10 of the best over-ear headphones for running, tested by the Runner's World Lab

If you’ve got some cash to splash on top-of-the-range headphones, these are the best you can buy. The sound quality is incomparable and they cushion the ears comfortably. They offer effective noise-cancelling for full immersion in your music, with 10 levels available.

It’s easy to cycle through your three favourites using a button on the ear cup, while a long press pauses music and lets all outside noise in – ideal for road running. The battery life is impressive, too, giving you 20 hours of listening time, with a cable for when it runs dry.

The sound quality is top-class with these headphones, as is the noise-cancelling tech. They’re super-comfortable, even if you keep them on all day, and the over-ear design blocks out external noise.

Bluetooth 5.0 offers a stable connection for calling your voice assistant or taking calls. The 30-hour battery life deserves plaudits and we like that they turn on automatically when unfolded, and off when you fold them up. They are a bit slippy when jogging, though.

We had high hopes when these shiny new Beats arrived at the RW Lab and fortunately, they didn’t disappoint. In fact, they exceeded our expectations thanks to the impeccable sound quality and second-to-none noise cancelling tech.

Our audiophile described the audio as ‘premium’, with a punchy bass and smooth treble, and said the headphones did a stellar job of blocking out sound, even when the ANC wasn’t activated. They also support spatial audio and head tracking, so they’ll do your favourite movies and TV programmes justice, too.

What else sets them apart? Unlike many competitors, these Beats offer a range of advanced features for both Apple and Android devices. We’re talking voice activation, ‘Find My’ integration and instant pairing and synching between devices. It’s all very slick.

With a handy set-up guide and easy-to-follow instructions, setting the headphones up took a matter of minutes, connectivity was instant, and we got to grips with them immediately. The touch controls on the padded ear cups were responsive and felt comfortable, even after prolonged use.

Many over-ear designs tend to slip during workouts, but there was no such problem with these bad boys from Sennheiser. They proved extremely secure and stable, even during our most vigorous workouts, so they’ll do the job nicely whether you’re out for a jog or lifting weights in the gym. They also ticked the box in terms of comfort – the padded ear cups sat over our ears nicely, without squishing them.

Set-up and connecting via Bluetooth were a breeze, and we soon got to grips with the touch controls, which handle music playback, volume, taking and receiving calls, ANC and transparency. They were a tad too responsive at times, but this was a minor niggle. You can also download the user-friendly Sennheiser Control app to tinker with the controls further.

Our expert lavished praise on the smooth, crisp sound, describing it as 'high quality' and adding that the noise cancelling tech worked well. We loved that your music automatically pauses when you take the headphones off, and the whopping 60-hour battery life is another major plus.

For those always on the go, these travel-friendly Beats are a great choice. Both arms can be snapped shut and the durable hardshell carry case can be hooked onto your kit bag – ideal if you’re short on space and are rushing from work to the track.

We also found them a cinch to use from the start – Bluetooth connection was seamless, and we liked that there’s just one tactile button (located within with ‘b’ logo on the left cup) for music playback, volume and summoning voice assistants. The 22-hour battery life is decent, and if you're in a hurry, a speedy 10-minute charge will keep you going for three hours. There's even a flashing LED gauge that lets you know when your headphones are running low on battery.

These over-ears scored top marks for comfort, with breathable, padded ear cups and a cushioned headband. During fitness pursuits, they needed some readjusting but once in the right position, they stayed put and allowed us to focus on the task at hand.

As for sound quality, they put in a solid performance across the board, with no annoying distortion and a wonderfully immersive soundstage. The noise cancelling was top quality, but we did miss a transparency mode for outdoor sessions.

You pay for the premium build and sleek Scandi design, but this is one seriously good-looking pair of headphones. Our sound technician raved about the audio quality, praising the 'full, present base' and 'expensive, detailed sound'. The noise cancelling was highly effective and sound leakage was minimal, so you can blast your favourite tunes without worrying about complaints from fellow gymgoers. Despite the secure fit, the rounded cups were nicely cushioned and felt comfortable to wear over long periods.

The lambskin leather material provided a good grip during exercise, and they stayed in place during our sessions. The fabric meant they were a tad tricky to clean post-workout, though, and we would have like a foldable design for travelling. Still, they proved easy to use, with a straightforward set-up process and intuitive controls and buttons for functionality (the touch surface on the right controls volume, playback and power, while the button on the left lets you tinker with noise cancellation and summon Siri or Alexa.)

All in all, a pricey but impressive pair of headphones that deliver on style and quality.

As you’d expect with Sony, you get a lot of great features with these swish headphones. The adjustable noise-cancelling is second to none and our audiophile praised the 'faultless sound', saying it was smooth and punchy, with no harshness or sound leakage. What more could you want?

There’s also multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect to your phone, laptop and smartwatch at once, and we appreciated the range of smart features. For instance, they will automatically turn down the volume if you start talking, so you don’t have to them off when having a conversation, and they’ll adjust the level of noise cancellation depending on your environment.

The design is on the chunky side and the headphones needed regular readjusting, so we’d save them for less intense workouts, commuting or wearing at work. If impeccable sound quality and top-notch noise cancelling are priority, though, the WH-100XM5's should be on your radar.

These slick ear-overs from Danish brand Aiaiai stand out from the crowd for their unique DIY set-up process. You have to build your own headphones from a selection of modular parts including the headband, speaker units and ear cups. It may sound like a faff, but assembly was a doddle thanks to the step-by-step instructions – plus, the modular design means you can replace separate components without having to buy a whole new set of headphones. Talking of sustainability, the ear cups are made from recycled plastic bottles and packaging is recyclable, too.

Eco creds aside, these cans felt lightweight and comfortable for the most part (our ears did start to ache after wearing them for long stints) and they were extremely user-friendly, with one joystick control for all the main functions. Sound-wise, our audiophile was impressed, praising the punchy bass, crisp treble and lack of sound leakage.

The fabric carry pouch means protection is limited when you’re on the go, but that’s hardly a dealbreaker. Overall, they over excellent bang for your buck.

Forty hours of battery life on a single charge? Yes please! These comfy noise-cancelling on-ears provide brilliant, immersive sound quality with a punchy bass and clear treble. They come in six colours, including ivory and bright blue.

However, the on-cup buttons make a clicking sound when pressed. They also have a tendency to slide forward when running.

Eco-conscious music lovers will appreciate that these on-ear headphones are made with sustainable wood and reclaimed or recycled fabric. They ooze style and are well-padded for comfort, even when moving.

There’s zero sound leakage and the audio is well-balanced. The battery life isn’t great at just 12 hours but this should last you all day, and there’s a cable to plug into your smartphone if it goes flat. We like the folding design and magnetic carry case. Best of all, the price tag will appease your bank balance.