Marathon Weekend 2025

[Naomeri]

SAFD: Shokz Open Run Pro for sure. Like @camaker I have a problem with them in the winter, so I tried Shokz OpenFit, but I have 2 problems with them--first of all, they can't be turned off when they're in the charging case, so if you don't use them for a bit, they're dead; second of all, they DO NOT hold up against the sweat my head creates under a hat or earband in the winter. I found if a run goes longer than an hour or so, I would start getting sound distortion.

 

[kps7795]

SAFD: I’ll second the Shokz. After killing three or four pairs of the Apple AirPods Pro (which were promised to be water proof), I opted to get the Shokz OpenRun mini because of the greater rating for water resistance. Between rain showers and being a very HEAVY sweater, these headphones have stood the test for me.

 

[Stitch&Co.]

SAFD: Shokz Open Run for me too. I’ve tried various earbud styles before and I could only ever get an over the ear style to stay put. And that was fine but they eventually got irritating. I like the environmental awareness that I get with the Shokz although the speakers were so loud at the start of the 5K I did yesterday that I couldn’t even hear the “Welcome to Shokz” when I turned them on. Also, am I the only one who gets just a little disappointed during the National Anthem when there are no red fireworks when they sing “and the rockets red glare”?

 

[Barca33Runner]

SAFD:

I can’t even name the earbuds I use. Something relatively cheap but functional off Amazon. Over the years I’ve learned I’m not an audiophile so anything that stays in my ear and has a few hours of battery life works for me.

ETA: To clarify, I’m primarily a treadmill runner so being aware of my surroundings is not all that important and I’m at home often watching the television as I run so I usually don’t have anything in my ears. When I run outdoors or in an event I only wear one earbud so that I can hear everything going on around me.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Shokz for outside (mine are 3 years old, and are the “air” model. I sometimes borrow dh’s “open run” though.

For treadmilling I just use regular Apple earbud wired headphones because the shokz let in too much ambient noise.

If I ran regularly with someone else, I would probably get a noxgear 39g speaker but, alas, all of my running is done solo.

 

[matt and beth]

SAFD: Using Apple Air Pro and listening to Rise and Run based on recommendations by others. Great program. For safety turn noise canceling off when outside on the road. Thankfully, I was able to hear Bo the Labradoodle as he was about to take a bite out of my calf yesterday on my long run. Caught him mid strike.

 

[runwithperseverence7]

Congrats

Thanks!

 

[runwithperseverence7]

SAFD: I use Apple AirPods. They are my original pair so like 5 years old. The battery life isn’t great so on runs that take more than 2 hours I’ll only wear one and switch them out. Whenever they quit on me, I’ll probably upgrade to the Apple pros. I’ve thought about the shokz mini but not sure if I would like something that fits around my head. I much prefer the buds.

 

[Disneyhanna]

SAFD: Shokz! I love being able to hear everything around me. The wraparound style is a bit annoying in winter but I'm able to wear a headband over them. I used to wear AirPods years ago but they got dirty and crackly with all the sweat which is why I switched. I'm due for a new pair of Shokz as I think the battery on mine will probably only go for 3-4 hours, and I don't want them to die on me during a marathon!

 

[Zutroy]

SAFD: I also killed a pair of Air Pod Pros through my sweat, but luckily had them replaced under warranty. Then I got the Beats Fit Pro, which have the same ANC, H1 Apple chip, Spatial Audio, and EQ as the Pros. The main difference is the design, where the Beats have a little rubber wing that secures the earbud. I don’t normally wear headphones when I run, but when I do, the Beats have been fantastic.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

SAFD: Shokz Openrun here - best piece of running equipment I own, reliable, great battery life, and just flat out always works.

 

[nancipants]

I use Apple AirPods Pro in transparency modes. I usually listen to podcasts during easy runs and my running playlist on shuffle for workouts. I’m considering Shokz, but I need to try them to see if I like the fit/sound. The AirPods are just so easy to connect and charge. And the silicone tips really help the fit.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

SAFD: Another tick in the Shokz column. I have the OpenRun Mini, I think, and I use them whenever I need headphones, not just for running. Much more comfortable than AirPods, and you never have to worry about them falling off.

 

[GuinnessRunner]

SAFD: Another user of Shokz OpenRun for ourdoor runs. For winter, I find that if I filp the headband to the top of my head, I can put my run beanie on over it and it works much better.

If I'm on a treadmill away from the house I use Beats Fit Pro. I have weird ears so have a really hard time with my ear buds staying in just walking around, let alone running. The little wing the Beats Fit have gives enough security that they will generally stay in.

 

[marty3d]

I use Apple AirPods Pro in transparency modes. I usually listen to podcasts during easy runs and my running playlist on shuffle for workouts. I’m considering Shokz, but I need to try them to see if I like the fit/sound. The AirPods are just so easy to connect and charge. And the silicone tips really help the fit.

SAFD: @nancipants I'm stealing your answer word for word

 

[superchime]

SAFD: another vote for Shokz, for safety and durability reasons, and because my weirdly-shaped ears tend to randomly eject earbuds.

 

[The Expert]

SAFD: Most of the time I don't use headphones at all as I'm at home on the treadmill and listening to the TV above my machine. After struggling with a zillion different earbuds and discovering every one of them hurts my ears after about 20 minutes, I jumped on the Shokz bandwagon. I bought my pair at an rD expo -- whatever one it was when the OpenRun first came out. Both the regular size and the small are comically huge around the back of my child-size head, so I actually have no issues fitting hats or anything else with them when needed.

 

[Kerry1957]

I have it pretty easy. I wear hearing aids and I can stream music directly from my Apple phone into the aids. I just updated my watch (Garmin vivoactive 3 to 265) and I have not tried streaming from my new watch directly to my aids. The old vivoactive watch would not but I think the 265 may be able to.

 

[matt and beth]

I have it pretty easy. I wear hearing aids and I can stream music directly from my Apple phone into the aids. I just updated my watch (Garmin vivoactive 3 to 265) and I have not tried streaming from my new watch directly to my aids. The old vivoactive watch would not but I think the 265 may be able to.

That’s very cool!

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

SAFD:
I use basic ear buds. I like the ones that wrap around the ear. They stay in that way. I only wear one on my right ear so i can hear with my left. I also like these so I can always just use them as regular ear buds too. And I go cheap on them since I tend to loose ear buds. When I have tried fancier things like after shock bands... they never seem to fit right on my head.
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