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

Who it’s for:

If you want a pair of fail-safe, trusted headphones for working out, go with the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds. They have the most secure fit of all the headphones on this list. Whether you're running on pavement or at the quick pace of the elliptical, these earbuds stay put.

But what if you're a trail runner and you're worried about them falling out in tough conditions? Well, even if they do slip out, these are the only earbuds we tested with a U.S. military-grade standard of durability, meaning they won't crumble if you step on them. Plus, they're IP68 dust and water-resistant.

While the sound won't impress the pickiest audiophiles, the Elite 8 Active buds deliver clear, consistent sound. The ANC quiets the surrounding world so you can focus on your music as you move through your reps.

Why we like it:

I tested these Jabra earbuds last, which means they had the highest bar to clear. I knew exactly what I wanted from a pair of headphones for working out: a secure but comfortable fit, sweat resistance, easy connectivity, good sound quality, active noise cancellation, and responsive touch controls. The Elite 8 Active measured up on every front.

The ear tips come in three sizes; the small ones fit perfectly in my narrow ear canals. The buds sit snugly in the ear and don't budge when chugging along on the stair climber or elliptical. Plus, the touch controls have an actual button to press that's responsive but not too touchy, unlike the Beats Fit Pro, where I accidentally ended one too many calls.

For the weeks I used them, they instantly connected every time I opened the case and put them in my ears. The AirPods Pro were the only other earbuds with such easy connectivity. Plus, the battery life can't be beat. The earbuds run for nine hours, and the charging case provides another 32 hours with ANC and 56 hours without ANC.

Where the Jabra earbuds fall flat (literally) is with sound. The ANC isn't the strongest on this list; there is some sound leakage; however, for working out, this isn't much of an issue since I prefer to stay aware of my surroundings. They deliver good sound; I didn't feel like I was missing anything while tuning into my podcasts. But the sound wasn't quite as rich as the Bose or Beats headphones while listening to music. They provide a clear but flatter sound than the more audio-focused headphones. But overall, it's one shortcoming that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the headphones as I blasted Brat while getting my sweat on.

Check out our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation).

Who it's for:

If you're an AirPods loyalist, the AirPods Pro are your answer when it comes to workouts. While they don't have as secure of a fit as the Beats earbuds, the sound quality and ANC are a dream. They easily have the strongest sound among the headphones tested here. For athletes working out at a busy gym, these will be your best bet to keep the sound of weights hitting the floor to a minimum.

Apple AirPods Pro are also the top headphones pick for iOS users thanks to their ease of connectivity. They require no set-up, and like the Beats, you just have to open the case to connect. However, unlike the Beats, AirPods don't have a compatible Android app, making them a better candidate for iOS users.

Why we like it:

Unlike other AirPods, the Pros are water- and sweat-resistant, which makes them ideal for the sweatiest among us, or even outdoor runners who might get caught in the rain.

When working out in my neighborhood, I usually walk alongside a busy road full of cars honking and zooming by. I've gotten good at blocking out the noise, but the Apple AirPods gave me a new level of peace. I turned on my music, and that was all I heard — just the sweet sound of my playlist while the rest of the world felt far away. If you're looking for noise cancellation, these are your earbuds.

For iOS users, the Apple AirPods also offer supreme connectivity with bonus features like announcing calls and messages into your ears, so you don't need to look at your phone when trying to hit a PR. Plus, you don't have to worry about the battery life of these headphones. They run for six hours on a single charge, just like the Beats Fit Pro — more than enough for even the most intense workouts.

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.

Check out our full review of the Beats Fit Pro.

Who it's for:

Beats Fit Pro earbuds check the boxes for most athletes. These small 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 a bad thing if you need to remain aware of your surroundings for safety.

If you like touch controls, the Fit Pro have a clickable button that makes it easy to take calls or play/pause music. Despite being built into the iOS system, Beats buds work for iPhone and Android users alike with easy connectivity.

Why we like it:

You can't beat the quick connectivity of the Beats Fit Pro. 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 for me, so I appreciated the multiple-sized ear tips that created the most secure fit.

It took me a second to get comfortable with the Beats Fit Pro, but the wing-tipped design kept them secure in my ear as I moved through my workouts. They can still fall out, particularly if you're bending over, but they're much more secure than typical earbuds. While I was initially very impressed with these earbuds' secure fit, I discovered that newer earbuds like the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds stay in place even better.

What I initially really loved about the design was the touch controls. While most headphones don't have actual buttons to use 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.

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 I was 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. With an IPX4 rating, they're water-resistant, making me confident that my sweat or a sudden rainstorm wouldn't cause any damage.

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.

Check out our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Who it's for:

If you just want to lift in peace — no more loud grunts from the machine next to you — then good noise cancellation goes a long way. The absolute best earbuds for noise cancellation are the Bose QuietComfort Ultras. Every Mashable writer who's tested these earbuds agrees: They clearly have the best ANC in the earbud world right now. And if you prioritize sound quality in headphones, even ones meant for working out, Bose nails it with these.

The fit on the Bose is comparable to our best overall pick, the Jabra Elite 8 Active earbuds, only these buds aren't optimized for workouts. They sit firmly in the ear and don't budge when you're moving around. But you have to be willing to splurge for the spectacular noise-cancellation. At $299, these are $70 more than our best overall, so if you don't care about ANC in earbuds, stick with the Jabra.

Why we like it:

These earbuds are exceptional. The best headphones for working out don't need a ton of flair; truthfully, you just need them to have a solid, secure fit and sweat resistance. But this tech is far more advanced than that. They have an unbeatable fit, sitting perfectly in the crest of my outer ear. No matter what activity I was doing, running outdoors or doing deadlifts, I was concerned about them falling out. The IPX4 rating doesn't make them fully waterproof, but they are sweat- and water-resistant against splashes.

When I first put the earbuds in, I was in a room with a loud fan, and when the earbud's ANC kicked in, it completely blocked out the fan in a way that felt like magic. Even though I didn't have music playing, there was no buzzing, just perfect quiet. I loved wearing these when I wanted to be in my own world; however, I felt I needed to be extra cautious at busy intersections since they blocked out my surroundings.

They're ideal if you need to get in the zone with music. On days when I dreaded going another minute in my workouts, these earbuds accentuated the beats of Charli XCX's "Everything is romantic" and "365" and kept me going until the end.