Top 2 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $100 Of 2024
Running/jogging can be made so much more enjoyable with some great music, podcasts or other audio. A nice pair of wireless earphones is probably the best bet for listening. They stay in your ears, sound great and don't have any wires to get tangled while running.
Of course, not all wireless earbuds are created equal. In this article, we'll go over the best wireless earphones for running with a price tag under $100 USD.
The Top 2 Best Wireless Earphones/Earbuds For Running Under $100 Are:
With a $100 price cap, you'll still find many superb wireless earphones that will work perfectly well when running.
Related articles:
• Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $50
• Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $200
Since we're having a discussion within the context of a price cap, I figure I should leave a link to a related My New Microphone article: Are Expensive Headphones (Or Cheap Headphones) Worth It?
What Makes A Great Wireless Earphone?
Though the term “best” is subjective, we should still list the criteria used to determine what makes a great pair of wireless earphones.
- Comfort: this is perhaps the simplest yet most important criterion of any pair of earphones. Though highly subjective, factors such as weight; shape, and the overall dimension play a role in comfort.
- Battery life: because wireless transmission requires power, wireless earphones will require batteries. The amount of time it takes for the battery to drain from fully charged is an important factor to consider.
- Wireless specifications: do the earbuds use the Bluetooth protocol or some other type of wireless transmission? Will they be compatible with your current set up? Are the earbuds true wireless (two independent receivers for the left and right buds) or “regular” wireless (the two earbuds must be connected via a wire)? These are questions worth asking.
- Frequency response: a great pair of earphones should be able to reproduce the full audible spectrum from 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz with clarity.
- IP rating: presumably you'll be sweating as you run. Having a somewhat waterproof pair of earphones will do you well in this case. That means an IP rating of at least IPX3.
With that, let's get into our top 2 best wireless earphones for running under $100!
To learn more about wireless earphones before we start, please consider reading the following My New Microphone articles:
• How Bluetooth Headphones Work & How To Pair Them To Devices
• How Do Wireless Headphones Work? + Bluetooth & True Wireless
Related articles:
- Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $50
- Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $200
Click here to return to the Recommended Gear Page.
JBL Endurance Peak II
Next up and just under the $100 limit is the JBL Endurance Peak II.
The JBL Endurance Peak II is a pair of waterproof true wireless earphones designed specifically for sporting applications. They are a superb choice for runners in terms of sonic quality, comfort and security.
JBL is well known for the sonic quality of its products. Though not part of their professional line, the Endurance Peak II boasts this same excellent sound with superb bass to keep you going during harder runs.
These earbuds feature JBL's Powerhook design. This around-the-ear hook adjusts to the shape of the user's ear. The bendable wire of the ear hook allows us to shape the earphones to our preferred comfort while maintaining a secure fit that won't come loose during an intense run.
Hands-free stereo calls and Voice Assistant access allow us to take calls or ask VA for help without interrupting our running or ever having to touch the earphones at all.
The IPX7 rating means these earphones are both sweatproof and waterproof. There's no need to worry about water damage while running. You could even take them swimming (down to about a meter below water) if you really wanted to.
The earbuds have a battery life of 6 hours, which is plenty for the typical running session. There's an additional 24 hours of mobile charging in the case before the case, and earbuds would have to be charged via a wall plug.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: 10 mm Dynamic
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 95 dB SPL @ 1 kHz
- IP Rating: IPX7
- Weight: 13g per earbud|77g charging case
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 5.0
- Microphone: -38 dBV/Pa@1 kHz
JBL
JBL is featured in My New Microphone's Top 14 Best Earphone/Earbud Brands In The World.
Jabra Elite Active 45e
The Jabra Elite Active 45e gets a spot on this list as a superb pair of wireless sport earphones that work perfectly for running.
Let's start by discussing the fit of the Jabra Elite Active 45e earphones. These secure-fitting earphones feature a comfortable ear wing and ear hook combination to keep them in the right place during running and other activities. These things are nearly perfect in terms of security and comfort.
The Jabra Elite Active 45e design is focused on safety with an open-ear design and oval-shaped earbuds that allow users to remain aware of their surroundings.
Because of this open design, the sound quality won't be superb, though it's still great. Just know that if you do choose these earphones, you'll be hearing ambient noise along with the audio.
With Bluetooth 5.0, the Elite Active 45e earphones will maintain a stable connection with whatever Bluetooth device you decide to use while running. The automatic pairing will take place with the last paired device as the earphones are turned back on.
These Jabra earphones will run for 9 hours on a single charge, which is practically enough time to run 2 full marathons.
The IP67 waterproof rating tells us that the Active 45e will have no issues in the sweatiest of runs or the rainiest of days.
Built-in dual MEMS microphones allow for easy voice commands to Voice Assistants as well as superior call quality (so long as you're not too out of breath to chat)!
Jabra has also come out with the Jabra Sound+ app as the perfect companion to Jabra headphones. Within the app, users can personalize and customize settings and widgets for headphone controls. This may or may not come in handy when running but is worth mentioning anyway.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: 12 mm Dynamic
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 14 kHz
- Sensitivity: 107dB ± 3dB
- IP Rating: AP67
- Weight: 29g with cable (23.4g without)
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 5.0
- Microphone: MEMS
Also, check out Jabra Elite 45e
Jabra
Jabra is featured in My New Microphone's Top 14 Best Earphone/Earbud Brands In The World.
Honourable Mentions
With so many great wireless earbud options below $100, it can be hard to pick a top 5. Here are 5 honourable mentions worth checking out that didn't quite make the main list:
Former Top Wireless Earbuds Under $100 Picks
Here are earbuds that used to be on this list and the reasons they are no longer.
Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 (Discontinued)
The Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 (discontinued) actually came well below the $100 cap for this article. There's no particular order to the top 5 so let's start with the least expensive option.
The Spirit Dot 2 is a pair of compact true wireless earbuds. Each bud has a composite driver surrounded by an elastic, bass-maximizing material to increase bass output while maintaining mid and high-frequency clarity.
The first factor to look for is sonic quality, and the Spirit Dot 2 earbuds sound awesome. We're off to a good start!
These true wireless earphones combine Bluetooth 5 with an LDS antenna to create a strong and effortless connection. Dual transmitters ensure each earbud can connect to your phone individually, improving latency and battery life in the process.
Each time the Spirit Dot 2 earbud(s) are turned on (removed from the charging case), they will automatically connect to the last successfully connected device if available within the Bluetooth range. This makes it easy to pair in a hurry without wasting time before a run.
The Spirt Dot 2 earbuds are small, but they fit very comfortably and securely. Their discreet design features Soundcore's unique hollow AirWings: flexible, soft silicone sings that partially deflates to conform to the shape and size of the user's ears.
To further improve the fit, these Soundcore earbuds come in 5 sizes of EarTips and 3 sizes of AirWings. Mix and match to find a combination that fits you perfectly.
The IPX7 waterproof rating means these earbuds will continue to perform as designed as the runner sweats and even in heavy rain.
Note that the charging case is not waterproof.
The earbuds feature built-in touch controls for convenient answering/ending of calls, playing, pausing or skipping music, and activating Voice Assistants.
The battery life on these earbuds is 5.5 hours which is enough to complete a marathon on a full charge! The charging time is 1.5 hours, and the charging case offers an additional 11.5 hours of mobile charge before the entire system needs to be plugged into power mains for a full charge.
Soundcore offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and an 18-month hassle-free warranty.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: 8 mm Dynamic
- Impedance: 16 Ω
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: no info
- IP Rating: IPX7
- Weight: 0.14 lbs net
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 5
Poly/Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100 (Discontinued)
The Poly (formerly Plantronics) BackBeat Fit 2100 (discontinued) was a superb wireless earphones option for runners and definitely gets a mention in this article.
These sweatproof and waterproof earphones boast an IP57 rating, meaning they'll hold up in the sweatiest runs and on rainy days alike.
These earphones excel in terms of safety. They feature Always Aware eartips designed to let in ambient sound, allowing you to listen to music and hear your surroundings simultaneously. They also feature a reflective finish to help keep you visible during darker hours.
The 13.5mm dynamic transducers produce superb sound quality. However, because of the Always Aware eartips, the sound will be mixed with ambient noise. This improves safety but leaves something to be desired of the sound quality.
These wireless earphones use Bluetooth 5.0. They have a battery life of up to 7 hours which is more than enough for several running sessions between charges. The quick charge allows up to 1 hour of listening time with a 15-minute charge.
These earphones may not be as customizable for fit as the others, but they're still rather comfortable with their soft, flexible, secure-fit earloops and lightweight design (only 29 grams).
On-ear control allows us to take calls and skip through music without changing our running pace.
Beyond that, Poly has developed an app to go along with these earphones called the BackBeat app. Among other customizations, users can set the My Tap feature to start and stop stopwatches and timers with a tap or two on the earphones. The app can also trigger different playlists to help with different workouts, including, of course, running.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: 13.5 mm Dynamic
- Impedance: no info
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 94 dBSPL @ max volume
- IP Rating: IP57
- Weight: 28 g
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 5.0
- Microphone: MEMS microphone with DSP
Also, check out:
Sennheiser CX Sport (Discontinued)
Last but not least was the popular Sennheiser CX Sport (discontinued) wireless earphones.
Sennheiser's CX Sport earphones sound awesome. They utilize the company's proprietary transducers, designed to deliver balanced and detailed sound with dynamic bass capability.
At one time, these earphones were price over $100 USD. However, their price has dropped because they are a bit outdated (for example, they use Bluetooth 4.2). They're still superb earphones that work amazingly well for runners and deserve and spot on this list.
The earphones are easy to pair via Bluetooth and will pair automatically to the last paired device if that device is in range as the CX Sport is turned on.
Other than the impressive sonic character, the CX Sport is incredibly stable and comfortable. It comes with a cable clip to keep the cable tight, along with an ear adapter set (4 sizes) and an ear fin adapter set (3 sizes). Mix and match to find the combination that fits your ear the best, and you'll surely have a comfy and secure earphone for your running needs.
With a rating of IPX4, Sennheiser's CX Sport isn't fully waterproof. However, it will hold up for sweaty runs and even in light rain.
These wireless earphones have 6-hour battery life from a full charge. A 10-minute quick charge can provide an additional hour of battery life. This should be more than enough for the vast majority of runners.
Utilize the 3-button control panel to adjust volume, skip tracks, accept/end calls and activate voice control.
Key Specifications:
- Transducer Type: 0.476″ Dynamic
- Impedance: no info
- Frequency Response: 17 Hz – 21 kHz
- Sensitivity: 112 dB
- IP Rating: IPX4
- Weight: 0.53 oz
- Wireless/Wired: Bluetooth 4.2
Choosing the right headphones or earphones for your applications and budget can be a challenging task. For this reason, I've created My New Microphone's Comprehensive Headphones/Earphones Buyer's Guide. Check it out for help in determining your next headphones/earphones purchase.
Other Top Headphones/Earphones Articles
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• Top 5 Best Open-Back Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Open-Back Headphones Under $500
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• Top 5 Best Supra-Aural (On-Ear) Headphones Under $250
• Top 5 Best Supra-Aural (On-Ear) Headphones Under $500
• Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones/Earbuds Under $100
• Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones/Earbuds Under $200
• Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $50
• Top 5 Best Wireless Earphones For Running Under $200
• Top 5 Best Wireless Headphones Under $100
• Top 5 Best Wireless Headphones Under $200
• Top 5 Best Wireless Headphones Under $500
Leave A Comment!
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