The science is in: aside from caffeine, listening to music keeps you both motivated and focused when training, giving you that extra push to hit it hard. Some people aren’t big fans of big over ear headphones, though. I used to be one of them. I grew up in the age when earphones that went over the head were so 1980’s.
In recent times however I’ve come to appreciate why so many people use them, especially if they opt for one of the pairs below, my top over ear headphone picks for this year. For the best in ear headphones, we’ve got that covered too.
In general, with over ear headphones, no matter what exercise regime you’re looking at, you want to think about 3 things:
- Fit and stability: More time pumping, less time fiddling with ear phones. Headphone wires need to stay out of the way, and Bluetooth headsets need to pair fast and stay paired.
- Sweat and moisture resistance: If you’re working out, you’re going to sweat. If you work out outdoors, you will get sweaty and probably wet as well. You don’t want buds that fizzle and go static in one ear or start to rub the skin of your precious ear lobes.
- Beats: The music, man, it’s all about the music! There’s no point buying a new pair of ‘phones if the quality of the sound is terrible.
Keeping these in mind, take a look at both the wireless and wired over ear headphones below – you might not have heard of every brand before, but they’re definitely worth checking out.
Quick Review | 66 Audio BTS+ Wireless Headphones
PRICE: £40 from 66 Audio.
Not only are they Bluetooth and therefore wire free, they look cool too, and will pair to just about any smartphone going, and they come with their own sports app. The controls on the side of the headset are easy to use and intuitive, and can be used to answer phone calls, or what I mostly do, reject them. It’s actually quite good.
The best bit about them though is the size and resilience of the buttons which makes them an absolute dawdle to use; and it’s nice not to have stop running or fiddle with your smartphone mid stride to shuffle your MP3 tracks. Which brings us to the sound quality. It is mind bendingly good. The Bass thumps and the clarity and tone of every note and voice is crystal and sounds perfect. Also being Bluetooth they should only need to be charged every 8 hours or so, but it could be a pain if you forget to, especially in the middle of a workout.
Quick Review | Koss Sporta Pro Headphones
PRICE: £20 from KOSS and Amazon.
Don’t let the fact you probably never heard of Koss before stop you from buying these little beauties. Koss may not be a well-known brand in this part of the world, but this pair of headphones is perfect for those looking for a more price conscious audio solution and aren’t complete gear junkies. Sound quality is crisp and clear and they are wired, but the best thing about them is the fact they are 2 headsets in one.
The somewhat unique headband can adjust so you have the choice to wear them over your head, or around your neck. But don’t worry as they remain sturdy and cling to the side of your cranium no matter what way you wear them. On a side note, they are also very stylish, light and they won’t get uncomfortable no matter how long you wear them.
Quick Review | GRADO eGrado Headphones
PRICE: £32 from GRADO.
GRADO describe these headphones as being unique, but I know I’ve seen a mountain of similar ones before. That said, they are very light to the point you might forgot you’ve got them on. The sound quality is everything you would expect from a company like GRADO with good bass lines and clear tones that smooth out those poorer quality tunes from your phone or MP3 player.
The fixed behind the head positioning makes them very comfortable when running or working out. The earpieces have also been vented which as well as allowing you to be aware of surrounding traffic, for instance, but also stop sweat build-up, which is a nice feature to have included. Also they are waterproof, and you can remove the earpieces if you need to wash them after you get your training sweat-on.
Quick Review | OUTDOOR TECH. DJ SLIMS Wireless Headphones
PRICE: £33 from Outdoor Tech and Amazon.
If you’re after something you can really take outside and also something that can really take some punishment, then these are the ‘phones for you. These Bluetooth over ears are as solid and reliable as they feel. Like the audio beats above, you can take calls on the trail, and the bass and tones are solid, and the ear pads have to be felt to be believed how comfortable they are.
Despite their look, they actually snuggle into the shape of your head and don’t dislodge easily. They are also incredibly hard-wearing and have a rubberised exterior so you can use them in any weather. Any set of headphones you can twist roughly in your hands, are worth the money in my book.
Quick Review | Philips SHQ5200 Headphones
PRICE: £48 from Philips and Amazon.
Philips, eh? I know, but these ones might just make you think twice. They’ve put a lot of thought into this pair of headphones, and they might be ones well worth considering. The headband is non slip and built from silicone and the split band gives them enough grip to stay in place whatever motion you’re making.
As well as that, the wires are coated with freaking Kevlar so they’re designed to deal with unexpected twists and pulls. And the cherry on the cake with these is the purpose designed sweat proof ear pieces that can be removed and washed in your washing machine.
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