Sports earbuds - Move to the groove
Paul Jones
STACK Editor-in-Chief
It’s time to get active in the great outdoors. Here are the five most important considerations when buying a pair of sports earbuds, and three recommendations to suit all budgets.
The weather has finally turned, and it’s time to get outside and shake off winter’s hibernation. Exercising is not everyone’s bag, but a good banging tune piped into the ears during a workout can give you the lift and inspiration to push through the pain and smash your goals. But when choosing the right pair of sports earbuds, there are only five things you need to consider – check these off the list, and you can’t go wrong.
Wireless or True Wireless?
Yep, this one can be a little confusing. Think of wireless earbuds as a necklace with an earbud on each end, which was once the preferred tech for runners and athletes. And then came true wireless. True wireless is precisely what the name suggests – the earbuds are powered individually without cables. If you’re asking us, it’s true wireless all the way.
Comfort
All ears are shaped differently, and manufacturers make provisions for this by supplying a selection of different gel bud sizes in the box. A good fit is vitally important – you don’t want buds toppling out during a run. Sports earbuds have been designed with motion in mind, and as such, some feature wingtips to spread tight in the lobe or hooks to fit over the ear to prevent the buds from coming loose.
Water resistance
The sweat will flow when the heat is turned up in a workout. IP ratings cover dust and water resistance. The higher the rating, the better the protection, so if excessive sweat or inclement weather is a factor, shoot for a high number.
Battery life
Lithium batteries have come a long way in delivering long life, and offer anything from five to 12 hours use from a single charge (sometimes more). Moreover, the earbud storage cases typically hold two to three full charges, so you can rely on constant music even if you’re running an ultra-marathon.
Controls
It doesn’t matter how much you’re in the ‘zone’, at some point you’ll want to skip a track, pump up the volume or take a call. You don’t want to keep reaching for your phone, so this is where intuitive controls play a part, and most earbuds now feature the convenience of touch controls.
Ready to tune up and train?
These are our three recommendations that suit all budgets.
Jabra Elite 5
True Wireless: Yes
Battery life: 7 hours in the buds. 21 hours in charging case.
Touch Control: Physical buttons
ANC: Yes
Bluetooth: 5.2
Rating: IP55
Sennheiser Sport True Wireless
True Wireless: Yes
Battery life: 9 hours in the buds. 27 hours in charging case.
Touch Control: Yes
ANC: No
Bluetooth: 5.2
Rating: IP54
Bose Sports True Wireless Earbuds
True Wireless: Yes
Battery life: 5 hours in the buds. 10 hours in charging case.
Touch Control: Yes
ANC: No
Bluetooth: 5.1
Rating: IPX4
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
