

In addition, it can effectively reduce the risk of so-called "smart phone deafness" such as noise-induced deafness and acoustic deafness, one of the modern diseases. Therefore, some rumors about hearing damage caused by bone conduction running headphones are incorrect. On the contrary, it can protect hearing very well. Compared with traditional air conduction earphones, it is undoubtedly healthier.

 Because it can transmit sound without passing through the eardrum, some people with hearing impairment can hear the sound through its assistance. It is very effective for presbycusis because many presbycusis are caused by eardrum damage. However, according to published research results, it is not very effective for sensorineural hearing loss caused by auditory nerve damage.

III): bone conduction running headphones recommendation

 The following six bone conduction headphones are based on my own experience. You can choose according to your budget.

 No. 1 Wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction running headphones

Recommended reason:

Wissonly bone conduction headphones have been the fastest-growing product in the past six months. I saw many channel owners recommending it on Youtube. It is a very popular brand among sports fans.

 Wissonly Hi Runner running bone conduction headphones are open-ear design, worn directly on the temple, so your ear canal is completely open, which makes it easy for you to hear the sound of cars and traffic lights in outdoor sports scenes such as running and walking, which makes it the safest headphone for running. 

 In terms of comfort, the overall frame of Wissonly Hi Runner is made of adjustable aviation-grade titanium steel, which can adapt to different sizes of head circumference and ensure the stability of wearing, so that it will not fall during exercise. The surface of its earphones is made of high-tech low-sensitivity silicone material, which does not contain chemical ingredients to avoid allergies. The overall touch of the earphones is as silky as a baby's skin, avoiding discomfort when worn for a long time. And its weight is very light, less than 30g, so it will not feel heavy when worn. After wearing it and taking it off at the end of the run, this Hi Runner didn't allow me any extra adjustments. As the flagship outdoor sports model of the Wissonly brand, it is the most comfortable and cost-effective model among all the current bone conduction models.

 Although the name of Wissonly Hi Runner is Hi Runner, it also has an IPX8 waterproof rating higher than the industry standard, which allows it to work normally during swimming and diving, which is a great advantage of it.

 It is also equipped with 32G built-in storage, which can store 5000 songs, and supports two working modes of Bluetooth and MP3. In the scene of underwater sports or without a mobile phone, you can completely use it as a Bluetooth MP3 player.

 Wissonly Hi Runner is the flagship product of Wissonly, and the overall function is also the most complete. In terms of sound quality, this bone conduction headphone uses the latest research results of the wissonly laboratory, which increases the vibration area of the vibrator by 35%. At the same time, it also optimizes the sound transmission direction to make the sound more concentrated and the music more spatial. And it has a good performance in treble and bass.

 Wissonly has made a lot of efforts to reduce its sound leakage. Its fully wrapped design reduces the vibration of the shell, and through structural optimization, the sound waves of the sound leakage are offset, thus avoiding 90% of the sound leakage. Wissonly Hi Runner The sound leakage reduction performance is much better than the bone conduction headphones of the same gear on the market.

 In terms of price, it only costs $99.99, which is very cost-effective!

 NO.2 Shokz OPENRUN bone conduction running headphones

Recommended reason:

"OPENRUN" is the main model of Shokz, a big brand in the field of bone conduction, with a wide range of high-performance headphones.

 This headset is a wireless headset, and it has several features:

1)Support magnetic fast charging: charge for 10 minutes, use time up to 1.5 hours

2)High-level waterproof performance: dustproof and waterproof performance by IP67 standards, it can work normally when sweating or rain

3)Comfortable to wear: Weighing just 26 grams, the earphones have a soft surface for a comfortable open-ear earphone

 But when the volume is high, there will still be a problem of sound leakage. It only supports Bluetooth mode, and there is no MP3 mode.

 The price is $129.95, which belongs to the positioning of high-end bone conduction running headphones.

 NO.3 Philips A6606 bone conduction running headphones

Recommended reason:

Philips is a well-known name in consumer electronics, and their bone conduction headphones are really good.

A6606 bone conduction headphone is the flagship product of Philips, designed for running, it has several features:

1)Night running light design: it has an LED light behind the earphones to remind people or cars behind to notice your position when running at night;

2)Firm and comfortable to wear: It conforms to ergonomic design and is firm to wear. The surface of the earphone is made of soft silicone, which makes it more comfortable to wear;

3)High waterproof level: If it has reached the IP67 waterproof level, daily exercise sweating, or rain, is not a problem.

Its price is $154. Although it is a product of Philips, its cost performance is average.

 NO.4 Boco earsopen FIT BT-1 bone conduction running headphones

Recommended reason:

Boco is the first company in Japan to produce bone conduction headphones, and the appearance of "FIT BT-1" is attractive.

it has several features:

1)Good wearing experience: the headphone frame is made of adjustable titanium alloy, and the surface is made of soft silicone, which at the same time makes it fit and durable.

2)Excellent sound quality: Its high-pitched and low-pitched sound quality is very good, and you can experience sound quality with a rich sense of presence from high to low bass.

3)Stylish appearance: the smooth curved appearance makes it very fashionable.

 It's priced at $133, neither too high nor too low.

 NO.5 Boco WR-5 HK-1002 bone conduction running headphones

Recommended reason:

WR-5 HK-1002 is a wired bone conduction headset from Boco, a leading manufacturer of bone conduction in Japan.

it has several features

1)Secure to wear: it is a hook-type wearing method, which can be firmly fixed on the ear;

2)Good sound quality: It comes with a dedicated power amplifier to improve volume and sound quality

3)Unique features of wired headsets: don't worry about power, and don't worry about Bluetooth connection problems.

 At $105, it's relatively expensive for wired bone conduction running headphones.

 NO.6 Haylou PurFree bone conduction running headphones

Recommended reason:

PurFree is a wireless bone conduction headphone, from a Chinese startup company --- Haylou

it has several features:

1. Comfortable to wear: its weight is only 28g, it does not feel heavy when worn, and the side pressure is relatively small. The surface of the earphone is made of soft and skin-friendly materials, which is very comfortable;

2. The sound quality is good: it is equipped with Directional audio directional technology, so that the timbre is concentrated and not scattered, thereby enhancing the rhythm of the music.

3. Battery life: It can play music continuously for 8 hours, and it also supports fast charging.

4. The waterproof level is not high, only supports Bluetooth mode, no MP3 mode, and no built-in storage, these are its shortcomings.

 Its price is $109.99, which is a bit high for a new product from Start-up, and the product is not very powerful.

Summary

Bone conduction running headphones are becoming more and more popular, and there are many models. When purchasing, you should consider several key points: function, wearing comfort, good sound quality, and less sound leakage. Price to choose. Among the 6 products recommended above, Wissonly Hi Runner running headphone is a good choice for a comprehensive comparison of price and performance.