We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a wrap-around headset with a behind-the-head band, physical buttons and a foldable frame you can toss in a pocket, choose itayak Behind; if you need true open-ear clip-on earbuds with an IP67 rating, LDAC Hi-Res audio and up to 55 hours of total playtime, choose Baseus Bowie Series Open.
• itayak Behind — biggest strength: a behind-the-head wrap design that stays put during movement, weighs about 37 g, folds down small, and runs on a five-button control pad with Bluetooth 5.0 and roughly 33 ft of range.
• itayak Behind — biggest trade-off: it's an over-ear headphone style with passive noise cancellation only, a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range and no high-res codec listed, so it's built for everyday listening rather than audiophile detail.
• Baseus Bowie Series Open — biggest strength: an open-ear clip design that leaves your ear canal unobstructed, with 5.1 g per earbud, IP67 dust and water protection, LDAC Hi-Res support, four beamforming mics and up to 55 hours total with the case.
• Baseus Bowie Series Open — biggest trade-off: open-ear means you're trading isolation for awareness — there's no active noise cancellation here, and the fit depends on the detachable air cushions and C-ring seating correctly.
• Who itayak Behind is for: someone who wants a simple, foldable, sweat-resistant wrap headset for workouts, calls and all-day wear without fiddling with a case.
• Who Baseus Bowie Series Open is for: someone who wants to hear traffic and surroundings while training or commuting, and wants the longer battery, higher water rating and Hi-Res audio support.
The itayak Behind is a wrap-around headset in the classic sense: a band that sits behind your head, with earpieces that rest over your ears. That geometry is the whole point. Because the band anchors behind your skull instead of over the top of your head, there's nothing pressing down on your crown and nothing to adjust mid-run. The spec sheet lists it at roughly 37 grams, which is the kind of weight you notice mostly by its absence.
What it does best is straightforward, dependable everyday listening. Bluetooth 5.0 with about 33 ft of range covers phone-in-pocket, tablet-on-desk and laptop-across-the-room situations. The battery figures are genuinely all-day: about 11 hours of music, 14 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby on a single charge, with a 3-hour recharge. Five physical buttons handle power, volume, track skipping, play/pause and call control, and they'll also trigger Siri or Google Assistant. No touch guessing, no accidental skips when you adjust the fit.
The sweatproof build and IPX5 rating matter here. IPX5 means it shrugs off sweat and light spray, so gym sessions, outdoor runs and humid commutes are fair game. The dynamic driver covers 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, and the design uses passive noise cancellation to take the edge off background sound. The foldable frame and included carrying case make it easy to stash — pocket, gym bag, backpack, whatever's closest.
Buy it if you want a set-and-forget wrap headset for workouts and calls, you prefer real buttons over touch controls, and you like the idea of a foldable frame with a case. Skip it if you need situational awareness while you run, want an IP67 rating for heavy rain and dust, or care about high-res codecs and spatial audio — none of that is in this spec sheet.
Baseus takes the opposite approach. Instead of wrapping a band behind your head, the Bowie Series Open clips onto your ear with a C-ring built around a memory titanium wire, so it flexes to your shape instead of squeezing it. Each earbud weighs just 5.1 g, and the detachable CloudComfort 2.0 air cushions come in multiple sizes so you can dial in the fit for your ear shape. The U-ring design is what gives these their wrap-around feel — the earbud hooks around the ear rather than sitting inside it.
The headline difference is the open-ear format. Nothing blocks your ear canal, so music blends with the world around you. You hear traffic on a run, announcements at a station, a colleague walking up behind you. If you've ever pulled an earbud out to hear someone, this design just removes that step. The trade-off is honest and worth stating plainly: there's no noise control listed at all here, so loud environments will compete with your audio.
Where the Baseus pulls ahead on paper is endurance and durability. The specs list 11.5 hours per charge and up to 55 hours total with SuperBass 3.0 enabled, plus a 10-minute quick charge that returns 3 hours of playback — the kind of top-up you do while changing shoes. IP67 dust and water protection is a real step up from splash resistance; it handles sweat, rain and dust without complaint. Audio is handled by an 11 mm dynamic driver with LDAC Hi-Res support, BISA 3D Spatial Audio and directional sound, and the 16 ohm impedance means it's easy to drive. Connectivity is Bluetooth 6.0 with a 10 m range.
Calls get their own hardware: four directional beamforming microphones with AI enhancement that focus on your voice and suppress background noise including wind. Controls are push-button rather than touch, which is the right call for something clipped to a moving ear. You also get app-based control for tuning. A 2-year warranty is listed, and the design is aimed at adults and teens.
Buy it if you train outdoors, commute by bike or on foot, want maximum battery and water resistance, and value hearing your surroundings. Skip it if you want isolation from a noisy office or plane, or you'd rather not deal with fit tuning.
• Best for battery endurance → Baseus Bowie Series Open. Up to 55 hours total with the case versus about 11 hours of music on a single itayak charge — though the itayak is one charge with no case needed.
• Best for water and dust protection → Baseus Bowie Series Open. IP67 covers dust and immersion-grade water; the itayak's IPX5 covers sweat and light spray only.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → Baseus Bowie Series Open. Open-ear by design; the itayak is an over-ear style with passive noise cancellation working the other way.
• Best for a foldable, case-included travel setup → itayak Behind. It folds, ships with a carrying case, and the band design means there's nothing to clip or seat precisely.
• Best for physical button control on both → tie. Both use buttons rather than touch, but the itayak gives you five dedicated controls including assistant activation.
• Best for gym and workout sweat → itayak Behind. The sweatproof build and secure behind-head fit are built for movement with zero fuss.
• Best for audio features and codecs → Baseus Bowie Series Open. LDAC Hi-Res, BISA 3D Spatial Audio, directional sound and an 11 mm driver versus a standard dynamic driver with a 20 Hz–20,000 Hz range.
• Best for call clarity in wind → Baseus Bowie Series Open. Four AI beamforming mics specifically tuned to cut wind and background noise.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Baseus Bowie Series Open. In my opinion, the combination of open-ear awareness, IP67 protection, LDAC Hi-Res audio, four-mic call handling and up to 55 hours of total playtime is a more complete package for how most people actually use earbuds — outdoors, in motion, in weather. I'd recommend the itayak Behind instead if you specifically want a foldable wrap-around headband you never have to seat or charge often, and you'd rather keep your ears covered than open. Different jobs, both done well. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing specs can't tell you.
how to wear wrap around earbuds
Wrap-around earbuds sit outside your ear canal rather than inside it. On the Baseus Bowie Series Open, the C-ring hooks over the back of your ear with the driver facing your ear opening; the memory titanium wire flexes so it holds without squeezing, and you can swap the detachable air cushions to match your ear shape. On the itayak Behind, the band goes behind your head and the earpieces rest over your ears — no insertion at all.
how to use wrap around earbuds
Both pair over Bluetooth and control playback with physical buttons. The itayak Behind uses five buttons for power, volume, track skip, play/pause and calls, plus assistant activation. The Baseus Bowie Series Open uses push-button controls, adds app-based tuning, and supports LDAC Hi-Res playback and BISA 3D Spatial Audio on compatible sources. Neither has a headphone jack, so both are wireless-only.
how to wrap string around earbuds
You don't need to — neither of these is a wired set, so there's no cable to wrap around the housing. The itayak Behind folds and stores in its included plastic carrying case, and the Baseus Bowie Series Open stores in its case, which measures about 6.5 cm by 5.5 cm and weighs 43 g.
are wrap around earbuds good for running and gym workouts
Yes, and both are built for it in different ways. The itayak Behind is sweatproof with an IPX5 rating and a behind-head band that stays put. The Baseus Bowie Series Open is IP67 dust and waterproof, weighs 5.1 g per earbud, and its open-ear design lets you hear traffic while you run — a real safety plus outdoors.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: JVWKPU 4PCS vs Monster Open Flex Open: Wrap Around Earbuds, I love e iFecco Bone Conduction Headphones vs Baseus Bowie MC2, sprtoybat Earbuds vs RockMax Glowing Rose Skin: Wrap Around