How to choose your wireless Bluetooth headphones: buying guide
Running to the rhythm of your favorite songs is one of the greatest daily pleasures of popular runners. But the experience of running to music can quickly turn into a nightmare if you don't have the right wireless headphones. As we at RUNNEA want to spare you such a pain, we have put together a guide to choosing Bluetooth headphones, ideal for practicing our favorite sport: running, trail running, hiking... Get all the details!
What type of wireless headphones should I choose?
Today's market offers a wide range of devices. In fact, there are Bluetooth headsets of all shapes and sizes, for all budgets. Among the best choices of true wireless headphones for running we find:
- in-ear headphones, in-ear or in-ear headphones with ear hooks,
- in-ear headphones with small temples,
- earbud headphones with ear cushions,
- wired around-the-neck headphones,
- bone conduction headphones,
- wireless on or over-ear/circumaural headphones.
Say goodbye to the mess of wires: all models in this guide are wireless with Bluetooth connection, as this offers unmatched convenience. You can connect your smartphone or heart rate monitor to the headphones and run while listening to your best playlists.
Now, each Bluetooth headset format has its pros and cons. Ultimately, it depends on your personal taste whether you prefer the stability of the ear hooks, the comfort of the temples, the lightness of the ear pads or the reliability of the cable around your neck.
If sound quality is your priority, supra-aural or circumaural headphones are the best choice, but they are not the most comfortable, especially in hot weather. At RUNNEA, we recommend that you look more towards Bluetooth in-ear headphones for running.
What is the battery life of wireless sports headphones?
The battery life ranges from 3 hours to 10 hours, not including extra charging in the case, if there is such an option. It may not sound like a lot, but most of us popular runners do short runs of 5 km, for which it is enough. But if you like to run longer distances (marathon or mountain races), you will have to choose a Bluetooth wireless headset with a longer autonomy.
Choosing according to the connectivity of Bluetooth headphones
The market is currently dominated by two operating systems: Android and iOS.
This means that if you are an iPhone user, you should go for AirPods, Powerbeats or Apples satellite brands. Xiaomi, Samsung and other brands each have their own devices or deals with manufacturers.
You might be interested in: Best Xiaomi Bluetooth headphones for running in 2021.
By using products from the same manufacturer, the experience is smoother and latency or lag issues between sound and picture are avoided . However, with the development of new brands independent of iOS and Android, this is less and less true. For example, you can use Jabra s Bluetooth wireless headphones with an iPhone.
Are wireless headphones resistant to water or sweat?
Not all true wireless headphones are suitable for sports use, so look out for IPX ("Ingress protection") certification. This means that the electronic device meets waterproof and resistance standards, on a scale from 0 to 8. IPX4 certification already offers a good level of resistance to sweat, dust and rain, which is sufficient for running. If you plan to swim with the headset or run in heavy rain, IPX7 is the best choice.
Which Bluetooth headphones offer the best sound quality?
When choosing Bluetooth wireless headphones for running, sound quality is often one of the main concerns.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Bluetooth only transmits MP3 and therefore lower quality sound compared to WAV or FLAC files. Is this a problem? No, most popular runners don't notice the difference.
- When you run, your perception of sound changes, with a faster heart rate and an altered mental state due to hormones released during exertion.
- You are running in adverse conditions: background noise, people, wind, rain.... You will have to forgo the exquisite nuances of the Spanish National Orchestra performing Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
The perception of sound is personal and everyone has their own particular tastes. There are those who prefer deep basses, attenuated high frequencies, a rather bright sound? The best thing to do is to try them yourself. Often, there are no test models in store, for hygiene reasons. Don't worry, there are many tests on the internet to give you a better idea of the product. Of course, compare prices from RUNNEA to get the best option.
What budget do I need to buy a Bluetooth headset?
This is a very frequent question and it really depends on your needs and possibilities. It is true that the cheapest wireless headphones have a lower sound quality. Let's say that a budget of about 50 euros is a good starting point to find a good value for money. High-end models are around 200 euros.
Bluetooth wireless headphones with noise cancellation
To enhance the listening experience, brands offer in-ear headphones with noise cancellation.
On the one hand, there is passive cancellation that slightly filters out external noise, just by putting the headphones in your ear. Then, some options also incorporate effective active noise cancellation technology that uses frequency sensors. This then serves to cancel out much of the ambient noise. High-end Bluetooth headphones combine both technologies to provide better isolation.
Watch out! When you practice sports, it is important to stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
But then, what's the point of offering effective noise cancellation if you don't want to use it? Well, yes, it can be useful for the treadmill or the gym. It is also ideal for making calls or listening to music on public transport.
An atypical and fully functional option: Aftershokz
The Aftershokz are the black sheep of this guide, wireless bone conduction headphones. Sound is transmitted by vibrations through the bones of the skull. Naturally, they do not offer noise cancellation, either active or passive. This means some loss of bass sounds, but the quality of these headphones is quite impressive.
They are the ideal Bluetooth headphones in terms of safety. Because they leave the ear canal completely libre, you can hear everything going on around you. Mind you, when there is a lot of wind or excessive noise, you probably won't hear your favorite songs very well. But you can always pause and play again when it's quieter to pick up where you left off.
Selection of Bluetooth wireless headphones for running
Now you have all the tools you need to choose your Bluetooth wireless headphones. However, the RUNNEA editorial team has chosen some models of predilection that offer an excellent balance between all the parameters we mentioned in the article.
Bluetooth sports headphones in i-run:
- Jabra Elite Active 75t: a great high-end option, with excellent sound quality, active noise reduction and good sweat resistance.
- Aftershokz TrekzAir: a high-end model from Aftershokz with all the advantages of bone conduction sound. An increasingly popular choice.
- JBL Harman: basic, value-for-money Bluetooth headphones from the famous JBL company.
Bluetooth sports headphones on top4running:
Bluetooth sports headphones at Alltricks:
- Aftershokz Aeropex: a reasonably priced Aftershoks option that offer great stability and impressive sound quality.
Bluetooth sports headphones on Amazon:
- Apple Airpods Pro: the benchmark for Apple users. Clear sound, one of the best noise reduction systems on the market and a reliable fit. The best of the best.
- PowerBeats Pro: an alternative for iPhone users. They incorporate an ear loop for a better fit. They offer excellent sound quality with deep bass.
Conclusion
This Bluetooth wireless headphones buying guide presents the different parameters to consider:
- size,
- autonomy,
- connectivity,
- sweat resistance,
- sound quality,
- budget,
- noise cancellation.
Each model offers a solution and a compromise between all these factors. Obviously, if the sound quality and noise reduction are high, the autonomy will be low, and vice versa. So choose the model that suits you best, depending on your sport and your running outings.
Read more news about: Running News
