Yes, the JLab Go Sport+ cost $29 — which makes them just $5 more than Netflix. I don't know about you, but $29 is way cheaper than my monthly gym membership, cheaper than my weekly grocery bill, and a fraction of the price of my running leggings.
Obviously, if you already have a pair of the best earbuds, like I do, you might not want to shell out even more for some of the best running earbuds. But trust me — proper running earbuds make a huge difference. It's like running with fashion sneakers as opposed to proper running shoes. The JLab Go Sport+ have one job, and they do it really well.
But I wanted to really test them. As I primarily use my AirPods Pro 2 for everything, including running, I wondered how these $29 running buds would stack up against my $249 (but now discontinued) AirPods Pro 2. Can these ultra-cheap buds really beat Apple?
Challenge 1: the fit
Running earbuds and lifestyle earbuds have one major difference: fit. The entire purpose of a running earbud is to stay put in your ear hole, no matter how vigorously you're running.
That's why running earbuds tend to have a 'hook'-style design. This hook fits around the outside of your ear cartilage to prevent falling out or wobbling inside your ear.
It goes without saying that the JLab Go Sport+ fit much, much more securely than my AirPods Pro 2. That's not to suggest that my AirPods fit precariously or that AirPods aren't also great for running — it's more that the Go Sport+ have one job, and they do it really well.
Take a look at my colleague Nikita modeling the Go Sport+ — look at how the hook fits around her ear tightly.
When I was running, I forgot I was wearing them. The Go Sport+ are that secure. Alright, getting them in my ears took a few seconds longer than your AirPods or standard earbuds, but once they were in, they were in. No movement. Like they were soldered onto my cartilage itself. This is ideal for running, as your constant up-down movement can dislodge generic earbuds.
Comparatively, AirPods fit more like those aforementioned generic earbuds. As I have the Pro 2, the silicone tip makes the buds more secure than AirPods 4 (sans silicone tip). Even so, they still move around a little when I run, enough to necessitate my repositioning them mid-sprint.
I don't think this is a surprise, but the JLab Go Sport+ win over the AirPods Pro 2 for fit and security. If you want a pair of cheap earbuds you don't mind getting sweaty — and you want them to lock onto your ears so well you forget you're wearing them — then the Go Sport+ will not let you down.
Challenge 2: sound quality
Don't think I'm about to throw away my AirPods Pro 2 anytime soon, though. There's (obviously) one main area where the Pro 2 reign supreme: sound quality.
Of course, no one buys $29 with the intention of getting some Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Gen 2-dupes or anything. You know what to expect when you pay $29 for earbuds.
I don't think you're really focusing on sound quality when you're running, though. Or, I know I'm not. All I need is a powerful low-end with enough bass to help me propel my legs forward. I try to listen to 180BPM+ music when I run, so I can easily fix my slow cadence.
The Go Sport+ have plenty of bass. When I was listening to electronic music, the synths and drum machines crashed through the earbuds with gusto. In more complex soundscapes — like when I was listening to Slipknot, Linkin Park, and Evanescence — some of the guitars muddied. But even so, these are a) running earbuds, and b) $29.
My AirPods Pro 2 sound much, much better than the Go Sport+. The mids are clearer, and the bass has more separation. However, I was also pushing the darn things back in every five minutes, which distracted me from my workout.
I'm going to keep using the Go Sport+ for runs, but continue to wear my AirPods Pro 2 for everything else. Now I've experienced a run without needing to readjust my earbuds every 0.2 seconds, I'm not sure I can go back.
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