If you want wireless convenience, longer battery life, and adjustable sound for fishing, choose JLab Go Air Pop+; if you need a wired connection that does not need charging, choose Skullcandy Ink'd+.
For most buyers comparing JLab vs Skullcandy earbuds, the Go Air Pop+ is the more flexible everyday pick. The Ink'd+ makes more sense if your device has a 3.5 mm jack and you prefer a direct wired connection.
• JLab Go Air Pop+ strength: True wireless use, 35+ hours of total playtime with its charging case, and three EQ settings. Trade-off: It needs charging and its in-ear fit does not leave your ears open.
• Skullcandy Ink'd+ strength: A 3.5 mm wired connection, in-line call and track controls, and a noise-isolating fit. Trade-off: The cable connects to the device, and the supplied ear gels come in two sizes rather than three.
• Choose JLab for wireless listening, longer sessions between charging, and the option to use either earbud on its own.
• Choose Skullcandy if you want to plug into a compatible headphone jack and avoid managing an earbud battery.
The Go Air Pop+ is a true wireless pair with Bluetooth 5.3. Each earbud provides 9+ hours of playtime, and the USB-C charging case adds 26+ hours, for 35+ hours total. That makes it the more convenient choice for someone who expects to listen throughout the day and would rather top up from a case than stay connected to a cable.
For fishing, I like the practical flexibility of being able to use either earbud independently. Dual Connect lets you keep one ear free while using the other for a call or audio. The buds are IPX4 rated for sweat and light rain resistance, which is relevant around occasional splashes or changing weather, but that rating is not a claim that they are waterproof. Their in-ear design still covers the ear canal, so they are not open-ear earbuds and do not guarantee awareness of every sound around you.
Three gel-tip sizes—small, medium, and large—give you more options for finding a secure fit than the two sizes listed for the Ink'd+. The JLab app lets you adjust touch controls and EQ, and you can switch among Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced sound. There is also a Be Aware mode intended to let ambient sound in. That combination suits someone who wants wireless controls and some ability to tailor listening, rather than a simple plug-in pair.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
Who should skip it: Skip the Go Air Pop+ if you specifically want a wired 3.5 mm connection, or if an in-ear fit is not what you want.
The Ink'd+ takes a simpler approach: it connects through a 3.5 mm plug rather than Bluetooth. There is no charging case or earbud battery to keep topped up, which can be useful when you want a direct connection to a compatible device. Its cable is four feet long, so it offers some room to move while keeping the listening device connected. The trade-off is just as clear: the cable stays part of the setup, and the earbuds will not work through Bluetooth.
For calls and basic playback, the Ink'd+ has an in-line microphone and controls for call handling and music, including play, pause, and skipping forward. Its noise-isolating fit uses ear gels, with small and medium sizes included. That design may suit a listener who wants a closer-fitting earbud for travel or general listening, but noise isolation is not active noise cancellation. It should not be treated as a way to remove all outside sound.
For fishing, the wired design avoids worrying about earbud charging, but the cable can be a drawback when moving around or handling gear. The product information does not list a water-resistance rating, so I would not choose it on the assumption that it is protected from rain or splashes. It fits someone who values a simple wired connection more than wireless freedom or stated weather resistance.
Who should skip it: Skip the Ink'd+ if your device lacks a 3.5 mm headphone jack or you want a cable-free setup.
• Best for wireless listening → JLab Go Air Pop+. It connects over Bluetooth 5.3 and lets you use either earbud independently.
• Best for a direct 3.5 mm connection → Skullcandy Ink'd+. It plugs into a compatible headphone jack and does not rely on Bluetooth.
• Best for longer stated playtime → JLab Go Air Pop+. The earbuds and case provide 35+ hours total, with 9+ hours from each earbud on a charge.
• Best if you do not want to charge your earbuds → Skullcandy Ink'd+. It is wired, so it does not need an earbud battery charge.
• Best for choosing between sound profiles → JLab Go Air Pop+. Its three EQ options are Signature, Bass Boost, and Balanced, with settings available through the JLab app.
• Best for in-line controls on a cable → Skullcandy Ink'd+. Its remote handles calls and basic track control.
• Best for light rain or sweat resistance listed in the specs → JLab Go Air Pop+. It has an IPX4 rating; the Ink'd+ sheet does not list a water-resistance rating.
• Best if you want to keep one earbud available for listening while the other is put away → JLab Go Air Pop+. Dual Connect supports independent use of either bud.
I would choose the JLab Go Air Pop+ for most everyday listening, including fishing, because it combines wireless use, a long stated total playtime, independent-earbud use, and IPX4 resistance to sweat and light rain. I would still keep awareness in mind: these are in-ear earbuds, not open-ear headphones, and a Be Aware mode is not a substitute for paying attention to your surroundings. I’d pick the Skullcandy Ink'd+ instead only if a wired 3.5 mm connection is the priority.
Start with the connection your device supports. The JLab uses Bluetooth 5.3 and is listed as compatible with iOS, Android, and PC; the Skullcandy needs a 3.5 mm headphone jack. If your device has no such jack, the Ink'd+ may not be a practical match without another way to connect it. Conversely, if you prefer not to pair or recharge earbuds, the wired design has a straightforward advantage.
Think about how you will use them outdoors. The Go Air Pop+ has an IPX4 rating for sweat and light rain resistance, while the Ink'd+ has no water-resistance rating listed here. Neither detail makes either pair a substitute for safe listening near water. The JLab remains an in-ear design, and the Skullcandy’s noise-isolating fit is intended to reduce outside sound rather than preserve open-ear awareness. If you are searching for the best open ear earbuds for fishing, neither product is actually described as open-ear. If you mean noise canceling earbuds for fishing, note that the Ink'd+ is specified as noise isolating, not active noise canceling.
Fit and controls also matter. JLab supplies three gel-tip sizes and lets you adjust EQ and touch controls in its app. Skullcandy includes two ear-gel sizes and puts call and track controls on the wire. Those are different approaches: the JLab offers more wireless customization, while the Skullcandy keeps controls physically attached to the cable. For a shopper looking for the best Bluetooth headset for fishing, the JLab is the only Bluetooth option of these two, but its suitability still depends on whether an in-ear design and wireless listening fit the situation.
They suit different priorities. The JLab is wireless, offers 35+ hours of total playtime with its case, and has three EQ settings. The Skullcandy is wired, uses a 3.5 mm connection, and includes an in-line microphone and controls.
Are either of these open-ear earbuds for fishing?
No. Both are described as in-ear earbuds. The JLab has a Be Aware mode that lets ambient sound in, but that does not change its in-ear design or guarantee that you will hear everything around you.
The Ink'd+ is described as noise isolating, which refers to its fit reducing outside sound. The supplied information does not specify active noise cancellation, so it should not be described as an active noise-canceling model.
The JLab has an IPX4 rating for sweat and light rain resistance. No water-resistance rating is listed for the Skullcandy, so I would not assume it is protected from splashes or rain.
That depends on what you will use. The JLab offers wireless convenience, a charging case, app-adjustable EQ, and stated light-rain resistance. The Skullcandy offers a wired 3.5 mm connection and avoids earbud charging. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding; the better fit is the one whose connection and features you will actually use.
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