Zipbuds to Avoid Tangled Earbuds

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.gearlog.com/2010/12/zipbuds_keep_your_headphone_ca.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ziffdavis/gearlog-ziffdavis+(Gearlog)' target='_blank'>http://www.gearlog.com/2010/12/zipb...davis+(Gearlog)</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Everyone's been there: you pull out your phone or your media player, and then you pull your headphones or earbuds from your pocket or bag only to find the cables are all tangled and knotted in a way that shouldn't physically be possible. With the tangle-resistant Zipbuds by DGA, you can finally get a pair of earbuds that won't get tangled the instant you put them back in your bag."</em></p><p><object width="600" height="360" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/IPYqJJzOqp0&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IPYqJJzOqp0&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /></object></p><p>Interesting concept, using a zipper to join the two sides of your earbuds to prevent the tangled mess that usually happens when you stuff your earbuds in your pocket or bag. I think I'll wait until they come out with the version that has the built-in mic. If you don't care about having a mic then you can pick these up at <a href="http://www.dgastore.com/collections/zipbuds" target="_blank">the Zipbuds store</a> for $39.95 USD.</p>

[rockinthesixstring]

Better yet would be something that you can attach onto any existing headphones. I have a pair of $400 Sure SCL-5 headphones, and sacrificing the quality is not worth the anti-tangle convenience. But if I could throw something like this onto my headphones, then we'd be in business!

[Dyvim]

I find that the little clip that was added to the Apple earbuds starting with the iPhone 3GS goes along way towards preventing tangles (also the wires themselves seem to have been improved to be less tangle-prone, more rubbery).

(Yeah, I know, I shouldn't be using the pack-ins but (a) they're included, (b) I really like the mic and controls, and (c) I only use them when I'm on the street and it's not like I'd be getting my money's worth out of $400 earphones while cars are whizzing by, etc.)

An interesting idea anyway. Seems like something more along the lines of a ziplock might be a more practical and even more elegant solution (one earbud has a flanged groove that you can slide the other earbud wire into- no need for zipper teeth or a big dangling zipper pull).

[rockinthesixstring]

it's not like I'd be getting my money's worth out of $400 earphones while cars are whizzing by, etc.)

The reason I've invested in expensive headphones is two fold.


they are sound isolating, so whizzing cars are completely silent to me. You hear nothing but the music
as a musician, I use them on stage as my in ear monitors, and the quality has to be top notch. A sub and a tweet with a built in crossover is absolutely fantastic. There's nothing that sounds like it.

I do also have the little plastic clip on my headphones that can be pulled up to prevent tangling, but it often slides down when not in use. You get a really nice case to put the headphones in, but it's a bit of a trick to wrap them just right... but when you do, there's no tangle at all.