If you are one of those who need to listen to music while you train, whether in the gym or outdoors, surely you have ever wondered what kind of headphones are the most appropriate when it comes to practicing physical exercise.

Currently we have different models of headphones to enjoy our music in any situation: from the most traditional, with cable and with a very good sound quality, to the most modern bone conduction, with which we can continue enjoying the sound ambient. Which are the best for each situation? We analyze a model of each type so you can decide on your next purchase.

Wired headphones: Less comfort but better sound quality

A few years ago we did not even have to consider the dilemma that we have before us today: the headphones had cable, and perhaps the question we could ask ourselves was whether we opted for intra – auricular or in-ear (those that are placed inside the ear) or if we opted for a supraaural or on-ear helmets (those that are placed above the ear).

At the time of switching, wired headphones are usually quite more cumbersome to carry, especially if we train in the gym where we are constantly making movements with the upper part of our body. Surely it has happened to many that the cable of the headphones is entangled with hands or arms and ended up almost tearing them from the ear with a pull.

Wired headphones can be more uncomfortable when training, but they offer us better sound quality

Another point is that the attachment of this type of headphones, especially the in-ear , is usually not very good and end up falling from the ear, either by the movements or by the sweat that we produce when training.

The great advantage of this type of wired headphones is that the sound quality is usually much higher than in the case of wireless headphones: we can appreciate much better the bass of all songs and the feeling of listening to music will be much more pleasant .

In recent weeks I’ve been able to test the C5 series 2 from Bowers & Wilkins : a wired in-ear headset with very good sound quality, nothing to do with wireless headphones. It is a high-end headphones suitable for sports, since they incorporate a system of fixation in the ear (system “safe loop”) with the cable itself that prevents the headset from moving even if we are jumping, running or making sudden movements . A good option if what you want to prioritize when training is the quality of the sound. You can find them on their official website for 149.99 euros .

Bluetooth headset: To move with more freedom

The truth is that, personally, the wireless headphones with bluetooth connection seem to me one of the best accessories for sports. They tend to be light, comfortable, practical and avoid tangles with the cables when training.

Depending on our needs we have different models to choose from : those that each headset is attached by a cable (which are usually the lightest and, in my opinion, the most comfortable), which are joined by a rigid headband (with a weight a little higher, but generally with greater autonomy) and those in which each headset goes by its side and are connected independently to the mobile or the tablet (as is the case of Samsung sports headphones and newcomers Airpods from Apple that, although not designed specifically for sports use, are quite comfortable).

In the case of bluetooth headphones we sacrifice some sound quality, which is lost by not being connected by cable, but we gain freedom of movement, something important when training.

To stand out among those that I have been able to prove: an apt version for all the pockets are Sport1 Bluetooth of Energy System, with a system of fastening of clip that keeps them in place during all the training, besides being very light (20 grams ) and with a very good autonomy (up to 8 hours of continuous music).

If you’re looking for something more specific, Samsung’s Icon Icon Gear Sports headphones are also a good choice: each headset is independent and loaded into its own case. Its sound quality is greater than that of the previous ones, although its autonomy is noticeably lower (3.8 hours of continuous music). They work as an exercise quantifier and have a 4GB internal memory to carry the music with you.

Bone conduction headphones: perfect for outdoor training

Within the group of cordless headphones deserve special mention the bone conduction headphones : these are headphones that, instead of being placed on or inside the ear, are placed on the zygomatic process of the temporal bone (in front of the ear) , at the level of the cheekbone) and do not cover the auditory pavilion. The sound is transmitted to the inner ear through the bone, leaving the ears free and allowing us to maintain contact with the medium in which we are.

Very practical especially if we train on the street to keep alert of everything that happens around us, like a car or a bicycle that approaches from behind and with which we must be careful. They are ideal for outdoor training: very comfortable, although somewhat heavier than intraaural headphones since they are usually a headband type that is placed behind the head.

They are not recommended, for example, to train in the gym : surely our gym will have a musical thread to a greater or lesser volume, and as we can not isolate ourselves from the environment, we will listen to both the music from the outside and the one that comes from our helmets, and an uncomfortable and very rare feeling.