How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want an open-ear sport headphone that keeps your ears completely unblocked and your surroundings audible at all times, choose Sony Float Run Open-Ear; if you need true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, an IP68 waterproof and dustproof build, and marathon-level battery life, choose JBL Endurance Race 2.
• Sony Float Run Open-Ear — biggest strength: a genuinely off-ear, neckband design with 16mm dynamic drivers, so you hear your music and the traffic around you at the same time, with nothing pressing on or plugging your ear canals.
• Sony Float Run Open-Ear — biggest trade-off: no noise cancelling at all, "None" in the specs, and 7 hours of playback per charge, which is modest if you want to disappear into your playlist for a long session.
• JBL Endurance Race 2 — biggest strength: a rugged IP68 rating on the buds (fully dustproof and waterproof, submersible beyond a meter), plus Active Noise Cancelling and 48 hours of total playback with the charging case.
• JBL Endurance Race 2 — biggest trade-off: they are in-ear buds that seal your canal, so you're relying on ANC and Smart Ambient to manage the outside world, and the charging case itself is only IPX2, so wet buds need drying before they go back in.
• Who Sony Float Run is for: runners, walkers and outdoor athletes who prioritize awareness, comfort and an unblocked ear over isolation or battery.
• Who JBL Endurance Race 2 is for: gym-goers, swimmers-adjacent athletes and anyone who wants serious water protection, noise cancelling and long battery life in a sealed true-wireless package.
The Sony Float Run is built around a single design idea: keep the ear open. Instead of pushing a tip into your canal, the drivers sit off your ear, and a neckband holds everything in place. Sony pairs that with 16mm dynamic drivers and precise tuning, and the stated goal is a more natural, wider sound rather than a pressurized, stuffed-up listening experience. The result, per the specs, is a headphone that lets you hear the world around you as well as your music — which is exactly the point for anyone running near traffic, on shared paths or in busy parks.
Where it gives ground is isolation and battery. Noise control is listed as "None," so you're not buying these to block out a noisy gym or a plane cabin — you're buying them to stay in touch with your environment. The rated battery life is 7 hours per charge with a 3-hour charge time, which comfortably covers a daily run or a long training block but won't get you through a multi-day trip without charging. Connectivity is Bluetooth with a 10-meter range, controls are physical buttons on a remote-style module, and the IPX4 rating handles sweat and splashes but not submersion. In my opinion, this is the pick for the outdoor athlete who treats awareness as a feature, not a compromise.
JBL Endurance Race 2: Who It's For
The JBL Endurance Race 2 goes the opposite direction: it's a true wireless in-ear bud that seals your canal and then gives you tools to control what you hear. Active Noise Cancelling filters out distracting background noise, while Smart Ambient lets you dial in how much of the outside world comes through — so you can stay aware on a sidewalk or talk to someone without pulling a bud out. It uses Bluetooth 5.3, and the app-based touch controls mean your settings live on your phone rather than on a button cluster.
The durability numbers are the headline. The buds carry an IP68 rating, which per the specs means fully dustproof and waterproof, with protection against solid particles and the ability to survive being submerged deeper than a meter in both fresh water and sea water. The charging case is IPX2 water-resistant, enough to ride along on a rainy run. That said, JBL is explicit about maintenance: dry the buds before dropping them back in the case, keep the case dry, and stick to the included high-quality JBL cable rather than a random one from a drawer. That's a genuine ownership habit, not a flaw, but it's worth knowing before you buy.
Battery life is where JBL wins on paper by a wide margin. You get 12 hours of playback in the buds plus another 36 hours from the charging case — 48 hours total with ANC off — and 10 minutes on the USB-C cable buys roughly 4 more hours of playtime. The buds use 6.8mm dynamic drivers tuned for JBL Pure Bass, with a 2-hour charge time and a 600mAh case battery. The wing enhancer with Twistlock technology is designed to give a better seal and more stability in the ear for all-day comfort. If you want one pair for the gym, the pool deck, sweaty intervals and everything between, this is the more versatile package.
• Best for situational awareness and outdoor safety → Sony Float Run Open-Ear. Off-ear design, hear the world around you as well as your music.
• Best for noise cancelling → JBL Endurance Race 2. Active Noise Cancelling plus Smart Ambient, versus "None" on the Sony.
• Best for battery life → JBL Endurance Race 2. 48 hours total with the case (12 in the buds) against 7 hours per charge on the Sony.
• Best for maximum water and dust protection → JBL Endurance Race 2. IP68 on the buds, submersible beyond a meter, versus IPX4 sweat-and-splash resistance on the Sony.
• Best for comfort with glasses, hats or caps → Sony Float Run Open-Ear. The off-ear shape is specifically designed to play nicely with accessories.
• Best for people who hate things inside their ears → Sony Float Run Open-Ear. No pressure, no stuffiness, no canal seal.
• Best for gym, travel and all-day wear → JBL Endurance Race 2. Sealed fit, app controls, compact charging case and long endurance.
• Best for pure running focus → Sony Float Run Open-Ear. The neckband is engineered for stability and a natural, wider sound while you move.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the JBL Endurance Race 2 for most people. In my opinion, the combination of Active Noise Cancelling, Smart Ambient, an IP68 waterproof and dustproof build and 48 hours of total battery makes it the more capable all-rounder, and it covers gym sessions, rainy runs and travel in one purchase. The Sony Float Run Open-Ear is the better choice only if open ears are your whole reason for buying — if you run outdoors and want traffic, voices and your music all at once. That's a specific, worthwhile goal, but it's narrower. Buy the JBL if you want one pair that does everything; buy the Sony if you want awareness above all.
FAQ
That figure is total playback with the charging case and ANC off: 12 hours in the buds plus three full charges (36 hours) in the case. With ANC on, expect less than the headline number. The Sony Float Run is rated at 7 hours per charge with no case.
The buds are IP68 — fully dustproof and waterproof, rated to survive submersion deeper than a meter in fresh water and sea water. The charging case is only IPX2, so dry the buds and the case before charging, and use the included JBL cable.
The Sony Float Run Open-Ear, in my opinion. Its off-ear shape is explicitly designed to work with sunglasses and hats, and because nothing sits in your ear canal there's no pressure or stuffiness. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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See also: mojawa Run Plus Bone vs DEMICEA Open Ear Sport, Sony WH-CH720N vs AOTONOK Open Ear Headphones, JBL Endurance Zone Open vs DOOGEEEco Bone Air Swim