Running headphones for audiobooks/podcasts - with small ears!

[GravityFalls]

Ok, I like to run but I will admit the main thing that always stops me going more often is that I have a perennial headphone issue I have never solved. I have very small ears and every type of earphone just falls out. I can’t imagine ever using AirPods as apple earbuds are so ridiculously a different shape to my ears! The only type that has ever worked at all are Sennheiser in-ear ones with rubber seals. I have to use the smallest size and they get gunked up with earwax after a while and stop working. They’re about £25 a pair so not cheap to keep replacing. I’ve tried other in-ear ones with rubber tops but they’re not great. Ones that hook over aren’t good either as my actual ear is so small they don’t fit snugly and eventually the ear bit pulls out.

I’ve heard the bone conduction ones are good but I’m worried they’ll be too big (my head is obviously also on the small side) and reviews says they’re not good for speech - I primarily listen to podcasts and audiobooks even when running so that’s important to me.

I’ve just come back from another irritating run where I have to spend almost the whole thing feeling my earphones sliding out, stopping to put them back in, fiddling with them while running, and if I could just find a decent solution I’d be very happy!

Do they need to be in ear? I see plenty of runners with the other sort of headphones, whatever you call them.

I’ve got a headband with headphones inside - looks a bit stupid but works fine.

I use a Bluetooth headband. It has big flat, soft disk speakers. A bit spongy. And you can move them about a bit to put them in the best place.

In the height of summer it might be a bit hot though.

The 'other sort' are bone conducting ones which do not sit inside your eat at all.

They're also the safest, as you can still hear what is going on around you.

Leading brand is Aftershokz - I wouldn't be without mine!

Aftershokz are great. You get mini ones for small heads.

I have Aftershokz bone conducting headphones as I have problems keeping headphones in. I don't think having a small head would be a problem

I have tiny ears and sennheisers used to be fine for my ears too.

Old style apple headphones would constantly fall out but I have the AirPods Pro (which are bloody amazing btw) now and they have three different sized fittings and they very comfortably and firmly stay in my ears. Better that the sennheisers.

When the world reopens you should be able to try them on in an Apple store. If not I think they still do open box returns if you wanted to try.

I think the new AirPods (not pro) are the same fit i believe. But don't have the amazing noise cancelling. I could never hear anything through the normal AirPods with any background noise and had to have the volume up too loud which as I have tinnitus I wasn't comfortable with.

Or explore/try over the ear headphones. Lots of people run with them.

I love my aftershokz trekz titanium. They don’t slip about and sit outside the ear so don’t hurt my ears. Also no wires as they’re Bluetooth which is also fab.

I use over ear ones - with a hook that goes round the top of your ear. Keeps them in the right place and they're comfy.

Are the Aftershokz any good with podcasts/audiobooks though? I very rarely listen to music and some reviews say it was hard to hear speech over the outside noise.

I’m not sure about the headband ones as when I run with a headband to hold my hair back it just slides off my hair and pings off!

Aftershokz are great. Have a look on the website - some are better for smaller heads.

It's quiet where I walk so I can't comment on the noise. But fine for me.

And GREAT for working from home. You can mute and go to the loo/make coffee during a meeting and nobody can tell.

I only listen to books and podcasts while running with aftershokz and they are brilliant

I have over ear things, they go round the back of your head. I can listen to audiobooks really easily on them anywhere but in high traffic areas. When running I have music and Zombie Run and never have any issues with hearing the story. Pretty cheap from Amazon.

The small size aftershocks fit me fine, I have a small head and short hair. I listen to Radio 4 whilst "running", no problems. I had the same problems with all the earbuds/hook type ones falling out.

I got some Anker spirit dot earphones recently for running. Pleased with them, the reviews specifically mentioned smaller fit and they came with a variety of different fittings. I wore them with a headband initially, but ditched that once I was sure they weren't going anywhere.

I have the same problem @GravityFalls, v small ear “holes”, I am currently using aftershocks and I love them but I listen to music not podcasts. I do have an issue that the band is too big for my head but they sort of balance accross the back of my head ok, or I put them more over the top of my head.
I have had good success with small on the ear, more old style headphones too, one brand was sold on Amazon as Marathon.

I have the same problem, OP. I now wear the over-ear headphones and they work fine - I forget I've got them on when running. Tried endless earphones, hooks, none of them came anywhere close to working for me.

Earbuds don’t work for me either, but I love my Aftershockz. I run listening to speech radio/podcasts fine. There’s a kids size too if you are worried about the size of your head.

Thanks all, I’m going to look at the Aftershokz Titanium Mini I think - sounds like they’re what I’m searching for!

Update in case anyone searches this in future and wants to know - I did buy them and used them today for the first time, and they’re great!

The mini are the right size for me and the sound was brilliant, much better than my ill-fitting in-ear old headphones. I got a ex-demo pair from EBay so they were cheaper too!

I adore my aftershocks bone conduction thingies!

The aftershokz titanium mini are what I have. I also have a small head. They work well for me.

I love my titanium minis.
I had a regular size pair (DH bought them and didn't realise that there was a mini) but they got a bit stressed in the winter being manipulated around hats/ buffs/ hoods and they got a crack and lost the tension after a couple of years. They still function though. So I bought the minis and they have been even better to use over the winter.

I feel so flipping liberated in them! It’s great being able to hear traffic (I run down country roads where the paths are full of dog walkers who never move, so all the runner go on the the road - there’s not a lot of traffic but it’s good to be able to move in good time when a car comes) and not having any wires is just amazing. I know I’m behind the times on this but it’s so great!