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There is a time and a place for exquisitely crafted, perfectly tuned luxury headphones and, for the most part, that place is at home, on a comfy chair, enjoying a concerto or two. They\u2019re not for running with, hitting the gym or even walking the dog \u2013 what you need in these instances is a pair of sport-specific headphones that don\u2019t mind a bit of abuse and will remain securely in your ears no matter how active you get.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> And despite energetic advertising campaigns, you don\u2019t have to be running a marathon to benefit from sports headphones. The best are lightweight, comfortable and impervious to sweat and water, fit securely and sound great. Admittedly, many still shout \u2018sporty\u2019 with bold branding, but shop carefully and you\u2019ll discover those that perform whether you\u2019re running or sitting.<\/p>\n Active headphones have benefitted from improvements in wireless technology, and unless your budget is less than \u00a330, I would keep clear of wired designs purely for convenience. True wireless earbuds are now the popular option, but fit can be an issue \u2013 there\u2019s nothing more annoying than a single earbud flying out into the road as you run. If you struggle to find true wireless designs that fit, ear hook and neckband options will be a good compromise. Over-ear sport headphones are available, but they\u2019ll get sweaty quickly.<\/p>\n The key differentiator between standard and sports headphones is their ability to withstand electronic-corroding moisture. To check your headphone\u2019s durability, look for the IP rating (eg \u2018IP67\u2019). The first digit shows how well they keep out dust and dirt, the second shows protection from liquid. The higher the number, the better, with 3 being splashproof and 7 being fully submersible to 1m depth for up to half an hour.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re sold on true wireless earbuds but struggle to find pairs that fit, look for designs with silicone wing tips that nestle neatly in the cartilage in your ear, like the Jaybird Vista 2 (jaybird.com). Multiple size options are also important to achieve a good fit.<\/p>\n Noise-cancelling tech is great for the office or gym, but for sport you often need the opposite. \u2018Transparency\u2019 and \u2018ambient\u2019 features let more outside noise in, keeping you aware of your surroundings \u2013 and you can turn this feature off.<\/p>\n Bone conduction technology also allows you to listen to music without having anything in your ears. These neckband designs vibrate your ear canal, transmitting the sound. What they lack in quality they make up for in fit, you can hear the outside world and even swim in them.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n