I tested the best headphones and earbuds for working out during my daily run

Read our full review of the Beats Fit Pro.

Who it's for:

Beats Fit Pro earbuds check the boxes for most athletes looking for noise cancellation. These tiny buds fit comfortably in ears, and three different sizes of ear tips create a comfortable, secure fit. With active noise cancellation, the buds block out noise so you can focus on your workout. However, there is still some noise leakage, which isn't bad if you need to remain aware of your surroundings for safety.

Why we like it:

The sound quality on the Beats Fit Pro is excellent. The active noise cancellation dimmed the busy world around me so I could tune into my podcast while working out. I did find that the ANC got a little buzzy around loud noises as it worked harder to block them out, and ultimately, I found it a little distracting. However, I think they're the best headphones with noise cancellation for working out. With an IPX4 rating, they're water-resistant, making me confident that my sweat or a sudden rainstorm wouldn't cause any damage to them. Plus, at $199, they're significantly cheaper than other premium earbuds, and you probably don't want to spend too much on headphones dedicated to working out.

I'd never used a pair of Beats headphones before testing the Fit Pro earbuds, but I was quickly impressed. You can't beat the quick connectivity. As an iOS user, I just had to open the case for the Beats Fit Pro to connect nearly instantly. Earbuds can be a tough fit, so I appreciated the multiple-sized ear tips that created a secure fit — not quite as good as the Bose, but definitely better than the AirPods Pro.

What I really loved about the design was the touch controls. While most headphones don't have actual buttons for touch controls, these do, making it a breeze to take calls. However, that makes it a little too easy to end calls — I accidentally ended a call or two while using these earbuds.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro.

Who it's for:

If you're an iOS user who wants to avoid dealing with an auxiliary app, Apple AirPods Pro is your best bet. They have impressive noise cancellation and seamlessly connect to iOS systems. To pair them to your iPhone, just open the charging case. Need to go hands-free? The AirPods will announce your texts to you.

Why we like it:

As an iPhone user, I'm partial to Apple AirPods Pro's connectivity. They connect easily, and no app is needed. Instead, you can just go into your phone's settings; the AirPods have their own settings menu there.

But beyond their iOS compatibility, they're also fantastic earbuds. I was taken aback when outdoors and found that their ANC drowned out the busy street I was walking along. The audio quality is generally good, but it wasn't nearly as impressive as the Bose or Sony earbuds. These buds played my songs as I would expect, but with no extra flair.

The biggest downside to the Apple AirPods Pro is that they don't come with multiple ear tips. The AirPods Pro fell out often, and I wished for a smaller ear tip for a better fit.

If you like the idea of the AirPods Pro 2 but can't swing the price, the new AirPods 4 also come with active noise cancellation. Plus, they just received a positive review from Mashable's tech editor.

Check out our full review of the Bose Ultra Open earbuds.

Who it's for:

If you're working out in the evening or biking in busy areas, safety is a big concern. While you want to be able to listen to your music, it's essential to hear the world around you, too. The Bose Ultra Open offer an ingenious design. These earbuds clip onto your ear like a cuff and don't block your ear canal. They provide the right balance of high-quality audio while keeping you connected to the world around you.

Even if you're less concerned about noise transparency, these headphones are just flat-out comfortable. If you don't love the feeling of having earbuds in your ears, these are great in between.

Why we like it:

The Bose Ultra Open earbuds easily have the most unique design of all the headphones on this list. While I was hesitant about how well the clip-on style would work, I was quickly on board. They wrap around your ear, providing surprisingly good audio quality despite no noise cancellation benefits. Plus, they're super comfortable even for long periods of time, and they're ideal if you hate the clogged-up feeling of traditional earbuds. And while they seem like they might be less secure than regular earbuds, I found that they stayed in place even through frequent movements.

When working out, especially in busy areas, I'm often concerned about safety, and these buds ensured I could hear cars or bikes coming my way. That's why I loved the Bose Ultra Open; I had the best of both worlds — I could tune into my podcast and still hear the world around me.

Who it's for:

If you really hate the feeling of earbuds, the Shokz OpenRun Pro strike a good balance. They hook over the top of the ears, and the bone conduction speakers sit on your jawbone to deliver sound waves to your inner ear.

These certainly don't have the best sound quality compared to Beats, Apple, or Bose, but if you're willing to put that aside, the Shokz OpenRun Pro are comfortable and stay firmly in place. That means you won't have to fidget with them throughout your workout.

Why we like it:

Bone conduction headphones offer a comfortable, workout-friendly alternative to wireless sports earbuds. The Shokz OpenRun Pro stay firmly in place, and I didn't need to adjust them nearly as much as I did with the other earbuds on this list. Plus, the 10-hour battery life on these is unbeatable, even if they don't have an easy charging case.

Where the Shokz OpenRun Pro falters is with sound quality. If you're listening to something of low quality, it only makes it sound worse. Listening to a podcast with a poor audio track only made it sound more patchy. I also had to crank the volume way up as I was working out in busy areas, and even when I had the volume maxed out, I still wanted the sound to be louder.

Thankfully, the Shokz OpenRun Pro comes in two sizes (standard and mini), as they're not adjustable like other headphones. I tried out the standard size, but I probably should have gone for the mini, as the cord was rather loose and got caught up in my long hair.

Despite these minor drawbacks, these are a great option if you don't want to go for earbuds and are looking for noise transparency.