Back in 2019, I was lucky enough to secure a spot in the London Marathon – my first. With a daunting prospect ahead of me, I turned to Jabra to help get me through my training. Six years later, I’ve run a long way – I’m now in my early 30s which means I’ve been forced to take endurance sports seriously (triathlons are cool…), and I have another 26.2 miles ahead of me next year. So once again, I turned to Jabra. Have they too grown with the times? Can they handle me now that I sort of know what Zone 2 is? The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 has answered my call. Let’s find out if these are the best sports earbuds out there.
Fit and first impressions
They feel great. Simple as that, straight in the ear with M-sized earbuds (S and L are also included) and I had to double-check they had gone in. The fit is soft and subtle but somehow stays put when tested with an initial headbang – thanks to signature Jabra ShakeGrip™ technology. Top marks out of the box, maybe a little too comfy as I had to double check they were where they should be a few times when out and about, but trust is earned, not given. Setting them up was simple enough, however, one gripe I had was spending a little too long on the Jabra Sound+ app fine-tuning the buttons to work the way I wanted to, but this is a personal peeve, rather than anything functional.
Sound quality and features
The biggest difference in 6 years can be found, as you’d probably hope, in the sound quality; the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2’s 6mm speakers are fantastic! Rivalling even some over-the-ear audiophile-esq cans. All midtones are rich, the high ends are delicate, and those bass lines can pack a punch. What impressed me the most was the soundscape these little buds can create with spatial sound powered by Dolby Audio, pulling together a 360 concert/music video to power you to your next PB. If you want to get into the details, the companion Jabra Sound+ app will let you customise the equalisers and create your perfect sound profile.
Whether you want to be fully focused or ambient aware, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 has you covered. With an Adaptive Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for just you and your workout, or a Natural HearThrough, to keep you alert on busy streets. I’m a big fan of the ANC as it kept the music in and the world out, no matter what my surroundings were, it really does have a noticeable adaptation.
The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 has all the bells and whistles you would want and expect from wireless earbuds. In-ear detection for auto-pause/resume of playback; built-in microphones for calls; single earbud use if you want to stay even more alert while working or exercising; and multipoint connectivity so you can seamlessly connect to phone and laptop. The one feature I was not expecting was the LE audio smart case. It’s such a simple idea, but I feel as time goes on, I am going to be using it more and more. You plug the smart case into a device (with the supplied cable) and then pair your earbuds to the case, essentially giving you a “wired” connection without the faff of the wires. This is perfect for movies on flights or if you prefer to watch things on your long treadmill sessions.
Build and use in the wild
Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are tough. These durable earbuds are made to the military standard 810H for durability, resistance to humidity, impact and salt spray as well as IP68-rated waterproof, dustproof and sweatproof. I’m not entirely sure what that means, but I do know they can take a hit! Sharing a pocket with my keys; surviving the British elements; falling to the floor due to my lack of grace; handling my inner ears during my tougher training sessions. The Elite 8’s are definitely one of the best sports earbuds I have used in a long time, and you can tell they’ve been designed to last the distance.
They won’t quit on you either as the battery life is long. Up to 8 hours of battery life with ANC on (32 hours with charging case), and the case can zap the earbuds with an hour’s worth of juice in just 10 minutes. I’ve used these earbuds for long runs, gym sessions and expeditions to and from Stansted airport (for the luxury of Ryanair) whilst charging my case only once (and not for very long). Even if fitness isn’t your thing, I can and would recommend the Jabra Elite Active as lifestyle earbuds. Even more so if you’re looking to challenge yourself in the near future, these earbuds will have you working out before you even realise it.
Final thoughts
Just because I have run a marathon before doesn’t make this next one looming any easier, if anything it ramps up the pressure. I know what to expect, the cramps, the blisters, the pressure of a PB. But I also know how incredible it will be once it’s done. The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds and that amazing spatial sound with Dolby Audio are no doubt going to be with me every step of the way. These really are one of the best sport-focused earbuds/headphones on the market right now. I can’t wait to see what Jabra comes up with in another six years.
If you’re gearing up for a new adventure, you can grab a pair directly from Jabra.com.
Author Bio:
Sam Brady is a London based freelance writer and photographer covering travel and lifestyle.
Photographs courtesy of Jabra
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