If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best radio for runners is, then I’d recommend the C. Crane CC Pocket AM/FM and NOAA Weather Radio as the best one.
From listening to music to keeping up on the news, having a radio along with you during a run might make the time go by easier.
We conducted hours of research to find five top-rated products to choose from.
Along with our guide, our reviews may help you get the best radio for runners on the market today.
Here are the top radios we’ll be reviewing:
- C. Crane CC Pocket AM/FM and NOAA Weather Radio
- Vondior AM/FM Portable Pocket Radio
- JESSON Personal AM/FM Pocket Radio
- Sony ICFP26 Portable AM/FM Radio
- Horologe Portable Pocket Handy Radio
Radio for Runners – Buyer’s Guide
It’s not so simple to choose any radio to take along with you for your run. There are many factors to weigh to make sure the radio doesn’t actually interfere with your exercise routine.
We’ve broken down some key features to keep in mind that may lead you to find the best radio for runners.
Benefits of Listening to the Radio While Exercising
There have been a number of studies that indicate how beneficial listening to just music can be for your workout.
It may elevate your mood and improve your performance. With a radio, you can tune into a variety of music from your favorite station.
If music isn’t your thing, you can always find your favorite news or sports station to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings.
For those of you who may be just starting out with your training, having something to listen to might make the time go by easier.
Features to Consider in Running Radios
Not all radios are made the same.
Since you want to take yours with you whether you’re running outdoors or inside on a treadmill, it’s important that the radio meets certain factors.
Portability
Can you imagine carrying around those oversized radios while you’re trying to jog? A radio that lacks portability can make exercise a more strenuous task than it needs to be.
The best radio for runners is one you can actually run with. A radio with good portability is one that won’t add any unnecessary weight to you.
Beyond being light, a good portable radio is designed in a style that’s easy to hold or slip into a pocket.
This way, you can enjoy listening to the radio without sacrificing your running posture.
Some good radios used by runners may also have additional design features like a clip to attach to a belt or some type of carrying handle.
Sound Quality
There may be little point in using a radio while you run if you can’t hear it.
There are some radios that use an adjustable antenna to help you cut down on static and improve clarity, for instance.
Other radios offer high-quality speakers so that they sound well and clear even from a few feet away.
Power
Since these are portable radios, they’re usually battery-powered. Some have rechargeable batteries, while others will need replacing every now and then.
The life of your batteries may depend on a few different factors such as backlit screens.
Additional Features
With these add-ons, you may have a more enjoyable listening experience as you exercise:
- Presets: With presets, you can save your favorite channels so you don’t have to go searching for them.
- LCD Screen: Not all portable radios come with a screen, but it may make for easier and quicker viewing.
- LED Tuner: If your radio lacks a screen, it may have an lit-up tuner instead, allowing you to still view what channel you’re turning to.
- Lock: A locking mechanism can help prevent accidental pressing while you’re running.
Precautions to Running with a Radio
Regardless of how high in quality the radio is, there are some precautions you should take note of before using it.
For those of you running outdoors, do be aware that it’s recommended to not run wearing headphones as it may limit what you can hear around you.
In this case, it can benefit you to find a portable radio with a good speaker so that you won’t have to worry about using earphones.
Of course, if you’re running indoors with a treadmill, it may be no issue using headphones.
Many radios for runners offer a mix design where you can use either a speaker or the headphone jack depending on your preference.
Best Radio for Runners – Top 5 Reviewed
C. Crane CC Pocket AM/FM and NOAA Weather Radio
The C. Crane CC Pocket Radio has AM, FM, and NOAA weather capabilities. Weighing only 4oz., the radio is easy enough to carry around.
The size of it may allow you to slide it in your pants pocket or even your shirt pocket. Also, there’s a removable belt clip you can use as well.
It has a generally user-friendly design. The on and off button, as well as the headphone jack, is located on the top.
This way, you may be able to adjust some things without pulling the radio out of your pocket.
The buttons themselves are intuitive and easy to use. There’s a backlight on the LCD screen, and there are five one-touch memory presets available.
This runs on two AA batteries, but you may need to replace them often as the radio might drain power.
There are various ways you can listen to this though. You can utilize the headphone jack and the earbuds that come with the radio, or you can simply listen via the speaker.
The speaker doesn’t seem as high in quality, but with the headphones plugged in, you may get good, clear reception.
Beyond listening to the radio or weather alerts, you can use the sleep timer or the clock alarm.
Pros
- Solid construction
- User-friendly design
- Good reception
Cons
- Speaker could be better
- Might go through batteries fast
Vondior AM/FM Portable Pocket Radio
The Vondior AM/FM Portable Pocket Radio may be among the most simplistic of radios you can use while jogging.
Its straightforward design might allow users of various experiences and ages to enjoy pulling it out.
The style is a throwback of sorts to the usual transistor radios. It lacks any LCD screen, but the standard readout is simple enough.
Some of the controls may come across as awkward though. The on and off button is nearby the volume button, so it might take some time to get used to it.
Also, the radio as a whole seems rather sensitive. Minor bumps might change the channel, so you may want to take care that it’s properly secured before a run.
The carrying strap can help you keep it where it needs to be.
Powered by AA batteries, it does seem to last a good deal of time before you need to replace them.
This may give you plenty of time listening to the many stations you can get using this radio either using the speaker or the headphone jack.
Reception appears clear in various areas too. The antenna aids in keeping that reception.
Pros
- Plenty of stations
- Quality, clear reception
- Good carrying strap
Cons
- Too sensitive
- Some controls seem awkward
JESSON Personal AM/FM Pocket Radio
The JESSON Personal AM/FM Pocket Radio may be your go-to choice if you only want to use headphones to listen. There’s isn’t any speaker, so headphones are necessary.
As you use the device, you can readily store a large number of stations so your favorites are always accessible.
All the buttons are simple to use so you may not struggle to change the volume, stations, and more while you run.
There’s even an auto search and store function. All of the functions are seen on the screen, but it isn’t backlit so you might have some trouble reading it at times.
The overall design is compact. This way, it might not interfere with your jogging as you can slip it into a pocket with ease. The device only weighs 3.68oz. so you might barely feel it.
Unlike some other portable radios, this one is powered using a rechargeable battery. When you purchase it, you’ll also receive a USB cord so you can charge it back up.
You may need to frequently recharge it as the battery can drain, but it doesn’t seem to take too long to get the battery full again.
Pros
- Stores plenty of stations
- Easy to use
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- Battery runs low fast
- Screen is sometimes hard to read
Sony ICFP26 Portable AM/FM Radio
The Sony ICFP26 Portable Radio is another jogging radio that offers you an uncomplicated way to take your radio on-the-go during your run.
It has a sleek, slim design that fits easily enough in your pocket. The radio is built with a carrying strap too, which can ease the process of carrying it along.
This radio seems to have smooth controls, creating a more user-friendly product.
The feeling of the material doesn’t appear that high in quality though, so it’s uncertain how long this will last or if it will hold up to rough use.
Even so, backed by two AA batteries, the radio may go awhile before needing new batteries.
There is also an LED battery light indicator so you’re always aware when they need replacing.
When using this radio, you can link up your headphones or just tune into the speaker. When plugged in via headphones, the sound seems clear enough.
However, the speaker doesn’t seem as high in quality. It may benefit from being louder.
Pros
- Battery light indicator
- Sleek design
- Smooth controls
Cons
- Material feels low in quality
- Speaker seems too quiet
Horologe Portable Pocket Handy Radio
The Horologe Portable Pocket Handy Radio offers you the chance to save 20 AM and 20 FM radio stations, presetting them so that you can quickly reach them while you run.
It takes little effort to program the radio according to your preferences. If you don’t want to search yourself, you can always tap into the radio’s auto-search and save functionality.
Reading what station you’re on is simple enough too thanks to the LCD screen. Although there are plenty of stations you can listen to, you might lose signal from time to time.
The radio seems prone to interference, so there might be some adjusting needed.
The size of the radio may allow it to fit on an armband or your pocket without weighing you down. It weighs less than 2oz. too.
You can connect to the radio using the earphone jack or make use of the built-in speaker system.
There may not be that much time listening to it, however, as the device might drain the battery fast. You can replace them using two AAA batteries.
Pros
- Auto-search and save
- Easy to program
- Simple to hold onto
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Might drop the signal
Final Thoughts
Tuning into your favorite stations while you’re on a run can be a great way to keep yourself motivated to stay moving.
Of course, there are safety factors to keep in mind if you’re running outdoors. Even so, we feel the best radio for runners is the C. Crane CC Pocket AM/FM and NOAA Weather Radio.
It’s an expensive option, but there are a number of features to take advantage of.
The LCD readout is clear thanks to the backlight, and the overall construction seems solid enough to last awhile. It weighs little so that it won’t hinder your run.
The device can be used with earphones or via the speaker, and the sound usually comes out clear and static-free. It’s also user-friendly as the controls are intuitive and easy to access.
