We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want to keep your existing Apple AirPods locked into your ears during runs, choose WC HookZ; if you need a complete standalone open-ear earbud with its own battery, drivers, and Bluetooth connection, choose TANALAZ i70. These two products share the "over ear hook" label, but they solve completely different problems. One is an accessory; the other is a whole headphone. Let's break down which one actually belongs in your gym bag.
• WC HookZ biggest strength: It turns the AirPods you already own into a secure, over-ear-hooked pair — soft tempered silicone, left/right-specific hooks, and two size pairs in the box.
• WC HookZ biggest trade-off: It only fits AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 1, 2 and 3 — it will not fit AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3, and it has no battery or audio hardware of its own.
• TANALAZ i70 biggest strength: A full open-ear Bluetooth headphone with a 14.2mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 6.0, IPX5 sweat resistance, and a charging case that stretches playback far beyond a single session.
• TANALAZ i70 biggest trade-off: It's a self-contained system, so you're committing to its sound and its fit rather than keeping the AirPods you already know.
• Choose WC HookZ if you own compatible AirPods and your only real complaint is that they slip out.
• Choose TANALAZ i70 if you want open-ear awareness, long battery life, and you don't want to depend on AirPods at all.
WC HookZ is a fix, not a replacement. It's a silicone over-ear hook made by Wicked Cushions that slides onto your AirPods and curls behind your ear. The whole point is the fit problem: AirPods falling out mid-run is one of the most common complaints about Apple's earbuds, and generic hooks often make it worse by pushing the bud outward. WC HookZ is shaped specifically so the hook secures the AirPod without pressing against the back of your ear — that's the design decision that matters here.
The materials tell the rest of the story. It's built from extra tempered silicone with rounded edges, which the brand describes as bending without breaking. That's the right property for something that lives in a pocket, gets shoved into a gym bag, and gets stretched on and off. Installation is a few seconds per bud, and a manual is included. You get two size pairs plus distinct left and right hooks, so you're not guessing which way is which in the dark. Color options go beyond plain black and white if you care about that.
Who should buy it: anyone with AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods 1, 2, or 3 who is otherwise happy with how they sound and just needs them to stay put during running, cycling, or sports. Who should skip it: AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 owners — it simply doesn't fit those models. Also skip it if you want open-ear awareness or a charging case, because WC HookZ adds none of that. It contains no electronics at all, so your battery life, audio quality, and controls stay exactly as your AirPods already are.
The i70 is a different animal entirely. It's an open-ear Bluetooth headphone with a hook that wraps over your ear, and it brings its own 14.2mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 6.0, and a wireless charging case. At 4.9g per ear, it's designed to sit outside your ear canal rather than inside it — no in-ear pressure, nothing jammed into your ear. If your ears get sore after an hour of normal earbuds, that's the design choice that will matter most to you.
The open-ear shape has a second benefit: you hear traffic, announcements, and people around you. For outdoor running, cycling, or dog walking, that awareness is a genuine safety feature, not a marketing line. TANALAZ pairs it with directional audio intended to limit sound leakage for privacy, plus an ENC microphone for calls. Controls are touch-based on the bud itself — tap to answer, skip tracks, change volume, or trigger a voice assistant.
Battery is where the i70 pulls clearly ahead of any accessory approach. You get roughly 6–7 hours per charge, extending to a total of 48 hours with the case, and a full charge takes about 1.5 hours. The IPX5 rating means it handles sweat, rain, and splashes, which covers gym sessions and wet-weather runs. It's compatible with iPhone and Android phones, and Bluetooth 6.0 supports multi-device switching between a phone, tablet, and computer.
Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, and gym-goers who want one self-contained product, open-ear awareness, and long battery life. Who should skip it: anyone who specifically wants to keep using their own AirPods, or who prefers the passive isolation of a sealed in-ear fit. Open-ear means you'll hear the world, and that's a feature for some and a dealbreaker for others.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Already own compatible AirPods and just want them to stay in → WC HookZ. It's the cheaper way to solve the problem you actually have.
• Want a standalone headphone, no phone-dependent accessory → TANALAZ i70. It's a complete system with its own drivers, battery, and case.
• Best for battery life → TANALAZ i70. 6–7 hours per charge and up to 48 hours total with the case.
• Own AirPods 4 or AirPods Pro 3 → neither, honestly. WC HookZ doesn't fit those models, so the i70 is your only option here.
• Want to keep your existing AirPods sound and controls unchanged → WC HookZ. It adds no electronics, so nothing about your audio changes.
• Best for sweat and rain resistance → TANALAZ i70. IPX5 is a real rating; WC HookZ relies on silicone durability alone.
• Best for people with sensitive ear canals → TANALAZ i70. 4.9g per ear and no in-ear pressure at all.
In my opinion, the TANALAZ i70 is the one I'd buy for most people shopping this category. It's a complete product — driver, Bluetooth 6.0, IPX5, touch controls, and a charging case that gets you to 48 hours — and the open-ear design is genuinely useful for outdoor training. The WC HookZ is excellent at exactly one job, and if you already love your AirPods and only need them to stop falling out, it's the smarter, simpler fix. But if you're building a workout setup from scratch, I'd go with the i70.
how to wear earbuds with ear hooks
Slide the bud into your ear as normal, then rotate the hook so it curves up and back over the top of your ear, resting behind it rather than pressing on it. WC HookZ uses distinct left and right hooks plus two size pairs, so start with the size that sits flush and swap if it feels tight. The TANALAZ i70 is worn the same way — the hook goes over the ear, with the driver sitting outside your ear canal.
are ear hook earbuds good
They're good for two specific things: keeping earbuds in place during movement, and — in open-ear designs like the i70 — letting you hear your surroundings. The trade-off is that open-ear models don't seal your ear canal, so you get less passive noise blocking. If your priority is staying aware on a run, they're a strong choice; if you want to block out a noisy gym, sealed in-ear buds will isolate more.
how to put on ear clip earbuds
WC HookZ installs by sliding each AirPod into the silicone hook — a few seconds per bud, with a manual included to show the correct orientation. Match the left hook to the left AirPod and the right to the right, then seat the bud in your ear and let the hook settle behind it. The i70 doesn't need installation at all; it's a single unit you simply hook over your ear.
The TANALAZ i70 is the more flexible pick because it's a standard Bluetooth headphone and TANALAZ lists compatibility with iPhone and Android phones, plus multi-device switching between phones, tablets, and computers. WC HookZ isn't a Bluetooth device — it's a silicone accessory — so it only works with the specific AirPods models it's shaped for: AirPods Pro, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 1, 2, and 3.
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