Burton's Headphone Beanie reviewed
By Marc Perton 
posted December 14th 2004 9:42AM
posted December 14th 2004 9:42AM
Snowboarding gear maker Burton is determined to make sure you can keep rocking on or off the slopes. The company, which has come up with such functional clothing as the first jacket with embedded iPod controls and a snowboarding helmet with built-in speakers, now offers a beanie-style hat with integrated earphones. The Gadgeteer reviewed the $39.95 hat and gave it props for warmth, functionality and "surprisingly awesome" sound.
WAIT UP. You just called Burton a "Ski-gear maker".
They are a Snowboard equipment manufacturer. Huge (and heated) difference between skiiers and snowboarders. If you wanted to keep it generic you could call them "alpine sports" or maybe "downwhill" but ski ... yikes.
I too take issue with this reference.
Who cares if they are a snowboard or ski gear manufacturer, all i care about is if the beanie is worth buying.
Either way, it's a bit of a stupid idea.
You'd think that, in most cases, hearing would be pretty important on the slopes.
Besides, who'd wanna mute out the sound of carving snow anyway?
For us below the snow line in the South the difference in description of the manufacturers is moot. Other than that it's a goofy looking hat..
I want earphones in my straw sun hat!
Ok, ok... I just can't understand this one. Is it just me or everybody and her alpine-gear-making-sister is jumping on the bandwagon to make slope helmets that will keep you close to your MP3s, but nobody though about safety? Shouldn't those skiers/snowboarders be listening for sounds of other people rippin' too close to them?
I can't wait for those bluetooth-enabled, MP3-playing, car-driving helmets to show up. 'Cuz you know, you'll need a helmet when you start plugging in your earphones to drive.
I wouldn't wear my shure e3's while riding, but some low level tunes isn't all that dangerous. It's a lot like driving, you need to be constantly aware of everyone and everything around you. I sure play my car radio loud enough to drown out the road. it's not like you would hear the sound of some gaper losing control before they blindsided you anyway.
re: picture
Buck or Doe?
15 year old "doe" wearing no make-up. ;0)
I just purchased this and it's really cool. It's well-made and the headphones come out when you need to clean your beanie.
This will be perfect for walking the one mile to the subway every winter morning. And, the best part is that it makes me look like a cosmonaut.
Aye... the Cosmonaut-look is a priceless bonus!
What goes down must come up. Moving downhill isn't the only time you can use the headphones. Perhaps it's too early in the season to remember the potential for long-long-long lift lines and rides back up the mountain. Also, lets not forget about those who commute using public transit in cold weather, along with those who'd like an easy way to listen to Iron Maiden's best while cross country skiing..
This is the best idea EVER! Now snowboarders can finally enjoy their day without all that pesky "Get the &*!$ out of my way!" that everyone seems to shout!
HAHAHAHAHA, I was wondering the same thing about the picture. I always feel bad when I can't tell what sex someone is. Though I'm not sure if I feel bad about me or them.
HAHAHAHAHA, I was wondering the same thing about the picture. I always feel bad when I can't tell what sex someone is. Though I'm not sure if I feel bad about me or them.
LOL!
Seriously, call me a square but not only do I not want to listen to music when skiing, I think it's a wee bit dangerous to have people who either won't be able to hear other people at all or will have more distractions to deal with while riding.
A lot of the people that I know who wear headphones when they ride only wear them when they are riding in a snowboard park/halfpipe. In a park/pipe you dont have to worry about other people and if someone gets in your way they will probably get the cr*p beat out of them.
It is more etiquette than thuggery. There is a lot of "got next" or queueing up that goes on in skateboard/snowboard parks.
this is retarded. do i need pants and underwear in one? a tshirt and singlet in one?
why headphones and beanie?
We reviewed the Beanie over at Playlist a while back. It's actually quite cool. And although the stock headphones are better than we expected, you can upgrade the sound considerably by replacing them with the earpieces from the $20 Koss SportaPro.
people are acting like this is some new idea. It isn't. Burton made this because people wanted it. Its not like nobody was listening to music on the slopes before this came out. People who dont like it are the same people who didnt listen to music before this and vica versa. Its cool that now its some sort of integrated unit. I remember triple wrapping my minidisc with ziplock bags to keep it from getting soaked back in 97. Good job burton for listening to your consumers.
people are acting like this is some new idea. It isn't. Burton made this because people wanted it. Its not like nobody was listening to music on the slopes before this came out. People who dont like it are the same people who didnt listen to music before this and vica versa. Its cool that now its some sort of integrated unit. I remember triple wrapping my minidisc with ziplock bags to keep it from getting soaked back in 97. Good job burton for listening to your consumers.
James said: "this is retarded. do i need pants and underwear in one? a tshirt and singlet in one? why headphones and beanie?"
Answer: Form + Function = Bliss
You obviously don't have to walk long distances in the bitter cold.
I'm not sure I'd want to ski in these (the quiet appeals to me when I cross-country). But for city walking, it's perfect.
ha! thx for changing it to "Snowboarding gear maker" :D
The DIY Headphone Beanie:
http://small-fish.com/ryan/2004/12/diy-headphone-beanie.htm
Hitting Tahoe this weekend 3 days strong. If you're goofy-foot, watch out for my blind backside. ;)
This is a great Idea!!! Just be safe not stupid.
P.S. That's obviously a girl(And a very cute one) give her a break she's 15!!(At least she's not painted like Britney.)