When I first started testing open-earbuds, it’s fair to say I wasn’t convinced. As someone who is a die-hard ANC headphone fan, I didn’t think open-ears would have a place in my day-to-day life — but boy was I wrong.
I have come to use open-ear buds almost every day for everything from working out to my daily commute to work. Open-ears allow you to remain aware of your surroundings by letting in ambient sound, helping you stay safe and secure. This is what makes them some of the best running headphones you can get.
While I’m no marathon runner, I enjoy going for a short run a few times a week and have come to appreciate the comfort that comes with staying aware of my surroundings. The only problem is, a lot of open-earbuds are pretty expensive if you want the open look without sacrificing too much sound quality, like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds ($299).
After a thorough testing process, I have compiled a list of open-earbuds that I would certainly consider, and they won’t break the bank. These are open-earbuds I keep reaching for time and time again, and I have come to rely on them for most eventualities.
Soundcore AeroClip
The Soundcore AeroClip open-earbuds are the standard I hold all other buds to. They are the most comfortable open-ears I have tried and have awesome sound quality. With open-earbuds, I would also expect sound leakage at higher volumes, but that wasn’t an issue with these buds.
On busy days in the office, I like to use these buds since they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time, like full working days. Honestly, I hardly noticed I was wearing them. And even though they are comfortable and don’t cause any pressure around the ears, they are incredibly secure when working out — they do not budge.
At high volumes, the sound quality becomes slightly tinny, but the buds are only $169. And with the Soundcore App, the sound profile can be altered to reduce tininess for certain genres, making them sound even better.
EarFun Clip
The EarFun Clip earbuds are only $89 and have completely transformed my long walks. If the sole reason you’re picking up a set of open-earbuds is to let in ambient sound, these are probably not the way to go, but that’s only because they block out a little more sound than the other earbuds in this list.
With that said, the sound quality of these buds is so good when you consider that they cost you less than $100 and still look good and stay secure when you work out. I have tested a lot of open-earbuds that just don’t fit well enough to work for working out or even walking, but these are ideal.
I wear these buds for hours at a time and never have any issues with the fit. And since they have a waterproof rating of IP55, I can take them out running even if it is raining and not worry about damaging the buds.
JLab Epic Open Sport
My ultimate workout buds are the JLab Epic Open Sport, but it’s not for their sound quality. The fit of these buds is so secure that I didn’t have a single issue when I took them out for a run or while I was practicing pilates.
But that sound quality isn’t great if you like to listen to anything other than upbeat pop music. But for me, this is great for working out. When I want to listen to music to appreciate the finer details, I will reach for my AKG N9 Hybrid headphones instead.
The JLab Epic Open Sport earbuds also have the option to choose between touch-sensitive controls or button controls. I much prefer button controls on my workout earbuds, since it feels like I have more control over the commands. When you’re moving around a lot, like on a run, the touch controls can be unreliable, so I love this option.
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