H2O Audio SnowPro
MSRP $180.00
“The SnowPros sound terrible and miss the mark in almost every way for headphones I’d take on the slopes.”
Pros
- Comfortable fit around the ears
- Good call quality
- Secure neckband design
- IPX8 water and snow proof
Cons
- Expensive
- Tinny, thin sound quality
- No on-board EQ in the app
- Tiny physical buttons
- Playlist+ feature is ridiculous
- Open-ear design bad for wind noise
If you’re a skier or snowboarder looking to add music to your runs to enhance the experience (Crazy Train down a black diamond? Yes, please), it may not be as easy as popping in a set of earbuds and hitting the lift. Challenges for snow-sport-appropriate headphones include sound quality, resistance to wind noise, ease of use (especially with gloves or mitts on), and a secure and comfortable fit while beneath helmets and layers. And that’s not to mention extreme temperatures and lack of wireless connectivity on the mountain or in the backcountry.
While sports headphone maker H2O Audio considered these things with its SnowPro bone-conduction headphones, after spending several days on the slopes with them, my experience was a mixed bag of ups and mostly downs (pun intended). Considering their hefty $180 price, the SnowPros ultimately miss the mark in almost every way I find important for a set of headphones I would want to use while skiing. Here’s why.
H2O SnowPro: design and Fit
The SnowPro headphones are similar to other H2O Audio bone conduction headphones, such as its popular Tri Pro Multi-Sport, which the company targets towards sports enthusiasts like swimmers, runners, and cyclists. H2O’s first headphones made and marketed specifically with snow sports in mind, the SnowPro headphones sport a white color (don’t drop them in the snow, you’ll never find them) but feature the same earhook design and neck band, and their hard plastic material feels sturdy and rugged. While they don’t roll up or collapse into a compact form, I didn’t have any issues stuffing them in my ski bag with my gloves and toque (as a Canadian, I’m legally forbidden to call it a beanie). A case of some kind would have been a nice touch, though.
