Last Updated on March 9, 2022 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS
I haven’t mentioned CrossFit over here in a while because I’m mad at it.
OK…technically I’m not really mad AT CrossFit…I’m mad at my gym who took away access to the CrossFit box that Geoff and I were having so much fun training in. It’s a long story, but the point is, it seems I’ve totally neglected mentioning any of our cross training as of late, or the neat products that have come my way from the Reebok CrossFit line. Though come to think of it, I have had a broken hand for the last month, which has prevented me from doing anything other than run on the treadmill. So perhaps it isn’t all sub conscious spite.
Regardless, I owe Reebok a little bit of love around here, and coincidentally, the product I’m about to review has actually been a savior in my recent, tedious “broken hand training” sessions.
Treadmill running can be a great workout, but it can also be painfully boring. I’m not a fan of running with music/headphones outdoors, but when it comes to indoor training, sometimes they provide a very welcoming distraction from the “human hamster wheel” feeling. I honestly always assumed that headphones were all the same. I mean sure, some fit differently, come in different shapes, colors, etc. But when it comes to sound quality, I thought they were all comparable. This month, I’ve learned how incredibly wrong I was. My friends at Reebok and Bose were awesome enough to send me the new Bose SIE2i Sport Headphones
I don’t really know HOW to review headphones, because I suppose sound is somewhat subjective. But here’s what I’ve got:
1) The sound is AMAZING. Incredibly clear, I could hear background sounds/beats in songs that I had never heard before…not in the car, not on the radio, and never in other headphones. It was a whole new listening experience…so much so that I genuinely wouldn’t want to wear any other headphones again.
2) There is an inline button/remote on the cord that fast forwards, rewinds, pauses, and adjusts the volume. It is SO much easier to use than fumbling around for the actual ipod buttons when you are booking along at sub 7:00/mile intervals on the treadmill. No one wants to fall off the treadmill for the sake of skipping a song. And for those of you with iphone smartphone capabilities (I sadly have reverted back to the 20th century myself ), the remote has call functions and a microphone, so you can answer (or ignore) calls during your workout.
3) Ear buds almost never ever stay in my ears. The design of these “Stay Hear” buds fit not only in the inner ear canal but in the “bowl” of the ear. The Bose SIE2i Sport Headphones come with 3 sets of the buds, small, medium, and large, for a more customized fit. These buds stay PUT no matter how fast I’m running, burpeeing, or box jumping. You can certainly tell they were made for fitness, and not just the average music connoisseur.
4) As mentioned above, I lack a cool kid smart phone, so the Reebok armband was of no use to me. However, it is a really kick butt color (neon – ultra-beast-green…my name for it , not theirs). But it is a breathable, stretchy armband, designed by Reebok that holds music devices in place during workouts and stores the headphones afterwards, with a touch-sensitive plastic window for easy usability, and a separate pocket for your keys. There is also a clothing clip as well as an extension included for the wires to help keep everything in place.
5) The whole shebang is apparently sweat and weather resistant. Sweaty treadmill lovers all around cry out in joy.
The Bose SIE2i Sport Headphones are pricey- they retail for about $149.98. BEFORE I tried them, I would have scoffed at paying that much money for headphones. Now that I have experienced them, I would absolutely pay that amount for the killer sound and great fit these headphones provide, especially if you really rely on music to help you through your workouts. They are indeed Run Faster Mommy long treadmill miles approved.
Question of the day: Do you rely on music to help you get through your workouts? What is your favorite go-to song when the workout gets tough?
**I received these items for review purposes as part of a campaign with Reebok and FitFluential LLC. All opinions are my own
Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UESCA certified Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA certified Running Coach, co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of this site, Relentless Forward Commotion. She is a mom of two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over a decade. Heather has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009.
Ali
I’m completely reliant on music when I run. I absolutely love my Bose ie2’s, but I’m so afraid of damaging them with the sweat. I’m going to have to check out the sie2’s. Thanks for sharing!
Run with Jess
I find the more I run, the less I use music. Occasionally, I’ll pull out the headphones when I’m having a hard time getting motivated… or am forced to the treadmill. I love my OneGood earbud from Far End Gear.
Kovas Palubinskas
I have never found a pair of earbuds that would stay in my ears — will have to check these out!
Dara Bentley
I MUST have music. It’s a cold day in hell when I run without them. It’s the only chance I have to listen to Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Adam Levine, etc. without getting ragged on by my better half. I’ve been looking to get a new set of headphones. The price on these is definitely out of my league though.
Favorite song to get me through a workout has to be Wild Ones by Flo Rida. Not sure why but it always gets me through!
Wendy
I’ve been thinking about new earphones.. and I normally woudl NEVER pay that much for a pair. However, I do love that they come with the armband. I use earphone when I am working at the gym.
Michelle Dragoo
those look really cool! I hve to wear the kind that wrap around my ear or they fall out!!!
Ashley @ Running Bun
Thanks for this review! I love the style of the headphones that twist into your ear. I used YurBuds for while for the comfort but I really missed the function where you can change the song, volume etc on the cord! I will definitely give these a try!
Jordy
I’ve gone to not using music at all. I think it’s nice to have music to push you along, but it’s been nice to focus on my breathing and control my pace on my own for a change. I’ve tried everything from yurbuds to the adidas headphones, and I’ve never been able to keep something in my ears. However, these Bose headphones seem pretty legit, and I don’t really think that price should be a deterrent for something like this that you’ll likely use on a regular basis.