10 Best Running Music Player 2025 in the United States

The Garmin Forerunner 255 Music is a feature-packed GPS running smartwatch designed for active individuals who love to listen to music on the go. It’s lightweight and comes in two sizes (46 mm and 41 mm), making it comfortable for running. The always-on, full-color display is easy to read, even in direct sunlight, which is great for outdoor activities. With up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode and 30 hours in GPS mode, it’s reliable for long runs and extended use without frequent charging.

The watch has 4 GB of storage, allowing you to download up to 500 songs from platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer, which can be paired seamlessly with wireless headphones for a phone-free experience. This should suffice for most runners' music library needs, although heavy music listeners might find the storage capacity a bit limiting. Durability is a strong suit of this smartwatch, as it’s designed to withstand various running conditions.

It also offers advanced features such as HRV status, sleep monitoring, personalized training tips, and adaptive workouts, which are useful for serious runners looking to improve their performance. However, some features require additional accessories like the Running Dynamics Pod or HRM-Pro, which could be a downside for those not looking to spend extra. The proprietary operating system might also limit third-party app compatibility. Despite these minor cons, the Garmin Forerunner 255 Music stands out for its comprehensive fitness and music functionalities, making it an excellent choice for runners who want a well-rounded device to enhance their workouts.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 Music is a lightweight running smartwatch designed to be a strong companion for your fitness routines. Weighing just 1.38 ounces, it is comfortable to wear during long runs. The battery life is impressive, offering up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and up to 19 hours with GPS, ensuring it lasts through extended training sessions. With 4GB of storage capacity, you can download and listen to music directly from the watch, supporting phone-free listening through wireless headphones, which is great for focused runs.

The colorful AMOLED display and ease of navigation with both touchscreen and traditional button controls make it user-friendly, even during intense workouts. Additionally, the watch is equipped with various training metrics and recovery insights to help you optimize your fitness regime. It also includes safety features like incident detection and Assistance, which can send your live location to emergency contacts, providing peace of mind when running outdoors. However, the need for subscription services to access music playlists may be a drawback for some users.

The smartwatch also offers smart notifications, contactless payments with Garmin Pay, and multiple built-in activity profiles, making it versatile for various sports. While it performs excellently for running and general fitness, the dependency on smartphone pairing for some features and the relatively limited storage capacity might be limitations for users looking for more standalone functionality and more extensive music storage.

This MP3 player with Bluetooth 5.0 offers several strengths and some drawbacks for runners and sport enthusiasts. At just 2.86 ounces, it's lightweight, making it ideal for carrying during runs or other physical activities. With a 30-hour battery life, it supports long listening sessions without frequent recharging. The internal storage of 32GB, expandable to 96GB with the included 64GB TF card, provides ample space for over 5000 songs, perfect for extensive music collections. The 2.4-inch screen, though large for an MP3 player, may be more prone to scratches, but it enhances usability with its touch buttons and backlight for easy operation in the dark.

Durability should be considered as the metal alloy casing offers a comfortable and sturdy feel. The device's Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity ensures stable and compatible connections with various Bluetooth headphones and speakers, which is essential for wireless use. Moreover, it delivers high-quality, lossless sound making your music experience more immersive. On the other hand, it has extra features such as FM radio, voice recording, e-books, and alarm clock, which might appeal to tech-savvy users but could be unnecessary for those looking for a simple music player.

The included earphones and TF card add value, but the actual quality of these accessories could vary. Ease of use is targeted, with claims that even children and the elderly can operate it easily, and there's a one-year warranty for added peace of mind. However, the need to navigate multiple functions might be a slight learning curve for some. This device is a solid choice for those needing a versatile, high-capacity MP3 player for running and other exercises.