Best Headphones For Skiing

Whether you are skiing professionally or for fun, the inspiration that music brings is priceless. Skiing with music playing in the background brings out unadulterated joy. As you cruise your way through snow, your music will multiply every iota of courage and experience.

The best headphones for skiing come in handy when you want to hear every vocal, tune, pitch, or bass that the song offers. With noise cancellation capabilities, earphones will put you in wonderland.

This post analyses and reviews the top 7 best headphones for skiing that will rev your winter sports up to the next level.

Editor’s Choice: The Best Ski Headphones Is…

The Chips 2.0 Bluetooth Helmet Speakers are the best headphones for skiing for any audiophile looking to make the best use of the winter. 

With a built-in microphone and wireless technology, you will never have to fish out your phone from your pocket when people call you.

You can give voice commands and change the volume, or the 40mm drivers deliver a clean peach and attacking bass. The device will work if then in Alaska or anywhere with the temperature as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit or -20 degrees Celsius

Best Headphones For Skiing Summary Table

Headphones	Best For	Check Price on Amazon
Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds	Best Wireless Ski Helmet Headphones	Check Price
SkullCandy Smokin Buds	Best Budget In-Ear Skiing Headphones	Check Price
Chips 2.0 Bluetooth Helmet Speakers	Best Ski Helmet Headphones	Check Price
AfterShokz Titanium AS600SG	Best Bone Conduction Headphones	Check Price
Apple AirPods Pro	Best in-ear headphones	Check Price
Alta Wireless Bluetooth Snow Helmet Headphones	Best Bluetooth Headphones for Skiing	Check Price
IASUS Premium Audio	Best Wired Headphones for Skiing	Check Price

Why Do You Need Headphones for Skiing?

If you want to rev up your ride down steep snowy slopes, some music will help. Skiing headphones spice up your experience. The devices fit snugly and allow you to perform all your tricks and maneuvers seamlessly without holding you back.

But the essence of these headphones is not just to listen to music– you can make and receive calls and communicate with your instructor or the rest of your group. If you can multitask, then this is for you! 

Top 7 Best Headphones For Skiing

Perusing the pages of an online store trying to get the best skiing headphones can be a tedious, tiresome job. So, we decided to roll up our sleeves and review the top headphones to spice up your mountain snowboarding or skiing experience.

And after 72 hours of extensive research, we looked over 33 websites and interviewed ten professional skiers. The result is this comprehensive review of the top skiing earphones.

1. Best Ski Helmet Headphones: Chips 2.0 Bluetooth Helmet Speakers

Outdoor Tech is a brand with a good reputation for their wireless devices for people who want to stick out. The Chips 2.0 Bluetooth helmet speaker expresses its wit and advanced designs. The right and left wireless earbuds are connected with a flat cable. If you look for good headphones to put in your helmet when skiing, this will serve you right.

Features of the Chips 2.0 Bluetooth Helmet Speakers

• The built-in microphone and simple button interfaces allow you to answer calls without removing your helmet or gloves. You don’t have to keep fishing in your pocket or searching for the phone every time your mum calls.
• The Bluetooth technology pairs your headphones with your phone or other smart devices. It’s one of the best Bluetooth headphones that allow you to listen to your music and receive calls while you ski down a mountain.
• The 40mm drivers offer high sound quality. You get a clean sound with high precise frequencies and an attacking bass.
• The wireless technology lets you stream music directly from your device. The simple, convenient buttons make it easy to operate the headphones. 
• Use Siri voice control to adjust the volume, pause, play or change your tracks.
• Enjoy 10 hours of play time from a single charge
• This sweat-resistant unit works pretty well in freezing weather of up to -20 degrees Celsius or -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why Buy The Chips 2.0 Bluetooth Helmet Speakers?

Even though this earpiece does not have a walkie-talkie feature, it’s sweat-resistant and offers 10 hours of playtime. You can give voice commands to adjust your volume, play the next song on the playlist, and receive calls. Plus, it fits well in your helmet, making it one of the best Bluetooth helmet speakers on our round-up.

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2. BEST BONE CONDUCTION HEADPHONES: AfterShokz Titanium AS600SG

Shokz is a revolutionary brand that takes headphone technology to a whole new level. The technology is inspired by sea mammals which do not have ears like humans but instead rely on their bones to detect vibrations.

In short, their bones pick sound waves from the environment and then the brain interprets them. Bone conduction headphones produce signals that get to the inner part of your ear through the skull and cheekbones. 

Features of Shokz Titanium AS600SG

• The Bluetooth 4.1v connectivity pairs the headphones with your iOS and Android phones, tablets, and computers.
• The compact, flexible and lightweight titanium device guarantees comfort and long wear.
• Long battery life allows you to listen to your favorite music for up to six hours of playtime
• The bone conduction technology delivers music to your brain through your cheekbones. Therefore, your ears can concentrate on the ambient sounds and give you situational awareness when skiing through complex terrains.
• You get quality music beats as sound travels fastest in solids. In short, the bones are better conductors of sound than air. So, you get rich bass and a wide range of sound frequencies.
• The durable speakers have an IP65 rating which repels dust, moisture, and sweat.
• The EQ preset reduces unnecessary ticklish vibration.

Why Buy Shokz Bone Conduction Earphones?

Although some people claim that the Aftershokz titanium AS6000SG feels slightly ticklish, the headphones offer an impressive sound transfer. The Bluetooth connectivity, Android pairing, long battery life, and comfortable wear puts this device at the top of the competition. If you have a deaf friend and want them to enjoy music as much as you do, this is the right birthday gift!

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3. Best Wireless Ski Helmet Headphones: Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds

Powerbeats Pro has the Apple H1 headphone chip that will take your Winter workout to the next level. If you’re looking for powerful wireless ski helmet headphones, this is what you should buy. It comes with customizable ear hooks that fit well in your ear. While the design allows it to fit seamlessly around your ear even when vigorous maneuvers, the drivers produce quality sound.

Features of the Powerbeats Pro Wireless Ski Headphones

• Wireless helmets for skiing that connect to your devices seamlessly
• Compatible with your Android, iOS, and Mac OS devices
• Fast charging gives you a playtime of around 1.5 hours for a 5-minute recharge
• It stays charged for 24 hours as long as it’s inside the charging case. And you get a 9-hour listening time
• Ergonomic design with comfortable, stable, and lightweight materials. The adjustable and secure ear hooks ensure that they fit your earlobe
• The Apple H1 headphone chip guarantees high performance and the top sound
• Resistant to both water and sweat.

Why Buy the Powerbeats Pro Wireless Headphones? 

Although these earbuds have rich connectivity, a comfortable design, and long battery life, they would be better with noise cancellation technology. Fortunately, it makes up for the limitation by providing you with a wide range of colors and a comfortable adjustable fit. There is a reason more than 60,000 people believe that these are the best skiing headphones on the market, and I’m sure you’d want to find out for yourself!

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4. Best In-Ear Headphones For Skiing: Apple Airpod Pro

The Apple brand is a household name for technologically advanced devices. These true wireless earbuds will make every move worth it in your skiing and winter sporting activities. This white device gives you a sense of class and athleticism with wireless connectivity and sweat resistance.

Features of the Apple Skiing Airpod

• Choose the silicon chip size that provides a comfortable fit for you. You can go with the small-medium or giant peeps that fit well in your ear canal. The ear gels have vents that equalize pressure on the sides of your earbuds.
• The compact, lightweight design adds to the comfort and makes them ergonomic
• Enjoy a 4.5 hour play time. The battery life can go up to 24 hours, and you can use the charging case to replenish the power
• Listen to clean sounds with canceled noise for maximum immersive audio quality
• Enjoy an easy pairing and setup with all your Apple devices. The Apple Airpod is compatible with your iOS and Mac OS devices.
• Offers resistance to both water and sweat
• The EQ technology adapts to the shape of your ear
• Give voice commands by simply saying “Hey Siri”

Why Buy the Apple Airpod?

Although Apple products are usually more expensive than the other brands, they offer high-quality performance. With top sound quality, wireless connectivity and compatibility, these headphones win the race for the best in-ear skiing headphones. A great alternative to the Apple Airpod Pro is the Apple AirPods (2nd Generation).

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5. Cheap in-ear Headphones for Skiing: Skullcandy Smokin Buds

Skullcandy is a headphone brand that offers a rich sound and audio experience with comfortable wearable devices. Smokin’ buds wireless earbuds are some of the most affordable in-ear headphones that could increase your winter sporting experience.

Features of Skullcandy Smokin Buds

• Bluetooth connectivity pairs devices from up to 33 ft away
• Removable flex collar adjusts to your fit. The collar is flexible, lightweight, and removable.
• Also offers a long 6 hour battery life that makes your listening experience consistent. Once you charge it in the morning for about two hours, you can use it throughout your skiing without needing another recharge
• Delivers natural sounds and crisp vocals with precision highest as well as attacking bass
• The off-axis technology and oval shape not only makes it comfortable but also cancels out a lot of noise.
• You can connect it to a micro USB cable for charging
• The lightweight headphones measure 2.2 Oz only. 
• The unit has a remote control and built-in microphone and you can pick your calls as you navigate through the playlists.
• The design fits well in your natural shape of the ear. The ear canal is not a perfect circle and the Smokin Buds are oval and angled to align to its natural shape for both comfort and noise isolation

Why Buy Smokin’ Buds 2 Wireless Skiing Headphones

If you want durable headphones with good sound quality, look no further than these in ear headphones. There is a reason this earpiece receives lots of positive reviews on all online shops. The microphone and noise-cancellation design fits snugly in your helmet and boosts your skiing experience. An alternative to this is the Samsung Active In-ear Headphones which have contoured interchangeable gel tips that reduce noise.

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6. Best Bluetooth Headphones for Skiing: Alta Wireless Bluetooth Snow Helmet Headphones

When you find speakers made especially for the mountain snow, you should take them. Alta headphones over-the-ear wireless earphones with cables. The earpieces deliver dynamic and balanced sound with hands-free calling and control. As if fitting well in your helmet is not enough, these headphones are comfortable and powerful.

Features of the Alta Wireless Bluetooth Snow Helmet Headphones

• Universally compatible with a wide range of audio ready snow helmets
• The wireless connectivity promise you a crisp hands-free operation
• Make voice commands to activate your Google Voice Assistant or Siri. 
• The rugged strong construction keeps the inner electronic components safe
• The three oversized buttons let you control your phone without fishing it out from your pockets
• Sweat and water resistance makes it the ideal earphone for the extreme winter climate
• Battery delivers up to 10 hours of fantastic play time
• The 40mm drivers deliver premium audio experience
• Alta Bluetooth Audio System has a Bluetooth 5.0 wireless chip that’s compatible with all your Apple or Android smart devices

Why Buy Alta Wireless Bluetooth Snow Helmet Headphones?

Although these speakers do not have noise cancellation capabilities, the wireless technology and premium sound quality step in that gap. The headphones are compatible with literally any audio-ready helmet. We strongly recommend this as the best Bluetooth wireless headphones for skiing.

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7. Best Wired Headphones for Skiing Helmets: IASUS Premium Audio

IASUS Premium Audio wired headphones provide optimal sound inside the helmet. These headphones are popular among motorbike riders, but they fit in a skiing helmet as well.  Wired headphones tend to have better sound quality than wireless headphones because cables transmit more data per unit time than Bluetooth technology. So, if you want guaranteed head protection and top sound quality, these wired helmet earphones are what you need!

Features of IASUS Premium Audio Cabled Earphones

• Delivers full range sound with crisp highs and clean bass. Properly installed headphones could hit 100 decibels
• It has an easy installation with an instruction manual. The speakers come with foam spaces and covers, 3M velcro stickers, an extension cable, and an ear and folding tab.
• The 3.5 mm  is compatible with all devices that have a 3.5 mm female plug
• The thin compact lightweight aluminum chassis forms a solid construction
• The interior insulation keeps noise off your audio experience
• Enjoy full clear sounds with the 45 mm drivers

Why Buy the IASUS Premium Audio Earphones?

Skiing is a rigorous activity under extreme conditions. The IASUS Premium Audio earphones fit well in your helmet especially due to their lightweight chassis, comfortable fit, and studio-like audio production. 

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Types of Best Headphones For Skiing

In-helmet headphones come in different shapes, sizes, and technologies. And each of the types of headphones has a fair share of benefits and drawbacks. If you have already purchased a helmet make sure to match it up with a fitting headphone. You don’t want to ruin your skiing or snowboarding experience by purchasing the wrong earpiece. At least find helmets with audio pockets where you can place your headphones or earphones.

Here are the different types of skiing headphones:

Types of Skiing headphone technology:

Active Noise Canceling (ANC): Records the noise and inverts the phase and thus makes the sounds cancel out themselves before they reach your ear.

Passive noise canceling: Has cups that seal out unwanted sounds and insulated linings that reduce the noise.

Bone conduction: Sound passes through the bones of your skull into your ear without needing air. Bone conduction technology removes the need for air, or ear canal in the hearing process. So, devices with this technology are ideal for deaf people. AfterShokz Titanium AS600SG is one of the best bone conduction skiing headphones.

Headsets: Simple headphones with speakers and a microphone and no other unique technology.

Ambient sound: Picks and amplifies your ambient surrounding sounds to keep you more aware of the environment.

Headphone size

On ear headphones: Supra-aural headphones have smaller ear pads and ear cups than the  over-the-ear varieties.

Over-the-ear headphones: Circumaural or over-ear headphones have big ear pads and ear cups that fit around your earlobes. They provide great comfort and noise cancellation but are bulky and unable to withstand strenuous movements. 

Skiing Earbuds

Classic earbuds: Wireless earpieces that sit at the front of your ear canal resting on the ears and don’t go into your ear.

Wired earbuds: Earpieces with long cables that receive analog signals. The cord handles more data than that Bluetooth technology.

Wireless earbuds with cables: In-ear Bluetooth headphones with a cable connecting the right and left earbuds.

True wireless earbuds: Portable, rechargeable buds that don’t have wires. instead, they come in a small portable charging case.

Headphone design:

Open-back: Have an open or semi-open ear cup to allow you to interact with natural sounds in your environment

Closed-back: Fully closed cups to reduce interference from the outside noises.

Headphone connectivity:

Wireless: Have no cables but instead rely on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi standard connections.

Wired: Rely on wires to transmit both digital and analog audio signals. 

Best Headphones For Skiing Buying Guide

The market has dozens of ski helmets and headphones brands. And several types of earpieces exist, including earbuds, earphones, headsets, and headphones. Some of the brands are extensive, while others have low quality, affecting your ski activities.

If you want to buy high-quality headphones and skiing music devices, research widely and only choose headphones that have features relevant to your size, environment, and skill level. Some of the features you should consider include design, safety, material, budget, battery life, IPX rating, and noise cancellation.

Built-in microphone

For convenience’s sake, you don’t want to keep having to remove your helmet to pick a call. Instead, you want to ski continuously and keep your music undisrupted. A built-in microphone allows you to send voice commands and communicate with people while staying attentive to the sport.

Volume control

Even when you are skiing at 100 mph, you deserve total control over your music and headphones. You don’t want to keep looking for the buttons on your headset, as this could distract you and cause accidents. Instead, you are looking for the ability to change the music and volume without taking your helmet off.

Fortunately, most key headphones have modern technology that allows you to make voice commands. If you want to change a song, you can just say “Next,” and your headphones will move to the next song on the playlist. 

Safe, Ergonomic Design

Safe headphones have volume controls to ensure the sound is within a safe range. The insulated casing and foam or padded earpad prevent you from getting bruised. The ergonomic design allows them to rest on your earlobes without hurting you. Plus, they are easy to clean, thus ridding them of germs and other pathogens.

Then, interchangeable gel tips headphones have silicone or foam tips for creating authentic sound without hurting your ear canal. The silicon tips can hear the sound to achieve higher frequencies, especially when the deep bass vocals are too prominent. Units in ear design are easy to clean because of the ear tips interchangeable pads.

Size and weight

Get a compact, lightweight headphone that’s comfortable to wear during your skiing expeditions. Sometimes, carrying heavy gear and equipment is necessary, but these items can drag you down. If you want to be at your top gear performance, you must pick safety gear and snowboarding equipment. Remain light, and avoid everything that holds you back.

Sound quality

Some headphone brands sacrificed their good quality for design and durability. But, what’s the point of having devices that will not give you the decent audio quality you’re looking for? What use would the headphones be if they had perfect sound but still failed to perform in the snow? The top headphones produce a rich audio quality and still offer waterproof and water resistance capabilities. If you want well-designed headphones that can produce a fantastic sound, you may have to pay a little more bucks, but they are worth it.

Noise Cancellation

The noise-canceling capabilities eliminate unnecessary noise around you. The technology removes all the annoying sounds of kids watching cartoons, dogs barking in the neighborhood, or airplanes.

So, when the noise is canceled out, you can focus on the beautiful melodies of your music. The ideal headphones cancel out noises so you can have a clear audio experience.

IPX Rating

The IPX rating denotes how well protected the headphones are from the ingress of dust, water, and other unwanted substances. Also, IPX could mean weather-resistant, dust-resistant, or waterproof. A low IPX rating means that the device is only resistant to dust and solids. But, a high IPX rating of above six means that it is water and humidity-resistant. So, the best skiing headphones have a rating of at least IPX6.

Battery life

When buying wireless earbuds for skiing, fetch headphones with batteries with a play time of up to nine hours.

The headphones are only helpful to you when they are charged. While corded headphones don’t need a battery, the wireless varieties do. If you want to buy a wireless headphone, you have to check its battery life.

Remember, skiing in the cold mountains and winter seasons drains your battery a little faster. So, get earpieces that will withstand the harsh weather and activities you do. The battery life keeps them working and gives you listening comfort. 

Convenience 

Find headphones that are not only easy to use but also comfortable and convenient. Some features can make a device or break it. Skiers need headgears to keep them safe. But chunky headphones will not fit into the ordinary winter cap or helmet. You deserve a compact and comfortable headphone that has easily accessible controls. 

Material and solid construction

Skiing is one of the most extreme sports in the world. So, you must find headphones and helmets that can withstand the force and pressure. While the helmet design aims at protecting your scar from shock collision and accidents headphones are not. Fitting a headphone inside a helmet is a tough job. Remember, the helmets are usually one of the toughest pieces of skiing or snowboarding equipment. Fortunately, some headphones come with built in headphones that remain steady during collisions.

Wired vs. Wireless Ski headphones

Be sure to find out whether the headphones are wireless or flat cabled. You don’t want situations when the cords and cables break or wrap around your neck when you are at top speed. Ski headphones are either wired or wireless.

The best wireless headphones are convenient because you will not have to deal with hanging cables. You can do your maneuvers without any worries of cables going around your neck and strangling you or getting in your way of full flight action. However, you have to keep them charged.

The wired headphones need no battery or charging because they use the power directly from your audio source. Some skiers believe that the wired varieties have better audio performance than the wireless. Wires normally transmit more data than the bluetooth technology. However, that would certainly depend on the specific product they use.

Budget

Building a skiing headphone that is water-resistant, durable, and has an excellent audio quality is an expensive process. So, investing in good-quality earpieces means you have to part with a few more bucks. Of course, you can also buy the best cheap skiing headphones and helmets, but you risk getting a low-quality product made of cheap materials. Instead, you want a unit that will serve a long flight time, keep you safe, and still offer a top-notch audio experience.

Best Headphones For Skiing FAQs

Can I wear my headphones and helmet simultaneously?

Yes, you can wear headphones and helmets simultaneously as long as they fit in. In-ear headphones mainly don’t stick out and fit well in your helmet. However, most over-the-ear headphones may keep moving around your head and cause problems.

Will the cold weather damage my headphones?

Most electronics are safe in the cold. So, unless it’s too hard for you to be outside, you can brave the weather by skiing in your headphones. However, appreciate that the cold will drain your battery life faster. And when the battery is depleted, your beats may start turning off. The battery will drain faster in colder conditions than the device’s operating range but will be back to normal at higher ambient temperatures.

Will my headphones work in a wet snowing environment?

When it’s wet outside, your headphones are at risk of getting damaged. The internal electronic components quickly get an electric short when they contact water. So, make sure your headphones are resistant to water if you want to wear them during a snowfall. At least, find earphones rated above IPX6 for proper protection from moisture and humidity.

How can I wear my headphones with a skiing helmet?

Many skiers and snowboarders have a problem wearing their headphones inside the helmet. Some even opt to wear an earbud onto one ear and interact with the environment with the other. However, you can solve this with the help of an audio-enabled Bluetooth helmet, as most ski helmets have ear flaps. The earphones grant you complete control of your music.

How can I choose the songs I want when skiing?

You can listen to your music even when skiing on the slopes, change the volume, or play the next on the playlist. You will need to use a Bluetooth skiing earphone that fits well into your helmet. Then, use the hands-free option and control the device remotely with your voice.

What type of music can I play on my headphones?

The choice of music is a subjective topic that depends on your personal preference. You might be the aficionado for bass guitar rockstars or have already fallen in love with high-frequency electronic music. And while you may want a little more bass in your baroque classics, someone else may care more about the vocals in hip-hop hits.

So, you can find headphones with tweeter drivers explicitly designed for high frequencies. Or, you can get headphones with heavier and larger woofer drivers that do well with low frequencies.  Due to the small size, attaining bass sounds with low frequencies is not an easy thing. However, planar drivers produce better bass and increase the quality of your audio experience.

Is it safe to ski with headphones?

Skiing earphones are secure as long as they’re comfortable and fit well. The best earphones for skiing will not hurt your ears, and they work well inside your helmet.

Make sure to have small light earpieces that do not irritate your ears or interfere with the helmet or headgear. Avoid corded headphones that may dangle around your neck at top speed. And above all, stay focused and attentive to avoid any skier-snowmobile collisions.

Best Headphones For Skiing Conclusion

Skiing is a thrilling sport, but a little music would rev up your experience. By now, we believe you have already found a device to add to your cart. Choose the skiing headphones that fit your helmet and are comfortable for you. And while all the products are excellent in quality, we pick Chip 2.0 headphones as the best. They have the best quality sound and solid materials. Which skiing earphones do you prefer?