How To Listen To Music While Skiing

Cheque out these great options for listening to music while skiing or snowboarding.

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Practice and music is ane helluva drug. And if that form of exercise involves the pure feeling of going downhill fast, well you lot might accept only struck adrenaline-junkie gold. Every bit you might imagine, I dearest listening to music when I ski. It helps me become into my catamenia at the beginning of the 24-hour interval and information technology's what keeps me going towards the end of the day when my legs experience similar jello. Most of all, information technology just elevates the entire experience, helping me to achieve that ever-elusive flow state a little bit easier.

All that existence said, listening to music massively reduces your power to hear what'due south going on around you on the slopes (no surprises there), so be careful, and if you've never washed it before, possibly endeavor it out on an unpopulated groomer earlier taking your tunes to more crowded runs. Here are my top picks when it comes to sound on the slopes.

Best Audio Solutions for Snowsports

Outdoor Tech Chips ($threescore-220)
AirPods 2nd Generation ($159)
SkullCandy Vert ($80)
Cardo Packtalk Ski ($250)
Chubby Buttons ($80)

What Matters for Listening to Music on the Slopes?

As incredible as rocking along to We Are The Champions as you crash through powder can exist, at that place are plenty of factors to consider that tin can make or pause the experience. First of all is the controls. Gloves and tiny headphone controls simply don't mix, and if you're on the mountain with friends, it'due south downright impossible to communicate with Freddie Mercury at full blast, then "set and forget" doesn't really piece of work either. A big criteria for me is headphone controls that work with gloves on. The 2d hurdle is the wired vs wireless conundrum. Wired headphones don't die on you when exposed to cold and are much harder to lose than wireless headphones. All the same, it can be a massive pain trying to thread your headphone wires through multiple layers to the pocket your phone is living in. The tertiary consideration is comfort. If you're wearing a helmet (which you probably should be) you'll want a pair of headphones that sit as flush as possible against your ears to minimize discomfort, a fact that rules out a lot of the wireless headphones on the marketplace today.

Outdoor Tech Fries ($60-220)

Pros: Made for winter sports, solid sound and easy to use.
Cons: Don't work without a helmet.

Outdoor Tech'south Chips are the gilt standard when it comes to helmet audio. Available in true wireless, wireless and wired options, you're able to stone these no matter where you stand on the wired/wireless debate. Audio is solid, as is battery life, and the controls are probably some of the easiest on this list.

Truthful wireless
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Wireless
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Wired selection
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AirPods Second Generation ($159)

Pros: Double tap controls are very easy to use with a helmet on.
Cons: Easy to lose.

AirPods are my go-to solution for music on the mountain. They are super comfy with a helmet on, provide decent plenty audio, and seamlessly transition from the mount to any other sport I might choose. The second generation'due south tap controls are the master reason why these guys fabricated the list. 2 quick slaps on the side of the helmet change tunes, play/pause, and command volume, only you lot only get ii functions, one per pod (you lot cull). I go with play/pause on the left and fast forrad on the right, and employ the buttons on my phone to command book from my pocket.

The main downside is that they're easy to lose. If you forget you've got them in and take your helmet off while on the chairlift (as I did a couple years ago at Big Bear) you tin kiss your pods adieu. A great way to not take the above happen to you lot while skiing with AirPods, is making the nominal investment in a set of AirPod wings which help keep your AirPods where they're supposed to be – your ears. Since purchasing I have nevertheless to lose a pod (knock on woods).

AirPods Second Generation
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The Wings
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SkullCandy Vert ($lxxx)

Pros: Multi-sport capacity, works with and without a helmet.
Cons: Button seems exposed/easy to impairment strapped to the outside of your helmet.

The SkullCandy Vert is an interesting new blend of wired and wireless audio, seeking to bring the all-time of both worlds together in ane activity sports oriented bundle. The Vert consists of a large button that clips to your haversack or helmet, runs controls, and connects to your phone via bluetooth, and a pair of low-profile wired headphones connected to the push. The bombardment life is listed at 10 hours, enough for a full day on the slopes and in my experience, SkullCandy's audio is solid given the price-point.

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Read the full review here.

Cardo Packtalk Ski ($250)

Pros: Keen, ski-oriented audio solution.
Cons: Lots of actress tech y'all don't need if just being used to listen to music.

The Cardo Systems Packtalk Ski is a whole lot more than simply a music-listening solution, but they get high marks when it comes to audio. With practiced sound quality (on par with the AirPods only with ameliorate volume range), spades in comfort, all-day battery and supreme ease-of use, they're one of the ameliorate audio solutions out there. They're also a walkie-talkie that pairs upwards with other Cardo Packtalks for easily-free communication on the slopes. That being said, it takes ii to tango, so unless you decide to grab a couple or more, the boom mike and antennae volition be for looks simply. And while y'all don't demand a helmet to make it piece of work, it'due south a whole lot easier to bargain with if y'all do.

Buy hither, and read the full review here.

Stubby Buttons ($80)

Pros: Neat manner to control your music while on the slopes or engaging in other action sports.
Cons: Headphones not included, pricey as merely a controller.

Chubby Buttons is a visitor that decided to have a different approach to the snow sports and music conundrum, letting you use whatever headphones yous desire while focusing on tackling the problem of decision-making your music. A futuristic-looking remote control straps to your arm and connects to your phone via bluetooth, with "chubby" buttons that let you control all aspects of your music with even the thickest of gloves on. And (almost surprisingly) the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. No gimmicks, these guys work as advertised.

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Editor's Annotation: For more than gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.

Disclosure: The Inertia may receive a modest commission if you make a buy from the affiliate links included in this feature at no additional cost to you. Our goal is always to entertain, educate, and inspire, and we hope you observe this feature useful.

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