Jaybird Sportsband 2 Bluetooth sports headphones

Most portable music players today come with a set of in-ear headphones, but although some can sound decent they are generally not very good and ought to be replaced by a better pair.

In general they tend to be limited by their tiny size which means that only a very small speaker can be fitted inside them. Over-ear headphones are a simple way to get around the problem, but if you want to listen while exercising they are generally far too bulky. The Jaybird Sportsband (model SB2) is an exception.

Designed primarily for exercise use and available in several colours (the model pictured is ‘toffee apple red'), the SB2 set is designed to fit tightly over the wearer's head and stay in place when you're in the gym or out running. And, better yet, it has no wires – instead it connects to music players and mobile phones wirelessly using Bluetooth.

We were a little sceptical both of the idea that the headphones would stay in place and of the Bluetooth connection, but both fears proved unfounded. Connecting the headphones to an iPod Touch took ten seconds or so, and they stayed in place comfortably and without problems during a run. Your music player or phone must of course be Bluetooth-compatible – otherwise a £50 adapter is available to make the connection to the SB2.

The headband has a slightly rubbery finish on the inside, and the pads on both sides adjust vertically to fit. The right side houses five buttons, allowing you to pause, skip tracks and adjust the volume without reaching for your music player itself. The headset is charged using a special USB cable. There is even a microphone, so if used with a compatible phone you can make calls – though that may not be advisable while you are at the gym.

The Sportsband headphones sounded surprisingly good, although we wouldn't want to use them for everyday listening: the tight fit, necessary to hold it in place when moving, became uncomfortable over time, and the headphones leak some sound to the outside world, possibly annoying those around you.

Still, they are an excellent way to listen while working out, but the cost might be offputting – especially if you also need the £50 Bluetooth adapter to connect your music player.