Listening to music while you ride is a lot of fun. I’ve spent many days snowboarding by myself, enjoying tunes and smiling from ear to ear as the snow piles up. Wireless earbuds are a great way to experience all of this.
I’m a snowboarding instructor who has spent countless hours riding over the years. I’ve used several different wireless earbuds over the years, and I know what to look for in the best options out there.
The JayBird Vista is my pick for the best wireless earbuds for snowboarding. This option will stay firmly in your ear all day long, so you won’t have to worry about losing one. They are also comfortable and durable enough to handle harsh winter conditions.
I have a handful of other favorite wireless earbuds that I’ll show you here. All of these come highly recommended.
Time to press play and enjoy the snow.
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Who Should Get This
Every earbud in this guide works well on the slopes. As such, they’re great for snowboarders who want to listen to music as they ride. Earbuds are nice because they are small and are easy to wear underneath your beanie and/or helmet.
Due to their excellent audio quality and premium features, they work well for those who need to stay connected. If you’re someone who needs to make or take calls on the mountain, all of the earbuds listed here can help you do that.
Wireless earbuds are also great for any rider who is looking for convenience. You don’t have to worry about extra buttons or cords getting in the way when you ride. You just pop them in your ears, and you are ready to ride.
Top Wireless Earbuds for Snowboarding
Here are my top picks for the best wireless earbuds for snowboarding.
1. JayBird Vista
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Lightweight, secure fit, comfortable, good audio quality, fully waterproof, interchangeable ear gels
- Fit: In-ear
- Battery Life: 6 hours
- Cost: $$$
The JayBird Vista is my choice for the best overall wireless earbuds for snowboarding. This option will give you a great audio experience to listen to music or make calls on the mountain.
They feature an Earthproof design that provides you with exceptional durability to handle anything that comes your way as you ride. The buds are entirely waterproof and crushproof, so they should last for years, as long as you don’t lose them.
They also have six-hour battery life on a full charge, which gives you nearly a full day’s worth of time to use when you ride. The compact charging case gives you another ten hours of charge and also has a five-minute quick charge feature.
The Vista has a compact design with an in-ear fit. There are small rubber tabs that help keep the buds in place, and they will easily stay in your ear when you are bouncing around. You also get a few different interchangeable ear gels for a customized fit.
JBS1 true wireless Bluetooth technology enables you to have a secure connection to your phone when you are riding for limited interruptions and latency.
As with any high-quality wireless earbud, the Vista is on the expensive side.
==> You can also get it on Jaybird Sport or Walmart.
2. Apple AirPods
- Best for: iPhone
- Key features: Active noise cancellation, excellent iPhone compatibility, durable, good audio quality, comfortable
- Fit: In-ear
- Battery Life: 4.5 hours
- Cost: $$$
The Apple AirPods is a good choice for any rider who wants seamless function and integration with their iPhone. This is an official Apple product that gives you outstanding performance and reliable customer service as well.
AirPods are built to be water and sweat-resistant, so you can reliably use them in the cold weather conditions that you will experience on the mountain. They also have a super comfortable in-ear fit that will stay in place all day long.
Active noise cancellation gives you crisp and clear audio quality when the wind is howling or others are talking on the chairlift. This is especially useful if you need to take an important call when you are riding.
An H1 chip makes the earbuds very functional, and this helps them sync up with your iPhone quickly and effectively. You can expect seamless use with Siri, and this allows you to have a hands-free experience.
The AirPods do have a lower battery life of only 4.5 hours. But the charging case gives you an additional 24 with a quick charging feature.
==> You can also get it on Walmart or Verizon.
3. Powerbeats Pro
- Best for: Fit
- Key features: Good sound quality, secure fit, comfortable, water and sweat-resistant, long battery life
- Fit: Over-ear
- Battery Life: 9 hours
- Cost: $$$
If you want a wireless earbud that will stay in place on your ear as you snowboard, the Powerbeats Pro is the option to choose. These are built for sports and other activities where movement is nonstop.
They have an over-ear design that holds the buds in place no matter how hard you hit the slopes. You can bend and twist the loops to give you the perfect fit to stay in place.
The Powerbeats Pro also has excellent audio quality with a solid low-end response. Sometimes earbuds can sound a little tinny, but these will deliver plenty of bass so you can keep jamming when you ride.
9-hour battery life gives you enough juice to last an entire day. This is another great feature of this option, and you won’t need to worry about recharging the buds on the slopes.
They are also waterproof and sweatproof to hold up well under the demands of winter conditions.
Their over-ear fit can start to get uncomfortable if you wear a tight-fitting helmet or beanie.
==> You can also get it on Walmart or Verizon or Catch.
4. Bose Sport Earbuds
- Best for: Audio Quality
- Key features: Great audio quality, weather and sweat-resistant, comfortable, secure fit, simple touch controls
- Fit: In-ear
- Battery Life: 5 hours
- Cost: $$$
The Bose Sport Earbuds will give you the best audio quality of any option on this list. They have an exact and accurate sound, which is a feature Bose products are well-known for.
In addition to sounding amazing, they also have a beamforming microphone that helps your voice come through clearly even if you are outside in the wind. This is great for making phone calls on the slopes.
The Sport Earbuds are also very comfortable and have an in-ear fit that will reliably stay in place. You can choose from three different StayHear Max tips for a customized fit that will increase comfort and performance.
Simple touch controls allow you to adjust the volume on the go quickly, and reliable wireless tech provides you with a smooth connection to your device.
The battery life isn’t the greatest at only 5 hours, but a 15-minute quick charge feature will boost an additional two hours.
==> You can also get it on Verizon or Croma.
How to Choose The Best Earbuds for Snowboarding
Here are some important things to keep in mind when looking for a pair of wireless earbuds to use snowboarding.
Audio Quality
The first aspect to focus on when getting earbuds is how good they sound. You want a pair that comes through loud and clear.
However, just because your music rocks at your house doesn’t mean it will still come through on the mountain.
You need earbuds that deliver excellent audio quality no matter where you travel or how much wind you experience while zipping down a run.
Sturdiness
Durability is another crucial trait to focus on when getting snowboarding earbuds. That is because, while heavy over-the-ear headphones can stand up to the snow and wind, lighter models are more susceptible to the elements.
Do your best to find ones crafted for extreme sports. That means heavy-duty materials as well as rugged construction. Favor popular brands known for their quality as well.
Safety Features
Earbuds are an excellent snowboarding accessory, but they do come with certain safety risks. You never want to drown out surrounding noise, nor do you want to add unnecessary cords to your ensemble.
To fix that, do your best to get wireless earbuds that won’t fall out during a crash. Avoid full noise-canceling models as well. If that’s not possible, get earbuds that work to stay out of your way.
Useful Tips
Even if you take the proper precautions, snowboarding with headphones can be dangerous. You always want to be in tune with your surroundings, and you never want to zone out while listening to music.
Earbuds are a great accessory. However, there are many other items you can use to enhance your snowboarding experience. If you’re curious about such items or need an upgrade, see the options listed here.
- Best Snowboard Backpacks
- Best Snowboard Bags
- Best Sunglasses for Snowboarders
- Best Action Camera for Snowboarding
Also, if you’ve decided to put on an earbud while boarding, make sure to listen to some awesome music that inspires. Check out the best snowboarding songs.
My Verdict
My pick for the best wireless earbuds for snowboarding is the JayBird Vista. These will give you a secure fit that will stay in place all day long. They also have excellent audio quality for music and for taking calls.
When getting wireless snowboarding earbuds, you want something to deliver outstanding sound no matter how bad the weather gets. All of the options listed here will provide you with that while also being exceptionally comfortable for all-day use.
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