Listen to music but still hear what is around you

by Robyn Wright on August 22, 2012

in Reviews & Giveaways,Tech

aftershokz headphonesSo many of us use ear buds (FYI I always call them “head buds” which totally cracks up my son) to listen to music at home, during workouts, while walking, and just on the go anywhere. It is great that we can do this, but there are a few drawbacks with ear buds.

The biggest negative is that, depending on your volume level, you may not hear what is going on around you. This means if you are out in public you may not hear a car horn honk at you as a warning, hear people yelling to you, or other sounds that are trying to alert you to a dangerous situation. We have all heard of stories now of people getting hit by cars by not paying attention and having ear buds in while walking in the city.

The second problem is keeping those little buds in your actual ears – at least for me this is an issue. If I am sitting perfectly still, which I rarely do since I’m a fidgeter, they will stay in. Usually though I am putting one back in constantly and find it pretty annoying. Hubby has this problem also while at work or doing things around the house like cutting the grass.


AfterShokz Headphones sit in front of your ears, not in them
My son Taylor modeling the AfterShokz Bone Conduction Headphones showing that they sit in front of your ear rather than on your ear or in your ear

Now there is another alternative, AfterShokz Bone Conduction Headphones. This is a very cool, but not new, idea. AfterShokz has taken this principal and applied it to the headphones to make a product that sounds great but is more comfortable and safer than traditional ear buds. Beethoven, who was deaf, would place a metal rod between his teeth, the rod was attached to his piano, he could “hear” the music by sensing the vibrations conducted via that rod. The AfterShokz are on a band that sits at the back of your head, not over the top. Then the actual conductor parts sit on your skin, just in front of your ear on your jaw, they are not in your ear. You can be very active and they stay in place plus they are also sweat and water resistant. Hubby really loves them when cutting the grass especially because he can be sweating and there is nothing to fall out of his ear.

How do they sound? Really nice I think! Hubby agreed with me and likes the way his music sounds with them. We listen to a variety of music from country to heavy metal to classical (yeah, we’re diverse like that) and have enjoyed all of the styles through the AfterShokz. Now my son was not as enthusiastic on them, but he is the pickiest person ever I think with ear buds and headphones usually. He eventually said the sound was nice but he felt not even or something – I didn’t quite understand – but in his world it made sense I’m sure. I think for the majority of people, we would be happy with the sound.  Now if they were only wireless they would be even better. But, just like most, they are wired. These actually have a box down further on the wire that has an on/off switch as well as volume control buttons. There is a clip on the box also to easily attach it to you wherever is most comfortable.

I would recommend anyone who has problems keeping ear buds in or those that want to listen to music in busy places where you need to hear around you try the AfterShokz Headphones. They run $60 for the regular pair or $70 if you want a set with an in-line mic (for iPhone users, etc.). That is not a bad price and they have a lifetime warranty – always a plus!

So what do you think? Do you struggle with regular ear buds in some way? Do you think you would try out AfterShokz Headphones?

 

Disclosure: I was provided a sample to facilitate this review. The opinions given are those of myself and my family after trying out the product in real life.

© 2012, Robyn Wright. All rights reserved.

  • http://getalonghome.com/ GAHCindy

    My hubby struggles with this. Well…maybe struggles is the wrong word. My hubby and I struggle over this. How’s that? ;-) He turns his music up loud and isolates himself constantly. I could totally understand that, but the music is so loud that he’s going to end up deaf. Which, now that I think about it, may be his goal. It gets pretty loud around here. Think I’ll get some of these for his Christmas stocking.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tiffany.winner.9 Tiffany Winner

    this would be good to wear at the gym so i can hear if they call me over the speakers to come get my daughter from the nursery
    thismomwins@gmail.com

  • Jacqueline Cromwell

    They seem almost to good to be true;). I can’t stand in ear buds! And I am always doing stuff so I want to hear the world around me (at least a little bit;).

  • tannawings

    Wireless would make these perfect- I can not stand the buds in or the wires and put on an over the ear type but they are still inside the ear and it gets irritating. I keep mine somewhat low but do blare them on occasion. I like the way these look.

  • http://twitter.com/rkosully Robin

    I have never found ear buds that stay put in my ears (particularly when exercising). These look like a feasible option–especially since they are sweat/water resistant!

  • Ravzie

    I have never really used the ear buds. They are not comfortable for me. I am a oldie in a cheap headset, LOL. But these look like they might be okay, especially good because you can hear other things as well.

  • GlArthy

    ear buds tickle my ears but I still use them. Anything sitting on the outside is a better alternative for me. I use them mainly when reading ot help absorb text, and when going on trips. The AfterShokz Bone Conduction Headphones look neat. Do they come in other colours?

  • Shannon Whitfield

    I can’t use ear buds, I’ve just never liked the way they feel. These look interesting, however, I like that they’re not inside the ear (I think that’s what creeped me out in the past about the buds…) I tend to go the other way for size..I use the biggest, most giant, 70-looking, noise-cancelling headphones in the world and I love them dearly!

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