Many runners find listening to music while they exercise to be motivating and entertaining. Research also suggests that listening to music you enjoy when running can reduce feelings of fatigue.
But when running, you need a high-quality set of earphones or earbuds that won’t fall out while you’re bounding down the road.
If you are a fan of Apple products, you may own a pair of Apple AirPods or be considering buying one.
But do AirPods fall out when running?
We’ve done some research to answer this question. Keep reading to find out if AirPods are the best choice for you.
What 2 types of AirPods are there and who is usually wearing them?
There are actually three types of AirPods but only two of them are really suitable for running—Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro. The third kind—AirPods Max—are a large, over-the-ears set of headphones that won’t necessarily be comfortable or even functional while you run.
The original AirPods have been revamped so they have a first-generation version and a second-generation version. They are both still called AirPods, but you may see them referred to as AirPods 1 and AirPods 2.
AirPods 2 have an updated chip and a slightly better battery life, but aside from those features, they are basically the same product. There are no differences in design.
Both the AirPods and the AirPods Pro are extremely popular earbuds. They are slightly different in design and the one you choose will depend on your audio needs as well as your comfort.
What’s the difference between the AirPods and Airpod Pro?
The AirPods and AirPods Pro have different designs. Original AirPods—1 and 2—are an almost circular shape that’s a little flattened and feature a flat “cut-off” piece for the speaker on the side that fits into the ear.
The AirPods Pro are a more oval shape and feature silicon tips for a tighter, more customizable fit in the ear. They also have slightly larger and longer speakers on them than the original AirPods.
In terms of what they can do, the AirPods and AirPods Pro share many of the same features. The difference is that the AirPods Pro has active noise cancellation, which is assisted by the tight-fitting silicon tips. The Pro also offers Spatial Audio, which is Apple’s version of Surround Sound.
Lastly, the AirPods Pro are sweat and water-resistant, which the AirPods 1 and 2 are not.
Benefits of Apple Airpods for running:
The design of Apple AirPods makes them a convenient option to use while running. They are shaped to fit snugly into the ear, which means they don’t get loosened by sweat.
AirPods have excellent sound, so you will be able to listen to your music or podcast at top quality. The battery also lasts for a long time—4 to 5 hours—which is ideal for running both short or long distances.
Apple AirPods are also touch-sensitive, compact, and conveniently wireless. It makes them comfortable and easy to use whether you are standing still or running on the road or trail.
If you have an Apple Watch, you can pair your AirPods to it and control your music or use your phone to track your earbuds if you misplace them. If you don’t have an Apple device, you can still buy and use a set of AirPods with an Android phone.
Disadvantages
There are not many disadvantages to using AirPods while you run. But on occasion they do present a frustrating problem—they can fall out when you’re doing intense running workouts.
There is nothing more frustrating than getting into a motivating song on the road and your earbuds fall out!
Thankfully, we have a few ideas for keeping your AirPods safe in your ears while doing vigorous exercise.
How to keep AirPods in ears while running?
There are a number of ways you can stabilize your AirPods in your ears while you are running so that there’s less chance of them falling out.
Instead of wearing them with the stem pointing downwards, try twisting them upwards so the stem is at a horizontal angle. When rotated like this, the shape of the AirPod is snugger inside the ear, which could lead to a better seal.
You can always try sticking the AirPods into your ear using waterproof tape; however, this might be uncomfortable for many people. Double-sided tape could work well if you don’t mind feeling sticky.
You can also use a separate product to try and keep them in place.
AirPod Grips are a rubber hook that fits over the ear and holds the AirPods in place, preventing them from falling out.
If you’re looking for something that doesn’t sit over your ear like a hook, you can find AirPod covers that help the buds stick in your ears.
These are like silicon covers that give the AirPods some extra size and stickiness.