Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

What Are Some Biking Headphones.

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

What Are Some Biking Headphones.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-07-07 | 08:15 PM
  #1  
I922sParkCir's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Vashon Island, Wa, US

Bikes: Trek 520, Novara Safari

What Are Some Biking Headphones.

I just can't use my Grado Labs SR-60's anymore because they slide off. So, what are good head phones to bike with? I'm a bit pickey and prefer good sound quality. With safety in mind, I would also prefer an open-air design so I can still hear surrounding noise.

Thank You,
- Jai
I922sParkCir is offline  
Reply
Old 09-07-07 | 10:03 PM
  #2  
Jarery's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,538
Likes: 0
From: Coquitlam
Never found any headphones that work well for cycling. I do have some winter earmuffs with built in speakers that are great for in the winter though.

https://www.180s.com/sub_category.asp...d=4&psku=70256

As for non winter riding, earbuds, or if you don't want anything in your ear, earbuds combined with slipstreamz

https://www.slipstreamz.com/
Jarery is offline  
Reply
Old 09-07-07 | 10:07 PM
  #3  
ax0n's Avatar
Trans-Urban Velocommando
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 0
From: Lenexa, KS

Bikes: 06 Trek 1200 - 98 DB Outlook - 99 DB Sorrento

None.

PAY.

ATTENTION.

TO.

THE.

ROAD.

FFS, please, pay attention. Bike paths are a little different story, but still. iPod Zombies for the lose.
ax0n is offline  
Reply
Old 09-07-07 | 10:30 PM
  #4  
M_S
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,692
Likes: 0
Trollol?
M_S is offline  
Reply
Old 09-07-07 | 10:55 PM
  #5  
Biker looking for a ride!
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Oklahoma

Bikes: Kuota Kreedo...looking for something different.

I use these...

https://www.v-moda.com/
biffstephens is offline  
Reply
Old 09-07-07 | 11:05 PM
  #6  
paulwwalters's Avatar
beatz down lo|seatz up hi
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Missouri, USA

Bikes: A 2007 Trek 4300. 22.5", 1981 Trek 610 24" (61cm)

I say a basic pair of earbuds would be fine, since you'll only be using one of them.
paulwwalters is offline  
Reply
Old 09-07-07 | 11:21 PM
  #7  
AEO's Avatar
AEO
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,257
Likes: 5
From: A Coffin Called Earth. or Toronto, ON

Bikes: Bianchi, Miyata, Dahon, Rossin

get some incanal headphones. The cheaper ones are sometimes normal ear buds with squishy bits attached on to them, but the good ones are truly designed for the purpose of insertion into your ear. Drowns out about 30 decibels of outside noise, meaning you can hear someone talk, or a car engine as long as you're not blasting it. Doesn't slide out easily. Used by pro and amature race drivers so they can hear the pit crew better, but still hear what is going on around them.

No point in open air I think, you'd barely be able to hear them with the wind buffeting.


iPod zombies suck, yes, but we'll give you a fair warning (so does the packaging) about use around machinery. So pay attention, put it at a reasonable volume and ride safe.
__________________
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
AEO is offline  
Reply
Old 09-07-07 | 11:38 PM
  #8  
znomit's Avatar
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,939
Likes: 1,005
From: New Zealand

Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Trek Marlin 6, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2

+1
I use sony in-ear(used to be called ex81's) headphones. Reduce wind noise but can still hear well...and they dont fall out or interfere with helmet straps.

DO NOT use isolation earphones that poke right in and work as ear plugs.
znomit is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 12:09 AM
  #9  
biknbrian's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA

Bikes: BiknBrian brand custom 26 inch commuter trekker, Cannondale F600 Single Speeded MTB, Nashbar Cro-Mo CX, some other bikes and parts that could be made into bikes.

Man, It's just plain crazy to ride on the road with earphones. This is coming from a guy who commutes without a helmet. But hey, do what you want.
biknbrian is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 12:16 AM
  #10  
Hasselhof's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 3
From: Canberra, Australia

Bikes: Merida Espresso 600 EQ

Originally Posted by ax0n
None.

PAY.

ATTENTION.

TO.

THE.

ROAD.

FFS, please, pay attention. Bike paths are a little different story, but still. iPod Zombies for the lose.
You don't need to hear to have situational awareness. Riding and headphones can be done safely. To me, music makes exercise, commuting and life in general much more enjoyable, and as such I'll continue to enjoy it.

This thread may well be a troll, but responses like that are just as bad.
Hasselhof is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 12:28 AM
  #11  
Tapeworm21's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 2
From: Berkeley

Bikes: 2010 Tarmac SL, 2013 Fairdale Weekender, 2013 Fairdale Coaster, 1995 Specialized M2 Pro, 1972 Schwinn Heavy Duty, 2014 Surley Long Haul Trucker

Noise canceling ear phones by Sony. Ever since I bought them, drivers quit yelling at me.... I think. You wouldn't believe how easy it is to ignore everyone! I bought some for $50 at Radioshack, no problems with them, and comfortable as hell! You can't hear cars coming up on you, but deaf people bike, right?
Tapeworm21 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 03:28 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
Portable speakers strapped to your handlebars.

I got the speakers; I still haven't figured out how to mount it effectively, but when I do, watch out!
Pepper Grinder is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 07:36 AM
  #13  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by ax0n
None.

PAY.

ATTENTION.

TO.

THE.

ROAD.

FFS, please, pay attention. Bike paths are a little different story, but still. iPod Zombies for the lose.
AMEN!!!!!!

You cannot pay attention to the road in clear detail with headphones blasting your favorite rap or whatever you listen to. Even if you have the volumn way down you still can't hear details especially early signs of problems. A lot times cars will speed up just before you reach an intersection because they want to beat you to it and turn in front of you, if you can't hear that engine speed increase then your missing a clue that could save your life. That's just one example, and if you've been riding for any length of time I'm sure you could think of others that if your hearing was hindered you may have crashed and burned.

Situational awareness is important also as one poster mentioned, however to be as safe as possible you need reduntant senses and hearing is that. If situational awareness was the only thing you needed then the space shuttle wouldn't need 4 reduntant computers and a 5th as back up!!! (get the ideal? 5 computers 5 senses...hmmm). Sure a deaf person could ride a bike, but a deaf person as their other senses heightened to a degree ours are not; but you and I are not deaf so we need to use all of our senses to remain safe.

Last edited by freako; 09-08-07 at 07:42 AM.
freako is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 07:44 AM
  #14  
Newbie
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Hi taperworm, do your Sony headphones really cancel all the wind noise when you are cycling? What is the type?
merckxy is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 07:46 AM
  #15  
I922sParkCir's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Vashon Island, Wa, US

Bikes: Trek 520, Novara Safari

Thanks for your guys advice. I think I'm going to go with Sennheiser PMX70 Sport Line Stereo Neckband Headphones. In-ear headphones scare me because they block out to much noice. I'd rather not hear my music but hear the cars. I live in busy SoCal, to traffic is a huge concern.

What do you guys think?
-Jai
I922sParkCir is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 08:40 AM
  #16  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by I922sParkCir
Thanks for your guys advice. I think I'm going to go with Sennheiser PMX70 Sport Line Stereo Neckband Headphones. In-ear headphones scare me because they block out to much noice. I'd rather not hear my music but hear the cars. I live in busy SoCal, to traffic is a huge concern.

What do you guys think?
-Jai
What?? you say you live in busy traffic area and in-ear headphones scare you yet your looking at those Sennheiser's? Where in the hell do you think those ear buds are going to go? THEIR GOING IN YOUR EARS! And if you have something in your ears and music being pumped into it then your blocking some of the sound you need to hear from traffic.

I give up, go get some headphones and blast away with out a care in world; I don't know you from Adam, so I don't care if you die or get maimed from not being able to hear well enough that could have prevented an accident; I won't shed a tear since we're not personally involved with each other.
freako is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 08:49 AM
  #17  
2_i
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 399
From: Michigan

Bikes: Trek 730 (quad), 720 & 830, Bike Friday NWT, Brompton M36R & M6R, Dahon HAT060 & HT060, ...

Originally Posted by I922sParkCir
Thanks for your guys advice. I think I'm going to go with Sennheiser PMX70 Sport Line Stereo Neckband Headphones. In-ear headphones scare me because they block out to much noice. I'd rather not hear my music but hear the cars. I live in busy SoCal, to traffic is a huge concern.

What do you guys think?
-Jai
I think that natural selection can likely take care of the issue, but what about others who, not guilty, will potentially die or will get physically and/or psychologically injured on the occasion.
2_i is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 08:55 AM
  #18  
evblazer's Avatar
Thread Killer
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
From: Marfan Syndrome-Clyde-DFW, TX

Bikes: Fuji Touring Xtracycle, Merlin Road, Bacchetta Giro 26 (Sold), Challenge Hurricane, Cruzbike Sofrider

Originally Posted by Jarery
As for non winter riding, earbuds, or if you don't want anything in your ear, earbuds combined with slipstreamz

https://www.slipstreamz.com/
I got a pair of these recently and they work well. I can listen with the volume pretty low because they actually cut down on wind noise alot. I can still hear and concentrate on vehicles. It isn't like I close my eyes and start singing to the music in a trance or something. It isn't any more distracting then a car stereo would be when you drive a car. I do have a nice pair of schure in the ear canal noise cancelling ear buds which I wouldnt' recommend. For me I'd get ear infections from using it because it would heat up my ear since it plugs it up plus it will make it so you can't hear anything until someone jams on the horn.

I've tried speakers on the bike and on the neck and the wind noise was horrible so over 10mph I couldn't hear at all and then when stopped it was blasting.
Maybe if you tried the spoiler from over at slipsteamz combined with speakers it would be ok.
evblazer is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 09:43 AM
  #19  
I922sParkCir's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Vashon Island, Wa, US

Bikes: Trek 520, Novara Safari

Originally Posted by freako
What?? you say you live in busy traffic area and in-ear headphones scare you yet your looking at those Sennheiser's? Where in the hell do you think those ear buds are going to go? THEIR GOING IN YOUR EARS! And if you have something in your ears and music being pumped into it then your blocking some of the sound you need to hear from traffic.
Ok, wow. First of all, those are not in-ear headphone those are banded earbuds. When I said in-ear headphones I meant ones that go inside the ear cannal. These don't entirely block out the noise of traffic.

Originally Posted by freako
I don't care if you die or get maimed...
Stop being a troll. I joined this community because I liked how much people care, which is clearly not the case for you. Here's a lesson about forum etiquette, you don't need to tell people that you don't care if they die to get your point accross, facts and experiance work much better.

Than you,
-Jai
I922sParkCir is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 09:52 AM
  #20  
jmb's Avatar
jmb
Member
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: FingerLakes NYS
Sony MDR-ED21LP
About $20
I have small ears. Almost never fall out good sound.
Ignore the Trolls
jmb is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 09:54 AM
  #21  
chephy's Avatar
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,270
Likes: 12
From: Toronto, ON
Originally Posted by I922sParkCir
Stop being a troll. I joined this community because I liked how much people care, which is clearly not the case for you. Here's a lesson about forum etiquette, you don't need to tell people that you don't care if they die to get your point accross, facts and experiance work much better.
+1. The fearmongering safety nannies who have no evidence to support their claim always resort to the intimidation techniques. "Okay, I give up, walk and chew gum at the same time and suffocate to death, what do I care?" Or "Ok, don't accept Jesus as your saviour and rot in hell, you filthy *******."

Last edited by chephy; 09-08-07 at 10:57 AM.
chephy is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 10:42 AM
  #22  
Tapeworm21's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 2
From: Berkeley

Bikes: 2010 Tarmac SL, 2013 Fairdale Weekender, 2013 Fairdale Coaster, 1995 Specialized M2 Pro, 1972 Schwinn Heavy Duty, 2014 Surley Long Haul Trucker

Originally Posted by merckxy
Hi taperworm, do your Sony headphones really cancel all the wind noise when you are cycling? What is the type?
Yikes, I'm not sure what model they are. But you can't hear ANYTHING except for the music. And the sound is pretty damn good too. Again, they're made by Sony and they costed around $50... the more you pay the happier you'll be. Kinda the way it works.
Tapeworm21 is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 11:33 AM
  #23  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by I922sParkCir
Ok, wow. First of all, those are not in-ear headphone those are banded earbuds. When I said in-ear headphones I meant ones that go inside the ear cannal. These don't entirely block out the noise of traffic.
-Jai
It doesn't matter if their ear buds or phones, their still going into or over the ear thus eliminating noise just by that act alone without the introduction of music, add music to the mix and now your hearing is compromised.

Like I said before do whatever you want because you will anyway, and we all have self will to do whatever we want.
freako is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 11:53 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
yeah!!!

I am a member of the safety police too.

I once saw a deaf kid riding his bike and I PUNCHED HIM IN THE FACE!!!!!!! It was harsh but it may have saved his life.

If someone rides VC then they do not need to hear. I listen to talk radio so its not like I am just blarring it but I have found that if anything it cuts wind noise and I can hear cars better.

The one persons example is the perfect reason why they should ride VC. A VC rider would have already taken the lane when approaching an intersection as to eliminate the possibility of a driver passing and left hooking them. Riding to the right in an intersection is bad form with or without headphones.

But some are right. If you ride like a NYC messenger then you probably should not wear headphones.

Deer do not live long around roads so I try not to act like one.
gosmsgo is offline  
Reply
Old 09-08-07 | 12:46 PM
  #25  
newbie clyde
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, Missouri

Bikes: 1997 Schwinn Frontier 18 spd MTB with 1.7" road tires

Instead of headphones or earphones in your ears, check this device out:

https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/340853-music-lonely-commute.html
synergy is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.