I’ve been looking for a decent pair of headphones for cycling, both on the road and during longer trail rides.
I used to ride with regular in-ear buds, but I always felt a bit cut off from the surroundings, which isn’t ideal when you need to hear traffic or other riders.
Recently I tried a pair of open-ear headphones (NANK Runner Diver2 Pro). They don’t block the ears at all, so you can still hear cars, people, and nature sounds while listening to music or podcasts.
My takeaways so far:
- Very secure fit, even with the helmet on
- Waterproof enough for rain rides
- Battery lasts through long sessions
- Much safer feeling than closed earbuds
Curious what you all use when cycling – do you prefer in-ear, open-ear, or nothing at all?
Absolutely not. I consider any distraction like music unsafe.
(08-26-2025, 10:34 AM)rydabent Wrote: Absolutely not. I consider any distraction like music unsafe.
Thats to bad, you do not know what you are missing.
There are two kinds of people in the world, "Those who help themselves to people, and those who help people!"
I am lucky (?) enough that I wear hearing aids which connect to my phone via Bluetooth and I can stream music that way and I can hear both the music and the sounds around me.. That being said I only use that on a bike path or off road where I am not likely to encounter traffic.
Trek 720 Multitrack hybrid
Trek 3700 MTB
Assorted project and parts bikes.
I practically never wear any headphones when riding my bike.
In such a rare case, I only occupy the left ear with my Airpods. It's much safer & I enjoy city sounds.
Merida Scultura 5000 (2015)
Merida Big Nine 400 (2019)
I will admit to wearing…. I like my Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. Does not obstruct the sounds of the road, but gives me my music to ride by :-)
My mother used call the obituaries th Irish Funny Papers
Wearing headphones or buds is a sure way to show up in them.
You can't hear cars, passing cyclists on paths.
Danger Will Robinson.
Location: Sacramento, California
I have a blue-tooth speaker that is mounted on my handle bars. Works great. Not very loud so can still hear what's going on around me.
Some people may think differently, but I find it easier to ride a bike while listening to music.
Location: Parañaque, Philippines
the sound of my tire rolling against concrete, asphalt or the trail is the one that keeps me entertained hahahaha
but seriously I like the hum of road tires against pavement and mountain bike tires against soil or dirt haha
(09-25-2025, 02:57 PM)MR GERALD O RYAN Wrote: My mother used call the obituaries th Irish Funny Papers
Wearing headphones or buds is a sure way to show up in them.
You can't hear cars, passing cyclists on paths.
Danger Will Robinson.
thats funny, because I can hear everyone in my group and carry on conversations just fine, all listening to my music. I know we are not lip reading..lol
There are two kinds of people in the world, "Those who help themselves to people, and those who help people!"
People that wear head phones on the trails are a pain. They all seem to ride or walk in the middle, and you have to get real close and scream to let you by. And then it is rather off putting when you scream and yell as loud as you can, and see an opening to get by-----------------but then be yell at for not saying on you left.
(10-21-2025, 01:34 PM)rydabent Wrote: People that wear head phones on the trails are a pain. They all seem to ride or walk in the middle, and you have to get real close and scream to let you by.
Ah, and then there are people walking right in the middle of a bike path/trail with their headphones on, while you’re approaching from behind on a bicycle... The bell is ringing, you’re shouting “Hellooooo, a bike’s coming!” - and there’s no response at all until the very moment you slowly pass them and they become (surprise, surprise) startled!
Merida Scultura 5000 (2015)
Merida Big Nine 400 (2019)
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