A few years ago, almost every runner you passed had the same look, standard in-ear buds, one hand occasionally pressing them back in. Increasingly, that's changing. Open-ear earbuds have quietly become the default choice for a lot of serious and casual runners alike, and it's not just a trend. There are real, practical reasons behind the switch.

Here's what open-ear earbuds actually are, why runners are moving toward them, and whether they're the right call for you.

What are open-ear earbuds?

Unlike traditional earbuds, open-ear designs don't seal into or plug your ear canal at all. Instead, they sit just outside or around the ear, directing sound toward your ear canal without blocking it. Your ear stays fully open to the outside world while you're still listening to music, a podcast, or a call.

This is different from bone conduction (which sends sound as vibrations through the cheekbone). Open-ear earbuds still use a traditional speaker driver, just positioned outside the ear rather than sealed inside it. Think of it as a middle ground between fully sealed in-ear buds and bone conduction headphones.

Why runners specifically are switching

Awareness of traffic and surroundings

This is the number one reason. Sealed in-ear buds, especially with any noise isolation, meaningfully reduce your ability to hear approaching traffic, cyclists, or other runners, a genuine safety issue on roads, canal paths, or busy parks. Open-ear design means you hear your surroundings at full, natural volume the entire time.

No seal means no discomfort on long runs

In-ear tips create pressure inside the ear canal that some runners find uncomfortable over longer distances, a minor issue on a 5K, a real problem on a half marathon. Open-ear removes that pressure point entirely.

They don't fall out

Sweat and movement are the two things that make sealed in-ear buds work loose. Open-ear designs typically use a secure hook or wraparound frame rather than relying on an in-canal seal, so there's nothing to loosen as you sweat.

You can hear yourself breathe (which matters more than it sounds)

Runners training by breath or effort level rely on hearing their own breathing to gauge pace and exertion. Fully sealed earbuds mute that feedback; open-ear doesn't.

Safer for group runs and road crossings

Being able to hear a training partner call out, or a car indicating at a junction, without pausing your audio or pulling a bud out, is a small thing that adds up to a genuinely safer and less disruptive run.

Is there a downside?

Yes, worth being upfront about it, open-ear designs trade off some audio quality and bass compared to a sealed in-ear fit, since there's no seal to contain the sound. In loud environments (a busy gym, a windy exposed trail, a packed train), you may need to turn the volume up more than you would with sealed buds to hear clearly over ambient noise.

If critical sound quality matters more to you than situational awareness, sealed in-ear buds are still the stronger choice. But for the specific use case of outdoor running, most people find the trade-off is well worth it.

Our pick

OPEN Bluetooth Open-Ear Earphones

Built specifically around this use case, a secure, comfortable fit that stays put through long runs, with your ears left completely open to traffic, conversation, and your own breathing. No pressure point, no falling out, and no compromise on being aware of what's around you mid-run.

Best for: outdoor runners, cyclists, group training Price: £28

Final thoughts

If you run outdoors, on roads, parks, canal paths, anywhere you need to stay aware of your surroundings. Open-ear earbuds solve a real, practical problem that sealed buds never fully will. It's a genuine shift in how a lot of runners are choosing to train, not just a fad.

Browse the full range of earbuds at Zupped and find the pair built for how you actually run.