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Fit Gadgets: Oakley Split THUMP

Categories: Fashion and Beauty, Fitness, Reviews & Products


Oakley came out several years ago with the THUMP, a sunglass/mp3 player combo. It was a really cool idea, because, really, how much extra stuff do you to carry when you go running? And it's great to not have to worry about cords or earbud slippage. Plus, the earphones hover just outside your ear, so while you can hear the music, other noises aren't entirely blocked, which is a nice safety feature.

They've now come out with an improved version, the Oakley Split THUMP. The first improvement I noticed was the fact that the earphones are removable, so if you show up at a race and find out only then that you can't have earphones (not like that's ever happened to me or anyone I know), you've still got glasses. Plus, if you're out for a run and then head out to the beach or park to hang out with friends, you can remove the earphones.

Additionally, the sound quality has improved (though, I actually hadn't noticed it being all that bad to begin with). They come in two varieties, a 512MB for $249, and a 2GB for $399, so you should be able to fit enough music on there to last your entire workout. The battery life is estimated to be around seven hours, so that should hold out for you, too.

Oakley Split THUMP(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Without earphonesDetachable speakersOakley Split THUMPWith accessoriesOakley Split THUMP
The style isn't exactly high-fashion, but they're not bad looking. They're large enough to block out the sun, and of course, they have the standard Oakley 3-point fit and sweat resistant frame to keep them in place and from putting unnecessary pressure on your nose as you work out. And, the controls for the mp3 player are now hidden within the "O" logo, so if you decide to sport these without the earphones, they really just look like regular glasses.

My only complaint about these is the size -- they are a little too big for my head. They seem to fit men really well, and some women, but you would definitely want to try them on and make sure they work for you before dropping the cash on them. If they fit, though, you're in for a treat!

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