Jul 20, 2021

Do Headphone Covers Work?

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve spent £10 or £1000 on headphones, it sucks when they break. Sometimes it’s because of poor build quality, and sometimes it’s because of carelessness on the part of the wearer. It’s important that our headphones last as long as they can. For our wallets, sure, but also because we get used to wearing them. We break them in and set up the audio or active-noise cancellation just as we like it. They're how we exercise, work, or relax.

Fortunately, there’s one headphone accessory that isn’t just fashionable. It also keeps your earpads moisture-free and looking fresh. But do headphone covers work?

What are Headphone Covers?

Headphone covers are fabric sleeves that slip over the cushions of your headphone. They come in a range of materials, and you can buy cotton ones, plastic, silicone, or moisture-wicking ones. Plastic headphone covers tend to be single-use. You may have seen them in factories or on public-use headphones in galleries or museums. They’re for hygiene. Often, it’s when a single pair of headphones must be shared around a group of people. Because they’re disposable and single-use, plastic headphone covers are hygienic. Although, they’re terrible for the environment. Silicone covers create a barrier between the headphone and ear, but they get sweaty quickly. They’re uncomfortable, too, unless they’re regularly wiped down.

Sweat-wicking headphone covers are moisture-resistant. They keep sweat and make-up from seeping into or staining the cushion. They move the moisture quickly to the surface of the material where it’s evaporated away from the earpad. This helps keep the cushions looking and smelling fresh. It also stops sweat getting inside the internal electronics and causing damage.

Cotton headphone covers aren’t suitable for heavy sweating as they can’t wick the material away. They do provide a fabric barrier between the ear and the earpad, though. They used to be relatively common when people wore headsets in a working environment.

People mainly wear headphone covers for hygiene reasons or moisture protection. But they also allow the wearer to personalise their headphones. For example, you’ll find a ton of different designs to choose from on the GymHugz store.

Do Headphone Covers Work?

They work.

All headphone covers provide a barrier between your ear, face and headphones, but there are different types of headphone cover and some are more suited to your lifestyle than others.

For example, the best headphone covers to exercise in will be moisture-resistant. Cotton retains moisture so it will quickly become damp and uncomfortable during a workout. Silicone covers keep moisture off the headphone but they’re going to get damp, too, and they don’t wick sweat away. You’ll have to physically wipe them off with a cloth afterwards. Which isn’t ideal when you’re exercising and not very practical (or comfortable).

But plastic headphone covers are better when you have to share a headset with someone else or when you want hygienic protection and don’t have access to a washing machine. They’re not all that comfortable, however, and probably aren’t a long-term solution. They’re single-use which isn’t ideal for anyone looking to live an eco-friendlier lifestyle.

Gamers will benefit from moisture resistant covers. Closed-back headphones can get very warm and sweaty. Sweat resistant covers are machine-washable and come in a range of great designs. They’re really easy to change, too. You can check out some of the testimonials on the GymHugz website to see what customers are saying about theirs.

If you’re looking for moisture-resistant headphone covers in a wide range of designs (and with a cheeky discount when you sign up to our mailing list), check out the GymHugz store. All designs are fully-reversible and machine washable.