I Swapped Out My Bone Conduction Headphones for These Noise-Canceling Running Headphones.
Running headphones are a highly personalized category of gear . Every runner has their own criteria for choosing the right ones. For me, a secure fit has always been a top priority, which is why I’ve favored models with a form-fitting design, like the Shokz OpenRun . I also love the security benefits of open-back bone conduction headphones: being able to hear traffic, cyclists, and other runners is more important to me than listening to music. Unfortunately, this means I’ve had to make significant compromises in sound quality. On some sections of my city runs, my open-back headphones simply don’t cut it. However, every time I’ve tried noise-canceling headphones, I’ve always found some other flaw related to comfort, fit, or security. So, it’s telling that for the first time, I’ve truly enjoyed a pair of noise-canceling sports headphones: the JLab JBuds Sport ANC 4 .
Why I love these noise-canceling sports headphones
First off, when it comes to running headphones, these are a budget option at $69.99. Here are a few more advantages:
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Over 60 hours of total playback time and IP66 sweat resistance.
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Flexible ear hooks for a secure fit.
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A convenient charging case with a built-in USB-C cable and wireless charging support (the only drawback is that the built-in cable is short, so you need to keep the case close to a power outlet).
I tested them on the Williamsburg Bridge—one of the noisiest and windiest sections I typically visit, and a place where my favorite open-back Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones are simply drowned out by the sound. The JBuds Sport ANC 4 handled this admirably. I could clearly hear my music, as well as the pedestrian noise around me, without losing the secure fit needed for confident use while running.
I’ve already ridden them for over 30 miles, and they haven’t budged once. Fit is always subjective—what works for my ears may not work for yours—but these are the first active noise-canceling sports headphones that offer sound quality comparable to over-ear headphones.
If touch controls are important to you, JLab has included a cool feature: two separate touch surfaces, one on the outer shell and one on the earhook itself, which supports swipe gestures. Out of the box, the controls are the same for both earbuds:
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One touch: play/pause
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Double tap: next track
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Triple tap: previous track
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Long press: Toggle between noise cancellation, Awareness (transparency), and off.
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Swipe to adjust volume
The app lets you customize everything, including independent controls for each earbud. You can reassign gestures to switch equalizer presets, launch the voice assistant, or manage the workout timer.
The “Be Aware” mode (JLab’s transparency setting) is suitable for short, personal conversations, but it’s not ideal. It amplifies most ambient sound, but struggles with high frequencies and adds a noticeable hiss, making voices and traffic noise sound somewhat artificial.
And to be clear: these are improved headphones for running , not for listening to high-quality music. If high-quality sound is your priority, look elsewhere.
Result
I wouldn’t recommend them to everyone. If you’re looking for flawless sound, these aren’t the right choice. But if you’ve used open-back or bone conduction headphones like the Shokz before and encountered the same problem I did—where urban noise simply drowns out the open design—then the JBuds Sport ANC 4 are ideal. For me, they provide enough noise cancellation to make noisy commutes tolerable, stay securely in place during intense workouts, and are affordable.