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I've killed 2 sets of bluetooth sports headphones in 4 years, inc. Optoma NuForce and most recently Bose soundsport, so I'm in the market to replace.
Ideally they need to be;
- bluetooth
- decent battery life
- decent sound quality
- sweat and light rain resistant
- sub £100
- not single/separate earbuds (my lugs are too big they just fall out) and have over-ear hooks or similar to keep in place
- more resilient than 2 years' lifespan!
I'd consider over the ear models but I'd prefer not to for various reasons. I realise the BT technology is probably the most fallible bit, as I have some Sennheiser HD25s that are still good after 18 years but I just can't be doing with wires flapping around during activity.
Anyone got any tips?
Open ear Shokz (used to be Aftershokz)?
https://uk.shokz.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-svo5c6C-QIVbhoGAB1eggeSEAAYASAAEgL1FfD_BwE
I use them for running and they seek ok.
Various models, various prices / offers / discounts
I quite like my earshots.
My Plantronics Backbeat Fits (£60-80 ish) have just fallen apart after 10 years of abuse! I would happily get some more, but will probably hold out now for the v2 AirPod Pros rumoured for September (although whether they’d be as good for running/zwifting etc is an u known quantity!)
I was going to start a thread asking if anyone can recommend any budget bone conducting headphones for running (budget as in half the price of the Aftershokz/Shokz ones).
*Apologies for the thread hijack
I finally treated myself to some Shokz Open Run a few weeks back, a voucher from a Strava challenge got them down to £100
I'm not music expert, but they sound way better than I expected, certainly compared to the ear buds they replaced.
MCJnr is a music expert and was also pleasantly surprised when he tried them. Though apparently not as nice as the sunglasses he tried in Brussels last weekend with Bose bone conduction built in for €250
My wife has just bought some Sony Walkman BT headphones for swim and gym and is very pleased with them
really pleased with my Aftershox.
no thumping bass availible, but the advantages in terms of comfort, being able to hear the outside world are well worth it in my mind.
I have heard reports that the model with the bad highup, the band can interfere with a bike helmet, where as the lower band on my Aftershox Trekz Air dont have this issue.
My Plantronics Backbeat Fits (£60-80 ish) have just fallen apart after 10 years of abuse!
Pretty much what I was about to say.
I find Beats Flex very good for gym/dog walking use.
Horses for courses:
A nice set of noise canceling AKG ones for listening to things on the train or in the office.
A cheap £12.99 pair for drowning out the gym music and getting trashed by sweat, thrown in the gym bag and generally neglected.
A nice set of wired Gardo labs for home.
Those aftershocks cheap on wiggle
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/aftershokz-aeropex-wireless-headphones/blockquote >
That's a good deal. They're being sold off because they're the old model, but only because the name printed on them doesn't match the current branding. Internally they're identical AFAIK.
I've got them and really like them for running / cycling / listening to stuff around the house. I'm not totally sure I'd use them if listening to music / watching TV was their main use, but only because they're not quite as comfy. Sound quality is great (IANAaudiophile).
My backbeat fits just fell apart. We’re good until then although definitely didn’t last ten years.
I swapped to Aftershox for the safety and ear infection factor. They’re good, although because I have a fat head/neck they’re a little tight sometimes.
My aerpoex failed after a yr. They were replaced without a quibble wasn't asked to return the dead ones
You need to try the bone conduction stuff first. It’s ok for music for me but podcasts are quite awkward, and I had to turn the volume up so much that my ears were ringing.
If you can splash the cash I can really recommend the Beats Fit Pro. They sound great and so far my sweat hasn’t killed them, nor have they ever come loose when running.
I listen to music when running with those Aeropex that Wiggle have “cheap”.
My wife listens to the Archers.
They’re a couple of years old now and for what we use them for the bone conduction is spot on.
I like to be able to hear the traffic.
I have a £30 pair of JBL ones. I am usually super snobby about such things but I have to say the JBLs are amazing for the money and still work fine with good battery life after 3 years of sweat/ sun/ sand/ mud/ generally not being looked after. They aren't hifi quality but fine for being out and about. I would buy JBL again.
You need to try the bone conduction stuff first. It’s ok for music for me but podcasts are quite awkward, and I had to turn the volume up so much that my ears were ringing.
I like the boners but did find that for audio books that if I was cycling 18-20+ the wind noise made it hard to hear at a sensible vol.
I suppose the helmet could affect this and you can get those helmet ears things but worth baring in mind the great feature is that you can hear what’s around you,but that may not be something you want to hear.
Good thou if they fit your use case.
I just got some of these in the Amazon sale as a running mag voted them as the most comfortable over ear ones. Happy so far, decent sound and easy to use:
Any type of buds just fall out of my ears and I have tried various ones over the years and nothing stays in regardless of quality and cost. My experience is also that they give up the ghost quite early (if you dont lose them beforehand) due to sweat and water etc so I just buy cheap ones (current ones £20) with a loop that holds them in place. Sound quality is not great but I mainly listen to Podcasts so not much of an issue.
Powerbeat Pros, above budget (I paid £160 from Amazon last December) but worth the extra.
Thanks for all the tips everyone. Thinking the JLabs at the moment.
I have tried the Aftershox ones but I think portability in a bag is more important than ambient noise, as I don't listen when riding. They are good though. If I was to splash out (pre-excuse pun) it would be to get the swim friendly ones but not looking at that end of budget just now.
Powerbeat Pros, above budget (I paid £160 from Amazon last December) but worth the extra.
+1
I killed 4 sets of wires headphones in the first lockdown.
I got some aftershocks. They are still working fine.
It's not amazing sound quality and apparently the mic is almost unlistenable to with any kind of wind.
http://uk.shokz.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-svo5c6C-QIVbhoGAB1eggeSEAAYASAAEgL1FfD_BwE
I've just bought a set of these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303695464382?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28#vi-desc-maincntr
100% recommended. Comfortable, stay in place, excellent sound quality.
These are returns at £39:99, but BNIB, they're about £100.