After having used Bluetooth earbuds for many years here are my observations on which are the best Bluetooth earbuds on the market.

Moto Hint

If you’re looking for a simple one ear solution for listening while staying alert then the Moto Hint is an great option. It is discreet and convenient. It’s also light weight enough that I can sometimes forget that I am wearing it. The battery life is descent and the audio quality is average. Overall I use this option only when listening discreetly is the most important consideration.

Aftershokz Bone Phones

For stereo sound while still staying alert to surroundings I recommend Aftershokz brand bone conduction headphones or “bone phones”. These don’t cover your ear so you can still hear your surroundings and the bone phones are reasonably loud enough to listen to and enjoy while doing most activities. Personally they are what I end up wearing the most around the house. People around you can hear sound leak out so they are not good for work or other public places indoors unless you turn the volume quite low.

Bragi

On the high end Bragi makes a $300 pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds that can isolate noise or pipe in noise from your surroundings depending on how you want to use them. These are a great all around option depending on how much you want to spend.

Etymotic Research

Finally Etymotic Research makes the best noise isolating earbuds I’ve ever used. They are all cord and plug earbuds but are so exceptional that they are worth the hassle of a cord. For example, the noise isolation is so good that I can comfortably listen to podcasts while bicycling on off-road trails. I always take the earbuds out when crossing roads however to maintain situational awareness.

So, depending on how you like to listen I would recommend one of these four great earbud options.