[Note: Road Noise provided John and I with road noise vests for our review. We agreed to review the vests and provide our honest assessment.]
“So, how did you like the Road Noise vest during the race?” I asked John the morning he ran 100 miles at the NJ Ultra Festival.
“It’s the sh!t.” He replied.
If you’ve never heard of the Road Noise vest, then I am excited to be the one to introduce you to this invention which solves problems for endurance athletes of all type–runners and cyclists in particular.
In sum: Road Noise is a headphone-free way to listen to music while you are your training and racing.
As you can see from the pictures throughout this post, the Road Noise vest has speakers embedded near the shoulders. You can hear the music, but it doesn’t drown out the other ambient sounds, such as your breathing, footsteps, and cars–which is key for safety.
As an added bonus, this vest offers a workaround to racing rules that say you can’t use earbuds.
The idea for this product comes from Shelley Stout, who got creative when the Hood to Coast Relay Race banned the use of headphones, but not speakers that are below the head. She rigged up an early prototype, by hooking a speaker into her sports bra so she could still have music. That innovation eventually became the vest you see here. (You can read their story here.)
According to Shelley’s husband Rob Stout, who is also a co-founder of the company, “Observing her contraption during the relay, combined with the reflective vest that’s required during the evening, is what lead to the idea to combine the two ideas into one and that’s how the Road Noise vest came about.”
But, you don’t have to be running a relay to love this vest.
John commented that he really appreciated the vest once night fell, as wearing earbuds on a dark trail could get disorienting (especially after 70 miles or so!). He also liked not having something in his ears – after 18 hours I guess that could get a tad annoying.
As spectators, John’s parents and I also loved the vest. The course was a 10 mile loop, and there was a section of road about a quarter of a mile away where you could catch a glimpse of the runners about 3 minutes or so before they would get to the loop finish/start area.
During the day, we could see his orange vest as he cross this little section, but that became challenging as the sun set. But, no worries! It was so easy to tell when he was coming thanks to all of the reflection from the road noise vest. Every time he came around to finish a loop, we had his nutrition ready to go. No one else was lit up as much as he was!
It’s not just for running!
The initial function of this vest was to serve a unique issue for runners. But when John first told me about it, my first thought went to my bike and those long 4-6 hour sessions, trudging alone through the pine barrens of New Jersey.
I don’t wear earbuds because I don’t think they are safe for cycling. I was side-swiped by a car before, so I would much rather slog through boredom than have a car run me into a ditch.
Call me a sissy if you must.
I’ve tried the vest several times during my outdoor rides and it’s awesome. I believe I have a new training partner.
If you are considering a Road Noise vest, here are some particulars about the fit and the sound.
How does it fit?
The vest fits over your shoulders and has adjustable velcro flaps that fit over the mid-section of your torso, right at the base of your rib cage. In terms of sizing: I’m 5’3″, 125 pounds and I have a small. John is 6’0″, 170 pounds and he has the extra large.
The vest is light-weight–6.8 ounces for a large–featuring polyester mesh material, with 3M Scotchlite® reflective stripes that keep you VERY visible while on the road. Based on our experience at the NJ Ultra Festival, no one will have any problem at all seeing you!
There are two pockets in the front, a larger one that will hold your music player (such as iPhone, iPod, or other MP3 device) and a smaller one for money, gels, a key, or whatever.
John and I have been using our iPhones, which fit perfectly in the larger pocket. In fact, you don’t even know they are there: no bouncing, no jiggling, and no chafing. I thought maybe they would bounce around – but no.
Snug as a bug in a rug – or, as I like to say, snug as a iPhone in a Road Noise vest.
You simply plug the device into the vest (shown in the picture at left) – and voila! There is a short cord in the pocket, which is easily tucked away. I really like this feature because the dangling cord of my mp3 player while I run drives me insane sometimes. I find that I’m always fumbling around to tuck it into something. With this vest, there’s no need because there aren’t any long cords to deal with.
This video provides an overview of how it works:
How does it sound?
This is the important question, right? Can you actually hear the music?
For both running and cycling, the answer to the question is definitely yes.
Whether running on the trails or the road, the music is easily heard, without drowning out the sounds around you. You can hear cars, your breathing, footsteps and other runners.
It’s important to note that when cars go by, they can drown out the sound of the music. But, I think that’s the point of wearing this vest–to be able to hear all of the sounds in your environment. So, if you are going to run on super busy roads, this vest isn’t an ideal option. But, do you really want to run on super busy roads anyway?
Water and Sweat
The speakers on the vest are water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about rain or sweat harming them. However, the company doesn’t recommend submerging the speakers in water. To wash the vest, you need to take the speakers out of their pockets before putting the vest in the washing machine.
The pockets that hold the music device are mesh. So, your sweat (or rain) will permeate the pockets. I’m a sweaty-betty, so as the weather warms, and I’m no longer wearing several layers of clothing, I will wrap my iPhone in a ziploc bag to keep my sweat (or rain) from getting all over it. For those of you with waterproof cases for your phones or mp3 players, this won’t be an issue.
The Verdict
Both John and I recommend the Road Noise vest for running and cycling–especially for solo excursions. If you like to listen to music while running and cycling, but you are concerned about safety, and the ability to hear the sounds around you (including the ones your own body makes), this is a great solution to address that problem.
These vests have functionality beyond cycling and running. They are useful for strength and core training, since you don’t have to fuss around with cords. I also think the vests could be great for skiing or snowboarding, housework, and the website even mentions gardening.
The vests can be purchased online, through these retailers.
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Do you listen to music when you train? Would a vest like this be useful for you?
