When the average individual witnesses extreme sports in action, they are often in awe.
After the moment of wonder has passed, many will judge the athletes. Some may even call them irresponsible, suicidal, or someone just chasing an adrenaline high.
While some of this may be true, the athlete doesn’t feel that way at all.
Most extreme sports enthusiast have spent years, even lifetimes, practicing, learning of risks, and doing everything they can to keep themselves and those around them safe.
But, why do they do this? One way is motivation, and where does motivation come from? Being able to get into the zone and train effectively. Lots go into this including training, diet choices, and music – yes, music.
If you ask skydivers, BMX riders, bungee jumpers, and even parkour enthusiasts, one thing you will learn is they incorporate music into their training to keep them motivated.
As you would expect, an average pair of headphones isn’t going to cut it for these athletes. Instead, they’ll need a pair of headphones designed for extreme sports.
Top 10 Headphones for Extreme Sports
| Rank | Picture | Name | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Soundcore Spirit X | See it on Amazon |
| 2 |  | Jabra Active Elite 65T | See it on Amazon |
| 3 |  | Bose Soundsport | See it on Amazon |
| 4 |  | Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 | See it on Amazon |
| 5 |  | Beats Solo3 | See it on Amazon |
| 6 |  | Sony WF-SP700N | See it on Amazon |
| 7 |  | Skullcandy Crusher Headphones | See it on Amazon |
| 8 |  | Anker SoundBuds Wireless Headphones | See it on Amazon |
| 9 |  | Soul Electronics Flex 2High-Performance Sports Earbuds | See it on Amazon |
| 10 |  | Monster iSport Headphones | See it on Amazon |
Extreme Sports Headphone Features to Consider
I’m going to be up front about this. Any time you get a specialty headphone, you’re going to sacrifice a little bit of sound quality.
But if you’re going to be rough on your headphones, it’s more important they survive. So, here’s a few features to look for.
- Durability. This is a tough one to measure. Look into build quality, for example the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500 (#4 on the list below) are built with “P2i military-grade nano-coating.”
- Water/Sweat Resistant. We’ve put together guides for completely waterproof headphones and sweat resistant headphones. For extreme sports you’ll want something with an IPX rating of at least IPX4.
- Comfort. This is entirely subjective. We’ve put just about every style of headphones on the list below for this very reason. Some people (though I think it’s kind of crazy) prefer some over-ear headphones when biking or boarding, while others want earbuds.
- Wireless. This isn’t a must, but it’s about as close to must as can be. Also take a look at where the controls are located. For example, if you’re using them to ski, sometimes wired inline controls that sit just under your jacket are preferable to wireless.
- Secure Fit. This goes along with comfort to some degree, but if you’re not going with over-ear headphones (most likely because you’d e wearing a helmet for any extreme sport), then consider an extra feature that would secure the headphones. This could be an ear fin like Bose uses or an ear hook, or anything to help them stay in place.
Extreme Sports Headphones Reviews
#1 Soundcore Spirit X
Pros
The wireless headphones are created with sweatproof technology, which means it’s built to repel sweat and covered by a robust manufacturer warranty. Headphone travel pouch is created with a carabiner, which means you can take them with you on any adventure without the worry of losing them.
Cons
Controls are located on one side, which creates a bit of an imbalance that becomes problematic when continually turning head. An imbalance in sound can be detected after long periods of use.
#2 Jabra Active Elite 65T
Pros
A pocket-sized charging case is available, which makes it fast and easy to recharge. The earbuds are Alexa-enabled, which makes them perfect for wear near the house.
Cons
If you’d like only to use one earbud, you must use the right earbud only. The plastic design of the earbud may irritate wearers with sensitive cartilage.
#3 Bose Soundsport
Pros
Sweat and weather-resistant, so serious athletes, can get into their training without worrying about their headphones. Headphones can be paired with a device using voice prompts.
Cons
The earbuds may be hard to fit athletes with small ears. Bluetooth connectivity may fail in remote areas with a weak Internet connection.
#4 Plantronics BackBeat Fit 500
Pros
Plantronics BackBeat Fit headphones are waterproof, sweatproof, and allow athletes to hear ambient noise too. The flexible design means the headphones will stay in place – even during extreme workouts and rappelling or climbing.
Cons
Ponytails and long, loose hair tend getting knotted up with the wireless cord. The headphone controls require a bit of a learning curve, which means it’ll take a few tries to get comfortable with the functionality.
#5 Beats Solo 3
Pros
Created with Class 1 Bluetooth connectivity, which means you should be able to pair with a device anywhere there is a network connection available. The over-the-ear design makes it adjustable, so it has a universal fit design.
Cons
Since the headphones are worn over the ear, it’s not great for all athletes such as swimmers, BMX riders, etc. 40 hours of battery life, but only about 8 hours of that is dedicated to continuous play.
#6 Sony WF-SP700N
Pros
Created with digital noise canceling technology, which means an extreme athlete can disconnect from everything around them and focus on the workout at hand. Voice assistant command is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Cons
The headphones are sweatproof and splashproof, but not waterproof. That’s great if you’re trying to workout, but if you’re thinking about swimming or skydiving, these aren’t the model for you. If the headphones can’t find a good connection, they will disable themselves.
#7 Skullcandy Crusher Headphones
Pros
Skullcandy added memory foam ear cups that seal around the ear to block out sound and distractions. Get up to 3 hours of continuous use on just a 10-minute charge, which means you never have to sacrifice your music.
Cons
The adjustable band can break if stretched too far. The bass amplifier is awesome but does create some noise leakage.
#8 Anker SweatProof Bluetooth Headphones
Pros
Anker created the sweatproof Bluetooth headphones with a battery that’s expected to last about 12 hours. The headphones are sweatproof and water resistant. The water-resistant technology also allows it to repel dirt and dust too.
Cons
The headphones are difficult to wear for some wearers. The connectivity between Anker headphones and devices may require steps to be repeated more than once.
#9 Soul Electronics Flex 2 High-Performance Sports Earbuds
Pros
Soul created these earbuds to be washable, which means if they get covered in dirt or grime after a sweaty workout, you can clean them up. The earbuds are available in several bright colors, so you can choose the color that matches your personality.
Cons
The headphones are charged via USB and are slower to recharge than some other models. When opting to wear the Flex2 in one of the other styles, it could compromise the integrity of the headphone.
#10 Monster iSport Headphones
Pros
The over the ear design of the Monster iSport headphones makes them perfect for running and biking extreme sports. Bright colors allow you to increase your visibility.
Cons
Climbers, swimmers, and those competing in muddy or dirty atmospheres might experience some slides. Some users with Android devices have struggled with connectivity that isn’t present with iOS devices.
Whether you’re climbing mountains, white water rafting, or parasailing over the Atlantic, you can take your music with you.
Get pumped, increase your heart rate, and tackle the next obstacle when you create the right headphones to wear during your workouts and events.
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