YURBUDS IRONMAN SPORTS EARPHONES
Written by Gavin // October 22, 2012 // Technology
Yurbuds is a name that you’ve probably never heard of. I only became familiar with the brand during a dark time in my life when I decided it was good idea to get fit (I’m as shocked as you are). What drew me to YurBuds initially was that the company was founded in 2008 by an Ironman Triathlete and a man who has run 24 marathons! Suffice to say, Seth Burgett and Richard Daniels know all about running- but do they know anything about great headphones?
The Yurbuds boasts are mighty impressive: sweat resistant; water resistant; the only headphones in the world endorsed by Ironman; and most notably, they guarantee they will never fail out. Yes, you did read correctly, GUARANTEED to never fall out, even during strenuous exercise. And how can they make such a claim? A system called twist lock. Essentially you screw each earphone snugly into the ear canal which lodges them into place. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so I ordered a pair of ‘Inspire Talk’ headphones and grabbed my metaphorical spoon.
I’ve never been this excited to receive a pair of headphones and rip open the box to try them out. Inserting the buds are not as simple as you think and I have to read the instructions to learn the correct twist and lock protocol- but once mastered, it is truly magnificent. I try a few light tugs and the Yurbuds live up to the billing; I even let my iPhone hang freely while connected and they remain steadfast. It takes some effort but I do manage to yank them out my ears, and in my hands they feel like Tony Stark would have trouble breaking them. I’m so enthused that I put on my trainers and go for an, erm, trial run.
On the road, they are just as secure- even when I begin sweating heavily, they remain firmly in place and the funnel design means water is kept away from the inner ear, therefore the sound quality is unaffected. I also notice that I am able to place my iPhone in my tracksuit bottoms without any pull thanks to the 4ft cord. This is particularly handy for me as a tall gentleman because I often find most headphones do not stretch far enough and have to use an armband which I’m not very fond of.
Considering all the great features, you would be forgiven for thinking the sound quality may be inferior, but this is certainly not the case. The treble and mid range are particularly impressive but the only negative I can give is that it can start to distort as you near the top of the volume range. The microphone also doubles up as a remote control to play, pause and change track- but is missing a volume control. This is an odd exclusion which I did find a little annoying, especially as it is such a simple change.
I usually have problems with the fit of most earbuds (I blame dodgy ear genetics) but the lightweight soft silicone and funnel shape make the Yurbuds the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever used. For me, this is one of the most important factors, as they allow me to concentrate on my workout without distraction. There is nothing worse than having to mess around with your music in the middle of your workout, which is why the Yurbuds are so revolutionary.
As you can probably tell, I absolutely adore these little wonders and given that they retail at only $40 in the USA, calling them a bargain is a serious understatement. Ideal for those with active lives, and just as comfortable for everyday life- Yurbuds have designed headphones truly worthy of Ironman’s seal of approval.
Yurbuds Sports Earphones available from www.altonsports.co.uk For more information on the brand, please visit www.yurbuds.com
