How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a sweat-resistant, behind-the-neck sports headset with the longest battery life and hands-free voice control, choose Soundbot Behind; if you need an open-ear bone conduction design that keeps you aware of traffic and surroundings while you run or ride, choose Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones.
• Soundbot Behind — biggest strength: up to 20 hours of music streaming (25 hours of hands-free calling) from a behind-the-neck frame that stays put during movement.
• Soundbot Behind — biggest trade-off: it's an on-ear, closed design, so it blocks some outside sound and weighs noticeably more than an open-ear pair.
• Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest strength: a 28g open-ear bone conduction fit that leaves your ears open to traffic, plus IPX5 water resistance and USB-C charging.
• Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest trade-off: shorter playback at a claimed 13 hours at 80% volume, and the spec sheet's battery average lists 8 hours, so heavy users will charge more often.
• Who each pick is for: Soundbot Behind for gym-goers, commuters and call-heavy users who want maximum runtime; Rhyfell for runners, cyclists and outdoor athletes who value awareness and near-weightless comfort.
Soundbot Behind is a behind-the-neck sports headset built around the idea that a workout shouldn't interrupt your audio. The frame wraps around the back of your neck and sits over your ears, which is the classic shape for gym headphones — it doesn't rely on your ear canals to stay in place, so it holds steady through reps, rows and treadmill sessions. The spec sheet lists a fit range of roughly 6 3/4 to 8 in head size, and the earcups swivel and fold, which helps with portability and storage.
The numbers here are the real story. Soundbot rates this headset at up to 20 hours of music streaming and 25 hours of hands-free calling on a full charge, with a 3-hour charge time. That's a lot of runtime for a sports headset, and it's the main reason to pick it. There's also a built-in microphone, Bluetooth with a range up to about 33 feet, a 3.5mm jack for wired listening, and five dedicated buttons for volume, track skipping and call management — plus support for Siri or Android voice commands on compatible phones. The build is sweat-resistant, scratch-resistant and water-resistant, and Soundbot backs it with a one-year manufacturer warranty.
Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones: Who It's For
Rhyfell takes the opposite approach: instead of covering your ears, it sits outside them and transmits sound through bone conduction, leaving your ear canals completely open. That's the whole point of the design, and it's why this pair is aimed squarely at runners, cyclists and outdoor athletes who want music without losing awareness of their surroundings. If you've ever been startled by a car you didn't hear coming, you already understand the appeal.
At 28g, this is about as light as sports headphones get, and the open-ear frame uses skin-friendly materials for extended wear. Battery life is rated at up to 13 hours of playback at 80% volume with roughly a 2-hour charge via USB-C — faster to top up than the Soundbot's 3 hours, and USB-C is the more convenient connector in 2026. The spec sheet also lists a battery average life of 8 hours, so treat 13 hours as a best case and plan for somewhere in that range depending on volume.
Durability is rated IPX5, which covers sweat and light moisture — fine for running, cycling, hiking and gym work, but not for swimming or heavy rain. It's also worth noting the listed Bluetooth version is 6.0 with a 10-meter (about 33-foot) range, and controls are physical buttons rather than touch.
Who should buy it? Runners, cyclists, hikers and anyone who trains outdoors or in traffic and wants to stay situationally aware. The light weight also makes it a strong choice if you find on-ear headphones hot or fatiguing. Who should skip it? If you want deep, isolated sound for noisy indoor workouts, or you need the longest possible runtime and call-heavy performance, the open-ear design and shorter battery life will frustrate you.
• Best for battery life → Soundbot Behind. Up to 20 hours of music and 25 hours of calls beats Rhyfell's 13-hour (80% volume) rating.
• Best for outdoor awareness → Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones. The open-ear design keeps your ears free to hear traffic and surroundings.
• Best for light weight → Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones. 28g versus 91g is a big difference over a long run.
• Best for phone calls → Soundbot Behind. A built-in mic, dedicated call controls and voice-command support are all listed; Rhyfell's sheet doesn't emphasize calling.
• Best for charging convenience → Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones. USB-C and a 2-hour charge time versus 3 hours on the Soundbot.
• Best for enclosed, fuller sound → Soundbot Behind. An on-ear dynamic driver design versus an open-ear bone conduction layout.
• Best for wired backup → Soundbot Behind. It includes a 3.5mm jack; Rhyfell is wireless only.
• Best for water resistance → Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones. IPX5 is explicitly rated, while Soundbot lists sweat/water resistance without an IP number.
In my opinion, if you're buying for pure sports-headphone versatility — long gym sessions, commutes and calls — I'd buy the Soundbot Behind. The runtime, built-in mic and voice-command support make it the more complete everyday headset, and the behind-the-neck frame is proven for active use. But if your training happens outdoors, on roads or trails, I'd buy the Rhyfell Bone Conduction Headphones instead. The 28g open-ear fit and situational awareness are worth more than extra battery hours when you're sharing space with traffic. Match the pick to where you actually train, then check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
how to use sports headphones
Put them on before you start moving, make sure the frame sits securely, and pair them to your phone over Bluetooth. Keep volume at a level where you can still hear what's around you, especially outdoors, and use the on-device buttons to control tracks and calls so you're not reaching for your phone mid-workout.
how to wear running headphones
For a behind-the-neck pair like Soundbot, rest the earcups over your ears and let the band sit at the base of your neck. For Rhyfell's open-ear design, hook the frame over your ears so the transducers rest against your cheekbones, just in front of your ears — bone conduction works through contact, not inside the ear canal.
how to pair jlab sport headphones
The general Bluetooth routine applies to most sports headphones: turn the headset on and put it into pairing mode, open your phone's Bluetooth settings, and select the device when it appears. Both headsets here use Bluetooth with roughly a 10-meter or 33-foot range, so keep your phone close during pairing.
how to charge impact sport headphones
Charging depends on the connector — the Rhyfell uses USB-C and charges fully in about 2 hours, while the Soundbot charges in around 3 hours. Use the cable that came with your headset, plug into a standard USB power source, and avoid charging with wet or sweaty hands or ports.
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See also: XPAU Bone Conduction Headphones vs KTGEE Earbuds, Panasonic clip headphone silver vs CXK Bone Conduction Headphones, Aiwa Bone Conducting vs DOOGEEEco Bone Conduction Headphones