Beats Powerbeats2 by Dr Dre Wireless
£169.95
While there’s no denying you pay a premium for Beats products, the sound quality and slick design tend to justify the investment. Inspired by LeBron James – better known for his slam-dunking than road running – these are nevertheless a good option for runners. Alongside their pin-sharp sound quality and snug fit, these buds boast hands-free technology and a six-hour battery life – long enough for all but the most hardy of ultrarunners. So if you’re shopping around for some summer headphones, don’t forget about Dre.
uk.beatsbydre.com
Jabra Sport Pulse
£199.99
The Jabra Sport Pulse are Bluetooth headphones with an optical heart monitor in one of the ear buds. Initial set up was very simple and took a matter of seconds. There are a number of different sized ear buds, which meant that they didn’t slip out during training runs. Sound quality wasn’t as good as wired headphones but good enough for training. The heart rate sensor connects via Bluetooth and so works well with Strava and other smartphone apps. As with most optical heart rate monitors on the market currently, there will be some variables which affect the accuracy.
jabra.co.uk
Groov-e Sport Clips
£8.99
Don’t be mistaken that cheap equals bad! Light and comfortable, the Groov-e Sports Clips are excellent value for money. They have surprisingly clear sound quality, good volume range and are snuggly kept in place by a soft ear hook. The choice of three earbud sizes for optimal fit and a strong 1.2m cord makes them comfortable to wear. They’re also discreet, and their only possible downfall is a lack of volume controls on the cord.
groov-e.co.uk
Aftershokz Trekz Titanium
£109.95
Reducing the danger element of running to music, Aftershokz’ bluetooth headphones utilise bone conduction technology to allow the earpieces to sit on, rather than in, the ear. As a result, you remain fully aware of all that’s going on around you. The sound quality is good, without being great, but this is a bit of tech that should be judged on its ability to maximise the enjoyment of a run; safe in the knowledge that ‘Eye of the Tiger’ isn’t going to cloud your senses.
