Skullcandy is a brand-name in music listening devices, including headphones, earbuds, MP3 players, hands-free devices and more. Founded in 2003, the highly-successful Skullcandy company was founded on the principle of creating portable audio equipment suited to an active, athletic lifestyle, with a particular emphasis on sports like snowboarding and skateboarding.

Skullcandy's products are aimed at action sport enthusiasts but have reached a much wider demographic -- appealing to sporty and non-sporty types alike.

Sold in over 40 countries worldwide, Skullcandy products are known for their unique, hip hop-inspired design and their versatility throughout a variety of activities.

Skullcandy headphones and ear buds are particularly popular, having been dubbed the "world's coolest ear bud" by CNN Money. Those who would like to purchase Skullcandy headphones have three options -- in ear, on ear and over ear to accommodate the listener's needs.

That's Fit has complete lists of gear to get you through your workout.

If music is as essential to your workout as sneakers or a sports bra, then you've probably spent a fair amount of time hunting for the best earbuds, earphones, headphones, whatever it is you use.

It can be tough finding something with good function, fit and fashion, but FitSugar has found a winner in 2XL headphones.

2XL offers a few different models, depending on your needs (some wrap around the ear; some fit snugly inside), and there are lots of colors to choose from, too. Best of all, they're cheap, ringing in at only $10 to $15 a pair.

Need some workout tunes to motivate your moves? Try our That's Fit playlist.

Photo: Robert Snache - Spirithands.net, Flickr

Maybe I'm a simpleton, but I run with standard issue iPod earbuds when I want some extra motivation. I know a lot of people who loathe them, I'm just not one of those haters. But what if you curse headphones and those white earbuds? Well over at The New York Times, they're talking about the W-series Walkman, which is essentially two Bluetooth-looking earpieces with the mp3 player built right in.

I guess if everyone on the street knew you were listening to music and not on a conference call while running, it might be OK, but I wouldn't want to look like I just jogged out of a sci-fi movie. Our resident marathon runner and AOL senior health editor Jennifer Fields doesn't think they're geeky, but she's still not jogging straight to the store to buy a pair. "If you're already running with a fuel pack you can't really get caught up in looking geeky," she writes in an email, "but I probably still wouldn't wear them." In full disclosure, we haven't tried them out, so we're just going on looks here. But Marathon Tech Review seems to think if we can get over the sci-fi factor, they may be worth a shot.

If you're looking for something much more discreet, there's always the Arriva earbuds. But what's all this complaining about cords? "That sounds like one of those infomercial tactics where they try to make something seem so much more difficult than it really is," Jennifer says. I agree. But that may be because I'm only jogging a few miles at a time.

Around here, we're fans of The Biggest Loser. While we might not always agree with everything the trainers say, one thing that's tough to dispute is that having the right equipment can go a long way toward staying motivated. Just imagine trying to complete a long run without rocking out to your favorite playlist!

A few weeks ago, The Biggest Loser featured the Motorola MOTOROKR S9-HD headset (check out the video right here), which is a device that allows you to listen to music (or a workout) via Bluetooth while taking hands-free calls from most Bluetooth-enabled cell phones so you won't miss that call about the race coming up next weekend.

The S9-HD wireless stereo headphones offer high-def surround sound with noise-isolating ear buds. Plus, from a girlier standpoint, it goes around the back of your head, low enough that it shouldn't interfere with your ponytail. It also goes over your ears, so it won't slip or move out of place even during the most grueling workout. But it gets even cooler.

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I hate to admit it, but the iPod revolutionized the way I run. I remember my first run with it -- nothing bulky to hold, no switching sides of the tape -- just pure, energizing music. It helped me to run faster and further; however, I've run into a problem. I can't find earphones I like.

My original iPod earbuds fit me perfectly -- they stayed in place and caused no pain. However, they recently stopped working, so I tried my husband's earbuds -- no luck. I don't know what's different, but something is, and they slide out of my ears. I tried two other types of earphones -- one pair that was like earbuds but hooked over my ears, and the one that was like a standard set of earphones that also hooked over my ears -- and neither of them worked for me, either. The first didn't stay in place and the second pair really hurt the tops of my ears.

Do you have a pair of earphones you really like? I found this forum with some suggestions, but I'll hold off on shopping until I hear from some That's Fit readers.

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I've got a small head -- my six-year-old has a bigger noggin than me. Luckily, my ears are in proportion to my head, so I don't look like Dumbo. But my tiny ears have never been able to accommodate iPod or MP3 player earbuds. They fall out thirty seconds into a workout. Instead, I wear wrap-around-ear headphones that don't quite fit right, exceedingly jealous of gym rats performing forward lunges with perfectly nestled earbuds.

If you suffer from earbud slippage or even asymmetrical ear canals, check out these potential solutions:

• Ultimate Ears sells custom-fit earbuds. They're pricey -- starting at $129, up to $1,150 -- but considering a custom fit requires an exact impression, I bet they don't fall out. You'll need to chain these earbuds to your body, at this price this is one pair you don't want to lose.
• PodFitKit offers a much cheaper solution. For $16.49, PodFitKit is a moldable, non-toxic silicon material that attaches to your earbuds, hardening to the unique shape of your ear. The kit is offered in a variety of colors -- off-white, blue, red, orange, green and natural.

It's time for me to stop complaining and stick some PodFitKit silicon on a new set of earbuds ... pronto.

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A lot of us use earbuds or headphones pretty regularly, whether it's while working out or during a long subway commute or whatever, and most of us barely give our health and our hearing a second thought while choosing a playlist and adjusting the volume. But research shows we should be giving it some thought, as causing permanent hearing damage is easier than you might think. Experts have suggested some listening guidelines based on how loud you like to crank your tunes (these are for earbuds):

• At 80% of the maximum volume you shouldn't listen for longer than 1.2 - 1.5 hours at a time
• At 70% of the max volume you can listen for quite a bit longer: 4.6 - 6.0 hours
• And if you can keep it to 50% of the max or lower you can listen as long as you want

I have no idea what percentage I usually have my iPod set on, but I'm gonna figure it out!

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