We don’t typically review a lot of headphones by Skullcandy, but we couldn’t help but report on their latest line of headsets for two reasons:

1. Kate Upton
2. We know a lot of you a sports fans that may be interested in some of the Skullcandy’s new line of headphones (especially NBA fans!), even we don’t personally recommend them for sports.

Before we get into Skullcandy’s new line of Supreme Sound Headphones, we’ve got to get to the heart of the story.  Skullcandy is quickly changing their brand to more of a lifestyle decision with the recent addition of Kate Upton and several other NBA Stars.

Check out this new video by Skullcandy for “Take a Super Model to Work Day”:

Yesterday they revealed a newly engineered line of headgear dubbed Supreme Sound.  In the lineup are the Hesh 2 (an updated version of the previously popular Hesh), the Cassette, the Fix, the Mix Master and the Aviator.  The hot new products made a debut via the completely redesigned website.

You can definitely expect Skullcandy to push this new line hard, especially with their new marketing crews.  We also wouldn’t be surprised to see a new pair of earbuds specifically tailored to the active listener.  We’ll keep you updated, so stay tuned!

Click here to watch Cat Daddy with Kate Upton

The earHerosport headphones are designed by Audiologists who know a lot about how our hearing works. They designed headphones that allow you to hear your music and/or cellphone conversation while still hearing the world around you, which many studies have shown just how important environmental awareness can be.

Pros

Improved Safety. If you’re runner, biker, skier, or just wear your headphones while crossing the street, you may not realize how dangerous conventional headphones can be. They block out outside noises such as traffic and can make your daily workout a hazard. With the earHerosport headphones, the ear canal is left open enough for you to still hear your surroundings and stay completely aware of your environment.

Improved Comfort. Because the earphone portion of the headphones is so small, they are comfortable for long hours of wear and allow your ears to continue to breathe.

Invisibility. The flesh-tone narrow cord makes these headphones nearly invisible in your ears.

Cons

Musical quality. Because you are still hearing the noises in your environment, it may be a distraction from the music you are trying to listen to. You must determine whether you are willing to take the risk of environmental hazards versus good better sound quality.

Our Review

While the popular headphones of today are based on noise isolation and blocking out the outside world, they may not be the best choice for working out in the real world. Noise isolating headphones can be a huge hazard when running, cycling, skiing, or even just crossing the street. They will prevent you from hearing oncoming traffic, which can lead to a tragic accident.

With the earHerosport headphones, you are able to enjoy your favorite tunes to keep you pumped during your workout, while also allowing you to hear the environment around you. This leads to improved safety while wearing headphones for working out.

The tiny speakers in each ear allow for the ear canals to remain open so that outside sounds can still be heard. It is also good for improved comfort and a nearly invisible design.

Quote from a fellow Audiologist: “earHero headphones are a great alternative for athletes concerned about safety when working out and may help to reduce the amount of hearing loss conventional headphones can cause.”

Specifications

• Two tiny speakers in each ear canal for binaural listening while still hearing outside noise
• Retention cord attached to each speaker located inside the bowl of the ear canal
• 3.5mm jack

What’s in the Box

• earHero Headphones
• Carrying case

Where to Buy

Unfortunately there’s not a lot of places that are offering the earHerosport.  With that said, we’ve found the lowest price at Amazon.

Click here to buy the earHerosport now

Check out this video by earHero if you’re looking for some more information:

Either way, we’ve finally reviewed the new Motorola SF 600.

Pros

Price.  Some people are going to disagree because the MSRP is $129.99, which is on the higher end for sports headphones, but you get more than your money’s worth, especially if you’re serious about your music and your workouts.

Built with Kevlar.  No, your headphones likely aren’t bullet proof, but they are unbelievably light since they are built with scratch resistant Kevlar.

Sweat Resistant.  To add further to the durability the Motorola utilized hydrophobic mesh and silicone seals to help keep moisture out.

Cons

Neckband cord.  Most neckband headphones use a more sturdy/stiff plastic band that sits just off your neck.  The SF 600 use a flexible cable that actually rests/touches your neck a lot during the workout.  Wasn’t a huge deal, but it did bother us a little bit.  It’s also not adjustable, though neckbands usually aren’t.

Our Review

When Motorola created the SF 600 they made them to function perfectly with their “Ultimate Fitness Device” the MOTOACTV.  We’re not going to get into details on the MOTOACTV, but if you’re considering these headphones we recommend you check out this device.

The first thing we want to talk about is the design.  The SF 600 feature a design similar to the Jabra Sport and Jaybird Freedom, which utilizes a thin cord to connect each ear bud and also acts as a neckband.

The controls sit on the top of each earbud.  The right earbud houses the volume and multi-function button (forward/back/play/pause) and the left earbud holds the power button.  The buttons are fairly easy to get to, though if you’re not to Bluetooth it may take some time to get accustomed to reach up to your ear to adjust everything.

Once you’ve figured out which ear gel gives you the best fit, and you get to choose from 5 different ear gels, the sound quality is pretty dang good.  Lo/Mid/Hi ranges all sounded very solid.  We were expecting to experience a lot of ambient noise or distortion from wind because the ear buds are pretty exposed, but we were pleasantly surprised.

As for the fit, they were extremely comfortable and not once did we have a problem with them coming lose or falling off.  We should point out though that the a secure fit seems to rely more on the ear buds than the ear hook, so it’s important that you spend the time to choose the right size ear cushions.  The only thing that bothered us slightly was the thin cable that connects the earbuds.  It’s about 8 inches long and sometimes it felt a little awkward/uncomfortable resting on our neck.

These are Bluetooth headphones so we did take a few calls and everything worked out fine.  When you get an incoming call it will actually stop your music and announce the call allowing you to take it or not.  The microphone (which is built into the headphones) was average, nothing great, nothing bad.

Bottom line is sound quality is great, durability is exceptional, comfort is above average.  Combined with the MOTOACTV these really are some of the best sports headphones available.

Specifications

• Bluetooth range = 30 feet
• Battery life = 5-6 hours
• Charging time = 1-2 hours

What’s in the Box

• Motorola SF 600 Sports Headphones
• (3) sets of round silicone ear cushions (S/M/L)
• (3) sets of round/grooved silicone ear cushions (S/M/L)
• Micro USB charger
• Carrying case

Where to Buy

Click here to get the Motorola SF 600 now

Pros

Sounds Great.  Sony usually doesn’t disappoint in the sound department and while the bass won’t blow you away it’s definitely a quality sound output.

Plug and Play.  It’s super simple to just drag and drop your favorite songs onto the MP3 player and then you’re ready for the gym.

Cons

Must Memorize Controls.  Similar to Bluetooth devices the controls are on the MP3 player which is attached to the earbud.  At some point you will have to memorize the controls layout in order to use it efficiently.

Our Review

Sony has come a long way with their famous Walkman…

We all know the old Sony Walkman was one of the single most popular electronic devices of all time.  The question is can the new Sony Walk man compete?

Before we get into the review the technical name of this Sony Walkman is the NWZ-W262 in case you were wondering.

Okay, first things first.  These are headphones, but at the same time they aren’t headphones.  Say what?  We’re just trying to say that they don’t fit the same way a pair of headphones would.  They’re super light, but they still hold a little more weight around the ear than typical sports headphones.  They fit somewhat similar to the Jaybird Freedoms if we had to make comparisons.

All the controls are found on the MP3 player, which is attached to the earbuds.  So, at some point you’ll likely need to memorize where the buttons are or you’ll be forced to take the headphones out of your ears to check.  It really shouldn’t be that big of deal to remember where a few buttons are located.  To help counteract that a little bit the MP3 player is equipped with a program called Zappin that allows you search through songs for quick playback by simply holding down one button for about 4 seconds.  Once you find a song you like just hit the button again and it will play.

We were pleasantly surprised with the sound quality, but Sony usually checks out well in this department so maybe we shouldn’t have.  Typically most workout headphone manufacturers focus on producing a lot of bass, which we usually like, but you won’t get that with these headphones.  Overall though the sound was crisp and clear.

One last note is Sony made sure to make the headphones sweat resistant and to some degree water resistant.

The bottom line is workout MP3 players are not for everyone, especially those who just can’t leave their iPhone at home.  But if you’re interested in getting rid of external devices and combining your workout devices into one then our picks are either the Sony Walkman or the JLab GO.

 The Sony Walkman MP3 Player comes in several different colors.

Click here to see all available colors.

Specifications

• Weight: 1.2 ounces
• Battery life: 8 hours
• Play modes: normal/shuffle
• Charge time: 3 minutes of charge = 60 minutes of play time

What’s in the Box

• Sony Walkman (NWZ-262) MP3 Player Headphones
• USB cable
• Owner’s manual

Where to Buy

Click here to get the Sony Walkman MP3 Player now

The Koss STRIVA TAP may be your solution.

How do they work?

Koss has created the STRIVA TAP  to work in 3 different ways:

1. Wi-Fi is built directly into the wireless earbuds allowing you to stream music directly to STRIVA TAP anywhere you have wireless internet access.
2. Use them like traditional Bluetooth headphones by plugging in the wireless transmitter, which Koss calls the CAP (Content Access Point), into your smartphone or MP3 player and transmit music directly to the headphones.
3. Plug in the included audio cable to your stereo device use them like traditional wired earbuds.

How do you get a pair?

Visit Koss for more information.

Right now these Wi-Fi in-ear headphones are retailing for $500.00.

Check out the photos below for a quick look at the 1.5 inch wireless earbuds.

Wi-Fi headphones may not be prevalent right now, but our prediction is they will really take off in 2013.

Photos:

Pros

Super Secure Fit.  We absolutely love the fit for these earbuds.  Never even came close to falling out.

Perfect Cord Lengths.  MEElectronics supplies 2 different cord lengths, 1 for an armband and 1 for a waistband.

Lightweight.  You won’t even notice they’re their after a couple minutes.

Ultimate Sports Kit.  You won’t need to go out and purchase anything else, as it comes with a carrying case, multiple ear tips, sport clip, armband and more!

Cons

Poor Armband Design.  We were really hopeful for a nice armband since this is one of the few sports headphones that comes with one.  Unfortunately the armband doesn’t allow for ease in changing songs, especially if you are using an iPhone.

Our Review

When we first heard MEElectronics was coming out with a new pair of earbuds targeted for working out we got excited.  They’re known for packing a ton of value with an affordable price, and we were also a fan of their M6 Headphones, which are very similar to the S6.

So, how did the Spor-Fi S6 sound?  Out of the box they sounded average, nothing great, nothing bad.  After about 20-25 hours of burn in they started to sound a lot better.  The HIs are very sharp and crystal clear and the MIDs and LOWs are very smooth.  We were hoping for a bit more bass, but overall we didn’t have any real complaints about the sound quality.

We mentioned above the the S6 have a great fit, but it took a little time to find out what works best.  They come with 6 sets of ear tips:

• (2) tree tops (S/L)
• (1) cylinder
• (3) round buds (S/M/L)

We tried them all and ended up liking the smaller tree tops the best in terms of comfort.  A tip from our Audiologist is to pull your ear slightly back and up to get a better fit for any in-ear canal earbuds.  This worked like a charm.

The headphones themselves are equipped with memory wire which allows you to shape the wire to hook around your ear or however else you would like it.  Honestly, we didn’t have to change much.  The earbuds kind of twist into place because they are designed at a slight angle (to help achieve a better fit, see picture below) and the wire sits naturally just over and behind your ear.

9mm driver with no ear tip attached, angled slightly for a better fit

It might have been a little better if the wire was about an inch longer (in order to hook it full around your ear), but overall we’re big fans of this design because of how lightweight it makes everything.

In addition to the earbuds, the armband also had a great fit.  We used it with an iPod and iPhone.  We were able to put the iPhone into the armband with the Otterbox Case on or without, so no problems there.  The only problem with the armband is it’s a pain to change songs if you’re using an iPhone.

There are no in-line controls, so you’ll either need to have your playlist in order or you’ll have the pull the iPhone out to switch to another song.

Bottom line is these are a great pair of sports headphones that are lightweight, comfortable and fit securely.  MEElectronics has included just about everything but the kitchen sink in the sport kit.  As an audiophile you could find better sound quality, but you’ll be paying 2-3 times the price of the S6 which retail at $49.99.

Specifications

• Noise isolating
• Memory wire ear hooks
• 1 year manufacturer warranty
• Sweat resistant
• Tangle resistant cable

What’s in the Box

Check it out for yourself!

As you can see you get just about everything you need for your next workout, including:

• Sport-Fi S6 Headphones
• Extension cord (if you want to carry your MP3 on your waist)
• (6) different size and type ear tips
• (1) armband
• (1) carrying case
• (1) small carabiner
• (1) sport clip

Where to Buy

Click here to see the lowest price we could find

For women though there’s another problem entirely.  Most headphones are designed for the average male.  It’s true that a lot of manufacturers do include extra ear bud tips for different size ears, but that’s only part of the equation.

There’s really 3 factors that a lot of women are looking for in sports headphones that are difficult to find:

1. Women tend to have smaller ears, so smaller earbuds or narrower frames or adjustable frames work best.
2. Style.  We review a lot of headphones that we think look great, like the Monster iSport, but sometimes (not always) girls just want something “cute”.
3. Lightweight.  This usually isn’t a problem, but the lighter the better.

Well, we’ve taken the time to lay out 3 completely different options with women as the focal point.

3 Cute Workout Headphones for Women

Jaybird Sportsband

Click here to read out full review

The Jaybird Sportsband is one of our all time favorite pair of workout headsets.  Not only does it have Bluetooth capabilities, but it also looks great and has a lot of adjustability in the headband and earphones.

Yurbuds Ironman Series

Click here to read out full review

The Yurbuds are another pair of headphones that are often at the top of our lists.  They feature a unique twist lock system and tend to have a slightly better fit than most other earbuds (especially those earbuds that came with your iPhone).  They sound great, they feel great, and they look great.

JVC Sports Clip Headphones

Click here to read our full review

While the JVC Sports Clip Headphones aren’t going to win any awards for best workout headphones, they certainly do look great, especially since JVC built them to match all colors of the iPod.  In addition you’ll find these headphones are a bit cheaper than the previous two, which may be more appealing.

So that’s it, that’s our quick list of cute headphones for women.  One of the best things about all the headphones on this list is that they can be used for more than just working out.  Whether you want to travel with them, take them to the beach, or for a run with your dog around the block any of these will work just fine.

Pros

Great Noise Isolation.  Once you find a good fit these earbuds are about as close to noise cancelling as you can get.

Impressive Sound. Was pleasantly surprised by the bass response, great for some workout jams.

Tangle Resistant Cable.  More and more headphones are coming with a flat or “ribbon” cord that is tangle resistant and we’re glad that Dual Electronics included this feature.

Price.  It’s going to be hard to beat the sound quality of these earbuds at such a low price.

Cons

One Cable Length.  Non-adjustable cable.

No Cable Cinch or Clip.  Not a huge deal, but would have been nice to have a clip and cinch, especially when running.

Secure Fit.  It may not be entirely fair to list this as a con because we had no problems with the earbuds falling out.  However, as a standard we typically like to see some type of external support (ear hook, neckband, ear fin, etc.) to help keep the earbuds in place during an intense workout.

Our Review

Lately we’ve seen a lot of “flash” in terms of style added to sports headphones, so it was refreshing to see a simple and clean design from the Painted Tunes.

Click here to see all available colors

The Painted Tunes earbuds come with 3 different size ear cups.  We tried the medium and small and found that the smaller ear cup tended to fit quite a bit better, especially since these are in-ear canal headphones.  So, they’re meant to seal off the ear canal if you want true noise isolation.

We weren’t really sure what to expect as we didn’t know too much about Dual Electronics, but we were pleasantly surprised with the quality sound output.  The highs could be a little more crisp, but the mids and bass make up for it.  Overall they put out a very smooth bass sound which is perfect for a good upbeat song during your workout.

With their simplistic design it should be no surprise that the Painted Tunes are unbelievably light.  If it wasn’t for the longer cord we wouldn’t have even noticed them while running.  With that said, we finally found by wrapping the extra cable around the iPod clip that the cable wasn’t a problem, but you’ll definitely need to grab a cable clip if bouncing cables bother you at all.

The headphone cord itself is a flat, ribbon cord which is tangle resistant.  We used the tube they came in and shoved the headphones into the case to see if they would tangle, but the flat cord held true and they came out perfect.

While these earbuds don’t have a ton of features (i.e. cable clip, cinch, adjustable cables) it was actually quite nice because they double very well as laptop earbuds or travel earbuds.

Bottom line is if you’re looking for an inexpensive pair of great sounding earbuds then definitely check out the Painted Tunes.

Specifications

• Noise isolating
• Cord length = 48 inches

What’s in the Box

• Painted Tunes earbuds
• Tube carrying case
• (3) ear cups (S/M/L)

Where to Buy

Click here to see the lowest price we found for the Painted Tunes

You can also find these headphones and some more information at Blue Sky Fun.

Pros

Matching iPod Colors.  No matter what color iPod you have you can find the corresponding headphone color to match.

Great Price.  This is one of the most popular aspects of these ear hook headphones.  Decent headphones for a great price.

Lightweight and Slender.  The ear hook is a little more slender than most, which is perfect for smaller ears and women.

Cons

Won’t Last Forever.  Unless you take extremely good care of your headphones and aren’t rough on them then it’s likely you’d replace these by year’s end.  The construction is good, but it’s just not on par with some of your higher end workout headphones.  Though at this price it’s understandable.

Our Review

All the guys who may have bought the black or white color of these headphones may not like to hear this, but we think JVC had women in mind when they created these sports headphones.

First off, they made colors to match your iPod.  So depending on what color iPod you went with you can be sure your headphones match next time you hit the gym.

Click here to view all available colors

Besides the colors JVC also made these ear hooks a little more slender or narrow than is conventional (take a look at the Polk Auadio UltraFit 500 for comparison).  This also helps make these headphones extremely lightweight.

If you add up those 3 main features it makes it pretty perfect for women, though guys, we won’t say anything if you fancy the pink ones!

Bottom line is if you’re looking for a cute pair of workout headphones that you can also take to the beach or wear out walking your dog then go with the JVC Sports Clip.  But for this price don’t expect to be blown away by the sound or any other features.

Specifications

• Cord length: 1.2m (~47 inches)
• Weight: 0.32 ounces (without cord)
• iPhone compatible
• Splash proof (according to JVC)

What’s in the Box

• JVC Inner Ear Sports Clip Headphones
• 3 sizes of silicone ear buds

Where to Buy

Click here to see the lowest price we found for the JVC Inner Ear Sports Clip Headphones

Pros

100% Waterproof.  Unlike a lot of headphones that are just water resistant, these MP3 player headphones can be completely submerged and still pump out your favorite tunes.

Headphones and MP3 Player.  Unlike the Apple Waterfi you won’t need to purchase a set of waterproof headphones as well.

Great Bass Response.  Get ready to be pumped up with some overpowering bass.

Cons

Awkward Earbud Fit.  It’s hard to say exactly why they felt awkward, but they just didn’t feel as comfortable as we would normally like.

Our Review

Have you ever been snorkeling or hitting the lap pool and just thought, “Man I wish I had my tunes with me!”  Well, JLabs has solved that problem with their JLab GO, which are completely submersible MP3 player headphones.

The one thing JLab got right for sure is sound quality.  A lot of people may complain that the mids and highs are sub par, but this is a workout people.  We need some serious bass to get pumped up (at least most of us do) and that’s what you’ll find with the JLab GO.  So, sound quality was a plus for us.

We mentioned above that the fit was a little awkward and we assume JLabs knew this as they also included 7 pairs of ear tips to help achieve the right fit.  The MP3 player headphones are extremely light considering they include headphones AND an MP3 player, but they will take a little time getting used to as opposed to just conventional workout headphones.

If you typically swim with goggles or a cap don’t worry JLabs thought of that and included a brief description on how to achieve a good fit with goggles in the owner’s manual.  In addition they also walk you through the main buttons on the MP3 player, which are: on/off, volume up/volume down, next/previous song.  You’ll have to eventually memorize where these buttons are

As for getting music on the MP3 player it’s a simple as plugging in the USB cable (included) to your computer and uploading the songs, nothing really fancy there.

Overall this is a nice little MP3 player for pretty much any workout and especially for those who want to take their music underwater.

Click here to read additional reviews

Specifications

• Supports MP3 and WMA files
• Limited 1 year warranty
• Fresh water and salt water safe
• 2GB built in memory

What’s in the Box

• JLab Go Waterproof MP3 Player Headphones
• 7 pairs of different sized ear tips
• USB mini cable
• Extra port plug
• Owner’s manual

Where to Buy

Click here to get the JLab GO on Amazon