Gear Review: Jaybird Run
“And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.”
Over the years of outdoor adventures, I have gone through set after set of headphones. Music is such a helpful tool to put you in the frame of mind to push yourself when you are exercising. I am sure there is a scientific reason for it, but when the right song comes on, I tend to pick up the pace. My carefully curated exercise playlist becomes a melodic soundtrack, transforming from rhythmic energy to kinetic fuel. Like the dwarfish songs from Tolkien to the emotional scores of John Williams that stir our emotions, good headphones transmit a soundtrack to your head to drive you harder. Who doesn’t get fired up when “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky or “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns-N-Roses hits your ears?
“Go ahead, try to kill these with sweat; we haven’t been able to.”
Living here in the South, we deal with oppressive heat and, more importantly, stifling humidity much of the year. An unfortunate fact for me is that it means buckets of sweat. I know its gross, and those buckets are not kind to most electronics. Whether it was sweat or normal wear and tear many of the headphones over the years, just have not stood up. The standard Apple headphones, to various other brands of "athletic" headphones, have found themselves in the junk drawer or the headphone graveyard of twisted knotted cables.
In recent years Bluetooth technology has eliminated the need for cables; a significant plus for active people desiring some tunes while working out. When you are running, cycling, walking, or on your morning commute, not dealing with cables is a glorious advance in technology.
A few years ago, my lovely wife gave me a set of Jaybird Audio's Run XT for Father's Day—one of my most used gifts to date. Whether on a run, bike ride, or my morning commute, you will see these Bluetooth pearls in my ears every day. The particular set I have is a few years old now, and Jaybird has released several other versions since then. Even being their first attempt at a cable-free, in-ear headphone, the Jaybird Run XT has stood the test of time so far.
For years now, I have trained for various triathlons from sprint triathlons to Ironman 140.6, which translates to many hours of pounding the pavement and saddle time. Each workout always includes my set of Jaybird Run XT headphones. The accompanying app they provide helps to enhance your audio experience, enabling you to customize the equalizer to your personal desires. The charging case has held up reasonably well. The pins in the case that connect to the headphones have gotten stiff from time to time. However, with a little coaxing, still connect, and charge.
Not long ago, I went out for a sixty-mile bike ride, and after three hours, I still had my jams driving me home. Overall, their battery life has proven extremely impressive, connectivity is reliable, and audio quality is excellent. The headphones come with rubber molds to customize fit to individual ear makeup. Lastly, the phone conversations while driving are clear, plus the microphone works great. Everyday, whether I’m on my commute or working out, I devour audiobooks, podcasts and customized playlists through my Jaybird Run XT headphones.
If you are in the market for some workout headphones that will stay in your ears, stand up to the sweat, and sound great doing it, the Jaybird Run XT is a phenomenal choice. I was initially hesitant to spend 150$ on some headphones, but three years later, I have long gotten my money's worth for sure.