Headphones and snowboarding
I'm kind of in the same boat. I was looking for some people talking about this. Plus, someone could probably write something like an academic paper on
snowboarding with headphones/music. Warning! that is what follows..
For powder or light deep powdery snow, you just want to avoid anthing big or bulky because it will pick up the moisture but that is also the best time to have a really, really good headphone because of the experience of it. Sometimes, it is so relaxing that audiophile quality can actually come into play (believe it or not.) So I'm undecided about that...
Icy east...you do literally need to hear. You need to hear, oh, say, the little kid in the big helmet that's behind you to let you know that you can't just make a b-line towards to woods on a whim to hit a terrain feature. This is for safety.
The KC-75s aren't great. They tend to flap and leave you worrying about them falling off. They are no good with a helmet, so scratch them. They are the worlds best bargain though. So, if you want to buy them, they are good to an extent and I've sent two of them back to Koss already after breaking them (lifetime warranty). Koss is really good that way. They actually sound good but you have to smoosh them against your ears to hear it. They are just open air and most of it escapes. I did take the clips off and string them through a simple Quicksilever audio beanie. The hat had it's own flat, open headphone drivers in there. I just replaced them with the KC 75s sans clips. That may be your cheap and "effective" solution if you can't go buds.
Another thing.. If you are worried about image. I would not recommend the big headphones, hanging out with your friends, while pretending to ignore them BECAUSE of your headphones. I would get something that is sleek, hardly noticeable and does the intended job. This way you can go faster, not look like a clown (no offense intended), and really enjoy yourself. Also, believe it or not, your friends will actaully think you are cooler!! if you choose headphones that allow you to excel at snowboarding without worrying about what part of you may fall off. There is a huge limit to what you can do without stuff that fits the situation. A few pipe riders wear some big phones, like Keir or D. Kass but they usually have a run dialed and they are not just learning. Trust me, I've been teaching it since I was 15. I'm now 31. I am the old guy that gets annoyed with snowboarders that dress a certain way or go at a certain slowness, but I'm not just an old guy, I was also on the team in college and I'm actually still learning and riding new stuff.
The isolation is pure bliss if you have the big headphones, but it's just really inconvenient. I take a few falls that could be "considered" bad all the time. It's just what happens. I still compete occasionally and like I said, I know every time I go I have to try something new.
Solution-wise, I'm also thinking about putting the Sennheiser MX-400 guts into the Altec Lansing UHP-307s. The Altec Lansings are called earclips-S. Got them for 10 bucks at TJ-MAXX because they reminded me of this headphone I tried a long time ago called Keoni Extreme Sports Headphones. Sounded like dogcrap and so do the altecs, but the holders and degree of "openness" are perfect for snowboarding, you'd have to try on a pair to see what I mean. Under helmet.. under beanie you name it, they are good and more open than earbuds but they alsodirect the sound directly into your ear unlike the KC-75s.
I may try Er6's or more expensive Ety's. But I've never tried high quality in ear headphones and I am still wrestling with the idea of going 35-40 mph on crowded icy eastern slopes without being able to hear things around you. I'm not made of cartilage anymore. Also, you can't just change your headphones to something better once you are up there because there is a nice park or mellow run. You usually have to freeride to get from one part of the mountain to the other.
In conclusion..
If you want something that you can always use (helmet, hat, after a fall, rain or shine), find a pair of earbud-like that work for you and don't flair up your zits:
http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing-UHP307-Silicone-Control/dp/B000Q7IACM (see the "customers also viewed" area)
If you feel you want something closed maybe go with Koss as they may not be indestructable but have lifetime warranties.
If you try closed:
Maybe Er-6...a large Koss Headphone....koss plugs.
I also have to say to any non-snowboarders trying to understand..Normal sized jumps for better snowboarders is 35-55 feet.
300 dollar headphones could be gone in one weekend or with one crash. The guy in the video is wearing a pair of monitoring headphones. Sony MDR-700 DJ style. Something to consider. Those are obviously close to unbreakable. They may even be what you are looking for, but they didn't sound the best when I tried them at the store. And you are right, it isolates less when you put a furry hat between a closed headphone and your ear but probably not enough to be safe.
If anyone knows of the bigger budget headphones that would be a good idea given those conditions, throw me some more ideas as I am pretty much in the same boat.
Those Adidas seem awesome and I would love to hear a review on the sound quality of the closed ones with the bag.
Thanks,
Bobb-E
