2010 Skullcandy Smokin' Buds

When Apple's iPod headphones just can't cut it, the first company snowboarders (and lately the whole world, it seems) turn to is Skullcandy.  With sleek styles and loud colorways, Skullcandy offers the perfect audio accessory for complementing your own steez.

So it's clear that Skullcandy makes pretty stuff, but how does it hold up?

The biggest problem for most riders when it comes to headphones is they just don't stay in/on.  If you wear a helmet like I do, that eliminates everything in the over-ear category, so you are left with two options: integrated audio for your helmet (integrated audio packages for most helmet models can prove costly--$50 or more, if available) or in-ear buds.

Skullcandy Smokin' Buds are made to stay low profile, though as mentioned there is no lack of themed colorways available to add your own possibly glowing personal touch.

All of Skullcandy's in-ear buds come with three sizes of ear buds to customize your fit, but what sets the Smokin' Buds in a slightly higher price range than others are an in-line volume control and special thread coated wires for added shielding and durability.

Having used other models in the line, I can say that the Smokin' Buds have much more solid connections from the wire to the phones and input jack; it doesn't feel you might accidentally snap the wires if the phones get jerked a little--I've given my pair some pretty hard yanks with no sound loss. 

Audio quality is another area where the Smokin' Buds earn their higher price tag.  Now, I don't profess to be an audiophile and I'm sure Skullcandy makes some junkies' heads want to explode, but I really enjoy the deep hits these tiny speakers produce.  These phones get a much broader range of highs and lows, and an all around more immersive sound than lower-end models in the Skullcandy line.

And if I'm making these phones sound expensive, they retail for only $30!

I have to admit, even though these are in-ear headphones, they won't stay in much better the Apple iPod phones when you're riding unless you wear a balaclava to hold them in place...  I've come to the conclusion that falling off is simply the nature of headphones and motion-based activities.