Need good cycling earbuds
 

I need a set of earbuds that attenuate rather than increase wind noise and stays reliably in the ear.

The basic Sony or iPod disk type increase wind noise too much. The ones with soft silicon mushrooms that fit in the ear canal work well with the wind but tend to fall out. I'm sure the pro teams using race radios have this figured out. Any suggestions or recommendations?

I ride with a set of Plantronics/Altec Lansing BackBeats. They hook over the ears and insert into the canals, this keeps them pretty firmly in place. But still I wouldn't say that they attenuate the sound of the wind all that well, I've never found any in-ear buds to do that, sorry. But it is at least possible to crank up the volume enough to hear the signal over the sound of the rushing air, there is a volume control on the right bud. Battery life is only around five hours though. You should be able to pick up a set for about $50 at Buy.com, I think that's a pretty good deal for a stereo bluetooth headset. It is great to go wireless.

I've used the Jabra BT3030 (found them on ebay for ~$20 shipped) in the past with good results but I felt it cut out too much noise to feel comfortable riding with them. They came with what I think you're referring to the "mushroom" earbuds which fit my ears great, snug but not uncomfortable, but obviously YMMV. They do make a few different sizes, you might find one that doesn't fall out. What I liked most about the unit is the headphones weren't hardwired in. There was a 3.5mm jack so you could use any set you like.

The Shure triple flange sleeves are excellent . Very good sound and isolation, they stay in and are the most comfortable in ear bud that I've tried - Have used them for a good few years with the Shure 500e headphones,...expensive and well worth it for me,...but I'm sure the flanges/sleeves work equally well with some of the Shure models that don't cost so much (or with other brand phones too?).

Good luck on the search...,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/l...ges/487444.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0038W0K2U

Love these! Cheap and they don't spontaneously eject from my ears...

#4 is a musician's ear plug , attenuates the level, but doesn't entirely block it.
Like an industrial hearing protection ear plug should.

You want to hear your tunes ? an in ear stage monitor may suit

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product?sku=H72276

or cheaper
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com...uds?sku=500976

though not hearing rear approaching traffic may not be the best.

wow no A&S people with their "no buds" yet?

:popcorn:

Hey. Yeah. Lots good suggestions but these already caught my eye when browsing Amazon for some. The cord for each bud holds its shape and is formable to hook over the ear. Price aint too bad either.

I have the Phillips over-the-ear style headphones. They were $20 at target. They don't fall out, have good sound quality and I can still hear cars coming and other important sounds.

How is the wind noise with those? The problem I've had with the disc type headsets is they increase wind noise rather than attenuate it.

I use these with the Sansa m250. I find they are both tough as nails.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...K1TzlsZrpkRWZg http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...hkQIQLPOwxreh7

I found the earbuds early last summer along the highway (we all find stuff, don't we?).
When these break--all earbuds eventually break, some sooner than others, but these have been particularly robust--I'll up for another set.

For a good seal, a little http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...jUr2kUkXkjLtRg before insertion does the deal.



Regarding the mp3 gizmo (its two-years old at this point), this one has an armband/pouch that I use to tuck it inside my left arm, and all its functions can be accessed without looking at it, once one memorizes the steps (like effing with the bass equalizer setting/s as needed). Essential in my book.

And, it's pure drag-and-drop, so no funky software nonsense.

I do wish it could scroll within a particular file, but it doesn't. Otherwise it's good.

An Eveready rechargable can make it go the whole day too.

I'm not sure I'm brave enough to insert in my ear (and lick) something I found by the road that someone else had used. If it works for you though, rock on.

Yeh, I know, but they were NIB. Anyway that's what 91% rubbing alcohol if for. Don't you carry some with you (like in the patch kit)?

Finding these was as good as finding money, but there's already a thread on that.

Oh, they were new in box? Way to score then...

So far, I haven't gotten the courage up to wear buds while riding (too afraid of missing traffic noise), but I have an old sansa mp3 player (even older than yours) that I have sitting around waiting to fill that duty. I love the old ones that take rechargeable AAA's that you can just drag and drop files into. Saves a lot of time vs. messing with the rhapsody software that came with it and that I used for a couple years before figuring out that I could just drag and drop.

http://www.audiobike.com/index.html

...and stop worrying about fit and wind noise...and legality.

I can't say that I pay attention to how much wind noise they produce. I just know I can hear my music and everything else I need to hear. Sorry I couldn't me more helpful.

Both Shure and Etymotics earbuds have given me peaceful and entertaining rides. Peaceful because I don't have to deal with wind gusts and traffic, entertaining because Car Talk and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me are just plain funny. :D