Earphones for Running.........

**Beautiful Disaster** · 06-27-2011 09:28 AM

I have never been able to find earbuds that actually stay in my ears, much less while running. I WANT TO LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE I RUN! Is that too much to ask!? haha.

I have an iPhone4 and the earbuds that come with it. They do not fit into my ears at all.

Any suggestions? I thought about the old fashioned "head phones" but feel like that will block out too much of my hearing. If I'm running, I need to be able to at least moderately hear whats going on around me.

Fellow runners, I'm getting back into my routine and I need some help.

**WildChild** · 06-27-2011 09:51 AM

Are you running on an indoor track or outside?
If you are running outside, unless you are in a very secure environment you should not be wearing anything that could impede your ability to be fully aware of what is going on around you. Wearing earphones/buds will do that. You may think you can hear what is going on around you but can you really? This is a flag to human predators that you are not fully aware and alert.

Before I had to quit running because of this darned plantar faciitius I did have some ear buds that worked fine for running. They need to be the kind that fit fairly deep into your ear but that will greatly reduce your ability to hear something like a person behind you (or a dog running up). While music does facilitate your run, it does distract. You really have to balance the safety factors with the benefits.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 06-27-2011 09:55 AM

If I"m running on the road I don't listen to anything because of vehicles, stray dogs, etc. But when I go to the water park outdoor track I like to listen to music. I like the option of being able to wear one which is part of the reason I don't want the old fashioned headphones.

**LanaBear** · 06-27-2011 10:21 AM

UGH - The iPhone headphones SUCK!!! I swear by my Bose In Ear Buds. They are comfortable, don't hurt your ears and the ear pieces have this little hook thingy that anchors the bud in your ear. I've had mine for about 3 years and they are the best. A little pricey at $100, but well worth it. Mine are the IE2's.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 06-27-2011 12:53 PM

I have never had a pair of ear buds that fit into my ears. The little hook actually keeps it from coming out? Apparently I have small ear canals. I got a set once that had small med and large ones and none of them worked.

$100?!?! Holy moley.

**LanaBear** · 06-27-2011 01:09 PM

Yeah, it fits in your ear to help keep the bud in the ear canal, lol. Weird I know, but it works and is crazy comfortable. The Bose comes with 3 different size ear pieces, small, medium and large. I have to use the smalls in mine too. I know, I had a hard time paying the $100 for them but after going through countless earphones and none of them being comfortable, I figured what the heck. And, well, I've had them for 3 years now and they are still going strong.

**LanaBear** · 06-27-2011 01:10 PM

Oh, here, I found a pic of how they look in the ear. It's a soft silicone material or something, anyways, they just feel secure, I know I won't be having to mess with them when running.

**chaya** · 06-27-2011 01:46 PM

I have a pair of orange Bang & Olufsen A8 Earphones. I got them for Christmas a year ago. They have wonderful sound, better than my husbands expensive stereo speakers. I use them with my iPod, iPad, computer (PC games come alive) and sometimes the TV when I don't want to disturb my sleeping husband.

They look kind of weird but once they're adjust properly for your ears you can do jumping jacks, run or even stand on your head and they stay put. They do not block out outside sound, an advantage because unless your music is very loud you can still carry on a conversation or hear what's going on around you. This might be a disadvantage in a noisy environment.

Google "Bang & Olufsen Earphones" to see them. They come in 5 different colors.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 06-27-2011 02:33 PM

LB - Eeek, that almost looks painful!! lol. Yes, if they are comfortable and stay in I can see where they are definitely worth the money. I just don't have an extra $100 to spend right now with all my recent required home repairs. Perhaps I"ll save my pennies!

Chaya - Those are very interesting looking. I'm amazed they stay on that good. I definitely need something that doesn't fall off. I'm soooooo sick of my earbuds falling out while I run. I've gottan to where I just play my music without the earphones.

**Seeker_Advice** · 06-28-2011 07:16 AM

Skull Candy brand makes several ear bud type of headphones and are available at most mass market 'big box' stores.

BEWARE of hearing loss that EAR BUDS cause due to owners having the volume up too high and MP3 players not having controls on thier volume.

ENTs and Audiologists are 'licking their chops' (and increasing their bank accounts) at the exploding popularity of EAR BUDS for all things audio. They will keep the hard of hearing heading into their offices for years to come....

Kind of like Orthopaedic specialists and flip flops!

FYI: Flip flops are awful for your joints...

If anyone is interested, I have two interesting articles on hearing loss and it's direct tie to the explosion of ear bud usage...

Contact me via PM if you'd like to do so.