I recently received a pair of Aftershokz Sportz Titanium headphones to try out and review for my readers. Since many people enjoy running or even hiking with earbuds in I thought it would be great to review something that both the running and hiking crowds would enjoy. Read on to see if Aftershokz Sportz Titanium headphones worked for me.
Aftershokz headphones are different in that instead of going in your ears and falling out (am I the only one with this problem?!) they go over your ears and rest on your face. These headphones use bone conduction technology to keep your ears open while you're out running or hiking. This comes in pretty handy when you run in areas with heavy traffic or you'd like to hear people coming up behind you on trail. So, what happens is the vibration is directed into your inner ear without blocking up your ears. Here's a quick illustration:
The orange lines represent where Aftershokz directs the sound versus the blue - where traditional headphones direct sound.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
The first thing I noticed about these headphones is that the plug isn't straight, but curved. Immediately I was unable to use these headphones with my Catalyst iPhone case. Running without my phone case isn't ever going to happen - it's waterproof and shatterproof. If you've got a new iPhone that doesn't have a headphone jack, these won't work for you either. The second thing I noticed was that they have to be charged. ...What...? Well, the good news is they hold a charge for 12 hours. If you're out hiking this might not be super impressive for you though, as that could be only one day worth of battery power.
I can't show you how this sits on the headphone jack for my phone because how else would I take a photo? haha
USAGE:
Since I couldn't use the headphones, NoKey did. We charged them up and then figured out you have to turn them on with the power button on the little battery pack thing. The sound quality was really great and he could still hear me talking to him. The downside, however, was that I could hear his music, haha! Taking these headphones for a run, he said they were comfortable and didn't move. They also come with a tiny clip so you can attach the wire close to your body (like on your collar). This proved beneficial so the wire didn't bounce during a run. The little battery pack is only a few inches away from the phone while they're plugged in, so it just went inside his pocket where he carried the phone. The rear band of the headphones goes around the nape of your neck and has a reflective band for visibility, so that's a pro!
He makes headphones look good :)
Pros:
-They allow you to hear your surroundings with bone conduction technology
-Reflective strip on the back
-Clip included to keep wire close to the body
-If you need a microphone/call answering option on your headphones, this pair has that
-Lightweight with a carrying bag
Cons:
-They didn't fit me well. At all.
-They need to be charged
-You have to turn them off
-Everyone around you can hear what you're hearing
-The plug is "sideways" and doesn't work with my phone case
While these headphones we're exactly for me, you might find reviews from other BibRave Pros helpful if you're trying to decide if they're right for YOU! Check out reviews by Jeannine, Mary Jo, and Mark David.
Are these headphones right for you? Buy them and get a free water bottle!
Visit this link and get a free stainless steel water bottle with your Aftershokz Sports Titanium purchase. They're $59.95 and come in 2 colors (Onyx Black or Ocean Blue). Free shipping to the US and Canada. They also have a 45-day money back guarantee.
Do you listen to music when you're running or hiking? What kind of headphones do you use?
Disclaimer: I received Aftershokz Sportz Titanium headphones for free to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!