Review -- Sennheiser Headphones -- Great for Boy Scouts

As I have previously mentioned, I buy a lot of running gear. Shoes, socks, shirts, iPods, watches and headphones.  One thing I have not found is the perfect set of headphones. I have purchased maybe 10 pair of them, so much so that my 8 year old daughter commented "Daddy you always have the cooooolest headphones!"  I also have several opinions. First and foremost, the "bud" type headphones generally do not stay in my ear when I run. That is the kind of headphones that comes with an iPod, and they just don't work for me. Second, my headphones have to be able to survive wetness. I sweat alot when I run, and my headphones get wet. Real wet. Sound quality is really not that important...I am running, not listening to a jazz. But, that being said, better sound is better. I honestly didn't notice sound quality differences in headphones until I had two pair of headphones that I liked and alternated. One pair was a cheap ($12) Koss pair, and the other was a pair of Sennheiser. The sound difference was both undeniable and incredible (the Sennheiser was maybe 50 times better). So my criteria are: fit and stay put-ness; durability; sound; and value.

The quest for the perfect headphone seems to endlessly continue, but my current favorites are the Sennheiser MX 85 Sport. Sennheiser is a generally upscale headphone manufacturer that also manufactures a sport line of headphones. They generally retail for around $50. They all sound noticeably better that bud type headphones, and are more expensive. Sennheiser's sport models come with distinctive colored cords: neon green and bright orange. They also have several headphone types: over the ear, ear plugs, around the neck (which I have not tried), and buds that "twist in place." My current favorites are the SX 85, orange cord, twist in place. Here is a picture:

The twist in place system really works. The headphones don't move around and stay put. And they are quite comfortable. They also have the best sound of the headphones I have tried and can notice. I sometimes run to military running cadences (Run to Navy Seals, if anyone listens) where an F16 flies over the recruits as they are singing. If you have ever experienced a flyover at a sporting event, you know this is an ear splitting, booming noise. The sound moves from left to right, and it never ceases to scare me, make me duck and I can feel it. The recruits are chanting "I wanna be a Navy Seal.." and then CRASHHHH BOOOOOM -- this massive sonic boom comes crashing through, in stereo, from left to right. It is pretty cool. Again, this is not an acoustic review of head phones, just what I perceive while running. The Sennheisers make me feel it.

Other Senneheiser thoughts. First, the orange cord version is a huge improvement over the green cord. The green cord came precoiled and never uncoiled -- it was like a big green slinky. A massive inconvenience. The orange cord is better.

The cord will tangle. Period. Dig out your Boy Scout manual because you will become a knot expert. There is nothing you can do about it. Nothing.  If you set them down, massive tangle; put them in a gym bag, massive tangle; speak badly about them, massive tangle; look at them, massive tangle.  But, once untangled, they stay in your ear and sound good. Durability is OK. I suppose I should wash them, dry them, etc. but they are headphones, and I don't want high maintenance there.

Other headphones I like:  V Moda Bass Freq Earbuds; Philips Ear Buds (Bass)

Sock Review

I buy lots of running stuff and gear. I have various shoes, shirts, hats and shorts. And I have seen lots of reviews of those things. But one thing I constantly buy (either because I need new ones or have forgotten them when packing my gym bag) is running socks. I must have 20 pair of running socks, with about 10 different makes and models. I have size 12 feet, so I am right at the edge of the sizing for "Large" socks. When I run, I wear running socks, and generally kind of expensive ones. I have tried others, and had some success, and some blisters too. Maybe the socks' fault, maybe the shoes, maybe me; but I buy running socks to minimize my chances.

On to my thoughts. All socks are left/right specific; the price listed is the price I paid (or close to it); and the pictures are what I found on the web, not pictures of my used socks (thankfully).

Gold Medal Selections

Asics Gel Kayano ($15)

The gold standard, in my opinion. But they are pricey and feel self indulgent and I feel a bit pretentious wearing them. They look and feel like socks a serious runner would wear, not ones worn by someone putting in 8 minute miles on a treadmill at the gym. And size Large fits a little small and snug for me. But they still feel great. A little padding in heel and toe, which is just right. Can be slightly hard to find. I recently found the socks in an XL size, which fits me very well. If I had to buy one pair for a marathon, this is it. (Rejected Asics socks include: Gel Nimbus and other cheaper 3 pair for $15. Nothing really wrong with them, but if I am running in Asics socks, I want these.) The Porsche of socks.


Under Armour Draft ($12)

I recently saw these in a store after I developed a massive set of blisters on my heels. They have a fair amount of heel padding, greater than my Nike socks, and feel more substantial. I liked them, and they fit great. Better than the Nike (IMO), but can be very hard to find (I have only seen them at one store.) Slightly cheaper than Asics; maybe a bit premature, but let's call them the BMW of socks.

Nike Elite Running ($12)

The Cadillac of running socks: high end, ubiquitous, and a good product. Nothing fancy, but a good sock all the way around. I probably have more pair of these than any others because it seems like every sports store in America that sells Nike shoes also sells these socks. Thus, if you hit an average Sports Authority, Modell's etc., this is likely your best choice. They wear OK, not exceptionally well, and can get a little thin after various washings. But still a very good running sock. Sometimes the "no show" model can slip a little and ride down into my shoe. I suppose it is because they are slightly short for my size 12 feet.


Thor Lo Experia Running ($15)


I generally don't like Thorlo socks. I always imagined that they are for burly hikers hiking mountains in the wilderness with backpacks on who need padding in their hiking boots. And they seem so big inside the shoe. Nonetheless, after the blister adventure several months ago, I saw these in the store and bought them. They are not your father's Thorlo's. They have a cushion heel and toe, but not much cushion elsewhere; thus they are much thinner and closer to the other running socks. And that cushion felt so nice on my heel blisters that I didn't know they were there. Would I buy again? Maybe, and they were perfect for what I needed. If you like padded socks, these are for you. I have only seen this model in one store, but it was a Champs, so might be available nationwide.

Total, Crazy Wild Card

X Socks Performance ($26) (But now on sale for $13 at Paragon Sports)



A $26 pair of socks? What could possibly justify a $26 pair of socks? I first saw this company at the NY Marathon Runners Expo, and nearly bought this $220 engineered running shirt/jersey. But it was $220, and I came to my senses. But I came across the socks at Paragon and couldn't help myself.

First, X socks are made in Italy and worn by the German Olympic team in 2002, so they have to be good, right? Claims from the packaging -- which was the most elaborate I have ever seen and had several typos in it:

"The X Socks Run Performance Sock is designed with distance runners in mind, these socks offer the highest level of protection found in X-Socks' running line. From the manufacturer:

* AirConditioning Channels, AirFlow ankle pads, AirCool stripes, and Traverse AirFlow Channels all work in conjunction to keep your feet optimally cooled and bathed in fresh air to prevent blisters and reduce the onset of fatigue.
* Anti-microbial Skin NODOR fibers retard the growth of unwanted bacteria without destroying the desirable natural bacterial environment of healthy skin."

My thoughts are that the socks fit great. They also came in various sizes and tend to run large, which is good for me. Truthfully, I haven't run in them that much because I want to save them for special occasions. My thoughts are that the socks are a little hot because they have more fabric than the others. This is a review I read after I bought them and pretty much what I think. (It also has a bonus review of the $200 tshirt) But $26 for socks? No way. $13...maybe.

For those of you looking to spend more, there is a $35 model (now also on sale), whose footbed is made of 99.9 percent silver threads to decrease bacterial growth and prevent foot stink.

Emergency Gym Socks

Shortly after my two left feet shoe issue, I went to the gym only to realize I had forgotten my socks. ( They had actually fallen out of my bag on the way to the gym.) Anyway, I had to buy the socks Equinox sells for just this occasion. They were these $15 Falke running socks, which I had never seen before:

My thoughts: they were a little thin, and as I was running I could just imagine the blisters developing all over my feet. But they didn't. I don't think I will really use these socks that much because they just feel too thin and it kind of freaks me out. They feel different from the others. But if you want a micro thin sock, maybe this is it. I also have no idea if they are sold in retail stores, but I am sure you can order them online.

I also had a pair of Brooks running socks I really liked, but I lost the "right" one after the first washing. Thus, right has no mate. And they are kind of hard to find. But the "ankle" model fit nicely and did not ride down into the shoe.

In balance, all of these will serve you well during a run. Do they make you faster? Probably not. But they will help your feet avoid blisters. My only advice is to wear running socks and not normal cotton workout socks; that will make a huge difference in the way your shoes fit, the way your feet feel and in your running.