These basic Bluetooth headphones may lack fancy features, but they will surpass your expectations for the price. The sound is well-balanced and they’re comfy to wear, staying firmly put even when running fast and sweating. The long cable has no clip, meaning it flapped about a bit, but we like that you get a choice of ear tips for the best fit. The eight-hour battery life is decent, too.

Key specs
Type: In-ear
In-line controls: On ear bud
Battery life: Up to 8 hours
Noise-cancelling: No
Included accessories: 2 pairs of silicone ear tips, carry clip, charging cable

If you’re looking for a trusty pair of traditional in-ear headphones that fit snugly into your ears without sticking out, try these colourful earbuds. They’re cheap and cheerful at just over £20, yet still offer up to eight hours of punchy audio. The play, pause and skip buttons on the cable are easy to use while running and three sizes of ear tip guarantee comfort.

Key specs
Type: In-ear
In-line controls: On cable
Battery life: Up to 8 hours
Noise-cancelling: No
Included accessories: 3 pairs of silicone ear tips, charging cable

These in-ear headphones come with a smartly designed collar to stop the cable getting on your nerves. They don’t slip out while running and the sound quality is solid, with just enough bass to keep you thudding on. You get nine hours of listening time between charges and four sizes of ear tips to try on. Overall: not too shabby for under £30.

Key specs
Type: In-ear
In-line controls: On cable
Battery life: Up to 8 hours
Noise-cancelling: No
Included accessories: 4 pairs of silicone ear tips, charging cable

Runners will like the hooked design that holds these true wireless headphones securely in place over long distances without rubbing. The battery life is brilliant – expect 10 hours of playback from a single charge, plus 20 hours from the charging case. There’s no noise-cancelling feature, but the ‘ambient aware’ mode lowers the volume and amplifies background noise, which is useful when running on roads. Swimmers, take note: they’re waterproof up to 1m deep.

Key specs
Type: In-ear
In-line controls: On earbud
Battery life: Up to 30 hours
Noise-cancelling: No
Included accessories: 3 pairs of silicone ear tips, 3 pairs of silicone ear hooks, charging case, USB lead

True wireless headphones often cost £100 or more, so these are a steal for their price. Comfy and compact even on long runs, they fit snugly thanks to a choice of three ear tips. We rate the sound quality, too – the bass could be heavier, but the treble is much clearer than we were expecting. They’ll run for six hours but come with a stylish charging case that quickly ramps that up to 24. The buttons click loudly when pressed, but we’ll let that slide.

Key specs
Type: In-ear
In-line controls: On earbud
Battery life: Up to 6 hours
Noise-cancelling: No
Included accessories: 3 pairs of silicone ear tips, charging case

On-ear headphones can be bulky, but these are sleek, stylish and available in three minimalist colours – our favourite is the navy blue. The sound quality is fantastic, brilliantly mixing treble and bass. They’re comfy to wear but did slip forward a bit when jogging – try adjusting the headband for a tighter fit. It’s a shame they can’t be folded down for travel, and they don’t come with a carry case, but we love the cable for when the 14-hour battery runs flat.

Key specs
Type: On-ear
In-line controls: On ear cup
Battery life: Up to 14 hours
Noise-cancelling: No
Included accessories: Charging cable, 3.5mm audio cable

These bargain on-ear headphones are a pleasure to wear for long periods, thanks to the padded headband and cushions. The sound quality is solid, with a pounding bass and sharp treble, and we like that they have folding hinges for portability. Are they ideal for running? Probably not. They shake about a bit while jogging, which could get annoying. The plastic casing feels cheap, too, but it comes in four fun colours.

Key specs
Type: On-ear
In-line controls: On ear cup
Battery life: Up to 16 hours
Noise-cancelling: No
Included accessories: Charging cable

It’s rare to find noise-cancelling headphones at this bargain price. The sound quality rivals far pricier models, with a bass that’s punchy but not overbearing. Cushioned ear pads offer supreme comfort but do shake about a bit while exercising. The battery only lasts for eight to 10 hours, but there’s a cable in the box for continued listening once it dies. Note that they’re not waterproof, so won’t be the best choice if you get very sweaty!

Key specs
Type: Over-ear
In-line controls: On ear cup
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Noise-cancelling: Yes
Included accessories: Charging cable, carry case, 3.5mm audio cable