Nank Headphones for runners
Quality and price is right
Do you use headphones while you’re running? I typically do, as I like to listen to podcasts while knocking out the miles. There are so many options out there, and with all the big name brands coming out with more advanced tech, prices are going up and up. What if you could get the job done at a much more affordable price?
I’ve been testing two models from Nank (formerly Naenka) - the Runner 4 which is a bone conduction model, and the Clip Pro which is a more standard earbud, but with a unique (at least for me) attachment style.
The Runner 4 is a standard style bone-conduction headphone design, very similar to models from Shokz. It’s actually good timing to receive these as my original “Aftershokz” have started falling apart.
I typically use this style of heaphone indoors on the treadmill. I find that when running outdoors, especially if windy, I get a lot of noise interference which makes it difficult to hear. I am typically running on trails, so keep in mind one of the benefits of these headphones is actually being able to hear sounds around you, i.e. cars, traffic, people, etc.
I’m not an audiophile, but for running purposes, I find sound quality to be good - actually better than my Aftershokz model, but those are older by now. Essentially there is no difference in sound quality, and the price - listed now at $80 - is a very good value.
I like that there are physical buttons which are easy to locate and operate. There are 3 buttons - one for power, and two for volume up/down. You can operate the headphones through some combination of presses of those 3 buttons.
To be honest the Clip Pro was kind of a “throw in” for variety when I was looking around the Nank website. It looked a bit gimmicky, but I thought it might be good to compare a couple of different models.
But these have been my go-to for outdoor running since I got them. The “clip” design is something I’ve never tried before, but I’ve come to really like it. Some of the pics on the website show them oriented more horizontally, but as shown in the picture above, they work perfectly fine for me. I guess finding the right spot will depend on your ear shape.
But they do stay completely locked in during the run, which I was really surprised about. They’re great because they stay totally out of the way of your sunglasses, so you don’t have so much “hanging on” around the top of you ears. I find this very comfortable on the run.
Unlike the Runner 4, there are no physical buttons on the Clip Pro model. You have to rely on touch-tapping, which at times can be a bit finnicky. Sometimes it’s a bit tricky to go between a single tap, and a tap and hold, and also hard to remember which operation is which. I guess that comes with the territory for this style, and it’s no different than other bluetooth earbuds. You just need to get used to the “taps” and functions.
Again, sound quality is good, and as a runner, I cannot gauge any difference between these and my Shokz Openfit on the run. I actually have been using these over the Shokz because the comfort of the clip design when wearing sunglasses has been the primary factor for me.
If you’re in the market for some Bluetooth headphones for running, take a look at these models from Nank. You don’t have to break the bank since Hi-fi audio is not the objective here. These offer really good quality and form factor, so you can allocate your $$$ for other running gear!
Specs & feature list
Use the code “HumbleRunning” for 15% off-
Nank Runner 4 - Bone Conduction headphones
Nank Clip Pro - Clip-on Running earbuds
Nank Runner 4 and Clip Pro headphones were provided at no cost for test and review by Nank. Please see my support page for disclaimers regarding my testing and review process.