Water and sweat resistant
Which headphones are suitable for jogging?
For many joggers, running is easier with the right music on their ears
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Many people who go jogging regularly listen to music. Because with the right beat it’s easier. It’s only annoying when the headphones don’t fit tightly or give up in the slightest rain shower. With the right model, this can no longer happen.
Due to the constant vibration while running, sweat and splashing water, not all headphones are suitable for jogging. Because not every model can withstand moisture – this is why there is the IP protection class: a two-digit number, the second digit of which provides information about whether a headphone is resistant to water. So that it can survive a rain shower without damage, it should have at least protection class four. The higher the number, the greater the protection. So that the headphones don’t get lost while running, many joggers use in-ear models (for example AirPods alternatives). But there are also other versions with cables or brackets that are suitable for outdoor sporting activities.
1. Shokz Bone Conduction Headphones
Instead of in or on the ear, Shokz bone conduction headphones sit on the cheekbones. From there, the sound vibrations are transmitted to the inner ear. The ear itself is free and open to everything that is important in traffic. The sound quality is still amazing. Shokz sports headphones are available in different colors. For joggers (and cyclists) Shokz has it OpenRun, Open Run Mini and the OpenRun Pro Releases. The former are waterproof according to the IP67 standard, the Pro version is at least sweatproof and protected against splash water. At 26 grams and 29 grams, they are among the lightest headphones on the market.
2. Mee Wired Sports Headphones
Significantly cheaper to purchase, but also not wireless, the manufacturer promises powerful sound including noise isolation with this in-ear model. The “M6 sports headphones” are sweat and water resistant, and various ear adapters are also included. This suggests a fair price-performance ratio. Here you can get the MEE Audio M6.
3. Jabra Wireless In-Ear Sports Headphones
Jabra’s Elite Active 65t wireless in-ear headphones have special motion sensors that allow you to optimize your training. The included EarGels (in three different sizes) are designed to stay in your ears even better thanks to their coating – for the perfect fit. Equipped with protection class IP56, these headphones are also suitable for jogging, as dust and moisture such as rain or sweat cannot harm them. According to the manufacturer, the battery life is a maximum of five hours. Jabra’s in-ear sports headphones are available here.
4. Jaybird Wireless Fitness Headphones
The completely water and sweatproof headphones from Jaybird Vista (IP68) are also suitable for jogging. After just five minutes of charging, you can listen to music for an hour straight. Once the battery is fully charged, you can enjoy the wireless fitness headphones for up to eight hours. To ensure that they sit comfortably and securely in your ears, various gel cushions in three sizes are included – this means you can tailor the model perfectly to your individual needs.
Jaybird headphones are available here.
5. On-ear Bluetooth headphones from JBL
If you don’t want to wear in-ear headphones, you can also use a tried and tested model that is suitable for jogging: The foldable Bluetooth headphones from JBL are not only significantly cheaper, but also play your favorite music for up to 40 hours at a time. Through the built-in microphone You can use it to make phone calls on the go, and you can also access Siri or Google Now at the touch of a button. The only downside is that the model is not sweat- and water-resistant, so you shouldn’t go running with it in the rain. The classic headphones from JBL are available here.
6. Beats by Dr. In-Ear Headphones Dr
The wireless in-ear headphones “Powerbeats Pro” are available in eight different colors. With this model, the Beats brand also uses ear hooks that can be individually adjusted and are intended to guarantee more support and stability while running. Here too, the headphones are suitable for jogging, as they are safe from water and sweat thanks to the IPX4 protection class. According to the manufacturer, the battery lasts up to nine hours, plus the fast fuel function – thanks to this, the headphones can be used for at least 90 minutes after five minutes of charging. The matching ear tips are also included in different sizes. Here you can find the in-ear headphones from Beats.
7. Bose Sweat-Resistant Earbuds
The wireless earbuds “SoundSport Free” from Bose are not only sweat-resistant, but also weather-resistant – making the headphones suitable for jogging. The included StayHear+ sports ear tips come in three sizes (S/M/L), so you can test which model fits best before running. The earbuds are available in different colors and have protection class IPX4. According to the manufacturer, the battery lasts up to five hours, and you can also use the headphones to take calls while jogging. Bose earbuds are available here.
Headphones for jogging: Important purchasing criteria
If you have decided to buy special headphones for jogging, you should include the following four criteria in your search:
The Comfort is crucial when running, as it’s not easy to jog with headphones that are squeezing or slipping. For this reason, most manufacturers supply different gel cushions so that you can find the right size for your ears.
The easy Usability is just as important – especially if you want to search for or skip a specific song. But also if you want to operate incoming or outgoing audio signals while jogging.
The sound plays an equally important role. However, it doesn’t just depend on how good the sound is, but also how much ambient noise is picked up by the headphones. The better the filter, the less outside noise you will notice.
The Water resistance is an important factor if you want to go jogging even on rainy days – or if you work up a sweat quickly. You can use the protection class to see whether and how sweat and water resistant the headphones are.
Note: The article was first published in September 2020.
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