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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• itayak Behind — biggest strength: About 37 grams with a behind-the-head neckband, Bluetooth 5.0, and up to 11 hours of music per charge. It's built to disappear on your ears while you move.
• itayak Behind — biggest trade-off: It's an open-ear Bluetooth headset, not a hearing protector. It isolates sound for calls and music, but it won't cancel the world around you.
• iClever EM01 — biggest strength: Certified passive hearing protection with an SNR of 29dB, up to 46dB reduction in some situations, and a foldable, kid-proof frame. It blocks noise without any battery at all.
• iClever EM01 — biggest trade-off: No Bluetooth, no audio, no microphone. It's an earmuff, not a headphone — you can't take a call or play music through it.
• Choose itayak Behind if you want wireless sound, hands-free calls, and a barely-there fit for running, gym sessions, or all-day wear.
• Choose iClever EM01 if you want to protect ears from fireworks, concerts, monster-jam shows, or sensory overload — for a child or yourself.
The itayak Behind is a neckband-style Bluetooth headset, and its whole personality comes down to two numbers: roughly 37 grams and up to 11 hours of music playback on a single charge. That combination is the point. This is a headset you're supposed to forget you're wearing — the open-ear, behind-the-head design routes around the back of your skull instead of clamping over it, so there's no top-of-head pressure and nothing pressing into your ears.
The spec sheet reads like a sports-first device. Bluetooth 5.0 with a rated range of about 33 feet keeps the connection stable across a phone or tablet, and the IPX5 sweatproof rating means sweat during exercise isn't an immediate death sentence for the electronics. Sound isolation is listed as the noise-control approach rather than active cancellation, so expect the earbuds to filter background noise for calls and music — not to silence a room. Five physical buttons handle power, volume, track skipping, play/pause, and call answer/end/reject, plus Siri or Google Assistant activation. There's a carrying case and a 1-year warranty in the box.
iClever EM01: Who It's For
The iClever EM01 is a completely different animal: passive noise-reduction earmuffs, not a Bluetooth headphone. There's no battery, no pairing, no audio driver. What it does is block sound, and the specs are specific about how well. It's rated at an SNR of 29dB, with reductions up to 46dB in certain scenarios, achieved by layering a 22mm porous sound-absorbing sponge with a honeycomb acoustic sponge. It carries ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1 safety certifications — though as the brand itself notes, earmuffs can't eliminate noise entirely.
Comfort and durability are clearly where the design effort went. The padding is an 18mm-thick slow-rebound acoustic sponge under skin-friendly leather, and the headband is built to apply about a third less pressure than typical earmuffs. The pivot is holeless, so hair doesn't get pinched, and the telescopic arms extend up to 38mm per side to grow with a child. The frame uses 301 stainless steel and 2mm-thick steel bars, which is why it survives being twisted and bent. Materials are BPA-free ABS with silicone-free earcups, and it's intended for kids, teens, and adults alike.
Who should buy it: parents of children with autism or sensory sensitivities, families heading to fireworks, monster-jam shows, concerts, or sporting events, and anyone who wants compact, foldable, no-battery ear protection that stores small for travel. Who should skip it: anyone who wants to listen to music, take calls, or hear a podcast. The EM01 makes the world quieter — it gives you nothing to listen to.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for wireless audio and calls → itayak Behind. Bluetooth 5.0, a built-in microphone, and five-button media control.
• Best for lightweight all-day wear → itayak Behind. About 37 grams with a behind-the-head fit that avoids headband pressure.
• Best for kids and sensory needs → iClever EM01. Designed for sensory sensitivities, with BPA-free materials and a grow-with-them telescopic fit.
• Best for long sessions away from a charger → itayak Behind. Up to 11 hours of music and 14 hours of talk time per charge.
• Best for durability against rough handling → iClever EM01. Stainless steel and 2mm steel bars built to take twisting and bending.
• Best for sweat and movement → itayak Behind. IPX5 sweatproof with a secure, foldable sport fit.
• Best for travel storage in both cases → a tie. The itayak folds into a small case; the EM01 folds compactly too.
In my opinion, the right pick depends entirely on the job — and the job is different for each. If you want music, calls, and a featherweight fit while you run or work out, I'd buy the itayak Behind; at around 37 grams with 11 hours of playback, it solves the "headphones that stay put and disappear" problem. If you want to protect ears from genuinely loud places, I'd buy the iClever EM01 — it's a certified hearing protector, and no Bluetooth earbud replaces that. Decide which need is bigger, and the choice makes itself.
how to wear on ear headphones
Place the earcups over your ears so the padding seals around them, then adjust the headband or arms until the fit is snug but not tight. On the iClever EM01, use the telescopic arms — they extend up to 38mm per side — to match head size. A proper seal is what lets the noise reduction actually work.
how to make on ear headphones more comfortable
Thinner padding and high clamping pressure are the usual culprits. Look for thicker, slow-rebound foam and a headband that spreads pressure — the EM01 uses 18mm sponge padding and is built to apply about a third less pressure than average. Take short breaks during long sessions and let the padding recover.
how to wear on ear headphones comfortably
Set the cups to sit flat over your ears rather than on them, and keep the band centered so weight is even. With the itayak Behind, the open-ear neckband rests behind your head instead of over it, which removes top-of-head pressure entirely. Comfort is mostly about even pressure and a correct seal.
how to clean on ear headphones
Wipe the earcups and headband with a soft, slightly damp cloth, and avoid soaking the padding or electronics. The iClever EM01's skin-friendly leather and BPA-free ABS surfaces wipe down easily; the itayak Behind has plastic housing and a carrying case, so keep moisture out of the earbuds and controls. Let everything air-dry fully before use.
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