Which buds are right for you? A surprising number of people still prefer corded headphones. When you’re going on a long run, the last thing you want to do is stand on your front porch, shivering in your shorts, trying to figure out why the right earbud isn’t connected. But for obvious reasons, wireless headphones are much more convenient when doing other strenuous physical activities.
I recommend investing in a pair that has ear hooks, clips, or fins to hold them securely in place; you can also buy ear hooks a la carte online. A tight, secure seal ensures that you get that big bass sound to power you through the last mile. Everyone’s ears are different, and your left might even be different from your right. Don’t be afraid to try mismatching sizes of ear tips or fins for a better fit.
Best Overall
One of the best qualities of Jabra is that their earbuds don’t change very much from year to year. The Elite 7 Active came out in 2021, but every time I put them on, I still find them to be the buds to beat. They’re still the smallest and most comfortable buds I’ve ever tested, with the tiniest case, and the rubber tip holds the buds securely in my tiny ears. They’ve stayed in place while running outside and under a beanie, plus they’re comfortable enough for me to wear while doing chores around the house.
The Sound+ app lets you customize the level of hear-through, meaning you can choose to let in more ambient noise if you’re running outside or washing dishes, or less if you’re in a gym. You can customize the hearing profile for listening to podcasts versus hip hop. They’re IP57-rated, which means that they’re dustproof and can be submerged in water up to one meter. They have 8 hours of battery life and up to 30 hours in the case. The mic also works well for calls.
