I’m no Phidippides, but I’ve done a fair amount of running in my life. Not the exciting kind like while trying to escape a pack of wolves or racing to deliver messages to the Capitol or anything, but still, I run. Generally, whether I’m doing it to try to fit back into my skinny jeans, or just need to get out and about, I find a little music helps. And for that, I need headphones.

Lots of people on the Internet think they know what they’re talking about when it comes to running and technology. Running gadgets abound! But the real point of running, especially outdoors, say, during marathons, is to get in touch with your body, find its limits, get in shape and enjoy the outdoors.

From heart rate monitors to GPSs, the world of running technology offers a plethora of pieces you can experiment with to make your running experience that much more pleasurable. But what simple pieces will actually enable you to do what you’re supposed to be doing, which is running?

We polled all types of runners: ones who run the gamut (pun intended) of training for marathons to more mild joggers. The general opinion is logical: Runners want something in their ears that they can then forget about.

A New Yorker who frequently runs outside was about as basic as you can get with her requirements: “I prefer the ear buds that have the rubber covers on them and go into your ears because you don’t have to worry about them falling out or getting annoying. The ones that Apple gives you suck for moving at all.” Fair, but we have a dissenter!

Braden Becker, copy editor for TechZone360 and a professional runner, said, “For as little weight as possible, I’m fine with just the classic earbuds you see most Apple products come with. Sound quality doesn’t matter as much to me when I’m exercising; it’s really just a tool for distraction. So anything small and light that isn’t cumbersome has my vote.”

One of our staff favorites at TMC is the Jabra SPORT. They stay in your ears, they provide excellent sound quality, and they look cool.  

But if you are doing your best to leave technology behind this summer, take the advice of an experienced runner, and consider leaving your ears to the sound of the wind. Becker noted, “The noise can also subconsciously cause you to alter the intensity of your session, and that’s not always a good thing.”