iSweat(WheniRun)

iSweat(WheniRun)

Running=Sweating

Okay, let me clearly state that I do not actually enjoy bitching ALL the time about my gadgets. Please try to keep that in mind before you write me off as a total whiner. I am just an average Joe, and the average Joe DOES sweat when she/he works out as you probably already know.

Music soothes even the savage beast

I must admit it, working out is a pain, nobody really enjoys the procedure itself (the endorphins come after you are through exercising, mind you) - although it’s results may be quite enjoyable. For example, having a lean body may help someone in attracting an "other significant half" with an also nice body. No guarantees, of course, but one can only hope for the best. 

So, many individuals try to make working out (a bit) more bearable. That’s where music comes onto stage. Jogging for instance, becomes an immensely better experience when you hear your favorite beats on your favorite headset.

Can’t have it all though, because headsets have wires and wires tend to annoy very much while training. Thank God for the bluetooth headsets then. Your favorite music streams from your phone wirelessly while you sweat out your body. A perfect solution. Or maybe not?

Can't have it all

Actually stereo BT headsets work perfectly, as long as you are NOT sweating. Since most human beings do sweat while working out though, these headsets become quite possibly the greatest frustration since the introduction of income tax. Or maybe since fish evolved to having one million little bones each, that you have to carefully separate and remove before enjoying it. Nuh, wait, found it: Since  Gangnam Style lobotomised one billion human brains. (On a more serious note, see this - it actually can get worse than Gangnam Style...) Period.

Personally speaking, in the six months after I took up jogging, four stereo BT headsets have died on me. Four headsets in six months, two of them on their first training session! Please note that all of them were advertised and sold as sweat proof. The only amusement (hardly worth the amount of money I had paid) was trying to guess the training session of death (will it be the first this time?), as well as the exact way each would die. Two of them became unresponsive (buttons not working, could not even turn off!) and eventually their battery died and they would not recharge. One just turned off by itself and never turned on again. The last one at least was kind enough to show signs of degrading performance (terrible static noise) and after exactly 22 mins of light jogging stopped working. Forever. I think it cost me about 1 Euro/min to enjoy this particular headset. It was a cheap one, after all.

Could this be because I am plain unlucky? Thought so, that’s why I googled my frustration and guess what, I am not the only one. Check the correct forums and you will meet an angry crowd of annoyed people complaining about the same thing. Bottom line: If you sweat, (chances are) no music for you. Not wirelessly at least.

One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind

I do not know whether it is technically impossible for a manufacturer to produce a wireless stereo headset that is 100% sweat proof, but we’ve visited the moon 44 years ago, didn’t we? If it is not possible then they should not be advertised as sweat proof. Simple as that. Manufacturers you have to  stop misleading your customers. Have a big sticker on the box that clearly states that “This headset is not for the average individual. Only people who do not sweat at all should use it while working out”. Then again, if a manufacturer out there can do the impossible and is reading this, rest assured that there are enough people the world over who are more than willing to pay a premium price for a product that will deliver.

Until then, pick your choice. Either workout or wireless music.