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Head-to-head · Best Wireless Running Headphones Under $200

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC vs Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.1). JLab Epic Air Sport ANC is best for: Best for noise-canceling runners wanting hooks plus 70-hour total battery. Read the strengths below before deciding.

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Wireless Running Headphones Under $200
JLab Epic Air Sport ANC
5 sources$92.99as of Aug 1

SoundGuys rates the JLab Epic Air Sport ANC as durable and adaptable enough for most athletes, praising the secure fit and IP66 water resistance. Reviewers across the board found the touch controls finicky and the microphone quality merely average. The ear hook design keeps them stable through vigorous exercise, though face masks complicate things. Fitness users who need reliable, sweat-proof audio are the fit; anyone after high-fidelity sound or clear call quality should look elsewhere.

Strengths
  • — Secure ear hook design keeps buds stable during intense workouts like running and lifting
  • — IP66 rating provides robust dust and water resistance for outdoor activities
  • — Includes six pairs of interchangeable ear tips (silicone, long, and foam) for customized fit
Watch-outs
  • — Touch controls can occasionally misfire or fail to register gestures
  • — Microphone performance is described as 'just okay', limiting call quality
  • — Ear hooks can easily catch on face masks, potentially pulling the earbuds out
$92.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Ranked #4 in Best Wireless Running Headphones Under $200
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
6 sources$179.95as of Oct 22

Bone conduction with sound worth listening to is the pitch, and CNET's 8.6 out of 10 says it mostly lands. The OpenRun Pro 2 adds an air-conduction driver to the usual cheekbone transducers, which is what finally gives the category some bass. It weighs 26 grams, runs 14 hours and leaves your ears open to traffic. What Hi-Fi was the dissenter at 3 out of 5, and the $179.95 price is the other sticking point.

Strengths
  • — Significantly improved audio quality with deeper bass and clearer mids compared to previous bone-conduction models, per CNET
  • — Lightweight and secure fit that stays in place during intense running and movement, as CNET found
  • — Open-ear design allows users to hear ambient traffic and surroundings for safety, according to SoundGuys
Watch-outs
  • — At $179.95 it costs considerably more than Shokz's own single-driver OpenRun
  • — The open-ear design leaks audible sound at high volume and isolates nothing
  • — IP55 covers sweat and rain but not swimming, as TechRadar notes
$179.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

JLab Epic Air Sport ANC

The JLab Epic Air Sport ANC uses ear hooks like the Anker Soundcore Sport X20, but its touch controls can misfire where the Anker has physical buttons. Its IP66 rating sits between the IPX4 of the Beats Fit Pro and the Anker's IP68. Its listed battery life of up to 15 hours is longer than the Beats Fit Pro's 7 hours, and it costs less than the Beats.

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 uses bone conduction with an open-ear design that lets traffic noise in, where the Beats Fit Pro offers active noise cancellation and the JBL Endurance Peak 3 relies on passive isolation. Its 14-hour battery outlasts the Beats Fit Pro's 7 hours and the JBL's 10. Its IP55 rating is below the JBL's IP68, and it costs more than the Beats.

Specs side-by-side

SpecJLab Epic Air Sport ANCShokz OpenRun Pro 2
Driver Size8mm11mm
Water ResistanceIP66IP55
Battery LifeUp to 15 hours14 hours
Bluetooth Version5Bluetooth
Fit TypeIn-EarBone Conduction
Weight—26g
Bluetooth—5.3 + multipoint
Codecs—SBC, AAC
Mic—Dual noise-canceling
Frequency Response—20 Hz - 20 kHz
Warranty—2-year
← See the full ranking of best wireless running headphones under $200