What to Wear
Toning Major Muscle GroupsChoosing Fitness Headphones
The right fit can make all the difference
Sure you can just as easily use those white iPod earbuds until they wear out, but why would you when there are a lot of better quality and more comfortable headphones on the market. If you use your MP3 player while you’re running over uneven terrain or blasting through intervals on the elliptical, it’s important to consider comfort, sound quality and situation.
How to know what headphones will be right for you
Buying headphones designed for fitness is one way to ensure they’ll do what you need them to. But you still have to account for style and comfort. Not all headphones designed for fitness will be right for your workout.
The right fit
No matter what headphone style you choose, there are a few guidelines that’ll help you make sure you find the best fit.
- Stay in place whether on or in your ears.
- Don’t chafe.
- Lightweight so you’ll barely feel them on your ears.
- Durable so they won’t smash if they do fall off.
- Can be cleaned of all the sweat you’re sure to produce while you’re rocking out to your favorite music.
Cord length really depends on where you carry your MP3 player. Some players have arm bands or necklace straps, which means they’ll be closer than most. In this case shorter headphone cords are a good idea to avoid entanglement. If the MP3 player is on your hip you’ll want a cord long enough to reach with a bit of give. Extra-long cords are almost always a bad idea, especially when you’re on a machine with moving parts.
The bottom line
When choosing the perfect headphones for fitness you’ll probably have to make some sacrifices, unless you want to spend several hundred dollars for the best set money can buy. But that’s ok. If you know what you want and what aspects matter most, you can make a good compromise.
Some people don’t feel music listening is worthwhile unless they’ve got the best sound. To get the headphones with the best sound they may have to compromise on comfort. But women who know the hassle of wrestling with headphones while they’re trying to focus on a workout would likely agree that fit is the most important aspect, and it’s ok to sacrificed some sound quality in the name of comfort.