When was the last time you cleaned your earphones?
Me neither, but we're not alone because a massive 98% of gym users don't wash their earphones regularly, according to research.
So prepare to be grossed out when I tell you that earphones have more bacteria per cubic centimetre than your average toilet seat! Yuk!
So that's why it's important to have a decent pair of earphones that can be washed easily and that you feel confident will still work after you've sanitised them.
Step forward the JBL Reflect Flow Pro earpbuds which come with an extreme IP68 water protection against sweat, rain or dust meaning there's no excuse not to keep your ears clean!
And these earbuds are not just a joy in the ears but also on the eyes from the moment they arrive.
The packaging - a front hardcover with magnetic closing and a window to show off the buds - screams at you that there's a premium product inside and you almost feel guilty unboxing them.
The earbuds come in a slick USB-C charging carry case with a matt finish which means no sweaty fingerprints can be left.
JBL has included different size ear tips and what they call 'Powerfins' to help you achieve the best fit possible.
Now the last thing you need is for your earbuds to hurt or fall out while working out. But JBL have included a Check My Best Fit feature on their app to help you get the best sound performance and maximum comfort. By testing for sound leakage during headphone usage the app quickly determines when you’re getting the best fit from the ear tips.
Now, if I'm honest, I, like some other users, struggled with getting the right fit at first. But after experimenting I found that the best fit for me was in fact with no fins so worth considering if you're having difficulties getting comfortable.
When you've finished your workout you just pop the buds back in the charging case - a clever magnet ensures they are locked in the right place - ready for next time.
With active noise cancelling off JBL claims the battery can last 10 hours. This reduces to eight hours with it on. And there's another 20 hours of power in the case!
But, if, like me, you can sometimes forget to charge your devices then there's no need to worry here because just 10 minutes of charge will give you an hour of music.
The main settings are controlled by taps to the earbuds to activate Ambient Sound Control, Active Noise Cancelling and Smart Audio.
This enables you to hear more of what you want and less of what you don't with the Adaptive Noise Cancelling adjusting automatically or via the JBL Headphones App to control distractions. The Smart Ambient feature helps you feel safe on walks and runs or allows you to chat with a friend while listening to music.
Should a call come in during your run or yoga or gym session, you can answer or reject it with a simple touch of the earbud. You can also engage your voice assistant, sort or stop your music, or adjust the volume in either earbud with a quick tap.
The earbuds sound as good as they look, utilizing 6.8mm dynamic drivers to deliver a solid sound for all uses.
You don't need to worry about your voice dropping out when you're outside, in a crowd, or running on a breezy day thanks to six mics - one which is used for wind suppression.
With VoiceAware you can control the amount of mic input is routed back into your earbuds and choose how much to hear of your own voice.
But the icing on the cake for me is the fantastic EQ which comes with custom presets you can save for your library of music, giving you total control over how you want your music to sound during a workout.
Winner of a 2021 Red Dot Product Design Award, the JBL Reflect Flow PRO True Wireless earbuds are now available on uk.jbl.com for £159.00 in black, blue, white, and pink.
