VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

I love listening to tunes when I MTB and ski, so a few years back when I started windsurfing, I was trying to figure out how to listen to tunes on the water almost right away. An Otter case for my nano worked fine to protect the Ipod, but I couldn't find any way to make the earbuds work despite some pretty creative use of silicone. One flooding and the sound was toast.

A few years ago I found the H2o headphones and waterproof boxes online, but the reviews were pretty mediocre so I just waited for the gear to improve. Then late last year they came out with the Surge waterproof earbuds and Amphibix cases, and the early reviews were pretty damn good. For about six months I gave the whole family little tips about what I wanted for my birthday... pretty simple, no worries about what to get, one order on the web, no hassles.

So then my birthday rolls around this Sunday, and I get a new pair of pants. And a pair of shorts. Some sandals. And a book.

Sometimes you've just got to take care of your own needs I guess. Got on line and ordered the case and headphones Monday night, and they arrived before supper yesterday. Tested them out on the water today at CB. Awesome.

The surge earbuds are fully waterproof and immersible. They come with five different soft ear piece sizes so that you can get a perfect fit in your ear canal. Feels like an earplug.... cuts all ambient sound, music sounds great. Only minus is once you're plugged in you can't hear a thing anyone is saying. Helmet helps to keep em' in if you crash hard... another good reason to wear a brain bucket.

The Amphibix case is a soft neoprene case that forms a cuff around your arm. Feels a bit like a miniature harness around your arm when it's on. Nice thing is that since it isn't a device specific case you don't need to get a new one each time you change the pod. Got it in medium. Only complaint is that my 1st gen Nano is a pretty tight fit in there. Once out on the water the access panel allows you to use the controls on the ipod without too much extra effort.

I was very impressed with the system. If anyone is interested I can post more details or a follow up review after more use.

Check it out at: http://www.h2oaudio.com/

seems to me there was a thread on this sometime back....maybe have a look

tunes with beers and friends, the sound of water and waves with sailing/ quiet and the sound of carving edges for me in the snow only, to each his own, thx for the info

I'm with Kus on this one.

I think it's a great idea. Thanks for the review G-Daddy. I'd love to be able to increase my stoke by listening to music sometimes. I'd be a little worried about the in-ear plugs cutting out all sound, especially from boats, but I can't hear them when they approach from downwind anyway.

Let us know how they do after a few sessions,
thanks
Dave

have you tried liquid force "liquid tunes". Fully waterproof mp3 and head phones. Some kiters use em and love em. Can be a little pricy (up to a few hundred) but can be ad on ebay much cheaper ($30-50). Not an I pod but seems like a simple answer.


Reuben

I find music drowns out the voices in my head

JL...that's why I like music

THanks g-daddy. my doc said i need to wear ear plugs to keep out the water since i have surfers ear from years of water, wind and cold. the surgery is pretty invasive to take out the palaps but i have not gone down that road - neither do i wear ear plugs as they are a bother. But I would consider music-buds given the reward of music for putting them in. Do you think these keep out the water (as well as the ambient noise of everything else)?

btw - if anyone has water stay in their head for days after being on the water and has ear aches you might have the surfer's ear... little palaps partially or totally blocking the canal. I'm supposed to wear eag plugs and wash out ears with an alcohol drip/swab after sailing.

What ?!

forget the tunes, now i can listen to Dr. Phil while I 'm rippin. Hee hee.

or maybe just step by step instructions on jibing

Pasta- got same ear probs, the hoodie helps me or the Gath....when headaches start I take a cold tylenol coupled with a single dose of Pseudoephedrine, no prescription needed but they keep it behind the counter cuz you can make meth with it works for me....that and hot/cold/hot wraps or pour water/alcohol/vinegar equal mix in, lie on your side for exactly 5 minutes, then drain. Works on and off, sometimes amazingly so.

but....we digress. Good idea to put anything in your ear to keep water out.....but i guess it would also keep water IN

Four full sessions with the new case and ear buds now... and they kick some serious ass. Well worth considering for anyone who wants to listen to tunes out on the water. I'm just lovin' it.

I fully endorse the product for now. I'll let you all know if I have any problems down the road, but so far it works beautifully. My only suggestion would be to buy the large case, even if you intend to use it with a Nano sized MP3. The medium case is a bit snug around the arm with a wetsuit on, and a bit of a tight fit for the ipod so there is a little fiddling around getting it in and out. Sound from the ear phones is fantastic, and unaffected by full immersion. The case is comfortable on the arm, doesn't open up, or shift around.

Yes the earbuds due block out some sound, but most of the hazards on the water are easily visible.

No these things won't keep your ears perfectly dry.

I have huge respect for those who want to listen to the wind and the waves while they're sailing.... but a little Jane's Addiction or the Red Hot Chilis just sounds so good sometimes while your blasting out there.

Where can i get new ones? i lost one of the rubber thingys on mine

I got the same set up... Plug into the ol' IPod and away you go...
One thing you have to make sure of when you are plugged in is to shoulder check... What the hell am I saying...?Half the people out there don't shoulder check anyway without music....Another thread...
Agreed. The sound of the water and wind is music enough sometimes, but hell yeah on the tunes the rest of the time. Gets you into a groove.
Kinda nice too, you can't hear strangers trying to ask you questions on the beach...Just point to your headphones and shrug your shoulders, they figure it out...;)