3rd
64 T3 FEBRUARY 2022
State of the art
1st
2nd
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR RUNNING HEADPHONES
WE’RE IMPRESSED Excellent
audio and ANC; surprisingly
secure fit; really good-looking.
WE’D IMPROVE You can get
buds that are almost as good- and better in some respects
- for around half the price.
THE LAST WORD These great
looking, excellent sounding buds
are ideal for those who prefer
more upmarket gyms.
WE’RE IMPRESSED Great
styling; ace ANC; useful graphic
equaliser presets; secure fit.
WE’D IMPROVE You really need
that EQ control to get the most
out of your music.
THE LAST WORD If you like to
workout to music with a lot of
bottom end and mid-range you
will enjoy these suitably attractive
and sporty buds from Adidas.MASTER & DYNAMIC MW08 SPORT
£329, masterdynamic.co.uk
ADIDAS Z.N.E. 01 ANC
£169, adidasheadphones.comIf you’re really focused on
running – and specifically
focusing on your form, rather
than constantly having to
manage what’s sticking in your
ears – not just any headphones
will do. Over-ear headphones,
for example, suit only those of a
particular gait; bounce around
too much or lean the wrong way
and you may spend your entire
run adjusting them. And soft ear
pads just wick up sweat, which
isn’t nice to have hanging
around. Some people prefer
them, and that’s okay: we’d
probably elect to use a sacrificial
set just for working out, rather
than dedicating our daily drivers
to the grind.
Standard ear buds may be
okay, but if you’re prone to
perspiration – and, let’s face it,
we’re all a little sweatier right
now – you’ll at least want to
look for some kind of water
ingress prevention. It’s also
worth considering the fit; a set
of buds that really suits your
ears (and, critically, stays in
them when you’re running) is
important, whether that meansfinding the perfect size of ear
tip or something extra like a
silicone hook.
Bear in mind that as much as
you might want to keep your
ears filled with tunes, hitting the
streets in urban areas is a lot
safer if you have some kind of
transparency mode to let the
sounds of the outside world in
just a little. If it’s adjustable, all
the better, and ideally your
buds’ microphones will offer
some kind of wind resistance so
you don’t spend your whole
session fighting with wind noise.Connectivity is also crucial.
A strong Bluetooth connection
helps fight against distracting
signal drop outs and gives you
the option to place your audio
source exactly where it’s most
comfortable. This can be an
issue with true wireless ear
buds, so beyond these three sets
it may also be worth considering
a connected Bluetooth pair with
a neckband or even (whisper it)
some old-school wired buds.
Though fighting with a cable
isn’t exactly the most
distraction-free experience...JABRA ELITE 7 ACTIVE
£169, jabra.co.uk
THE OVERALL
WINNER IS...
VERDICT:
WE’RE IMPRESSED Good fit;
long battery life; excellent water,
sweat and dust resistance; great
sound; app-led future proofing...
everything really.
WE’D IMPROVE The hook-free
fit is less secure than the best
hooked buds.
THE LAST WORD With great
sound, secure fit and extremely
healthy battery life, these aren’t
just among the best workout
buds you can buy; they’re some
of the finest true wireless
headphones of any kind. They’re
almost half the price of the
MW08 Sport and almost twice
as good – they’re luxury
products without the
accompanying luxury price.