After testing more open earbuds than I care to admit, I can safely say that there is no other way I want to listen to music when I work out now. There are a couple of JLab earbuds that sit high up in our best running headphones recommendations, but I think the JLab Epic Open Sport are going to be my new go-to.
After testing the JLabs on a few of my early morning three-mile runs, I know they are buds I am going to be reaching for time and time again. I am willing to let my usual love of ANC go and immerse myself in.. well, the world. Here’s what I love about the JLab Epic Open Sport earbuds, and a few things I don’t like so much.
JLab Epic Open Sport: What I like
Secure fit
The JLab Epic Open Sport have a similar shape design to the JLab Go Air Sport and the JLab JBuds Sport ANC, which are both secure for working out. The Epic Open Sport earbuds flex around the shape of the ear and sit just outside the ear canal.
The hook that flexes around the ear can be pinched or stretched to fit the exact shape of your ear. Usually, with this style of open-earbuds, I find them slipping out of place, but with the added security of pinching the JLabs they did not move at all.
The hook is also covered with silicone, so it grips slightly to the ear. This completely eliminated any potential slipping and sliding, but also meant I was able to handle them with ease.
Touch sensitive or button controls
When I head out for a run, I always opt for a pair of earbuds or headphones that have button controls rather than touch-sensitive controls. This is because when I’m moving around a lot, sometimes the touch-sensitive controls don’t pick up on my commands. There are also times when touch controls are too sensitive, and even pushing my hair back behind my ears can set them off.
The buttons completely erase the possibility of error, as you have to click a button with intent. So the option to have button functions is a real win for me.
These settings can be changed by using the JLab app, where you can disable the touch controls and customize the functions of the buttons. The opposite is also true though, so if you are a die-hard touch control user, you can disable the button controls.
Waterproof and sweatproof
Earbuds being waterproof and sweatproof is absolutely essential if you are going to be using them for any sort of exercise. It’s not glamorous to think about our ears sweating, but it’s true. So finding earbuds that aren't going to be damaged by constant exposure to this is important.
Since the JLabs Epic Open Sport open-earbuds have a water resistance rating of IP55, they are also resistant to water splashes from all directions, making them perfect for going out in some light rain. Sometimes, if I look outside and it’s raining, I will use that as an excuse not to go on a run because I don’t want to ruin my headphones. But with these buds I don’t have that excuse.
JLab Epic Open Sport: What don’t I like
Sound quality is a mixed bag
For everything I love about these earbuds, I can’t recommend them for anyone who refuses to have anything but perfect sound quality. This is not to say that the audio is bad, but these buds are made to perform better with particular genres.
For example, they support pop music and anything with a catchy beat extremely well, and this really drove me on my runs. But where there was more depth to the music, the drivers in the earbuds fell flat and offered no support to the mids or bass.
I would still reach for these buds every time I run, but I have a playlist I use full of pop music that I listen to when I use them.
Only one color option
I tested the JLab Epic Open Sport in the black colorway, and I was disappointed when I realized that’s the only color available. The rest of JLab’s audio range comes in a variety of colors. The JLabs Go Pods ANC come in lilac and sage, and the JLabs JBuds Sport ANC 4 come in cobalt, pink, and teal.
This is obviously a very surface-level complaint and doesn’t affect the performance of the earbuds, but I love it when I can match my audio gear to my outfit — it adds an extra layer of motivation for working out.
You can find out more about the earbuds in my full JLab Epic Open Sport review.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
More from Tom’s Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
