What To Look For
Any earbud may become the best earbud for cycling when joined with the appropriate equipment. Many cyclists, such as Tyler Cooper with online cycling publication Road Cycler, find utilizing any earbuds uncomfortable while riding. Few products exist offering cycling earbud innovation like Slipstreamz and Budfits. Cooper prefers Slipstreamz for the safety noise reduction offered. Charlie Sorrel with online technology magazine Wired.com recommends Budfits for cyclists desiring more secure Apple earbud attachment. Budfits, designed for Apple earbuds, work with a variety of similarly designed products. Ensure local laws permit music listening while cycling if traversing public roadways.
Common Pitfalls
Many cyclists believe common earbuds work for any ear in any situation. Many earbuds jostle loose with little movement, and most cyclists find earbud use difficult or impossible once attempted. Few headphone styles work with bicycle safety helmets and cycling glasses. Innovative companies such as Slipstreamz and Budfits offer conversions allowing existing earbud use while cycling. Do not set music above safe levels while riding. Keep music levels low enough to hear external noises warning of passing cyclists, traffic, pedestrians, emergency vehicles and other potential road hazards.
Where To Buy
Many local bicycle shops, department stores and electronics stores sell earbud conversions making existing personal earbuds the best for cycling. Slipstreamz sells the Slip, an earbud holder allowing for wind noise reduction and exterior noise penetration for cyclists safety, direct to consumers at Slipstreamz.com. Budfits, available in a wide variety of colors, sells consumer direct at Budfits.com. Ensure other earbud conversions work with bicycle helmets and fit desired earbuds before purchase. Many earbud conversion designs work best with Apple brand earbuds available wherever iPods sell, including Apple stores, Walmart and Target.
Cost
Earbuds typically come with music players, but thousands of replacement styles exist. Unless particularly picky about music quality, purchase inexpensive earbuds, typically under $50, for cycling use. Earbud conversions, such as Slipstreamz and Budfits, often cost $10 to $30. High quality earbuds offering exceptional quality and realistic bass levels often sell for $50 to $150. Apple brand earbuds typically cost from $20 to $80 depending on style and performance, according to Apple.com. Unlike many bicycle accessories, most earbud conversions, even those attaching to bicycle safety helmets such as Slipstreamz, feature easy installation ably performed at home free of charge.
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