Normally I like to cycle with friends. I find that’s the best way for me to keep motivated, but now that the colder weather is upon us it’s not always easy to get out on the bike so I’ve been looking for alternative ways of keep my commitment.
I don’t like to wear earphones when I’m cycling out on the road, purely for safety reasons – I like to hear what traffic is around me and to be able to hear any possible hazards – but when I’m training indoors on the turbo trainer music is a must! So the Monster iSport Victory in-ear headphones are a very welcome addition to my training schedule. I was asked to try them out recently during a forty minute turbo trainer session, plugged into my iPhone 4S, in my garage with the door open on to the street.
Here’s how I found…
Fit and Design
They come presented in a stylish box complete with great instructions to help you get them set up perfectly for you.
I tend to struggle with finding in-ear headphones that fit comfortably for any period of time. I find I end up with sore ears after around fifteen minutes and find that I have already stopped and started my training umpteen times during that period to re-adjust them trying to find a more comfortable position. Not so with these headphones – all ear shapes seem to be catered for as they come with different sized SportClips (the hook shaped bit comes in small, medium and large) and ear tips to ensure a snug fit within your ear. There’ll be something in iSport Victory’s kit to ensure you get a good fit to your own ear, plus you can adjust the tip that releases the sound to the perfect angle for you. It’s a little fiddly at first but the instructions are good and clear and it didn’t take long at all to get them set to the perfect fit for me.
Quality
They’re sweat resistant and waterproof making them washable, which is a nice feature.
The cord is flat, rather than cylindrical, it’s a good length and is of a tangle resistant design. I had my phone inside one of the back pockets on my cycling jersey and didn’t experience any issues.
They come with a light-weight volume control switch on the cord and a decent padded pouch in which to store them. The only thing I would say is that the pouch is definitely something you should use. The cord and volume control button don’t feel as strong as perhaps they should for something costing just short of £130, and throwing them in and out of your kit bag without this might not be the best idea. I think I’d like the cord to feel more robust.
Sound
Having said, that’s my only criticism of the iSport Victory earphones from Monster. The earpieces themselves are great quality and well made, they were the most comfortable earphones I have ever tried, well-fitting and secure; they didn’t slip out of position and the sound quality was by far the best I have experienced, probably because I managed to get such a good fit with these earphones.
There were absolutely no distractions from any outside noises, I could switch off completely from other cars coming and going around me – this was a good thing for me sitting in my garage with the door open, but could be a negative in terms of safety if you’re a runner or like to wear earphones whilst cycling on the road.
They knocked out some fantastic sounds, very clear with great bass detail, and really helped my motivation and energy levels during my training session. Time passed much more quickly, I worked harder and actually did more time than I had intended to the first time I tried these and they definitely helped me to look forward to the next turbo trainer session – something I’ve not been able to say too often in the past!
Pros
- Fit
- Design
- Sizing options
- Comfort
- Sound quality
- Padded storage pouch
Cons
- Quality of the cord and volume button could be better for the price
*Star rating* – out of a possible 5
Ease of use: 4*
Ability to improve workout: 5*
Value for money: 3* – probably because I’m a Yorkshire lass and I think £130 for a set of headphones is a little extravagant! They are great though!
Overall rating: 4*
Thank you to Health On-Line for providing me with the headphones for review purposes. All opinions are based my own experiences with the product.
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