We searched the market for the best snowboarding headphones and found out what makes them so great.
how to choose the best snowboard headphones
Snowboarding remains one of the most popular seasonal activities today. It is a very exciting activity that gets everyone’s adrenaline pumping. And whether you hit the slopes regularly as a hobby or a couple of days a year with your family, having a good pair of snowboarding headphones while you’re out there has a lot of unknown benefits
Reading: Headphone for snowboarding
In addition to typical snowboard gear, headphones have found their way into the hearts of both casual and professional snowboarders. headphones, in general, protect your ears from the cold and also from possible hearing damage. On top of that, snowboarding headphones will allow you to set the mood and play your upbeat tunes without getting too distracted.
Despite its many benefits, choosing the best snowboarding headset is not as easy as it seems. these are special headphones made specifically for this activity, so there are many factors that go into this decision. Ultimately, you want to make sure you’re buying something that’s right, high-quality, and won’t put you at risk.
Let’s talk about things to consider and things to look for when buying these headphones.
wireless bluetooth headset for alta ski helmet
Key features:
- type: headset
- connectivity: wireless
- battery life: 10 hours
- ip rating: ip45
- other features: hands-free calling, voice assistant compatible , proven operation in low temperature locations down to 24 degrees fahrenheit (-4 degrees celsius)
we can call the alta wireless bluetooth ski helmet headset the gold standard or the benchmark when looking for snowboarding headsets. this is mainly because it has everything you need to look for and is designed to withstand harsh snow conditions.
These headphones are compatible with almost all audio-ready snow helmets. Whether you’re wearing a smith, poc, k2, giro, wildhorn, or any of the top helmet brands, these half-inch-thick headphones will have no problem fitting perfectly.
Designed by snowboarders for snowboarders, these bluetooth 5.0 headphones offer balanced sound with deep bass for 10 hours of playback. It is ip45 rated, which means it is protected against objects larger than 1mm and low pressure water jets from all directions. the fact that it has been tested to last in -20 degrees fahrenheit (-4 degrees centigrade)settings gives us more confidence in the overall quality of the product.
Other thoughtful and convenient design considerations on the Alta Ski headset are the oversized buttons and hands-free microphone. These buttons are very hard to miss, and it’s something you’re sure to appreciate when you’re already on the slopes.
Overall, these headphones are verybasic, but they get the job done flawlessly. the quality of the audio can vary from one helmet to another, but in any case they will perform adequately. For beginners and the indecisive, these should be at the top of your list.
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outdoor technology chips 2.0
Key features:
- type: headset
- connectivity: wireless
- battery life: 10 hours
- ip rating: ip45
- other features: sweat resistant, tested to work in places low temperature down to 24 degrees fahrenheit (-4 degrees celsius), glove-friendly controls
Next on the list are outdoor tech chips 2.0. It has a pretty similar feature set to its earlier atla counterpart, but with one unfortunate difference. however, compared to high bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, 2.0 chips only have bluetooth 4.0. so we’ll put them as strong finishers for now.
Despite that, these headphones are still top quality. it is compatible with almost all helmets with audio plug-ins from bern, giro, smith, k2, you name it! the headphones can run for 10 hours on a full battery, which is just within the sweet spot we’re aiming for for snowboarding headphones.
it is sweat resistantand has an ip45 ratingvery similar to the atla earphones we mentioned earlier. Another key feature that these two headphones share is their ability to survive in the snow. According to Outdoor Tech, their headphones were alsotested to work in low-temperature locationsup to 24 degrees Fahrenheit (-4 degrees Celsius).
the best word to describe the sound quality of the outdoor 2.0 technology chips is “clean”. the treble is clear and the bass is big enough. it has massive buttons on each ear cup that are really accessible and well thought out. they can be pressed easily even if you wear thick gloves.
as mentioned, the only kryptonite in these headphones is their bluetooth. As expected for an older version of bluetooth, the connection is buggy and spotty, so we’re hoping outside tech will improve this for the successor 2.0 chip.
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outdoormaster helmet headset
Key features:
- type: headset
- connectivity: wireless
- battery life: 15 hours
- ip rating: ip45
- other features: multiple buttons, bluetooth 5.0, works perfectly at -20°c/-4°f
See also: Beats headphones that no longer charge, what to do? – New World Techs
The great thing about the outdoormaster helmet headset is that for approximately $45, you already get almost the same features as atla and outdoor technology. Not only that, but you’ll also get a pair of headphones with better battery life. it is one of the cheapest on the market and offers great value for money.
These headphones work with bluetooth 5.0 and connect quite well even in harsh conditions. It has an ip45 rating very similar to the previous two options on this list. In addition, they have also been tested to work perfectly at -20°C/-4°F.
It has two buttons on one earpiece and only one on the other side. the buttons are conveniently large something we wish for a snowboard headset. Those three buttons could be used to adjust volume, change tracks, play, pause, take calls and use siri.
The 15-hour battery of these outdoormaster headphones is a big leap compared to the two previous options that we present here. Apart from the price at which it is sold, this long battery life is probably the biggest advantage of these headphones.
however, perhaps because of its price range, not everything is perfect with the outdoormaster helmet headset. may be too thick for some people. this means that not only does it put pressure on your head when used between helmets, but it may not be compatible with some models of helmets.
Despite that, it’s the best budget pick here. If you’re one of the lucky ones to have this set up correctly, then it’s definitely something you should seriously consider.
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aftershokz aeropex
Key features:
- type: bone conduction headphones
- connectivity: wireless
- battery life : 8 hours
- ip rating: ip67
- other features: dual noise canceling microphones, alert moisture detection, multifunction button
aftershokz is one of the world’s authorities when it comes to bone conduction headphones. and his personal recommendation for skiing and other winter sports is the aeropex. these are the only bone conduction headphones to make it to this list, which isn’t that hard to justify. they are open so they help people to be aware of their environment and their ip rate is also very high.
These stylish earphones feature dual noise-canceling microphones for crystal clear calls. this makes it an attractive option for snowboarders who are also looking for headphones for the office.
Unlike the previous three options we gave you, aftershokz has a fairly small multifunction button. however, this button is easy to locate and there’s only one on each side, so clicking errors won’t be much of an issue.
the aeropex has an ip67 rating which is the highest rated on this list. IP67 rating means it can be dropped into water from a depth of one meter for half an hour. In addition, these headphones also have a moisture detection alert system for a safe charging.
Perhaps its biggest drawback is its battery. even though its playtime of 8 hours is well within the usual length of a snowboarding session, we were hoping to have a little more juice to spare. however, if you are looking for a bone conduction headphone that you can use on the road or on the tracks, the aftershokz aeropex will not let you down.
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bosttor bluetooth beanie headphones with light
Key features:
- type: beanie headphones
- connectivity: wireless
- battery life: 10 hours
- ip rating: ip54 (for led)
- other features: integrated led light, control side panel, washable
Bosttor Bluetooth Beanie Headphones are one of two beanie headphones that made it to this list. This one has a built-in LED light panel that has three brightness settings. the hat itself is very warm and comfortable to wear, making it perfect for slower snowboarders.
These headphones are unique in their own way compared to the other headphones we featured here so far. They are beanie headphones, meaning they are made of ultra-thin speakers placed inside a custom-fitted cap.
other than that, what makes it unique is the fact that it has an ip54 rated led light panel right on the front. the hat itself, with the light panel, is washable. however, be sure to remove the speakers first.
The headphones can run for up to a modest 10 hours. It features a side control panel that allows you to navigate easily, although it may take some getting used to. the control panel is a nice touch, but it would have been nice to have the buttons a bit bigger and more ergonomic.
See also: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 removes the headphone jack signaling the end of an era – CNET
If you want to try night skiing or just plan on taking slow rides at night, these are perfect. They can also be worn under a helmet if you’re snowboarding.
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goldworld beanie headphones
Key features:
- type: beanie headphones
- connectivity: wireless
- battery life: 17-25 hours
- ip rating: n/a
- other features: soft double thickness fabric , side control panel
If you’re looking for a headphone that you can take with you on your next snowboarding trip, the Goldworld headphone should definitely be at the top of your list. the double thickness soft knit beanie is much more comfortable and stylish than the bosttor. you can even wear it under your helmet!
the strongest point of the goldworld beanie headphones is, without a doubt, its battery. with a 17-25 hour lifespan, it far outperforms previous options. the fact that it’s really comfortable to wear during that period makes things that much better.
These beanie headphones also have a side control panel with three buttons: volume down, volume up and pause. Like its bosttor counterpart, it would benefit from a larger, more ergonomic button set.
Unfortunately, this is not IP rated, which basically means it’s not waterproof or dustproof. That said, we can only recommend it to slow and careful snowboarders.
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jzaq helmet headphones
Key features:
- type: headset
- connectivity: wireless
- battery life: 50 hours
- ip rating: ipx7
- other features: noise cancellation, velcro stick-on surface inside the hull
If you’ve already been blown away by goldworld’s 25-hour battery life, the JZAQ Over-Ear Headphones will blow your mind. these earphones have a 50-hour battery life, which is five times longer than the average pair of earphones here. if the headphones had done better at protecting against dust, they would have gotten a much higher rating.
Playtime of 50 hours is attributed to its researchable 900mah lithium-ion battery. these headphones were originally made for motorcyclists who travel long distances. in fact, the back of the earphones is lined with velcro so that it easily adheres to the inner surface of the earphones. but it can also be very good for snowboarders.
jzaq over-ear headphones are ipx7 rated. this means that it has not been tested as dust resistant, but it is the best waterproof option along with aftershokz aeropex. rain and snow shouldn’t be a problem for these.
Normally we would praise headphones for having noise cancellation. however, since we’re talking about snowboarding headsets here, we really have to list this as a downside. noise cancellation puts users at risk, so we recommend turning it off.
Other than that, these headphones are pretty good. If you’re one of those people who stays in snowboard parks for more than 12 hours, you could really use this pair.
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nuclear digital pulse
Key features:
- type: headset
- connectivity: wired
- battery life : n/a
- ip rating: n/a
- other features: velcro surface for sticking in-helmet, hi-fi audio
Lastly, we have the Wired Nuclear Digital Pulse Headphones. this is the highest rated wired option we’ve seen and should definitely be beneficial for those who don’t want to be limited by battery life.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of a pair of wired headphones like this is sound quality. the nuclear digital pulse actually has high fidelity audio so it has hands down the best sound quality on this list.
Just like the jzaq over-ear headphones, these headphones also feature an outer surface velcro. this allows the headphones to stick inside the helmet and provide you with music.
Nowadays, wireless headphones are really preferred during snowboarding, as they allow more movement. however, wired headphones such as the nuclear digital pulse are not fully rendered. People have been taking wired headphones to the slopes for a long time, and as long as you keep the wires inside your t-shirt, you should be fine buying them.
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