BY On 23 March 2023, runners from TRIBAL Triathlon Club got to try their hands on the latest SONY Float Run sport headphones – the electronic company’s latest addition to their already massive music device line-up - designed specifically to endure the rigours of run training.
There was no better way to test the product through its paces than to conduct the product trial during the TRIBAL Thursday Track Session (90min) at the Ministry of Education Co-Curricular Activity Branch (CCAB), Evans Road. The local-based Triathlon Club leads these coached sessions on a weekly basis that are open to athletes of all abilities - with the aim to get runners fitter and faster through a structured approach.
The first half of the session focuses on developing running efficiency and technique through form drills and exercises at the multi-purpose court before breaking into various pace groups to start off the interval workouts on the track that look to build speed and endurance.
It was a humid evening for a threshold workout and the participants who drew out the headphones really enjoyed the music boost that gets them through the tough run session. We caught up with two runners from the group after the workout to hear what their thoughts and feedback on the new Sony Float Run headphones were:
Chun Yee Tan & Jerron Chua
Chun Yee is a recreational runner who recently started the sport of triathlon while Jerron Chua is an Aquathlete (Swim/Run) competing at the Intervarsity and National level.
RUN SG: Do you listen to music while running/training and is it an integral part of your lifestyle?
Chun Yee: Yes, music is definitely an integral part of my lifestyle. I love a good soundtrack when I am doing my longer runs and something upbeat especially when I'm doing strength and conditioning sessions at home or in the gym – it makes the workout so much more enjoyable (and gets you through the tough sets).
Jerron: I like to listen to music when I am doing my recovery runs and on easy days as it helps me relax and get into a nice rhythm. Depending on the soundtrack I have got on tune, the type of music I listen to while running also helps me adjust my tempo. If I am doing a hard or fast speed workout, I like to hear something that gets me pumped with a fast beat to get me through the session. Listening to music has always been an integral part of my life as I enjoy it in all aspects of racing – both pre, during and post training and racing.
RUN SG: What do you look for in a sports earpiece?
Chun Yee: It is extremely important that a sports earpiece fits snugly and has minimal to no bounce so that it does not distract me (having to adjust it continuously) while I am focusing on nailing the workout. Safety is also of utmost important to me especially when I am listening to music while running outdoors. The earpiece needs to be able to provide quality sound yet allow me to listen to my surroundings and react accordingly to any impending situation.
Jerron: The first thing I look for is comfort and design of the sport earpiece. Given the training environment I feel that a sport earpiece has to sit comfortably as the undulating motion of running means the earpiece has a strong tendency to drop and it also has to be durable enough due to the sweat, water and dirt it might be exposed to on a regular basis. Finally, I want to look cool while running so the design should preferably be something stylish!
RUN SG: What's your first impression of the Sony Float Run!
Chun Yee: The off-ear design is definitely something unique where the speaker “floats” right beside your ear – unlike most of my other sports headphones and earbuds I have tried which are in-ear. The fit was surprisingly stable through the session and I really like how it gives off a surround sound system-like experience while allowing me to hear my surrounding if needed (which is very important especially when I am running where there are many other athletes training). Sound quality is not compromised either and sits right up there with the in-ear designs.
Jerron: I feel that the Float Run headphones stand out with the unique off-ear design that catches the eye. Connectivity is swift and music quality is great. I like the small gap between my ears and the speaker so that it does not cause any stuffiness or abrasions and it allows me to hear my surroundings better (e.g., when my coaches or teammates are speaking) and avoid unwanted accidents. An area to be improve would be having some micro adjustability to the fit as the earphone only comes in one size so some with odd shaped head profiles might struggle with the fit slightly.
Experience the Sony Float Run headphones for a retail price of S$199 (inclusive of GST) from selected retail shops or Sony's online store. Enjoy an exclusive 10% discount by using promo code FLOATRUN10 when purchasing from Sony Store Online!
Founded in 2019, we are a team of triathlon coaches with a strong passion to raise the sport of triathlon in Sunny Singapore. We hope to share and impart the skills and techniques that we have honed to the new, the seasoned and also the next generation of triathletes!
For more information, please visit TRIBAL Triathlon Singapore.
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