For years, Jabra was at the top of the list for best running earbuds, and they’ve always been the ones I reach for when I go out for a run. A few years ago I was using the Jabra Elite Active 75t, and then the Elite 7 Active, but now it’s the Jabra Elite 8 Active. They have a grippy silicone rubber outer texture — Jabra calls it ShakeGrip — that keeps them comfortably in place, they’re IP68 rated so running in the rain causes no issue (you can even dunk them in water after a workout for a cleansing rinse), they’re incredibly durable, and right now for Cyber Monday they’re $170.
The Gen 2 earbuds include an updated charging case that adds the ability for it to act as a wireless transmitter. By using the included USB-C/3.5mm cable, you can plug the case in to an airplane’s entertainment system, a TV, or treadmill, and press the button on the front of the case to connect to the earbuds using the Bluetooth LE Audio standard. Jabra also improved the spatial audio performance and ANC with the Gen 2, but I’ll be honest, I don’t like using ANC while I’m out for a run. It’s more important that I’m safe and aware of my surroundings than drowning them out, but the ANC is there if you choose to use the earbuds beyond your workouts.
I’ll admit I was disappointed when Jabra’s parent company GN announced earlier in the year, almost immediately after the upgraded Elite 8 Active Gen 2 release, that they were getting out of the consumer audio category “to further increase focus and resources on more attractive parts of GN’s business.”
Don’t let that announcement give you pause about the Elite 8 Active, though. Jabra as a company will continue to be around, and it’s said that any “products will still be supported throughout their lifetime, as normal.” It does mean that the Elite 8 Active will only be around until Jabra is out of stock, and as of now, I don’t think there’s a better pair of running earbuds available.
