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#192956 - 12/22/15 05:26 PM Cheap headphone options?
summersig Offline
newbie

Registered: 12/22/15
Posts: 1
I'm looking for some good cheap headphones. I found some ones on sale from Kinivo for 80% off. Has anybody used these and would they recommend them? Are there any other good deals on headphones that you know about right now that you can share with me? I'm looking for a new pair to start my new year's resolution hikes.


Edited by aimless (12/22/15 08:48 PM)
Edit Reason: removed commercial link

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#192960 - 12/23/15 01:42 PM Re: Cheap headphone options? [Re: summersig]
BrianLe Offline
member

Registered: 02/26/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Washington State, King County
For that rare person who's currently "up" on what's available (and at a relatively good price), I suggest that you clarify what you want. Anything to keep them from falling out of your ears as you hike? Volume control on the cord important? Or maybe wireless/blutooth? Noise reducing type? Looking for high-end audio characteristics, or just off-the-shelf cheap ear buds?

Every few years it seems I have to survey the field to see what's "out there" that fits my particular criteria, and then I buy two to four pairs. The particular combination I like is:

- plastic 'hooks' to keep them on my ears
- volume control on the cord
- corded: I don't want ear pieces that require recharging or a battery
- relatively inexpensive: I find that these don't last a very long time (or through a lot of use anyway), and I'm not much of an audiophile.

But the combo that's right for me is clearly not 'normal' as I have a hard time finding these.
I would add that the volume control that I like is one that has a little wheel, and not a slider. My experience with slider-type volume controls is that it's harder to actually control the volume (making a distinction between the verbs "adjust" and "control").

Best of luck in your search.
_________________________
Brian Lewis
http://postholer.com/brianle

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#193368 - 01/27/16 05:52 PM Re: Cheap headphone options? [Re: summersig]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
I recommend the Howard Leight Impact Sport. Impact Sport
They are able to pick up some really quiet stuff if you sit still and listen. Plus, if you wear them when walking around, you can hear the grass rustle. And, when you fire your rifle, they muffle the super loud noise.
You can also plug them into a HAM or other radio, and with a push-to-talk/mic can work really well.

They will play your favorite music....but why would you want that? This is a hiking forum. Go out and listen to nature, not music. Pay attention to your surroundings.

If all you want to do is listen to music, then anything will work.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

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#193446 - 02/02/16 08:19 PM Re: Cheap headphone options? [Re: finallyME]
mrfritz44 Offline
member

Registered: 01/24/16
Posts: 25
The $14 JVC ear buds you can find at Walmart work well. The ear piece is foam versus rubber so they fit snugly in your ear and cancel out a lot of background noise.

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#193448 - 02/02/16 11:51 PM Re: Cheap headphone options? [Re: mrfritz44]
balzaccom Offline
member

Registered: 04/06/09
Posts: 2232
Loc: Napa, CA
Cheapest of all are the ones they give you for free on the airlines. I must have about three of those....
_________________________
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/

Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-Rocks-Paul-Wagner/dp/0984884963

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#193591 - 02/10/16 11:34 AM Re: Cheap headphone options? [Re: summersig]
HappyFamily Offline
newbie

Registered: 02/10/16
Posts: 2
Loc: Michigan
I bought some inexpensive, over-the-ear ones at "Five below" and I was skeptical but needed some that would fit in my backpack for travel. They were remarkably good!

http://www.fivebelow.com/tech/audio/sport-hook-earbuds.html

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