I prefer over-ear headphones (the classic, dorky kind) to ear buds or the kind of headphones that don’t filter ambient noise. The cords are always way too long. I’ve tried spooling devices, but I wear headphones daily for rigorous work-outs, and the cord inevitably gets off the spool (even after fitting it in the little slots). I’m sick of adjusting the cord length and untangling the cord, and I’m a bit tired of the spool bouncing against me during workouts. What I’m looking for is a classic headphone with a retractable cord that can lock the cord. That would solve all three problems.
I’ve found a few earbuds with retractable cords, but I hate earbuds. Does what I’m looking for exist? If so, where? I’m quite frustrated and would appreciate any information.
I don’t know about what you’re looking for, but have you looked for cordless headphones? I have a pair I bought for mowing the lawn (the range wasn’t long enough, so it didn’t work for what I wanted), although I never tried any vigorous activity while wearing them.
I received a pair of wireless headphones for Christmas. The range is at least 20 feet (through a wall, even). I got them for when I’m moving around (office work, not exercising) while listening - the cord length that is great while sitting is too short when reaching over my head, and it’s too long when touching my toes.
Whenever I have run into that situation, I just cut the cord off and put a new connector on at exactly the length I need. Do you have any soldering skills? If not, Radio Shack has 1/8" plugs with screw terminals (though they are pretty mediocre).
I can’t recommend this one, which Radio Shack does not carry, highly enough.
Wireless headphones are perfect for your situation. If the distance is a problem, I can suggest a model that will go farther than most, and only costs about $50. (I’d have to look up the model at a different location, so I won’t bother unless someone wants to know.)
I’m a runner and I hate having cords bouncing about when I run.
I always wear the cord inside my shirt—in the neck and out at the waist. That way, the cord is completely contained and any slack is coiled up in the belt pouch I wear.
I use this same trick when I listen to music while involved in lawn care. It makes it more difficult to accidentally clip the headphone cord with my hedge clippers.
Yes they exist. I bought a pair made by Panasonic 5 years ago while in Japan. They just stopped working a year ago. They weren’t earbuds but the padded kind. They didn’t have the over the head armature but rather a comfortable over the ear clip–like a bluetooth set I guess with a short padded adjustable connecting wire to each ear speaker. The chord for the ‘to device’ wire was retractable from one of the ear speakers…man I loved those head phones.
I use bluetooth headphones with my cellphone for exorcise. I have the in ear ones but they have old style over the ear headphones as well. http://www.jaybirdgear.com/
Here is a headphone set that I have found to work (cheaper ones didn’t, for us). They claim a 165 ft range, which is probably boasting if thru walls. They are powered by 2 AAA rechargeables and will recharge when the unit is sitting on the stand. It has a volume control and off/on switch, and the fidelity sounds pretty good. About $50 US.
I’m interested in these, too. I mostly use headphones with my iPod, though at the gym, I connect them to the little TV that’s hooked up to the elliptical trainer. Is it a pain to set these up?
No more than plugging headphones into headphone jack. The base station needs AC power and the phones use batteries.
The only possible complication would be the plug/jack size and shape, but you can get adapters cheap at any electronics store if need be. Most phones use the common mini-phone stereo plug (3.5mm, I think).
I had a pair of FM wireless headphones that were really particular about orientation. As long as you didn’t move your head once you found the sweet spot they were great.
I would look for one of the new 5.8GHz digital ones. Some of them have ranges in the hundreds of feet. I would expect those to work better than the FM analog ones I had.
Can you buy a lockable retracting reel separately, and then wind the headphone cord around it? If you need both ends of the cord to be free, some headphones come with cords that detach from the earpiece.
Now, maybe I’m not doing my part to stimulate the economy here, since I’m not suggesting some expensive new product for you to go out and buy. But couldn’t you use a rubber band or twist-tie to tie up the extra cord so it doesn’t flop around?