Jogging headphones: Buy the right model

Author: Michel Michel

Jogging headphones are a necessity for people who love music with exercise. Whether you use the treadmill or love to jog at the park, the use of music can enhance your experience. Buying headphones for running, jogging and sports activities can be confusing and maddening as there are many of us who are unaware of headphones features and styles. For workouts and running, headphones need to be of supreme quality. There are numerous companies that sell this kind of earphones, but you need to check the below mentioned things before you buy.

•  Style: When it comes to headphones for jogging activities, you need to find the right style. Don’t sacrifice comfort and fit for the sake of style. Ear buds or general earphones without a support are not viable for jogging. They tend to come out of the ears and cause much discomfort after a certain time. Mostly, headphones for running need to be of supportive kind, so that, even during heavy workouts, they don’t fall off.

•  Weight: The weight of the headphones is particularly noteworthy as heavy headphones are comfortable and unusable for regular joggers. Avoid heavy ear lids or DJ styled earphones. Instead, look for light weighted earphones model that are easy to wear and carry.

•  Wireless or less wires: Forget those tangled earphones while running. There are some decent headphones that come with limited wires that can be perfect for workouts. Alternatively, you can choose wireless headphones that are connected with certain technologies like Bluetooth, provided your gadget supports it.

•  Branded earphones with guarantee: When you buy sports earphones or running earphones, always look for brands and guarantee. An extended warranty ensures that the product is genuine with an option for quick repair of replacement. Check a few models and compare the guarantee terms that you get before buying.

•  Online buying: Headphones or earphones for running and jogging can be best bought online. There are some highly popular gadget stores that operate online where you can find models and makes for all kinds of budgets.

Since jogging headphones are expensive, you need to compare models and check a few online reviews prior selecting a model. Most online stores sell models according to features and brands, and that makes the process of headphone selection quite easy. You can deal online for gadgets and accessories without worry about the price as you get the best available discounts.

Running is such a simple sport. Just wear light, comfortable attire and grab your running shoes ... and off u go running. It is truely one of the sports that requires least amount of gear. Simplicity is convenience. Because it is almost hassle-free, it is very important for u to make sure that your only gear is in right shape to support your running.

A run can range from a leisurely jog of a few hundred metres to a longer run of a few kilometres. During these runs, your feet makes hundreds and thousands of steps. Each step made sends the impact directly up your legs. This impact increases with increased speed and distance. To minimise the potential damage that may result over time, an appropriate pair of shoes should be selected for your run.

The basic step to knowing which shoes to buy is knowing your own feet. There are 3 basic kinds of foot: Low arch feet, normal arch feet, high arch feet. The diagrams below show the back view and side view of each kind of feet.

You can do a simple test to ascertain the kind of arch your feet has. Wet your both feet and make 2 wet footprints by standing upright on a large piece of cardboard paper. Look at the footprint of yours. Which of the footprints below does yours resemble?

Low arch
A low arch feet is actually a condition known as flat foot. When you run, the sole of your feet tend to "roll inwards" excessively so that almost the whole feet is flatly compressed on the ground. This kind of feet with "rolling inwards" is also termed as overpronated. This might cause problems for the legs over time and needs to be controlled.

Normal arch
A normal arch is what most people would have, with slightly arched feet. This is the neutral / ideal feet that runners would like.

High arch
A high arch feet has a characteristic area of the sole not touching the ground when walking. This condition is called supinated. Supinated feet tend to be underpronated, meaning it does not really roll in.

Based on the kind of condition of your feet, you should then look for shoes that are best suited to support your arch and absorb the impact you are prone to receive.

Check out the upcoming article where we will feature more on shoe selection based on your feet type!

When it comes to running, we can think of all forms of preparation to aid our training. Has anyone really thought of undergarment as one of the factors? Women perhaps are more knowledgeable than men in this regard. Most women who run would know the benefits of wearing a sports bra. However, less people will think of choosing a suitable pair of panties, boxers or briefs for their run. The fact is, undergarment plays an important role in enhancing our running experience. Let's take a look at some of the common runners' problems that can be prevented or lessened when u choose the right undergarment.


Nipple abrasion is a common ailment that plague long distance runners. The frequent rubbing of your t-shirt or singlet or even bra, coupled with large amounts of perspiration, may cause chafing of skin directly under the clothing. It can get quite uncomfortable and painful. To prevent this, females can pick a suitable sports bra to provide support to your breasts and limit the extent of abrasion. There really is a generous range available for females out there. The general advice is: choose comfort and light-weight. You can look for the aesthetics like colour and design when the first 2 criteria has been met. Most sports bras thesedays come in easy-to-dry material that are a mix of fabric and nylon or polyester. This is good as perspiration dries quickly in these material and helps reduce the abrasive potential of the bras. For males, taping the nipples using cloth surgical tape is the best solution against nipple abrasion. The most simple way is to tape an 'X' on each nipple. Try not to use plastic or elastic tape as these may slip off under the heavy perspiration.

Chafing is also a pain in the ass (literally for some). It usually occurs in regions where there is more contact between body parts. In between the thighs, between the butt, the armpits, the chest and the belly (if you have one) are some of the common places that are susceptible to chafing. For runners who are more chubby, you are likely to experience chafing more often. In this situation, the choice of undergarment would determine the extent of the chafing. For males, boxers are generally a no-no because of the loose flaps of cloth that might exacerbate the rubbing. Briefs that fit well with sufficient breathing ventilation is good. As long as the material is light and allows easy drying, it would increase the comfort during running. For females, pick a snug fit of underwear that is not too large or loose. This minimises excessive 'running' of the underwear during repeated hip and leg movement during your running strides. For both genders alike, g-string is definitely unacceptable for running. The 'string' would become a cutting saw under the wet and hot conditions when u run and the consequent abrasion can be quite bad.

Increasingly, runners are turning to tights as an alternative to undergarment during a race. Tights are basically body-hugging shorts or suits that limits the amount of abrasive contact between the undergarment and your skin. Some prefer tights because the smooth and elastic surface allow more fluid movement of the limbs as you run. A point to note is that tights come in all shapes and sizes. Choose a cutting that is less restraining for you. Paddings and thicker material may be inserted in some tights as well. You should assess if you're used to the feeling of wearing such tights, especially over long periods of time. Some tights are designed for cyclists, biathletes or triathletes. The seams are sewn to facilitate different movement ranges so do check with the store assistants before your purchase!

A handful of the more adventurous may choose not to wear undergarments at all. Well for these runners, the ownest really is on themselves to decide whether the benefits do outweigh the disadvantages. Depending on indivdual skin types, some people might have developed tougher skin that can stand more rubbing. So remember, choose wisely!