The Safety Item You NEED For Running (Spoiler: It’s Also Entertainment)

Disclaimer: I received the AfterShokz Trekz Air to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

When it comes to safety, I’m a little bit paranoid. I’m a pretty safe person with all the activities I do: running, climbing, hiking. When it comes to running, I abide by all the rules…running toward traffic on the side of the road, carrying my ID (Road ID), wearing reflection and lights when running after dark, etc, etc, etc. The only thing I am bad about is when I listen to music.

I have gone through phases with music on the run, but lately, I’ve needed it to get through even a short run. In addition to listening to music, I’ve been “playing” Zombies, Run! while running which requires having headphones on. I’m not a techy person, nor do I have a ton of money, so I use the earbuds that came with my phone. They’re normal earbuds and they are comfortable, however, they sit in my ears and block out all other sounds.

Enter the AfterShokz.

Execute: MIND BLOWN. (explosion noises)

Seriously. Now that I have these, I feel super techy and modern, but more important is how SAFE I feel and still be able to enjoy Zombies, Run! and my music.

About The Product
The Trekz Airs are the second wireless product from the AfterShokz family. First was the Trekz Titaniums, the first of its kind in bone conduction technology. The Trekz Airs are similar but lighter, built to fit more securely, and produce better sound. All the AfterShokz products use Bone Conduction Technology to transmit sound. This means they sit just outside of the ears, leaving your ears open to hear the environment around you. This provides safety while still listening to your entertainment on the run! It’s pretty awesome.

Photo from AfterShokz Website

Pros
-Lightweight (they really don’t add much bulk to your head)
-Leave ears open (so you can hear cars and people while you listen to music or other entertainment)
-Bluetooth connection (no cords hanging around for you to yank out accidentally on an arm swing.)
-Long battery life (they’ve lasted on half a dozen runs – depending on length of run)
-Repels dust, moisture, and sweat (sweaty person? No problem! I’ve even worn them when it starts raining).
-They come with a cute carrying case (and earplugs for when you DON’T want to hear anything else and a charging cable).
-They now come in colors (just for fun-sies. I have the midnight blue ones).

Cons
-They do hook around your ears which isn’t a problem until you’re wearing a hat and sunglasses. It just creates a lot of things all in one spot. To combat this, I put my hat and glasses on first then add the lightweight Trekz over all that. That seems to work!

Surprises
-They stay put! When I first got them I thought, “no way are those saying on when I run,” but I haven’t had a problem at all. They even stay on while I bend around while stretching.
-The sound is normal! I thought music would sound funny or “off” through the Trekz but all my favorite bands sound just the same!
-I really COULD hear everything around me! In fact, the first time I wore them, I was so used to the other headphones that I was jumping like I was in a horror movie at random sounds around me like lawnmowers and screaming children. They really are incredible.
-The Multifunction button: On the left ear, there’s a multifunction button that can pause/play your music, skip to the next song, answer calls and activate your phone’s voice control. At first, didn’t know this was a feature and was still fumbling with my phone when I needed to pause or play my music. When I figured out how to use this button, my mind was blown. Again.
-The biggest surprise is how safe I really do feel and how scary it is that I have been running with regular earbuds all this time. I run around my neighborhood a lot which includes a lot of streets without sidewalks. It’s really important to me to be able to hear traffic around me. This truly is a SAFETY product rather than an ENTERTAINMENT product and I think more runners should start incorporating these into their running accessories. A lot of people don’t know these exist.

Adaptations
-Races: It’s always been a faux pas to run races with headphones. Race directors, like myself, want you to hear the safety info, volunteers directing you on course, and of course cars if it’s a road race. I love that these will make racers more alert while attending events!
-Home: If you want to clean, listen to music and not disturb your housemate, or just need to hear when the phone rings, these are perfect. I work from home a lot at the same time as my boyfriend and I like to listen to music while working. So to not disturb my partner, I can wear these and still hear when the phone rings for my business or when Ben is asking me a business question (or just bugging me and teasing me about something…maybe I should go back to real headphones at home…)
-Kiddos: I don’t have children, but I can really see these being useful when home with small children. You can still enjoy music while they nap but be aware when they need something or wake up.
-Bikers: I am not a biker, but I know a lot of bikers like to enjoy music on the ride. It’s even more important for them to be aware of their surroundings.

Overall
The AfterShokz Trekz Air are definitely worth their price. They are a perfect way to enjoy music and still be safe and situationally aware. This goes for road runners and trail runners alike. Roadrunners need to hear cars, bikers and people and trail runners need to be able to animals, mountain bikers, and other people. I don’t typically take music with me on a trail run because being in nature is pure to me, but having the Trekz Air would be a way to enjoy some music while still being able to hear the birds and wind through trees as well as not disturbing others enjoying a peaceful walking in the woods.

Get your own: Visit bibrave.aftershokz.com and use the coupon code on the site to save $30. Plus, I think when you order this way you get a BibRave Truckers hat with your order!

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