How to listen to music while kiting

cdub25 · Since 04 Jun 2015 69 Posts Portland/Lyle

What are some of your guys set ups when it comes to listening to music while kiting? I see theres a waterproof iPod nano and headphones on amazon for like $120. Has anyone tried these or what do you guys suggest? Also how do you clip it on especially in the summer without a suit on? I've soon necklace type set ups but feel thats kinda sketchy.

If there aren't any good kite proof headphones what do you guys suggest for earbuds? I've been getting too much water in my ears recently.

Thanks for the input!

craz z · Since 01 Dec 2008 130 Posts Montana Stoked

I use a dolphin barrel system I don't know if they are around anymore. I clip secure it to my helmet and wrap the buds into the webbing. They are excellent for keeping water out of the ears. here is a cheap piece of shit one. the original dolphin was and is really robust been using it for at least 7 years now.

http://www.gearbest.com/smartwatch-accessories/pp_114.html?currency=USD&vip=760163&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIh872l5Cs1QIVSJR-Ch3WUgfREAQYBCABEgJ3RPD_BwE

The quality dolphin like mine had a screw in minijack i think this seals the jack so it doesn't short out the unit unlike these cheapy ones im seeing today. the only down side is DONT LOSE THE CHARGE cable it is very unique to the system and is considered a mini jack or micro jack its the only way to charge em back up.

Not long ago i saw a good deal on a shirt that was made for kiting and had a similar setup with the mp3 player made into the shirt.

here is a whole slew of choices. I like the buds with the rings or christmas tree style they really dig in and seal your ear cavity even under water or floating you will never get water in your ear with them until you wipe out on a foil board going mach 9 then they might come out.

https://www.swimoutlet.com/waterproof-mp3-audio-players-c10737/

I wouldn't ride snow or water without music makes it that much more enjoyable for those all day sessions.

voy-tech · Fri Jul 28, 17 6:46 am

http://waterfi.com/waterproof-ipod is what I use, the attached headphones have pretty crappy sound quality and get uncomfortable after about 2h but the waterproof iPod is working great. I used normal iPhone headphones with it and those were a huge improvement in both sound and comfort but died after about a 5 sessions

kbrossel · Since 26 Aug 2012 21 Posts

This unit has worked well for a few months now.
https://www.amazon.com/Aerb-MD190-Waterproof-Player-Earphones/dp/B00DJLTJSQ

Sella · Fri Jul 28, 17 8:02 am

cdub25 · Since 04 Jun 2015 69 Posts Portland/Lyle

Cheers guys! I'm ordering the $30 Aerb setup right now and will see you out there.

Happy Shredding!

chrissmack · Since 08 Jun 2005 526 Posts portland Addicted

cdub25 · Since 04 Jun 2015 69 Posts Portland/Lyle

Update: This was the best $30 I've ever spent! I got to test out the mp3 player/headphones this weekend and took them surfing for two days and then kiting at Jones on Sunday and I couldn't be happier. The headphones stay on in even the gnarliest crashes and held up like champs in the waves even when duck diving. The only thing I'd recommend is to glue on the rubber ear buds once you find the correct size as they fit so well in your ear that one time the rubber part came off the headphone and got stuck in my ear for a bit until I could pry it out with a small stick... Lesson learned. Also there is no shuffle but when you load up the songs you can put numbers in front of the titles to create a playlist. I used anything2mp3.com to convert some music over from youtube and soundcloud and then you load the mp3 just like a usb drive.

Thanks for the recommendation guys!

Sella · Tue Aug 08, 17 9:41 am

kitemac · Since 07 Aug 2017 6 Posts Kook

Anybody have some good kiting playlists for once you lock in some good headphones?

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

Was reading this thread and thinking how much I missed my iPod Nano 6G (it was a square with a touch screen, perfect for kiting in a tiny case) and decided f*ck it, I'll just buy an iPod Shuffle for $50 and be done with it... Apple no longer makes iPods. Shocked

WTF? There is such a market for small capable music players to be used in action sports. What, are we supposed to all be using big iPhone sized things with blue tooth headphones? A nice cheap player, with shuffle, and iTunes connectivity, was worth a premium over an MP3 device. Ahh well.

Guess I'm buying that Amazon non shuffling device posted. ...music does make the long sessions easy and gives you that extra energy when you get tired. Thanks for the suggestions.

cdub25 · Since 04 Jun 2015 69 Posts Portland/Lyle

cdub25 · Since 04 Jun 2015 69 Posts Portland/Lyle

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

cdub25 · Since 04 Jun 2015 69 Posts Portland/Lyle

bigjohn · Since 13 Mar 2012 663 Posts Addicted

I just reviewed my Amazon purchases for waterproof wireless headsets. Since 2014 I have purchased 7 headsets for myself.

So, I think it is fair to say that the life expectancy of a bluetooth headset is about one year. To be fair, two of the headsets are somewhere in the bottom of the columbia and one is somewhere in the sea of cortez.

A key component to look for is Bluetooth 5.0

Assuming your phone supports it, it makes a huge difference. Even when I crash I rarely lose connectivity in the water. Also, battery life is not an issue. Pre bluetooth 5.0 batteries in headset would die before my session did.

My last purchase was https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SMFC4NP

Great sound quality, easy to use. Does not have a feature to skip over music tracks like some of my previous versions did.

McLovin · Since 11 Sep 2017 284 Posts Corbett Obsessed

Gonna be the splash of COLD WATER on this thread...

my .02 listening to music while kiting is like cooking during SEX, while both are very enjoyable they ought NOT be done at the same time for SO many reasons...

Mc