Wearing headphones while you ride is a great way to enjoy listening to music or talking with your friends. Of course, you always need to stay aware of your surroundings, but your favorite jams on the hill always enhance the experience.
I’m a seasoned snowboarder who has been riding for decades. I like to listen to music when I’m snowboarding and wear headphones when I’m not teaching lessons. I’ve used several types over the years, and I know what to look for in a good option.
The Jaybird X4 is my top pick as the best headphones for snowboarding. These will give you good audio quality, a long-lasting battery for all-day use, and stay comfortably in your ears as your ride (or fall).
There is a wide range of headphones that you could use for snowboarding out there. In this post, I’ll show you all of my recommended favorites so you can find a solid option quickly.
Turn up the volume, and let’s get started.
Contents
Who Should Get This
As you might imagine, snowboarding headphones are best for boarders who want to listen to tunes while they ride. Listening to music while you ride is a great way to get in the zone and really enjoy your time on the mountain.
The following options are also great for boarders who need to stay connected. While not everyone needs to make or take calls while on the slopes, the ability to listen easily or talk is handy for those who need it.
Top Headphones for Snowboarding
Here are my top picks for the best headphones for snowboarding.
1. Jaybird X4
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Sweatproof, waterproof, sport fit, comfortable, good audio quality, long battery life, customizable EQ
- Style: Wireless/Connected/In-Ear
- Battery Life: 8 hours
- Cost: $$$
The Jaybird X4 is my top pick for the best overall headphones for snowboarding. These are a high-quality pair that will work well for just about any snowboarder, thanks to a functional fit and many other good features.
I like the design of the X4 for an active sport such as snowboarding. They are wireless and use Bluetooth to connect to your phone. But the headphones are connected, so if one pops out when you crash, it will still stay attached.
They also have an in-ear fit with a little tab that makes them very comfortable. You can wear these all day long without any discomfort or soreness, even with your beanie on. The tab also prevents them from coming out of your ear.
The headphones are also fully sweatproof and waterproof for reliable performance in the snow. This is a must for any set of snowboarding headphones, and the X4 can take a wet powder day without missing a beat.
They come with 8-hour battery life, so you won’t have to worry about running out of charge and can listen to tunes all day long. The audio quality is also excellent, and you can customize the EQ to your preferred listening levels.
The X4 is a bit expensive, and you’ll want to charge the headphones for a full two hours to get maximum battery life.
==> You can also get it on Walmart or AliExpress or TheSource.
2. Apple AirPods
- Best for: Wireless
- Key features: Comfortable, good sound, easy to use, true wireless, wireless charging case, H1 chip
- Style: In-Ear
- Battery Life: 5 hours
- Cost: $$$$
The Apple AirPods are one of the most popular headphones around, in general. They also make a great wireless option for snowboarding if you are looking for the convenience and comfort that this style has to offer.
A truly wireless design makes these a very lightweight and comfortable option. You can easily slip them into your ears and put a beanie on without any pressure. They will also work well with helmets due to their small profile.
If you have an iPhone, the compatibility with the AirPods is great. You can operate your music and phone using Siri and keep your hands warm and comfortable inside your gloves. This is a great convenience feature that I appreciate.
AirPods will give you up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. That should have you covered for most of the day, but if not, just 15 minutes inside of the included charging case will give you another 3 hours.
The headphones are powered by an Apple H1 chip that delivers excellent wireless performance. You won’t have to worry about lost signal or latency because of this. If you want superior tech, AirPods are a good way to go.
Since they are a true wireless style, there is a risk that you could lose a headphone if you take a terrible wipeout. They are also very expensive.
==> You can also get it on Walmart or Verizon Fios or B&H Photo Video.
3. Powerbeats Pro
- Best for: Over-Ear
- Key features: Sturdy design, waterproof, sweatproof, secure fit, adjustable ear hooks, H1 chip, fast fuel charge
- Style: Over-ear/Wireless
- Battery Life: 9 hours
- Cost: $$$$
The Powerbeats Pro is another one of my top options. These are the best over-ear style headphones around and work great for snowboarding because of this. They are also very comfortable and come with good audio quality.
Adjustable ear loops will allow you to dial in a precise and secure fit. They will sit firmly in place no matter how hard you ride and can easily withstand the impact from a significant fall and not come out. If you are a hard-charging rider, this is a great feature.
These also have a tremendous low-end response that I prefer out of a headphone. Some other options can sound tinny and unauthentic, but these will give you accurate audio that will keep you jamming.
The Pro has a 9-hour battery life on a single charge. That is pretty impressive and will give you all-day performance without the need to recharge. If you didn’t start the day on a full charge, the included charge case lets you get 1.5 hours of listening on a 5-hour charge.
These are another fairly expensive option, and some users have complained about durability after heavy use – be sure to get AppleCare coverage as a preventative measure.
==> You can also get it on Walmart or Verizon or Catch.
4. Outdoor Tech Chips 2.0
- Best for: Helmet
- Key features: Long battery life, helmet-compatible, good audio quality, easy to use, walkie talkie function, two-button controls
- Style: In-helmet pucks
- Battery Life: 10 hours
- Cost: $$$
If you are looking for a headphone option that will fit inside your helmet’s ear pads, the Outdoor Tech Chips 2.0 are some of the best in this style.
These will slide right into any compatible helmet to provide you with the ability to listen to music or talk with your friends. Most of the best helmet options come with ear slots for this type of system, so you shouldn’t have to worry about compatibility.
The Tech Chips 2.0 has 40mm audio drivers that will give you a high audio quality that you can hear clearly when you are out riding. This also comes in handy if you want to use the walkie-talkie function.
Ten hours of battery life on a single charge gives you reliable performance and all-day use. In addition, two-button controls make it easy to operate with gloves on.
You will need to have a compatible helmet to use these, and the sound can get a bit muffled if you wear a beanie with your helmet.
==> You can also get it on Christy Sports or Buckman’s.
5. Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2
- Best for: Budget Pick
- Key features: Affordable, noise isolating fit, microphone, call and track control, comfortable
- Style: In-ear, wired
- Battery Life: N/A wired
- Cost: $
The Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2 is my top budget pick. These will work well for any snowboarder who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money but still wants to listen to music and make calls while they ride.
These are classic ear-bud-style headphones with a wired, in-ear design. That’s a bit old-school, but it gives you the advantage of not needing to worry about battery life while also keeping the cost down.
They have a comfortable design that will stay in your ears and not cause a lot of discomfort. You can adjust the size of the earbud cup if you need to for a customized fit. This will also help minimize outside noise and boost audio quality.
The headphones also come with a microphone so you can make and take calls. In addition, you can control your music or phone through a control button attached right to the cord.
These don’t have the most secure fit and might be prone to slipping out of your ears. The cord can also wear out after heavy use in the winter.
==> You can also get it on Walmart.
6. Sennheiser CX Sport
- Best for: Multi-Use
- Key features: Multi-sport use, versatile, comfortable, good connectivity, fin style ear adapters
- Style: Wireless, in-ear, connected
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Cost: $$$
The Sennheiser CS Sport is a good option for any rider who wants headphones that can be worn in other sports. These will function great while you are snowboarding and work in the gym or on the courts in the warmer months.
They are sweat and splash resistant to give you reliable performance whether you are out in the snow or getting a good workout in some other way.
6-hour battery life gives you the ability to listen to music all day long without recharging, and they also have a 10-minute quick charge feature if you do run out of juice.
Fin-style ear adapters in multiple styles give you a customized fit that will reliably stay in your ears, no matter what activity you are getting into.
These don’t have the most outstanding audio quality on the list. It’s decent, just not phenomenal.
==> You can also get it on Newegg.
7. Bose SoundSport
- Best for: Audio Quality
- Key features: Great audio quality, Bose active EQ, wireless connectivity, stay and hear tips, sweat and weather-resistant
- Style: Wireless, in-ear, connected
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Cost: $$
If you demand high audio quality, the Bose SoundSport headphones are the way to go. These will give you accurate and impressive sound when you are in the snow.
Bose is well known for having a reputation for quality sound in their products, and active EQ technology built into these headphones makes that possible.
They also come with excellent Bluetooth connectivity to transfer audio signals effectively, even though they are wireless.
A sweat and weather-resistant design gives you lasting performance when the weather gets bad, or your body temperatures heat up.
These don’t have the longest battery life, but 6-hours is pretty decent. Unfortunately, they don’t have a quick-charge function.
8. JBL Tune 225TWS
- Best for: Earbuds
- Key features: Comfortable, good audio quality, affordable, charging case included
- Style: In-ear, wireless buds
- Battery Life: 5 hours
- Cost: $$
The JBL Tune 225TWS is a quality earbud-style option. These have a similar design to AirPods, they just come in at a much more affordable price.
A true wireless design gives you superb comfort and ease of use. These have a low profile that will fit nicely inside of your ear for a secure fit.
The headphones also have JBL pure bass sound, which delivers enhanced response on the low end for high-quality audio output. As a result, they sound good, no matter what type of music you are listening to.
They also have good wireless and Bluetooth connections that won’t skip or experience much latency.
Five hours of battery time on a single charge is a little low, but the charging case boosts that to 25 hours. They also can fall out of your ears after a hard fall and get lost in the snow.
==> You can also get it on JBL or QVC or Kohl’s.
How to Choose The Best Headphones for Snowboarding
Here are some things to keep in mind when looking into headphones for snowboarding.
Battery Life
Always pay attention to how long you spend on the mountain before getting your headphones. While many models last a long time, even the best ones can run out with heavy usage. That goes double in cold weather. Not everyone is going to need an all-day charge.
However, if you’re someone who spends more than a few hours on the slopes, you should get a device that won’t die on you prematurely. Six hours is a good minimum battery life to look for.
Design
Every snowboarding headphone is different. Some are wireless, some rely on Bluetooth compatibility, and some utilize audio controls. In addition, some are earbuds, while others have an over-the-ear design.
When picking out your pair, be sure to look for one that fits your style and sits well on your head. Whatever you find the most comfortable is generally the pair that you want to pick.
Audio Quality
Above everything else, you want your headphones to sound good. So prioritize models with exceptional audio quality and try only to use headphones that you’ll be able to hear while buzzing around the slopes.
FAQs
Here are some answers to a few quick questions about headphones for snowboarding.
Can you wear headphones while snowboarding?
You sure can. While you always want to be safe and well aware of your surroundings, listening to music while you ride can be a great experience. I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners, and you should turn your music off when you are about to get on the chairlift.
Do AirPods fall out when snowboarding?
They can. Using a true wireless option, such as AirPods, when you ride is always slightly risky because they could fall out if you get in a nasty fall. I’ve ridden with AirPods and not had this happen, but I know people who have lost them.
How do you listen to music while snowboarding?
It’s as simple as pushing play and pointing downhill. I like to make a playlist before the day starts, so I don’t have to mess around with changing songs and choosing different things. And I would suggest turning the music off when you get on and off of the chairlift.
Useful Tips
As fun as listening to music on the slopes can be, it does come with its share of risks. You need to be aware of those potential dangers to ensure nothing bad happens to you or other riders.
Always think about these safety tips before putting your headphones on because you need to know these responsibility codes, which are in law in many states.
The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) believes education, helmet use, respect, and common sense are critical when cruising down the mountain.
Luckily, there are ways to use non-helmet compatible options with helmets. Check out how to do that from this video.
Final Verdict
My top pick for the best headphones for snowboarding is the Jaybird X4. I think these are excellent all-around headphones because they will stay in your ears while you ride, have good sound quality, and long battery life.
Every option you will find here can work while you are riding. If you have any preferences, just make sure to read the descriptions to get the one that works best for your needs on the mountain. After that, you’ll be ready to rock.
About Lorraine