Are Sennheiser HD58 Headphones Sweat Proof?
It’s easy to assume that most people only workout wearing in-earphones or earbuds.
Big headphones like the Sennheiser HD58 are...well...they’re big, aren’t they?
And big can mean sweaty, heavy, expensive and uncomfortable.
It seems almost counterintuitive then to exercise in them and especially when Sennheiser HD58 headphones aren’t sweat-proof.
But stick with us on this one.
Earphones are great.
They’re portable, relatively inexpensive and they’ve made up a lot of ground on sound clarity and quality. But they can also be uncomfortable and ill-fitting. Their thin wires are vulnerable to breaking. They’re ridiculously easy to misplace and one speaker always seems to die way before the other.
Lots of people workout in on and over-ear headphones because they’re more comfortable and there’s a range of features to suit different needs - open-back, closed-back, noise-cancelling...etc
The problem with working out in Sennheiser HD58s and other big headphones is that sweat is the enemy. It's corrosive and it can get inside the headphone cushions making the covers crack and peel and smell very unpleasant.
Some on-ear headphones are sweat-proof. The Rock’s collaboration with Under Armor and JBL is one of the best and most recent examples.
Sweat-proof headphones solve the problem of moisture-damage but usually at the cost of something else. Often its audio quality, but it’s almost always noise-isolation, comfort and design, too.
It means that a lot of people are wearing gym-headphones rather than regular headphones.
Which makes sense but it’s a shame.
You should be able to wear the headphones you want in the gym - the ones you listen to for pleasure, for example.
If you pick gym headphones, then you’re choosing from a much smaller stock.
What if we told you that you could pick almost any headphone and THEN easily make it gym-proof.
You could focus on sound quality, noise-cancellation, noise-isolation, design, comfort, price and battery power rather than solely on an ability to protect against sweat.
We’re using the HD58 as an example.
The Sennheiser HD58 isn’t sweat-proof.
Its velour earpads would be a nightmare to wear during a workout. Sweat would leave them smelling terrible and make them uncomfortable to wear.
Add sweat-proof covers to the HD58, however, and ta-dah!
They’re gym proof.
EarHugz were designed by gym-goers for gym-goers. They’re made with Ultra-Stretch Max-Dri+ machine washable fabric. It means that they’re moisture-wicking so sweat stays on the surface of the material where it’s evaporated away from the cushion before it can cause any lasting damage.
Is the Sennheiser HD58 a Good Gym Headphone?
The Sennheiser HD58 has advanced sound technology. Good if all-round audio quality is important during your workout.
These are open-backed headphones so that may be a deal-breaker for some people. Open-backs allow sound to pass through so it creates a more authentic sound experience but it will mean that everyone around you will know what you’re listening to. Equally, it gives you a better sense of what’s going on around you which is vital if you’re exercising outside or in places where you need to keep your wits about you.
These are very comfortable headphones so if you’re planning on using them outside the gym, you’ll find the velour cushions and headbands fine for extended use.
These are a good-looking pair of headphones, too, although if you disagree then you can also buy them in black. They certainly stand out from a market saturated with blacks and steel greys.
If you were worried that headphone covers might detract from the HD58’s design, then don’t worry. All EarHugz are fully-reversible to black.
These are wired headphones which won’t be ideal for everyone. The cable is pretty long, too, but it is detachable.
They’re lightweight so won’t sit heavily on your head without overly pinching against the side of the face and head.
There’s no storage bag (largely because these aren’t designed to be worn outside) which could be a problem when you’re transporting them to the gym.
Pros:
- Can be worn in the gym when paired with EarHugz
- Excellent sound quality
- Lightweight
- Very comfortable
- Open-backed (good for outdoor users)
- Detachable cable
Cons:
- Not suitable for the gym unless worn with sweat-proof headphone covers
- No carry case
- Wired
- Open-backed (not great if you’re in a noisy gym)
We LOVE the HD58, truly, but we think that actually the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 would make a better workout headphone.
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0
Obviously, this headphone isn’t sweat-proof, either, but once you’ve added a moisture-proof cover then you’re good-to-go.
The Momentum 2.0 was Sennheiser’s response to complaints that its previous (but otherwise very well received) Momentum headphones were uncomfortable. A re-design meant that the earcups and pads are now larger and so they should fit the ear more easily.
The Momentum 2.0 has foldable hinges which makes it far easier to transport than the HD58. They’re slightly heavier, sure, but that means better noise isolation. These are closed-back, too, so they’re ideal if you’re in a busy gym but might be less so if you’re exercising outdoors.
These have comfortable leather earpads so they’re suitable to be worn for extended periods as well as when you’re not in the gym.
People should have the choice of what type of headphone they wear during exercise. Earphones aren’t the best option for everyone and gym headphones often mean a compromise.
Some people want superior audio quality when they hit the gym. Others might make a decision based on comfort or price. You shouldn’t have to compromise on what’s important to you for the sake of sweat-protection. Headphone covers are a great solution: pick the headphone first and then make it compatible with your workout.
There are plenty of other headphones that you might not have considered. You can add sweat-proof covers to Bose Noise-Cancelling 700 headphones. Beats headphones are popular with gym-users and you can make those moisture-proof, too. Ear covers for the Beats Solo3 headphone are becoming increasingly popular. Interestingly, the Jabra Move Wireless was pushed on the Jabra blog as being ‘the best wireless headphone for running’. Whilst we’d agree that it’s a great headphone (and especially so for coming in at under £100), its lack of sweat-resistant provision means we’d only feel comfortable working out hard if we were also wearing moisture-proof headphone covers.
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