Running without wires: a review of the Jaybird wireless Bluetooth headphones

If you’re like me, an iPod is an essential running accessory. When I run, I usually listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc. to help pass the time. In the winter, I couldn’t survive on a treadmill without some sort of distraction, and the TV in my basement or my laptop sitting on a shelf in front of the treadmill are just as necessary as the treadmill itself. The only problem with all of this is how to get the sound produced by these devices to your ears. Wired headphones, like those little white earphones that come with the iPod, are manageable outside, although the cord can be annoying, but on a treadmill the cords become a huge hassle. Most of the time, I find myself hitting the cord with my arms, and on more than one occasion, I nearly ripped the iPod off the treadmill console. Enter the Jaybird Wireless Bluetooth Headphones.

I’ve been looking for a pair of wireless earbuds for a while, but most were either too big or didn’t seem right for the various conditions I run in (not to mention they also needed to withstand the sweat produced while running). Given the price of many of these headphones ($100+), I didn’t want to make a purchase unless I really thought it might work for me. I recently came across Jaybird headphones online, and the initial reviews I read seemed pretty positive. The Jaybirds are specifically aimed at an active crowd, and their main selling point is that they’re water and sweat resistant. The Jaybirds are expensive (~$140 for the iPod-compatible model), but I took the plunge because I thought they might solve a number of performance-related audio issues. I bought the iPod compatible headphones and an extra adapter that would allow them to sync with any device that has a regular headphone jack.

After about 3 months of use, I must say that I am really impressed with this little device. The sound they produce is good (I’m not an audiophile, but they sound almost as good as iPod headphones), they sync smoothly and quickly via Bluetooth with every device I’ve tried them with (including iPods, TV, stereo, laptop, audio adapters on gym treadmills, etc.), and they’re pretty comfortable despite their size (I barely notice them while running, and I’ve done up to 15 miles on them). The headphones and headphone adapter are rechargeable via an included charging cradle, and the charge seems to hold up pretty well (I know when a charge is needed because the audio gets blurry, but after a charge it works fine again). The iPod adapter is powered by the iPod itself (it doesn’t need to be charged), and doesn’t seem to add much charge to the iPod’s battery. Finally, they appear impervious to water and sweat, making them ideal for anyone planning on wearing them while working out (these would also be great for resistance training, as they cut the cable completely out of the picture, ie no have range of motion) problems or tugging on your iPod cable).

One of my favorite features of these headphones is that I can control the volume of the iPod and skip songs using the controls on the headphones themselves. So I can slip my Nano with the receiver into an internal jacket pocket and fully control it by fiddling with my ear. I’m sure I look like an idiot while doing it, but hey, it works! Positives aside, there are a few minor issues worth mentioning.

One problem I’ve had with these headphones (and this is frequently mentioned in some of the reviews on Amazon) is that the cable connecting the two sides covers the back of your neck (from what I understand this cable allows the two sides power sharing). As you start to sweat, the cable tends to stick, and this is annoying and can sometimes dislodge the earpiece on one side or the other. The cord can also be a problem if you wear a running jacket with the collar closed all the way. I have solved this problem by placing a small plastic clip on the sizing band of a baseball cap and then threading the wire through the clip. This keeps the cable higher in the middle and thus prevents it from hanging around my neck. Problem solved.

My only other real complaint about the Jaybird unit is that the earbuds don’t always stay in place and I have to push them back into my ear canal from time to time. I imagine the fit varies a lot from person to person depending on the size of the ear canal, but it can be annoying having to push them in to get the best sound. I recently looked at the user manual on how to optimize the fit, and it seems to have helped. This is certainly not a deal breaker, and given the option, I’d definitely buy them again.