Although listening to music is a harmless habit while hitting the gym or indulging in any sports activity, it can cause dangerous repercussions while skiing.
Since you won’t be able to hear anyone or anything approaching you, the risk of a collision or injury is at an all-time high. But with bulky jackets and headgears, policing earbuds and headphones is nearly impossible.
So, what is the best way to listen to music while skiing?
Let’s find out.
Can You Listen To Music While Skiing Or Snowboarding?
Yes, given that you remain alert to your surroundings. There shouldn’t be much of an issue as long as you can hear someone shouting at you to watch out.
And for ease of movement and safety purposes, we suggest opting for ski helmet headphones that may cover your ear canals. But make sure that the device fits correctly to prevent it from falling out and causing discomfort. With the right speakers, you’ll also do away with the trouble of using your hands to, say, control the audio, untangle cords, and more.
However, if you’re skiing with friends or in a public area, we recommend going without music. This is because the risk of causing an injury to yourself or others is high with a lot of people around you. And ramming onto someone might even take you behind the bars!
The Benefits Of Listening To Music While Skiing
Contrary to popular belief, listening to music while skiing has its fair share of benefits.
Just like studying, listening to a particular song can get one into the mood and improve athletic performance. You can enjoy feeling like the “main character” while speeding through slopes and conquering difficult terrain!
In some cases, music is proven to trigger an ergogenic effect on sportspeople. Those who know about the concept of synchronous music may be able to understand the aforementioned claims better.
Furthermore, listening to music can even help improve the skier’s rhythm and tempo, boost mood and motivation, and overcome fatigue. So, if you’re careful enough, there’s nothing stopping you from jamming to some of the latest tunes on the hills!
But that’s not all.
The Hidden Dangers
By listening to music while skiing, you’ll be compromising one of your vital senses. Even if you keep the music at the lowest volume, the earpiece will cut off some external noise, putting you at the risk of an accident.
Thus, keep in mind that you’re fully responsible for your and others’ safety. Because of this, we do not recommend beginners to listen to music while skiing.
Additionally, skiing is a loud sport, even though it doesn’t sound like one. From the wind gushing next to your ears to the piercing sound of your skis on the snow-laden slope- there’s a lot of noise up there!
On top of that, if you choose to listen to music, you’re only inviting possibilities of hearing damage. So, to listen to music while skiing in a safe and responsible manner, here’s what you can do.
Best Way To Listen To Music While Skiing
As mentioned earlier, the best way to enjoy music while hitting the hills is by using bluetooth helmet speakers. Remember to opt for something that fits your ears and the safety helmet so that you don’t feel any trouble while skiing.
Also, ensure that the device can be controlled with your voice as using your hands for anything other than holding the ski poles is an open invitation to an accident. Another wise thing to do would be practicing with the said device rather than inaugurating it at the top of a terrifying slope!
Moreover, with many Bluetooth headphones and speakers available on the market, we bet you can find something that allows hands-free GPS navigation, too. This feature will be helpful for your skiing trips as you will be able to look up directions without losing focus on the task at hand, i.e., skiing!
Plus, some Bluetooth speakers/headphones may even allow you to share your location and stay connected with friends.
How To Safely Listen to Music While Skiing And Snowboarding?
Lower The Volume
Loud music on top of the already loud noise of wind and snow can negatively affect your ears. Hence, it is best to keep the volume of your music low, preferably below 70 dB. Anything above that can damage your ears, while sounds over 120 dB can cause hearing loss.
Additionally, we suggest keeping the volume low enough to hear your surroundings when skiing in a crowded area. On the other hand, you can always pump it up when you’re off on a solitary trip!
Being Aware of Your Surroundings
Adding to the previous point, skiers and snowboarders need to pay attention to a lot of external factors. From keeping note of the weather conditions to staying in touch with your friends- ensure that the music does not distract you from any of these factors.
Besides, stay alert throughout the trail to avoid sudden obstacles, route changes, and more. And since these adventure sports are quite risky, to begin with, we recommend gaining some experience and expertise over the sport before introducing music into your routine.
Final Thoughts
That said, we’d like to add a final piece of advice before we leave!
Although sound quality is important while buying speakers and headphones in general, your priority should be comfort and convenience while skiing. The device should neither distract you nor hinder your performance.
As such, we recommend investing in a waterproof device that can be controlled by voice or features thick buttons that can be operated with gloves on. And as we’ve mentioned multiple times before- stay alert and be responsible.
At the end of the day, listening to your favorite song is not worth risking your life!
