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Do you want to forget about cables? Then you need Bluetooth headphones to run or, in general, to practice any sport. We review everything you need to know before choosing wireless headphones and which ones are best depending on your budget.
Music is, for many, the most faithful training companion. It motivates us, helps us concentrate, increases the pace and makes those long-term workouts more bearable, although from time to time it’s also a good idea to go out without headphones to listen to your body and get used to exercising without external stimuli.
If you are one of those who listen to music to train , you can not miss good headphones for running among your accessories. Years ago I wrote a special selection of the best sports headphones , that list is still totally valid since in this time no major renovations have been launched. However, times change and in the middle of 2017 we are already forgetting about cables, the future is wireless and our smartphone is the center of all our communications, so it is time to make the leap to wireless headphones.
What should good Bluetooth headphones have for sports?
Not all Bluetooth headphones are for running and exercise , of course. There are models that are clearly indicated for daily use, with great design and fantastic sound quality, but when it comes down to it, they are not comfortable if our activity requires a lot of movement. The result is obvious: they will end up slipping out, they will fall continuously and we will be more aware of them than of the training itself.
Therefore, the first fundamental point that we must look at is its design and construction.  Headphones specifically created for sports have a better fit, they usually have different positioning and insertion mechanisms: some surround the ear, others have a design attached to the neck, others are headbands, other manufacturers opt for in-ear headphones with internal stabilizers to prevent them from moving and falling… in short, each manufacturer looks for the solution that they think is the most appropriate. What is the ideal? There is no perfect and universal design for everyone, each athlete will have their preferences.
Resistance , another key point. You have to think that headphones for sports are going to have a continuous jog with training running, cycling, in the gym, they are going to fall on many occasions, they will receive blows, they will get wet and bathed in sweat, maybe one day you will catch the rain… Therefore, you have to make sure that they are waterproof Bluetooth headphones or with some type of IPxx certification (either submersible or splash resistant).
Beyond resisting our sweat, liquid-resistant sports headphones are also convenient to wash them easily under the tap and thus leave them like new whenever we want, knowing that nothing will happen to them.
As a general rule we will see an autonomy of about 5-6 hours, although there are extraordinary models with 8 hours or more. That means we won’t have to charge them for several days. As extra points: it is convenient that its charging port is standard (such as micro USB) and we do not need to charge with another dedicated cable when we travel. Extra point 2: check if they have fast charging, some models have this technology and with a charge of a few minutes we will have 1-2 hours of training.
Bluetooth sports headphones: advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of sports Bluetooth headphones or wireless headphones with respect to wired headphones are clear: being Bluetooth we forget about the hassle of cables and they are ideal for listening to the music that we have on the smartphone without being physically connected to it, being able to move away and freedom of movement (which is great if you want them as headphones for the gym ).
On the other hand, among the disadvantages of Bluetooth headphones, there are mainly two: they are usually more expensive than cable ones, although this depends on the model, as we will see below (in recent times some very cheap and high-quality ones have emerged) , and another point against them is that they have a battery and therefore we need to recharge them . They usually ensure several hours of operation, but it is possible that sometimes you forget and go “silent” in the middle of a workout. Which doesn’t hurt from time to time.
