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scans_daily2025-09-19 05:18 pm
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Co-plotter and pencils: Paul Ryan
Inks: Danny Bulanadi
The Watcher pops in to say hello, but something isn’t quite right.
( Read more... )
dolorosa_12) wrote2025-09-19 05:23 pmyuletide. My approach this year was to nominate things I'd be both happy to write and receive: a mixture of perennial unfilled requests, old favourites to which I love to return, and fandoms I'm looking to request with a slightly changed batch of characters from those I've requested and received in the past. conuly) wrote2025-09-18 11:24 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
polyrecsdaily_feed) wrote2025-09-19 08:48 amThe Zombie Ate My List, by elishavah. Nestra: Earl. Randy. Zombies. Earl was only in England because Mrs. Wallace’s cousin Martha didn’t have a phone and not even Joy could yell that loud.
regshoe) wrote2025-09-19 05:07 pmRickie's daughter survives. Things go differently.
phantomtomato first requested it two years ago; it took a bit of a long time to come together, but I loved writing it now. ♥brithistorian) wrote2025-09-19 10:52 amI was reading the current issue of American Historical Review this morning and in the reviews, I came across a very clever book title. In a play on the phrase "locus of power," Samuel Dolbee named a book Locusts of Power: Borders, Empire, and Environment in the Modern Middle East.
twocents_feed) wrote2025-09-19 03:30 pmWe may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
It's not often I find sales on the Kindle Paperwhite, especially the latest version—but right now, the 12th Gen, 2024 "like-New" 16GB Kindle Paperwhite is $106.99 (originally $143.99 and $159.99 for a "new" one). The Signature Edition, with an automatically adjusting front light, double the storage, and wireless charging, is available for $126.99 (originally $179.99) and the Kindle Scribe, with note-taking capabilities, starts at $269.99. That's the lowest price for all of these devices, according to price-tracking tools. These deals on used Kindles usually sell out fast, so get one sooner rather than later if you're interested.
otw_news_feed) wrote2025-09-19 03:02 pmThe OTW Board will be holding its next public meeting at 00:00 UTC on October 5 (what time is that for me?).
This meeting will be held in the Board Discord server. The server will have a team of moderators and a set of rules (including question rules) and community guidelines. The server will remain open even after the meeting, but the channels for meeting and asking questions will be read-only. Board will be posting replies to questions that do not get addressed during the scheduled meeting two weeks after the meeting in the server’s #questions-answers channel.
The agenda will include:
Prior to this meeting, there is an opportunity to ask questions in advance to be answered as part of the meeting. This allows anyone who wishes to ask the Board questions, whether they will be able to attend the meeting live or not. Board will also accept questions during the meeting.
Questions submitted to this Google Form will be accepted up to three days before the meeting begins or until 50 questions have been submitted. At that point, the form will be turned off. You need to be logged in to a Google account to submit a question. In the future, these rules may be amended as needed.
Further information will be available in the OTW Board Discord server.
notalwaysright_feed) wrote2025-09-19 03:30 pmRead Wiped The Floor With Your Budget
Completely done with it all, he grabs the first one he sees and heads to the cash register.
Cashier: "That'll be 99,95 euros, please."
My husband freezes. He didn't check the price. His brain pretty much shuts down. All he can think of is to get out of there so... he pays and leaves.
lh_wayfarer_feed) wrote2025-09-19 03:30 pmWe may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
It's not often I find sales on the Kindle Paperwhite, especially the latest version—but right now, the 12th Gen, 2024 "like-New" 16GB Kindle Paperwhite is $106.99 (originally $143.99 and $159.99 for a "new" one). The Signature Edition, with an automatically adjusting front light, double the storage, and wireless charging, is available for $126.99 (originally $179.99) and the Kindle Scribe, with note-taking capabilities, starts at $269.99. That's the lowest price for all of these devices, according to price-tracking tools. These deals on used Kindles usually sell out fast, so get one sooner rather than later if you're interested.
duckprintspress) wrote2025-09-19 11:24 am
Ahoy, mateys! Today be International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and we be celebratin’ with a heapin’ pile of queer piratey books we fished up outta Davy Jones’ locker. Aar, I be shuttin’ up now, so as not to be subjectin’ ye’ll to more of me aaaatrocious pirate talk. The contributors to this here list be: Nina Waters, Dei Walker, Terra P. Waters, theirprofoundbond, Rascal Hartley, Linnea Peterson, Neo Scarlett, and Sebastian Marie.
Peter Darling by Austin Chant
Ten years ago, Peter Pan left Neverland to grow up, leaving behind his adolescent dreams of boyhood and resigning himself to life as Wendy Darling. Growing up, however, has only made him realize how inescapable his identity as a man is.
But when he returns to Neverland, everything has changed: the Lost Boys have become men, and the war games they once played are now real and deadly. Even more shocking is the attraction Peter never knew he could feel for his old rival, Captain Hook—and the realization that he no longer knows which of them is the real villain.
The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind–avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.
But then a window of opportunity opens–a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid.
In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic.
The Pirate and the Porcelain Girl by Emily Riesbeck & NJ Barna
“I want to be beautiful. I want to be interesting. I want to be enough.”
That was Ferra Brickminder’s prayer to win back the love of her life. And the gods answer—just not in the way she expected. After hoping for a miracle, Ferra instead watches her skin turn into delicate and dangerously breakable porcelain.
Elsewhere, Brigantine de la Girona, a disgraced orc pirate captain, has her own problems. Penniless and banished from her home, Brig struggles to make ends meet with her crew as her only support. So, when a desperate Ferra enlists Brig to sail her across the Great Sea to her ex-girlfriend’s home for a very handsome fee, Brig is happy to strike a deal.
Pampered Ferra and tough-as-nails Brig quickly butt heads, bickering their way across the high seas, but as they encounter increasingly perilous obstacles—including the gods themselves—the two become reluctant allies…and maybe more.
Blood on the Tide by Katee Robert
As a bloodline vampire, Lizzie has never had a problem taking what she wants, and right now what she wants are the family heirlooms that were stolen from her, a ship, and a portal home. Unfortunately, even that short list is impossible to accomplish on her own—and her allies have bigger things to worry about. When they rescue a selkie, it’s the perfect solution to her problem. Lizzie needs a guide through Threshold and the selkie needs her skin back.
Maeve didn’t choose to give up her skin—it was stolen from her. Now she’s in an uneasy partnership with a dangerous woman who seems more apt to kill than to share a kind word. It’s terrifying…and a bit alluring. Even though she knows it will end in heartbreak, Maeve can’t help being drawn to Lizzie.
Unfortunately, the danger to Maeve’s heart is the least of her worries. The ship they’re seeking belongs to the Cŵn Annwn, and they don’t take kindly to people who cross them. They’re coming hunting, and not even Lizzie’s viciousness or Maeve’s knowledge will be enough to save them…
“The Missing Prince” by Terra P. Waters in Many Hands: An Anthology of Polyamorous Erotica
Ala scrambled off the mattress and circled it until she could see Théophile’s face. He was bound, blindfolded, and had a dirty gag in his mouth. The urge to play with him was strong, but she resisted, pulling out the gag and removing the blindfold. “Hello, love.”
“Kiss me,” he groaned. “Please, Princess…”
“Théophile,” she said, grasping Kormac’s wrist so he would stop moving his hand. “We’re coming to get you, but we need your help. Where are you?”
“The port city. Channois. They say we’ll sail with the noon tide.”
“That Danger Would Seem Sport” by Sebastian Marie in She Wears the Midnight Crown
“No! I can’t…I won’t just collapse into your arms again like nothing’s changed. Not after–”
“After what? Being separated for something we didn’t do? Thinking the other was dead for years? Almost forgetting what your face looks like? I’m sorry it took me so long to find you again, and I’m sorry I had to leave you in the first place–”
“That’s not something to be sorry for! Piracy is a duty, we knew the risks–”
“No, I’m going to say sorry for that because fuck duty. You didn’t deserve me leaving you, and you definitely don’t deserve to feel so guilty or whatever that you won’t even hug me!”
The Flying Ship by Jem Milton
Queer adventure, humor, and heartfelt friendships star in this fantastical comics tale that truly feels like it’s for everyone.
After being stranded in a forgotten military outpost, grumpy Dobrinia sets out on a quest to marry a princess. But in the vast Tzardom of Glas, where magic has been outlawed, troubled histories can catch up with even a flying ship.
The Flying Ship by Jem Milton makes its first foray into print comics! Their fan-favorite story, originally released digitally, is part of the new collaboration between Dark Horse and Tapas.
Daughter of Tides by Kit Rocha
Aleksi, the charming and charismatic god of love, is dying. But nothing can stop the Lover from completing his final quest: a dangerous diplomatic visit to a former adversary.
Setting sail for a mystical kingdom of ice, Aleksi is joined by Einar the Kraken, infamous pirate lord, and Naia, a sweet young water nymph. Intoxicated by the pair’s electric connection, Aleksi vows to enjoy his last days by playing matchmaker, pushing away his own desires for the sake of theirs. But he’s unexpectedly caught up in a raging game of seduction.
As the trio navigates turbulent seas and the political perils of the Ice Queen’s court, dark secrets reveal clues to one’s tragic past and another’s epic destiny. Aleksi’s powers spin out of control while love and lust run wild. And when enemies emerge from the shadows, the Lover is forced to make a choice. Will he give away his heart to save all that he holds dear?
The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
On Mar León de la Rosa’s sixteenth birthday, el Diablo comes calling. Mar is a transmasculine nonbinary teen pirate hiding a magical ability to manipulate fire and ice. But their magic isn’t enough to reverse a wicked bargain made by their father, and now el Diablo has come to collect his payment: the soul of Mar’s father and the entire crew of their ship.
When Mar is miraculously rescued by the sole remaining pirate crew in the Caribbean, el Diablo returns to give them a choice: give up their soul to save their father by the harvest moon, or never see him again. The task is impossible–Mar refuses to make a bargain, and there’s no way their magic is a match for el Diablo. Then Mar finds the most unlikely allies: Bas, an infuriatingly arrogant and handsome pirate–and the captain’s son; and Dami, a gender-fluid demonio whose motives are never quite clear. For the first time in their life, Mar may have the courage to use their magic. It could be their only redemption–or it could mean certain death.
Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland
Avra Helvaçi, former field agent of the Arashti Ministry of Intelligence, has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world – and the only place to flee with a secret that big is the open sea.
To find a buyer with deep enough pockets, Avra must ask for help from his on-again, off-again ex, the pirate Captain Teveri az-Haffar. They are far from happy to see him but, together, they hatch a plan: take the information to the isolated pirate republic of the Isles of Lost Souls; fence it; profit. The only things in their way? A calculating new Arashti ambassador to the Isles of Lost Souls who’s got his eyes on Avra’s every move; Brother Julian, a beautiful, mysterious new member of the crew with secrets of his own and a frankly inconvenient vow of celibacy; and the fact that they’re sailing straight into sea serpent breeding season and almost certain doom.
But if they can find a way to survive and sell the secret on the black market, they’ll all be as wealthy as kings – and, more importantly, they’ll be legends.
Find these books on our Goodreads book shelf or buy them through the Duck Prints Press Bookshop.org affiliate page.
Need a place to chat about books? Join our Book Lover’s Discord server!
sovay) wrote2025-09-19 10:18 amphilomytha) wrote2025-09-19 04:30 pmtwocents_feed) wrote2025-09-19 03:00 pmDid you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.
Memory is a tricky thing. Scientists have figured out how many units of information you can store in your short-term memory (around seven, though there are great workarounds for remembering more than that), but if you really want to remember something, you have to go over it a bunch of times until it lodges deeper in your brain.
There are quite a few ways to do that if you have some time to devote to the practice of repetition, but if you’re getting ready for a test at school or a presentation at work, you might not have too long to go over the content again and again and again—but you do, if you make a personal podcast. This technique requires you to make an effort only once, then calls on you to relax and absorb the information more passively, making it ideal for studying or reviewing when you are short on time or heavy on other tasks.
Next time you want to retain the details of something you’re studying, open up the voice notes feature on your phone, because you’re going to make yourself a little study podcast. You could simply read your notes out loud into the mic; it’s the simplest option, and a good one. (If you’re memorizing a speech, just perform the whole thing. That's what I did in high school, when I was a forensics nerd and felt that using even a single notecard during a speech meet delegitimized my entire presentation. For what it's worth, I won a lot, which I partially attribute to being off-book while everyone else used aids.)
You do have other, more intensive, options though. You can record separate “episodes” for each mini-topic you’re studying, which will help you organize your thinking and provide an easy way to focus if you need brushing up in a particular area. Use your preferred note-taking method or a reading-and-retaining technique like SQ3R to create outlines that are concise but make sense and hit on the points you most need to study, then write your scripts according to those notes. That part will take a while, but all of it, combined, will help you start to remember what you're supposed to be remembering.
You don’t have to worry about the thing actually being pleasant for others to listen to, so make it useful for your own study style. A few approaches you could take include asking yourself review questions out loud, pausing, and stating the right answer or reading entire passages from your textbook into the mic. You could even try out different characters and turn it into a role-playing scenario. Don't get too involved with it, though, unless that sort of creativity helps you focus; it's better to stick with facts and straightforward audio.
The most important part comes after you’ve recorded your personal podcast: You have to listen to it. You have to listen to it a lot. Play it through the speakers of your car or through your headphones on the train to make your commute productive. Play it at the grocery store, when you’re doing errands around the house, and when you are relaxing at night. Fall asleep listening to it. The first few times, you'll listen pretty actively, but even having it running as background noise will shove that information into your brain.
If you're going to do this, a major component of what makes it valuable is the part where you have to review the material, outline the script, and say it all out loud into your microphone. That's a big chunk of the studying right there. Still, if you don't have time for that or you are worried you won't highlight the most important parts if left to your own devices, there's another option that works well.
Google's NotebookLM is an AI tool that pulls only from the material you give it. That means that unlike competitors such as ChatGPT, it doesn't answer your questions by searching the entire internet. Rather, it searches through PDFs, YouTube videos, links, and other resources you provide—and that's it. One of its coolest features is that it can create "podcasts" for you based on those materials, in addition to its ability to create flashcards and quizzes. These podcasts sound like real ones you might listen to in your everyday life: They have different voices and characters who speak conversationally but factually about the content of whatever you uploaded to the software. I love NotebookLM and use it all the time to organize my work. It's free to use and generates podcasts quickly, so it's worth considering here, too.
Picking things up from your personal podcast is an example of rote learning, the process by which we memorize things based on repetition. But it has other advantages, too.
For instance, even when you’re compiling the notes and deciding what to include in the mini podcast, you’re studying—you’re making decisions about which concepts are most important, how they flow together, and how you can present your mastery of them to others. Even if you choose to let NotebookLM do it, you're still making decisions about which materials from your class or project to upload to the software and how to organize it, which is also studying.
Reading is all well and good, but you remember things better when you process them in a variety of ways. From organizing your notes to speaking them aloud and listening to them read back to you, every part of this process will help you more thoroughly process and recall the content. Each of those is commonly used on its own as a standalone study technique, so imagine how effective they’ll be together.
notalwaysright_feed) wrote2025-09-19 03:00 pmRead Comments Like This Can Submerge You In Deep Water
Customer: "Can I put this in water?"
Coworker: "Put what in water?"
Customer: "Are you blind? This thing in my hand!"
Coworker: "That is a submersible pump. It has the name 'submersible pump' on the label attached to it."
notalwaysright_feed) wrote2025-09-19 02:30 pmRead Sunk By Grandma’s Receipts
Grandma: "Weren’t you gonna break up with him?"
Oldest Sister: *Shocked, nervously looking between Grandma and her boyfriend.* "What?! Grandma, what are you talking about?"
Grandma: "You said you were gonna dump him because he was too boring."
Oldest Sister: *Hissing.* "Grandma, shut up!"
Boyfriend: "Wait… is that true?:
lh_wayfarer_feed) wrote2025-09-19 03:00 pmDid you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding Lifehacker as a preferred source for tech news.
Memory is a tricky thing. Scientists have figured out how many units of information you can store in your short-term memory (around seven, though there are great workarounds for remembering more than that), but if you really want to remember something, you have to go over it a bunch of times until it lodges deeper in your brain.
There are quite a few ways to do that if you have some time to devote to the practice of repetition, but if you’re getting ready for a test at school or a presentation at work, you might not have too long to go over the content again and again and again—but you do, if you make a personal podcast. This technique requires you to make an effort only once, then calls on you to relax and absorb the information more passively, making it ideal for studying or reviewing when you are short on time or heavy on other tasks.
Next time you want to retain the details of something you’re studying, open up the voice notes feature on your phone, because you’re going to make yourself a little study podcast. You could simply read your notes out loud into the mic; it’s the simplest option, and a good one. (If you’re memorizing a speech, just perform the whole thing. That's what I did in high school, when I was a forensics nerd and felt that using even a single notecard during a speech meet delegitimized my entire presentation. For what it's worth, I won a lot, which I partially attribute to being off-book while everyone else used aids.)
You do have other, more intensive, options though. You can record separate “episodes” for each mini-topic you’re studying, which will help you organize your thinking and provide an easy way to focus if you need brushing up in a particular area. Use your preferred note-taking method or a reading-and-retaining technique like SQ3R to create outlines that are concise but make sense and hit on the points you most need to study, then write your scripts according to those notes. That part will take a while, but all of it, combined, will help you start to remember what you're supposed to be remembering.
You don’t have to worry about the thing actually being pleasant for others to listen to, so make it useful for your own study style. A few approaches you could take include asking yourself review questions out loud, pausing, and stating the right answer or reading entire passages from your textbook into the mic. You could even try out different characters and turn it into a role-playing scenario. Don't get too involved with it, though, unless that sort of creativity helps you focus; it's better to stick with facts and straightforward audio.
The most important part comes after you’ve recorded your personal podcast: You have to listen to it. You have to listen to it a lot. Play it through the speakers of your car or through your headphones on the train to make your commute productive. Play it at the grocery store, when you’re doing errands around the house, and when you are relaxing at night. Fall asleep listening to it. The first few times, you'll listen pretty actively, but even having it running as background noise will shove that information into your brain.
If you're going to do this, a major component of what makes it valuable is the part where you have to review the material, outline the script, and say it all out loud into your microphone. That's a big chunk of the studying right there. Still, if you don't have time for that or you are worried you won't highlight the most important parts if left to your own devices, there's another option that works well.
Google's NotebookLM is an AI tool that pulls only from the material you give it. That means that unlike competitors such as ChatGPT, it doesn't answer your questions by searching the entire internet. Rather, it searches through PDFs, YouTube videos, links, and other resources you provide—and that's it. One of its coolest features is that it can create "podcasts" for you based on those materials, in addition to its ability to create flashcards and quizzes. These podcasts sound like real ones you might listen to in your everyday life: They have different voices and characters who speak conversationally but factually about the content of whatever you uploaded to the software. I love NotebookLM and use it all the time to organize my work. It's free to use and generates podcasts quickly, so it's worth considering here, too.
Picking things up from your personal podcast is an example of rote learning, the process by which we memorize things based on repetition. But it has other advantages, too.
For instance, even when you’re compiling the notes and deciding what to include in the mini podcast, you’re studying—you’re making decisions about which concepts are most important, how they flow together, and how you can present your mastery of them to others. Even if you choose to let NotebookLM do it, you're still making decisions about which materials from your class or project to upload to the software and how to organize it, which is also studying.
Reading is all well and good, but you remember things better when you process them in a variety of ways. From organizing your notes to speaking them aloud and listening to them read back to you, every part of this process will help you more thoroughly process and recall the content. Each of those is commonly used on its own as a standalone study technique, so imagine how effective they’ll be together.
lh_wayfarer_feed) wrote2025-09-19 02:30 pmWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
The right headphones or earbuds can make or break a run. Whether you're grinding through mile 20 of a marathon or just trying to make it through a Tuesday morning one-miler, your earbuds need to be up to the task.
My all-time favorite running earbuds were the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100. Comfortable, secure, sweat-resistant, and with just the right amount of ambient sound awareness. Tragically, they've been discontinued, leaving runners like me searching for worthy successors.
Of course, the best running earbuds depend on your specific needs, running style, and preferences. After extensive testing (and more than a few mid-run equipment failures), here's my breakdown of the top options across different categories.
When I'm running around Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, I rely on bone conduction technology to keep my ears completely open to traffic, other runners, and deranged cyclists. As my colleague Daniel Oropeza reviews in-depth here, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are best for anyone who wants to still hear their surroundings without sacrificing too much on audio quality.
I've experienced little-to-no ear fatigue, even during 18+ mile runs. Their IP55 rating has proven true for me, having worn these headphones during humid summer runs, not to mention unexpected downpours. Most important for me, their battery life holds up, lasting even my longest training runs. Plus, even if I forget to charge the night before a run, a quick five-minute charge gives you around 1.5 hours of listening time.
While they'll never match the bass response of traditional in-ear monitors, they provide clear, detailed audio that's perfect for podcasts, audiobooks, and music during my training runs.
For a budget alternative, consider Shokz OpenMove for just $79.95. They're great for runners new to bone conduction who want to test the waters. And speaking of waters—might I recommend this pair of bone conduction headphones that actually work underwater?
I usually prefer the secure fit of headphones over disconnected earbuds. Similarly, Lifehacker's senior health editor Beth Skwarecki prefers ear hooks (even if she knows an earbud is secure, she will worry), and Shokz is her go-to choice as well. She recommends using this measuring guide from Shokz to find the perfect fit for you.
If you prefer earbuds, or you're in a pinch, you can't go wrong with Apple AirPods Pro 2. AirPods are ubiquitous for a reason, and if you like the pair you have, there's no reason you need to buy a new set of earbuds just for running. They've got excellent active noise cancellation, with transparency mode for safety.
For the best fit all-around, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are pretty unbeatable. I'm talking active noise cancellation, earhooks with flexible grip, and even heart rate monitoring.
Another set of wireless earbuds I used to love: the Bose QuietComfort. The only reason I say "used to" is because I tragically left my pair on a plane years ago. They're small but mighty, not mention surprisingly secure given just how little they are. I especially appreciate a pair of earbuds with customizable tap control buttons, so you can easily skip a song that isn't matching the vibe of your run.
Audiophiles may spring for fancier options, but my philosophy here is if you know you're going to sweat in a pair of soundproof headphones, you should use a budget pair for the task.
My under-the-radar budget recommendation for you is the BlueAnt Pump X Headphones. They deliver on the two things I need during an intense workout: sweat resistance and impressive sound quality. If I'm on a treadmill, I need true over-the-ear bass pumping through my skull. The Pump X headphones have an "X-mode" bass boost that feels like it was designed specifically for the moment when you're struggling through that final mile.
My honorable mention in this category is the Soundcore Life Q30 by Anker. They're comfortable, have a solid battery life, and since they cost less than $100, I never feel guilty for sweating profusely in them. Their noise cancellation and sound quality have never disappointed me in the gym.
While I'm not huge on wired headphones myself, they're worth considering. Think about it: no battery anxiety. No Bluetooth glitches. Perfect for races where you want zero tech failures. If you're looking for a backup pair that you know you won't lose, the JBL Endurance Run 2 are just $19.95.
Through years of trial and error, I've identified these non-negotiables in running earbuds and headphones.
Security is everything: If they fall out during mile 15, they're useless. Look for multiple ear tip sizes, ear hooks, or bone conduction designs.
Sweat resistance matters: IPX4 minimum, but IPX7 or IP55+ ratings provide peace of mind during intense training.
Battery life should exceed your longest run: Nothing kills motivation like dead earbuds halfway through a long run.
Sound awareness equals safety: Whether through bone conduction, transparency modes, or single-ear wearing, you need to hear your environment.
Comfort for hours: What feels fine for 30 minutes might become torture after two hours.
While I mourn the loss of my beloved Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are treating me well. Their combination of safety, comfort, and performance makes them ideal for serious runners—especially those wanting to stay safe in city streets, like me.
That said, the best running earbuds are the ones that match your specific needs. Trail runners might prioritize different features than track athletes. Marathon trainers have different requirements than casual joggers (cough cough, battery life). The key is finding the pair that disappears during your run—earbuds that let you focus on your pace, your breathing, and the rhythm of your feet on the pavement.
smbc_comics_feed) wrote2025-09-19 11:20 am
Hovertext:
I believe we've been breeding each other for aww, but so far it hasn't been very successful.
twocents_feed) wrote2025-09-19 02:30 pmWe may earn a commission from links on this page.
Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source.
The right headphones or earbuds can make or break a run. Whether you're grinding through mile 20 of a marathon or just trying to make it through a Tuesday morning one-miler, your earbuds need to be up to the task.
My all-time favorite running earbuds were the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100. Comfortable, secure, sweat-resistant, and with just the right amount of ambient sound awareness. Tragically, they've been discontinued, leaving runners like me searching for worthy successors.
Of course, the best running earbuds depend on your specific needs, running style, and preferences. After extensive testing (and more than a few mid-run equipment failures), here's my breakdown of the top options across different categories.
When I'm running around Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, I rely on bone conduction technology to keep my ears completely open to traffic, other runners, and deranged cyclists. As my colleague Daniel Oropeza reviews in-depth here, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are best for anyone who wants to still hear their surroundings without sacrificing too much on audio quality.
I've experienced little-to-no ear fatigue, even during 18+ mile runs. Their IP55 rating has proven true for me, having worn these headphones during humid summer runs, not to mention unexpected downpours. Most important for me, their battery life holds up, lasting even my longest training runs. Plus, even if I forget to charge the night before a run, a quick five-minute charge gives you around 1.5 hours of listening time.
While they'll never match the bass response of traditional in-ear monitors, they provide clear, detailed audio that's perfect for podcasts, audiobooks, and music during my training runs.
For a budget alternative, consider Shokz OpenMove for just $79.95. They're great for runners new to bone conduction who want to test the waters. And speaking of waters—might I recommend this pair of bone conduction headphones that actually work underwater?
I usually prefer the secure fit of headphones over disconnected earbuds. Similarly, Lifehacker's senior health editor Beth Skwarecki prefers ear hooks (even if she knows an earbud is secure, she will worry), and Shokz is her go-to choice as well. She recommends using this measuring guide from Shokz to find the perfect fit for you.
If you prefer earbuds, or you're in a pinch, you can't go wrong with Apple AirPods Pro 2. AirPods are ubiquitous for a reason, and if you like the pair you have, there's no reason you need to buy a new set of earbuds just for running. They've got excellent active noise cancellation, with transparency mode for safety.
For the best fit all-around, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are pretty unbeatable. I'm talking active noise cancellation, earhooks with flexible grip, and even heart rate monitoring.
Another set of wireless earbuds I used to love: the Bose QuietComfort. The only reason I say "used to" is because I tragically left my pair on a plane years ago. They're small but mighty, not mention surprisingly secure given just how little they are. I especially appreciate a pair of earbuds with customizable tap control buttons, so you can easily skip a song that isn't matching the vibe of your run.
Audiophiles may spring for fancier options, but my philosophy here is if you know you're going to sweat in a pair of soundproof headphones, you should use a budget pair for the task.
My under-the-radar budget recommendation for you is the BlueAnt Pump X Headphones. They deliver on the two things I need during an intense workout: sweat resistance and impressive sound quality. If I'm on a treadmill, I need true over-the-ear bass pumping through my skull. The Pump X headphones have an "X-mode" bass boost that feels like it was designed specifically for the moment when you're struggling through that final mile.
My honorable mention in this category is the Soundcore Life Q30 by Anker. They're comfortable, have a solid battery life, and since they cost less than $100, I never feel guilty for sweating profusely in them. Their noise cancellation and sound quality have never disappointed me in the gym.
While I'm not huge on wired headphones myself, they're worth considering. Think about it: no battery anxiety. No Bluetooth glitches. Perfect for races where you want zero tech failures. If you're looking for a backup pair that you know you won't lose, the JBL Endurance Run 2 are just $19.95.
Through years of trial and error, I've identified these non-negotiables in running earbuds and headphones.
Security is everything: If they fall out during mile 15, they're useless. Look for multiple ear tip sizes, ear hooks, or bone conduction designs.
Sweat resistance matters: IPX4 minimum, but IPX7 or IP55+ ratings provide peace of mind during intense training.
Battery life should exceed your longest run: Nothing kills motivation like dead earbuds halfway through a long run.
Sound awareness equals safety: Whether through bone conduction, transparency modes, or single-ear wearing, you need to hear your environment.
Comfort for hours: What feels fine for 30 minutes might become torture after two hours.
While I mourn the loss of my beloved Plantronics BackBeat Fit 2100, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are treating me well. Their combination of safety, comfort, and performance makes them ideal for serious runners—especially those wanting to stay safe in city streets, like me.
That said, the best running earbuds are the ones that match your specific needs. Trail runners might prioritize different features than track athletes. Marathon trainers have different requirements than casual joggers (cough cough, battery life). The key is finding the pair that disappears during your run—earbuds that let you focus on your pace, your breathing, and the rhythm of your feet on the pavement.
