First Look: Decibullz Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Decibullz Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
Price: $90-$120
The Decibullz are perhaps the most secure and customizable earbuds available—you literally mold them to your unique ear shape. The ear plugs, which are the plastic pieces that surround the actual speakers, come out of the box in a generic ear shape, and you simply follow the instructions—immerse them in hot water to soften the material, and then insert them into the ear to form the mold. Once cooled, the molds retain their shapes, though you can easily reheat and shape them again if necessary. The earbuds also come with three different sizes of silicone ear-tips, which are the piece that rests snugly in the innermost part of the ear.
This feature, which is what makes Decibullz stand out compared to other headphones, allows for an individualized fit. A typical problem that is encountered with standard earbuds is that each person’s ear has different lumps, bumps and even inner-ear piercings—all of which can become irritated or sore after an hour of headphone use. Not the case with Decibullz. This tester ran for five hours over technical terrain, and did not once feel ear pain or the urge to push the earbuds back in or readjust them in any way. The molds are also excellent at canceling out noise—this can be good or bad depending on preference, but it can be a nice bonus when running along a noisy road on the way to a trailhead.
These earbuds are bluetooth-operated, but the two earpieces are connected by a single wire, (which is helpful for keeping track of the earbuds in a running pack) that also contains a charging piece (which is compatible with most chargers) and pause/play, skip and volume buttons. The initial setup was fairly intuitive, just like any other bluetooth device. The bluetooth-connected device must be within a meter of the headphones. The charge lasts roughly 3-5 hours, so if you are running any 100-milers, you may need to settle for the good views after the battery dies.
Overall, the sound quality is excellent, the fit is right and they are simple and easy to set up and use.
—Jacky Thompson is an avid mountain and desert trail runner. When she isn’t rock climbing, running, foraging or frolicking outside, she can be found practicing yoga and playing music.