Badly fitting earphones, no matter how good the audio quality, will make simply cause you upset.. Never more so that when you are out on a run. We have all been there, trying to get into a rhythm and your audio starts to fade because your earbud starts to part company with your ear. Or worse still the earphone simply doesn’t fit in your ear and feels like someone is shoving a large piece of joinery into your ear canal… There is no one size fits all solution, the problem being that no two ears are the same, in fact they are so distinctive criminal cases have been proven using ear impressions. Running and sports headphones also have to cope with the rigors of moisture not only rain but sweat as well. Throw into this mix the elements of design, robustness and individual preference it is no wonder that there is a plethora of choice of headphones for running.
How to choose a headphone which will suit you when running?
Simply start by discounting those types of headphone which you don’t work for you, don’t go believing a review which says a particular earphone has wonderful sound quality and value for money when it is of a type that you know will not stay put in your ear or which you know will block out so much external noise you will crick your neck looking behind you every few minutes.
So what are the choices?
Earbuds: fine if you are Mr or Mrs average, they will stay in place as you run. problem is no one is average, everyone is different and for most runners the shock will work em loose and drive you mad..
In Ear Headphones: Now these are for the audiophile runner who puts sound quality before safety. In ear headphones tend to stay in place, and generally fit comfortably especially if you have them custom fitted. Perfect I hear you say, close but no Cigar, they block out the outside world almost completely. Which is fine if you dont have to keep one eye on the world behind you!!.
Most annoyingly the cable can rub against your clothing causing a background noise which will drive you to distraction… Fine in the Gym.
Neckbands: These are primarily earbuds on an Alice band! The neckband design keeps the business end firmly in your ear even as you bounce along. Favoured by many runners but despised by others. If the fit is wrong the neckband can annoy you by rubbing on the back of your neck.
Sports Hooks: Take an earbud and attach a bendy hook or an ergonomic shape and you have a Sports hook headphone. These can provide an excellent alternative to the neckband, no chafing of the neck area. That can take some fiddling to get them to fit snugly.
On Ear Headphones: These can be best described as conventional looking, but not quite cans. Two options here, Closed back and open back, open back provides better all round environmental awareness.
All of these choices have varying levels of resistance to moisture, some models being so waterproof you can rinse them under a tap after a run..
So what to choose?
Work out what doesn’t work for you and disregard it!!! Consider what fits your ear, beg steal and borrow from friends and try before you buy. Work out what you are going to put these small electronic wonders through and select something that will stand up to the punishment you are about to throw at them! And only then consider audio quality!!!!
Hope this helps you
To find headphones suitable for running and Sport use visit runningheadphones4u.co.uk
