First-Gen Apple AirPods Are the Best Wireless Headphones for Hiking
By: Jim Burch
Tags: Gear, Hiking, iPhone, Technology, Apple

This review starts with a disclaimer: the best headphones for hiking are probably not wireless. The price difference between wireless headphones and the free set that came with your smartphone isn’t always worth it for the hiker who is prone to breaking or losing expensive tech.

But if going cordless is a risk you’re willing to take, the first-generation (specifically) Apple AirPods are the absolute best for the trail.

Sound Pass Through

Wireless headphones, especially ones designed for working out or active lifestyles, will boast creating the perfect seal in your ear to block out all ambient noise.

You don’t want that.

You need all five senses during a hike, especially out in the wilderness. There’s no way you can hear the warning rattle from a Western Diamondback or mountain biker approaching when there’s noise-cancelling technology in your ear. AirPods don’t create a seal and do let in outside noise, and that’s exactly what you need.

Pro tip: I listen to podcasts at a low volume because music drowns out ambient noise, even with the AirPods.

Too Ubiquitous to Look Silly

When Apple first launched AirPods in late 2016, it made sure that every picture you saw showed someone wearing them from a profile view. There’s a reason for that, as CNET’s Scott Stein showed in this picture that went viral:

Photo by James Martin/CNET

Pretty silly.

That looked ridiculous in 2016 and maybe it still looks ridiculous now, but AirPods are so common in 2019 that we don’t even notice. Take a look around at the gym, on public transportation, or on the trail — AirPods are now so recognizable that they completely disappear as a fashion statement.

Bad At Camouflage

You will eventually drop something valuable during a hike — it happens. And when it does, you better hope it has a stark contrast against the desert or forest floor.

Most AirPod competitors come in black, which isn’t exactly camouflage, but I find the bright white of Apple accessories easier to find on the ground (as illustrated above).

Pairs Perfectly With Apple Watch

Photo by Luke Chesser on Unsplash

I always hike with my phone, but trail runners will love the freedom of hitting the dirt with nothing more than an Apple Watch and AirPods. I’ve done a few runs with only a podcast synced to my watch and it is truly freeing.

Cheaper First-Gen Price

Now that Apple has launched its second-generation AirPods, and a third well on the way, you can grab a first-gen pair for less than $130 new and even less than that used.

This makes it easier to cope with your loss if one does decide to take a tumble down the side of the Grand Canyon.

Charging Case Fits in Hip Pocket

This isn’t exclusive to AirPods but it does make me feel better about every hip pocket that is too small for today’s smartphones (which is all of them).

Keeping the charging case in my Osprey’s hip pocket makes it easy to access and keeps my Clif Bar company.

Conclusion: There’s One Big “But”

There’s a catch to AirPods, and it’s a big one — you either have the ears for them or you don’t. Some people will put in a pair of AirPods and they’ll fall right out. There are some third party accessories to improve the fit but there’s only so much you can do.

Luckily there’s an inexpensive way to figure this out: if the wired EarPods that come with your iPhone don’t fit, then AirPods won’t fit. It’s that simple.

Do hike with the AirPods, prefer a different brand of wireless headphones, or blaze the trail with something different entirely? Hit follow and let me know in the comments below.

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