What to Wear
Toning Major Muscle GroupsEarphone Styles
Earbud, in-ear and clip-on
Earphones are gaining in popularity with women who work out because of their low-profile, light weight and excellent sound. No more having to detangle hair from a headband headphone or attempting to fit a tight cap over a bulky set. Earbods and in-ear styles in particular can be very easily hidden, which works for other applications (listening to something that’ll actually keep you awake during a boring business seminar) as well.
When choosing headphones and earphones you have to consider what style you prefer. Some people like ultra-lightweight ear canal styles, while others may find them too intrusive. And depending on the activity you do, cords, bands and fit can all affect comfort level, which is why it’s a good idea to consider earphones targeted to specific activities.
Earphone styles
- Clip-ons - The earpieces on these are separated from each other, with a section of the cord connecting to each. The speaker may cover the entire ear or be small enough to rest in the outer part of the ear canal. The difference between these and earphones such as earbuds is clip-ons have mechanisms that allow them to loop over or snap onto the ears for increased staying power. They are the most bulky of all earphone types.
- Earbud headphones - These earphones, which rest in the outer part of the ear canal, will be some of the cheapest you come across. It’s not unheard of for a pair of earbuds to cost as little as $5. They are the perfect back-up pair for taking on long trips or to places you don’t want to risk ruining your best headphones. If you want earbuds to be your main pair, look for ones with features that prevent slippage if you tend to sweat a lot when you work out.
- In-ear earphones - These headphones attempt to take over where earbuds left off. They fit right inside the ear canal and work to drown out external noise altogether. The best quality (and by far most expensive) in-ear styles can be custom fitted by an audiologist. Many others come with several sizes of sleeves to fit a variety of ears. The sleeves are often made of foam or another soft material such as silicone rubber. The reason canal earphones are so popular right now is they are considered safer to use in noisy situations. Since they are right in your ear canal and block outside sound, you don’t have to turn them up as loud and potentially damage your hearing.