Ever felt like your earbuds were holding you back during workouts? Meet the Oladance OWS sports earbuds – they’re shaking up the game! These open-ear buds promise to keep you tuned in to your music and your surroundings. But do they live up to the hype? 

We’ve put them through thorough testing so that you don’t have to. Whether you’re a fitness freak or just looking for comfy earbuds during your workout, you won’t want to miss this review. Let’s dive in! 

What Are the Oladance OWS Sports?

The Oladance OWS Sports are wireless open-ear headphones designed specifically for sports and active lifestyles. Unlike traditional in-ear buds or over-ear headphones, these use an open-ear design that sits just outside your ear canal, allowing you to hear your audio while still maintaining awareness of your environment.

Key Features:

• Open-ear design for situational awareness
• IPX8 water resistance
• 15-hour battery life
• Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity
• Customizable EQ via the companion app

Unboxing and First Impressions

When the Oladance OWS Sports arrived, we were immediately impressed by the packaging. Inside the sleek box, we found:

• Oladance OWS Sports headphones
• Hard carrying case
• USB charging cable
• User manual

The headphones themselves have a premium feel, with a flexible silicone band connecting the two earpieces. The build quality is excellent, and you could easily tell these were designed to withstand intense workouts.

Design and Comfort

The Oladance OWS Sports features a unique design that wraps around the back of your head, with the speakers sitting just outside the ear canals. Here’s what we noticed about the design and comfort:

Pros:

• Lightweight and flexible
• Comfortable for extended wear
• Stays in place during vigorous activity
• No ear fatigue from in-ear pressure

Cons:

• Can interfere with some hats or hoodies
• Not as discreet as true wireless earbuds

For us, the comfort level was outstanding. While testing it was worn for a 2-hour run and barely been noticed. The open-ear design meant no sweaty ears or that “plugged” feeling you often get with in-ear buds.

Sound Quality

Now, let’s talk about the most crucial aspect – sound quality. As an open-ear design, we were curious to see how the Oladance OWS Sports would perform. Here’s our breakdown:

Highs: Crisp and clear, with good detail on cymbals and high hats.

Mids: Vocals come through nicely, though not as forward as with in-ear designs. 

Lows: Surprisingly punchy bass for an open design, though not as deep as closed-back headphones.

Overall, we were impressed with the sound quality. While it doesn’t match the immersive experience of high-end closed headphones, it offers a good balance for outdoor activities where situational awareness is key.

One interesting feature is the wind noise reduction technology. On windy days, I noticed a significant improvement in audio clarity compared to other open-ear headphones I’ve tried.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Oladance claims a 15-hour battery life for the OWS Sports, and we found this to be accurate in our testing. Here’s a quick rundown of our experience:

The Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity was rock solid. We experienced no dropouts during our testing, even when our phone was in a waist pack during runs.

Water Resistance and Durability

With an IPX8 rating, the Oladance OWS Sports are built to handle sweat and rain with ease. To test it out we took these out on several rainy runs and even rinsed them off under the tap afterward without any issues.

Though we wouldn’t recommend swimming with them, they’re more than capable of handling any land-based workout you throw at them.

Controls and App Experience

The physical controls on the Oladance OWS Sports are simple and effective:

• Right earpiece: Volume up/down, power on/off
• Left earpiece: Multi-function button (play/pause, skip tracks, voice assistant)

We found these much easier to use during workouts compared to touch controls on some true wireless earbuds.

The Oladance app adds extra functionality:

• Custom EQ settings
• Button customization
• Firmware updates

While not essential, the app does provide some nice additional features for those who like to tweak their audio experience.

Who Are These For?

After extensive testing, we believe the Oladance OWS Sports are ideal for:

1. Runners and cyclists who want to stay aware of their surroundings
2. Gym-goers who like to hear their environment between sets
3. Office workers who need to stay tuned into conversations
4. Anyone who finds traditional earbuds uncomfortable

However, they might not be the best choice if you:

• Primarily use headphones for commuting or air travel
• Need deep, thumping bass, however such bass could have serious toll on your ear bud
• Prefer a more discreet look

The Verdict

Pros:

• Excellent comfort for long sessions
• Great situational awareness
• Impressive sound quality for an open design
• Long battery life
• Solid build quality and water resistance

Cons:

• Expensive compared to some alternatives
• Not ideal for noisy environments
• Some may prefer a true wireless form factor

Overall Score: 9/10

The Oladance OWS Sports headphones have become our go-to for outdoor runs and gym sessions. They offer a unique blend of audio quality and environmental awareness that’s hard to beat for active users. While the price point is high, the build quality and feature set justify the investment for serious athletes and tech enthusiasts.

Wrapping Up

The Oladance OWS Sports represent a significant step forward in balancing sound quality with situational awareness – a crucial factor for many outdoor enthusiasts and athletes.

During our testing, we found ourselves reaching for these headphones more often than I expected. Whether it was for a morning jog, home office, or even doing yard work, the Oladance OWS Sports provided a comfortable and enjoyable listening experience without isolating us from the world around us.

So, if you’re a tech enthusiast who loves staying active, the Oladance OWS Sports offers a compelling package.Remember, the best headphones are the ones that fit your lifestyle. If you prioritize awareness and comfort during your workouts or daily activities, and you’re willing to invest in quality audio gear, the Oladance OWS Sports should be on your radar.