Mustachian headphones?

[Spruit]

Hi fellow Mustachians! I'm hoping you can help me with the purchase of a new headphone. I've been looking around and can't see the forest through the proverbial trees. Here's what I'm looking for:
- Budget of +/- 100 euros/dollars which isn't much, I know. I am looking to get the most bang-for-my-buck.
- Something durable and sturdy. Buy it for life is stretching it with my budget, but a decent build and availability of replacement parts are a big plus. I'm tired of cables breaking every year or so, a replaceable cable is high on my want-list.
- Something easy to pack (foldable). I use one daily on my bike commute, and take it with me in my (hand)bag.
- Decent sound (well, duh...), good sound really improves my mood while commuting. Then again, I'm used to my old Sennheiser HD201, so I guess my standards are not extremely high ;-)
- Compatible with my phone and/or portable music device. I understand that lower impendance (in Ohm) is best for that?
- Comfortable to wear for over an hour. I have had most success with circum-aural / over-ear headphones.
- Slightly rain-resistent. Again, I live (and bike) in a moist climate, so preferable if it could stand a light drizzle now and then.
Man, seeing this list I wonder if this combination even exists?! Who's up to the challenge ;-)

[arebelspy]

Good time of year to buy. Tons of sales.  Example: http://deals.kinja.com/heres-the-best-deal-ever-on-your-favorite-pair-of-headp-1744852523

The Wirecutter has my favorite reviews: http://thewirecutter.com

I'd read through their stuff to decide.

The foldable is probably the hardest part. You can get that, but the rest will suffer since most don't.

The Bose TrueSound or whatever (Wirecutter's best on ear headphones) are foldable, though you said you might prefer over ear.

Do you really bike, with headphones and no helmet?

[Daley]

Look into Koss KSC75 headphones. You're going to think I'm nuts recommending a $15 pair of headphones to someone who's getting their feet wet as an audiophile until you start reading the reviews. Doesn't entirely fit your full list, but between the price and the lifetime warranty, I'm not sure it really matters.

There can be a little bit of roll-off at both extreme ends (especially when they're new), but after breaking them in properly and a tiny bit of EQ tweaking, you'll hardly notice. They also won't take heavy abuse, but if you're delicate with them, they'll hold up.

[GuitarStv]

You will get the best sound by getting a better sound to noise ratio . . . this means reducing the volume of outside noises, or increasing the volume of the music.  Wind, people screaming, cars honking, tires squealing, the inevitable thump of impact . . . these will all get in the way of your ability to enjoy the music.  You might be better off listening in a safer environment, one where your life doesn't depend on your ability to hear.

[Spruit]

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll look into the Kos phone, no such thing as "too cheap" as long as it sort of fits the bill. I'll also read up on what the wirecutter has to say about it.

Do you really bike, with headphones and no helmet?

You might be better off listening in a safer environment, one where your life doesn't depend on your ability to hear.

Oh... yeah... I'm Dutch. I realize we are the weird ones, globally. I don't wear a helmet, been cycling since before I could write (no helmet then either). It's a cultural thing. Never felt unsafe without a helmet, but I am very grateful for this country's sublime bicycle infrastructure that allows me to keep this lax attitude. The route I commute on is almost 100% seperate from the car traffic. Just miles and miles asphalted bike paths with meadows and fields left and right. The few meters that my path actually joins regular road and car traffic are a mere 5 min. to/from my office, I just pull my headphone down at that point and finish my ride with all my senses "exposed". I'm NOT recommending this to US cyclist that bike through (sub) urban areas.

[arebelspy]

Gotcha. Thanks for taking the time to explain. :)

[GuitarStv]

If you're out of traffic, the music makes more sense.

I'd look at some kind of noise cancelling headphone.  The greatest sound reproduction in the world isn't going to matter if it's fighting though a ton of background noise.  Your other option is to turn the music up to drown out the background, but that's not a great long term hearing strategy.

[patrat]

Two suggestions, from what I own. Aside from the cushions potentially getting soggy for a while, you'll find that headphones are actually quiet tolerant of water. My wife's earbuds travel through the wash about 4 times a year. Noise cancelling may be less tolerant of full immersion, since they have actual electronics.

Sony foldables, with or without Mic for handsfree phone use. Very comfortable, pretty good sound, pack well, super cheap. Might not stay on over hard bumps, the clamp pressure is low (part of the comfort though)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NJ2M33I?keywords=sony%20folding%20headphones&qid=1449086662&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1


Howard Leight Impact Sport foldable earmuffs. Designed for hearing protection, but they amplify ambient sound within safe levels, adjustable by a knob. Connect a male-male stereo cable, you can listen to your phone or other device. With the knob turned barely on, you get audio but no amplified ambient sound - good for working in noisy places. Turn up the ambient, and you should be safe on a bicycle. These will keep your ears warm, good for winter. Takes batteries, but very good life. The attachable cable makes it replaceable. These are really marketed towards hunters and shooters, but the practical applications are much wider. I use mine for crying babies, air travel, mowing the lawn, and the marketed uses. Comfort is acceptable, make sure to try on with glasses if you wear them (should on a bike). I've had no problems wearing them in the weather, they are pretty well sealed. Be warned, your own voice is quite muffled regardless of the setting, and you will tend to shout if wearing them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O?keywords=howard%20leight%20impact&qid=1449086859&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

Howard Leight Sync if you don't need to hear what is around you. Not recommended for biking. I don't own these, they must be new. They are exactly what I wanted for a very noisy (OSHA borderline for hearing protection) office I used to work in.

I used to own BOSE noise cancelling. I thought they were over hyped, with poor durability. Also, no good at blocking out conversations, only ambient noise like aircraft engines.

[jandr]

I can't speak to the sound quality of Skull Candy headphones, but they do have a lifetime warranty. I got used headphones from a garage sale by them for super cheap and sent them in right away and they replaced them, no questions asked. Just had to pay shipping. Have continued to send them in once the earbuds start sounding not so great or shorting out (about once every year and I get a lot of use out of them).

I think if you send them through the wash or step on them they'll only cover 50% of cost though.

[BarkyardBQ]

I'm a big fan of Sennheiser. I've been using my office set for about 6 years.

http://en-us.sennheiser.com/music-headphones-portable

I have a pair of SkullCandy earbuds I bought at best buy one day (before MMM) because I was heading to the gym and left mine elsewhere. They suck, any time the cord hits something you can hear it in your ears.

[skeeder]

As a recovering Head-Fi.org addict (by recovering, I mean, I got married and can't afford it anymore, not that it matters with kids anyway...)

I've owned many awesome headphones and had the pleasure of listening to others. 

The question always asked is 'what kind of music do you listen to?'

The Koss KSC75's are cheap and very good.  I recommend them, for biking...at least with me, there is an element of abuse that comes with physical activity...KSC75's were my go to for the gym/mountain biking for that very reason.

The second question is: in ear, on ear, or around ear preference? 
If you want an On Ear can, and you like metal or brighter sound, the Grado SR60's are fantastic...retro looks and they take a beating too, lots of mods, and tons of fixes. 
If you want in ear, I can't help you...I have the Sennheiser MX300's, but I wouldn't say they are amazing...they are better than Apple's ibuds, but nothing close to what I've compared.
If you want around ear, I recommend my current can--Sennheiser HD449's.  They are small, but they don't fold.  They are closed, so it will isolate some of the noise but then again, others will not be able to hear it.  I use them for gaming and music...

Here is something to look around and see for yourself.
http://www.head-fi.org/products/category/headphones

Good luck!  If you want to talk hi-fi, hit me up.

[JLee]

I have MEE audio M6 PRO's. I like them, but I haven't noticed much sound quality improvement over my old Zune Premium headphones (that I scored for $5 many years ago). The memory wire is nice, though.

I love my Sennheiser HD598 / Fiio E10K combo at home, but that's not something you can bike with. :)

[JordanOfGilead]

My Sennheiser HD280 set was wonderful before the pin got bent during a move. I highly recommend them if you don't mind an over-ear pair.

[ketchup]

I have a pair of Sony MDR-V6 headphones that has treated me well for about seven years so far with pretty great sound and decent muffling of the outside world.  Around $60 I think.

[kite]

Mustachian headphones?
Was going to say none.

Comfortable for more than an hour? 
Going to double up my investments in treatments for hearing loss. 

To wear while operating something with wheels?
Just going to shut up now because I've become one of those old folks full of advice for your own good that you'll disregard anyway. 

Tomorrow we visit another ENT & audiologist about my spouse's hearing loss.  100% gone in one ear; mostly gone in the other.  Why someone would do this to themselves boggles the mind, yet I see hundreds and hundreds of y'all with those things plugged into your ears, so it's back to investing in hearing aid technology. 

If I was a young person interested in medicine, I'd definitely focus on treatment of hearing loss as a specialty.  They'll never run out of patients. 

[turketron]

Anyone have a good recommendation for some affordable (under $100) bluetooth headphones? Usually Wirecutter's guides have good recommendations but their top choice (Jabra MOVE) has received a lot of flak in the guide's comments (and on the Amazon reviews) stating that the earpieces are coming apart and the foam sticks out. They're supposed to have a good replacement policy but I'd rather not have to deal with that to begin with.

[JLee]

Mustachian headphones?
Was going to say none.

Comfortable for more than an hour? 
Going to double up my investments in treatments for hearing loss. 

To wear while operating something with wheels?
Just going to shut up now because I've become one of those old folks full of advice for your own good that you'll disregard anyway. 

Tomorrow we visit another ENT & audiologist about my spouse's hearing loss.  100% gone in one ear; mostly gone in the other.  Why someone would do this to themselves boggles the mind, yet I see hundreds and hundreds of y'all with those things plugged into your ears, so it's back to investing in hearing aid technology. 

If I was a young person interested in medicine, I'd definitely focus on treatment of hearing loss as a specialty.  They'll never run out of patients.

You do realize there are volume settings other than 100%....?

[JordanOfGilead]

Mustachian headphones?
Was going to say none.

Comfortable for more than an hour? 
Going to double up my investments in treatments for hearing loss. 

To wear while operating something with wheels?
Just going to shut up now because I've become one of those old folks full of advice for your own good that you'll disregard anyway. 

Tomorrow we visit another ENT & audiologist about my spouse's hearing loss.  100% gone in one ear; mostly gone in the other.  Why someone would do this to themselves boggles the mind, yet I see hundreds and hundreds of y'all with those things plugged into your ears, so it's back to investing in hearing aid technology. 

If I was a young person interested in medicine, I'd definitely focus on treatment of hearing loss as a specialty.  They'll never run out of patients.

You do realize there are volume settings other than 100%....?

Most people using ear buds do not. I would venture to say that when I was in college, about 50-60% of people I saw with ear buds in had their music turned up so loud that I could hear it several feet away. Why? Because people use headphones to drown out ambient noise and ear buds are cheap and portable.
Now that I've graduated and moved on to the real works, I don't see it as much but still notice a lot of adults doing this in airports.

[onecoolcat]

Find my thread on "how to stretch your dollar and other savvy tips" and look for the link to Francois et Mimi.  That link takes you to their subscription service where they will send you free headphones weekly in exchange for an "honest review". 

I got four free headphones since last Monday.  Valued between $12-$30 each.  Didn't even pay shipping because I have Amazon Prime.  Good quality items too.  I also got a free apple phone car charger that's really good quality.  Not a biased recommendation, I'm not associated with the company and get no referral bonus.  Bump the thread if you like it. 

[kite]

Mustachian headphones?
Was going to say none.

Comfortable for more than an hour? 
Going to double up my investments in treatments for hearing loss. 

To wear while operating something with wheels?
Just going to shut up now because I've become one of those old folks full of advice for your own good that you'll disregard anyway. 

Tomorrow we visit another ENT & audiologist about my spouse's hearing loss.  100% gone in one ear; mostly gone in the other.  Why someone would do this to themselves boggles the mind, yet I see hundreds and hundreds of y'all with those things plugged into your ears, so it's back to investing in hearing aid technology. 

If I was a young person interested in medicine, I'd definitely focus on treatment of hearing loss as a specialty.  They'll never run out of patients.

You do realize there are volume settings other than 100%....?

Most people using ear buds do not. I would venture to say that when I was in college, about 50-60% of people I saw with ear buds in had their music turned up so loud that I could hear it several feet away. Why? Because people use headphones to drown out ambient noise and ear buds are cheap and portable.
Now that I've graduated and moved on to the real works, I don't see it as much but still notice a lot of adults doing this in airports.

I use mass transit.  Most people I see are plugged in with the volume up. 

[2Birds1Stone]

Look into Koss KSC75 headphones. You're going to think I'm nuts recommending a $15 pair of headphones to someone who's getting their feet wet as an audiophile until you start reading the reviews. Doesn't entirely fit your full list, but between the price and the lifetime warranty, I'm not sure it really matters.

There can be a little bit of roll-off at both extreme ends (especially when they're new), but after breaking them in properly and a tiny bit of EQ tweaking, you'll hardly notice. They also won't take heavy abuse, but if you're delicate with them, they'll hold up.

Thank you very much for the recommendation. My SO has VERY tiny ears and standard in-ear buds fall out. I purchased these for her and gifted on xmas. Amazing sound quality and they stay on her ears!

[Don Jean]

Hi fellow Mustachians! I'm hoping you can help me with the purchase of a new headphone. I've been looking around and can't see the forest through the proverbial trees. Here's what I'm looking for:
- Budget of +/- 100 euros/dollars which isn't much, I know. I am looking to get the most bang-for-my-buck.
- Something durable and sturdy. Buy it for life is stretching it with my budget, but a decent build and availability of replacement parts are a big plus. I'm tired of cables breaking every year or so, a replaceable cable is high on my want-list.
- Something easy to pack (foldable). I use one daily on my bike commute, and take it with me in my (hand)bag.
- Decent sound (well, duh...), good sound really improves my mood while commuting. Then again, I'm used to my old Sennheiser HD201, so I guess my standards are not extremely high ;-)
- Compatible with my phone and/or portable music device. I understand that lower impendance (in Ohm) is best for that?
- Comfortable to wear for over an hour. I have had most success with circum-aural / over-ear headphones.
- Slightly rain-resistent. Again, I live (and bike) in a moist climate, so preferable if it could stand a light drizzle now and then.
Man, seeing this list I wonder if this combination even exists?! Who's up to the challenge ;-)

The BackBeat Fit from Plantronics] are an excellent pair of headphones that meet all of your stipulated criteria. There is a difference between maximising what you want and satisfying what you want--the latter is the secret to life-long happiness.

Budget: Under a $100
Durability: These are designed for an active lifestyle and they are well designed. No hard and easily breakable plastic.
Foldable: The have full range of motion. You can bend them to put them away in a small pocket.
Sound: It's decent. You won't get the same type of audio experience as you would with a can designed for listening but you're a bike commuting extraordinaire. More importantly, they let sound pass through. This makes them perfect for use on your bicycle--I listen to Podcasts on my bike commute to work.
Compatible: Bluetooth 3.0 :)
Comfortable: Over-the-ear design [X]
Sweat-Resistant: These are meant for running, biking, walking, etc. They can are coated to resist sweat.

Highly recommend for the intended use you stipulated in your original post. I thoroughly enjoy the pair I own and use them for a mirage of outdoor activities. Cheers!