Q: I need some headphones or earphones to use while I run, preferably something that stays in my ear and sounds good. Bluetooth would be nice, but that's not 100 percent necessary.

A: I recently tested two models that are worth considering.

You can get everything you want with the BlueAnt Pump. I use this model at the gym when I ride the stationary bicycle, listening to music and playing Monopoly on my iPad. It makes the time on the bike go much faster.

The BlueAnt Pump HD Sportbuds earphones fit over your ear, holding them firmly in place while the earbuds go in your ear. A strap connects the left and right sides. Controls are on the right side. A long-life battery recharges via MicroUSB, and a microphone is integrated into the unit. It connects wirelessly via Bluetooth. The sound quality is decent, and I have been told by those whom I have called with it that the voice quality is very clear.

You will get better sound quality from a wired pair selling for the same price, but it is hard to beat the convenience and comfort of going untethered. The earphones sell online for $79 to $129. A Google Shopping search will find the best place to get them. You can see them at www.myblueant.com.

If you use your headphones/earphones outside while running, you must consider safety and whether you are comfortable being completely isolated from the world with an earbud plugging up your ear. Panasonic has a solution for those who want to enjoy sound from a portable device while keeping their ears uncovered.

Panasonic's new bone conduction headphones fit around the back of your head and place a small rubber pad on your skull just in front of your ear. The pad is shaped to help you find optimal placement for the best transmission of sound. The headphones bypass the eardrums, allowing you to converse normally and hear what is happening around you. You can listen while running, biking or caring for a child and hear as you normally would without headphones on.

The downside is that the sound quality is not as good as with traditional earphones and headphones. That's to be expected, of course, given how they work.

It's a personal decision if this is a fair trade-off for the advantages they offer. I love good sound as much or more than anyone, but I'd be willing to trade off some sound quality to keep myself from getting hit by a bus while I'm out running.

This applies to music listening. If you listen to podcasts, talk radio or audiobooks, I don't think you will miss the sound quality difference as much.

The Panasonic RP-HGS10-P bone conduction headphones are wired and sell for $79. The Bluetooth model RP-BTGS1 has a microphone for hands-free calls and sells for $199. Website: tinyurl.com/psbyx4l.

Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get more recommendations and read past columns at www.soundadviceblog.com.