It was just after one of my many lunch runs, a nice 5 mile out and back, that I realized I really (and I mean REALLY) hated my wired headphones. In fact, I hated my off the shelf pair so much that I stopped listening to music on my runs altogether.
First off, I hate having to carry my phone during a run. More especially when the summer heat is blazing and my hands are sweaty and I seem to fumble around with which hand carries the phone and back again. So the initial decision to ditch the headphones was a no-brainer. Second, while exchanging my phone from hand to hand, the wire would always somehow get caught and mid-arm swing would rip one of the headphones out of my ear. I don’t have time for any of this. That’s when I hit the interwebs.
Jaybird RUN headphones, “High-performance, truly wireless earbuds that combine a streamlined, ultra-comfortable fit with premium sound, our Run headphones also feature a lightweight, water-resistant design for passionate runners in pursuit of their limits.” Source: Jaybird Website
I think we have a winner. I looked around the internet for deals and reviews on all wireless headphones to find a match for me – Jaybird was leading the pack. On price, quality, and internet reviews, Jaybird seemed like a winner. I ordered my pair and anxiously awaited their arrival.
The first impression right out of the box, the headphones were a perfect fit. In fact, I’m even willing to say the unboxing moment was kind of special, everything down to the instructions was spot on. I immediately put the headphones to use and went on a 5-mile run to test them out and put them through their paces.
I cycled power to the headphones, connected, and disconnect them from my iPhone, played with the settings, adjusted the fit, the list goes on – needless to say, I was extremely pleased with my purchase. So pleased, I forgot all about my origin concerns like; How well will these stay in? How well do they actually work? Won’t my sweat cause them to fall out? To answer all of those, a simple trial by fire was the quickest way to address all of my concerns.
I read a few reviews complaining about sound cutting in and out – and I can say I experienced a little of that when my iPhone was located closest to the LEFT earbud. Just for clarification, the instructions do mention that the RIGHT earbud is the master device and your phone or MP3 player should be located on the right side of your body while running. I can honestly say that other than that one specific moment, in the almost 3 months owning these headphones that was the only time I had any issues.
Another complaint I saw was while watching videos, specifically YouTube, there was a delay in the video and sound. Basically, a sync delay most noticeable when someone is talking and the camera is focused on them, their voice doesn’t match the movements of their mouths or facial expressions. While I’ll agree that this is not acceptable, let’s face it, who is watching videos while running? I’m not buying these for leisure activities, I’m buying them for utilitarian purposes: Music during my runs. Aside from these two negative reviews I found, the general census among runners was extremely positive.
All-in-all, these Jaybird headphones are the perfect running buddy.
PROS:
Easy setup and connection
Customizable sound with the Jaybird App
Comfortable Fit
Sweat-proof and secured while running
Ideal battery life
CONS:
Slightly noise canceling, so talking to friends while running can be difficult
Phone or music device has to be closest to RIGHT earbud
Per the internet, not ideal for watching videos
Per the internet, intermittent connection lost between earbuds
Running with Ken ROCKS! 