Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Wireless Review

Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Wireless Review

Problem: I wanted wireless headphones that:

• Didn't have any parts that could fall out or off the headphones
• Didn't fall out of my ear during my workout
• Had good sound
• Easy to operate while working out

Review: I was a bit skeptical about how well the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium wireless headphones would work. I already had a lot of questions.

• Would it be easy to pair with my cell phone?
• It was really easy to pair with my cell phone. I had it paired within a few minutes of getting them out of the box.
• How long does a full charge last?
• I didn't keep track of how long a full charge would last. I know I made it though 4 workouts without it losing power. (my workouts are generally 1-2 hours long). Aftershokz claims the battery will last 6 hours.
• Does it take a long time to charge?
• I found it doesn't take long at all to give them a full charge. After using them for 4 workouts, I plugged them in to charge. They were fully charged again within an hour. 
• How difficult is it to power on and power off?
• The power button is easy to find on the right side of the headphones. I was able to power on and power off while I was walking.
• Is it difficult to change the volume level up or down during a workout?
• It was really easy to change the volume level during my workouts. The volume buttons are on the right and are really easy to find without looking for them.
• How difficult is it to change songs?
• This one was a bit tricky. I knew there was a larger Multifunction button on the left that was easy to find that had a lot of different functions. The manual says that single button can control play/pause and skip to next song. I kept getting into the phone options when I was pressing the button.
• With the speaker on the outside of your ear, how clear would the sound be?
• The sound was actually really good. I found it can vary depending on where exactly you have the headphones positioned. If you have them positioned right on your cheekbones, you get a better overall sound experience.
• Would I still be able to hear everything around me while a song is playing?
• I didn't have the headphones playing at a really high volume and I was able to hear the song playing really well, while still being able to hear everything around me.
• Would the headphones stay put during the entire workout? What about when I was sweating?
• I was surprised at how well the headphones stayed put. They never slid down my head while I was running. Even more surprising, they stayed put while I was stretching. I thought they would slide off while I was in downward dog yoga pose.
• Would I be able to wear a hat at the same time and be comfortable?
• I was able to wear a hat and not have it interfere with where the headphones were. It didn't matter if I had my hat on forward or backward. The headphones didn't move from the original position before I put my hat on.

Verdict: I really love the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Wireless headphones! They give me the wireless connection to my phone I was looking for. I haven't had any problems of losing connection with my phone during my workout. I really like how they rest on my cheekbone and don't have to have anything covering or inserted within my ear. I can hear songs clearly during my run and still be able to hear everything around me. I highly recommend getting a pair!

*NOTE: I did not try the phone features. I only wear them when I am working out and I don't take any calls during my workout.

Still 2017 & 3 Races In 2018 Called My Name (OK, Technically More Than 3)

As 2017 is slowly coming to an end, there are races in 2018 that already have had registration open; Bayshore, Detroit Free Press Marathon, and Bill Roney 5K. I've ran each of these races before and had a really good experience at each of them.

Bayshore. This didn't require much thought. I'm lucky enough that my work will pay for the registration. I just need to cover hotel and travel costs. I've ran the half marathon before, and am signed up to run it again in 2018. I felt really good about being able to get registered, I had the hotel booked in beginning of November. I've learned, though it is possible to drive 3 hours in the super early morning, run a half marathon, then turn around and drive 3 hours back, it's not the most fun experience. Having a hotel room definitely is recommended.

Detroit Free Press Marathon. I had to think about this one. Originally, I was thinking of running Grand Rapids Marathon for the first time and hoping to get a BQ (Boston Qualifier), taking advantage of the flat and fast course. Though it would be great to run in a race I've never ran before, there was another 'carrot' dangling in front of me. This year, the Detroit Free Press Marathon has the Motor City Challenge Series. Because it's the first year for this, and I like crazy challenges, I decided to sign up for The Supreme (marathon, 5K, 1 mile). I still plan on training hard for the marathon and still am going after that BQ. That part hasn't changed.

Bill Roney 5K. Last year was my first year running it, and I got a 5K PR! It's a flat and fast course. All proceeds from the race go to support the Hansons Brooks Distance Project team too. If I'm able to keep working hard over the winter, I'm thinking another 5K PR might be obtainable.

I know there will be other races I'll be running in 2018 that I haven't signed up for yet. I'll be running Mason State Bank 5K, Crim 10 Mile/5K combo, Capital City River Run Half Marathon. I've ran those races before, have had really good experiences and set PRs there in the past.

Here's hoping to an injury free rest of 2017 and a strong start to 2018!