SONY

A group of 10 runners from Backkickers Running (BKrs) got to try their hands on the latest SONY Float Run sport headphones. As the latest addition to their already impressive arsenal of headphones – this sports model is designed specifically to endure the rigours of running and suit the needs of performance athletes.

The first half of the session saw the athletes don the Float Run headphones and putting them through a series of running drills focused on developing good running form as part of their warm-up routine before the main session. Led by Coach Andy Neo who is a seasoned marathoner himself, the runners then broke into various groups to start off their drill workouts and specific strength exercises to improve their psychomotor control.

We caught up with two runners from the group, Goh Boon Hwa and Katherine Lim, after their respective workouts to hear what their thoughts and feedback on the new Sony Float Run headphones were:

RUN SG: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Boon Hwa: My name is Goh Boon Hwa and I am a marathon runner. I picked up running in 2011 as I wanted to keep fit and stay healthy for my family - and for that reason - I got motivated to start my running journey.

Katherine: Hi, my name is Katherine Lim and I am an avid endurance sports junkie – from swimming and road cycling to marathons – who juggles long training hours and races with daily life as a mother of two and full-time work.

RUN SG: What are your favourite running events?

Boon Hwa: It must be the Tokyo Marathon because of the great atmosphere and supportive spectators. I have never seen so many spectators lining up the street from the start point to the finishing line. The energy from the spectators keeps you going even when things get tough – also worth mentioning are how hospitable the Japanese area!

Katherine: My personal favourite is the Boston Marathon because the whole vibe of the race was just amazing. Boston is known as the infamously tough course amongst the World Marathon Majors but it was not the iconic Heartbreak hill and Wellesley's scream tunnel that made the race special but electrifying the atmosphere was with thousands of loud cheering crowds along the entire course.

It is true that every marathon is a different experience to savour, and for me personally the Boston Marathon has left a deep impression and I am always sure to let other avid runners know that this one is race you want to tick off on your bucket list.

RUN SG: What is a good sound track for training or racing especially for performance in your opinion?

Boon Hwa: My personal preference is to have a curated playlist of songs with high BPM - typically with 180 Beats Per Minute (BPM). I tend to run in rhythm to the beats of the song I am listening to so this really helps me maintain a higher cadence especially since my target is to hit an average of 170 to 180 steps per minute during training and racing!

RUN SG: What are your first impressions of the Sony Float Run, and how you would integrate it into your routines?

Boon Hwa: I must admit I was initially sceptical of the design and was pleasantly surprised that there was no “bouncing” of the headphones even when we were doing the running drills before the session that involved a lot of horizontal and vertical oscillations due to the various quick and sudden movements. The Sony Float Run provides a secure fit and I foresee it as a staple device I will use for training and day to day use.

Katherine: The Sony Float Run’s open dynamic design is neither in-ear nor bone conducting so it already gave me a great first impression.  It is IPX4 waterproof and fits well over the ear such that it does not cause irritation. When we took it for a trial it did not bounce off during the session and offered some superb sound quality over the playlist I selected - all this while allowing me to stay aware of my surroundings for safety purposes thanks to how the design allows music to naturally mix in with ambient sounds.

RUN SG: Quickfire question – Aesthetics or Practicality?

Katherine: That is an easy answer for me – if the purpose is for run training, I would most certainly look for something practical rather than aesthetically pleasing. Given that I am a heavy sweater and perspire a lot while running in our local climate, I find that the conventional in-ear headphones or earbuds do not suit me as they cause me quite a lot of discomfort especially when drenched in sweat and tend to spoil easily over time.

Experience the Sony Float Run headphones for a retail price of S$199 (inclusive of GST) from selected retail shops or Sony's online store. Enjoy an exclusive 10% discount by using promo code FLOATRUN10 when purchasing from Sony Store Online!

Led by Andy Neo, 2019 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Master AG Champion, BKrs is a running training group. With various training sessions available throughout the week, the running group caters to all fitness levels from leisure runners to high performance ones. For more information, please visit BKrs.

On 23 March 2023, runners from TRIBAL Triathlon Club got to try their hands on the latest SONY Float Run sport headphones – the electronic company’s latest addition to their already massive music device line-up - designed specifically to endure the rigours of run training.

There was no better way to test the product through its paces than to conduct the product trial during the TRIBAL Thursday Track Session (90min) at the Ministry of Education Co-Curricular Activity Branch (CCAB), Evans Road. The local-based Triathlon Club leads these coached sessions on a weekly basis that are open to athletes of all abilities - with the aim to get runners fitter and faster through a structured approach.

The first half of the session focuses on developing running efficiency and technique through form drills and exercises at the multi-purpose court before breaking into various pace groups to start off the interval workouts on the track that look to build speed and endurance.

It was a humid evening for a threshold workout and the participants who drew out the headphones really enjoyed the music boost that gets them through the tough run session. We caught up with two runners from the group after the workout to hear what their thoughts and feedback on the new Sony Float Run headphones were:

Chun Yee Tan & Jerron Chua
Chun Yee is a recreational runner who recently started the sport of triathlon while Jerron Chua is an Aquathlete (Swim/Run) competing at the Intervarsity and National level.

RUN SG: Do you listen to music while running/training and is it an integral part of your lifestyle?

Chun Yee: Yes, music is definitely an integral part of my lifestyle. I love a good soundtrack when I am doing my longer runs and something upbeat especially when I'm doing strength and conditioning sessions at home or in the gym – it makes the workout so much more enjoyable (and gets you through the tough sets).

Jerron: I like to listen to music when I am doing my recovery runs and on easy days as it helps me relax and get into a nice rhythm. Depending on the soundtrack I have got on tune, the type of music I listen to while running also helps me adjust my tempo. If I am doing a hard or fast speed workout, I like to hear something that gets me pumped with a fast beat to get me through the session. Listening to music has always been an integral part of my life as I enjoy it in all aspects of racing – both pre, during and post training and racing.

RUN SG: What do you look for in a sports earpiece?

Chun Yee: It is extremely important that a sports earpiece fits snugly and has minimal to no bounce so that it does not distract me (having to adjust it continuously) while I am focusing on nailing the workout. Safety is also of utmost important to me especially when I am listening to music while running outdoors. The earpiece needs to be able to provide quality sound yet allow me to listen to my surroundings and react accordingly to any impending situation.

Jerron: The first thing I look for is comfort and design of the sport earpiece. Given the training environment I feel that a sport earpiece has to sit comfortably as the undulating motion of running means the earpiece has a strong tendency to drop and it also has to be durable enough due to the sweat, water and dirt it might be exposed to on a regular basis.  Finally, I want to look cool while running so the design should preferably be something stylish!

RUN SG: What's your first impression of the Sony Float Run!

Chun Yee: The off-ear design is definitely something unique where the speaker “floats” right beside your ear – unlike most of my other sports headphones and earbuds I have tried which are in-ear. The fit was surprisingly stable through the session and I really like how it gives off a surround sound system-like experience while allowing me to hear my surrounding if needed (which is very important especially when I am running where there are many other athletes training). Sound quality is not compromised either and sits right up there with the in-ear designs.

Jerron: I feel that the Float Run headphones stand out with the unique off-ear design that catches the eye. Connectivity is swift and music quality is great. I like the small gap between my ears and the speaker so that it does not cause any stuffiness or abrasions and it allows me to hear my surroundings better (e.g., when my coaches or teammates are speaking) and avoid unwanted accidents. An area to be improve would be having some micro adjustability to the fit as the earphone only comes in one size so some with odd shaped head profiles might struggle with the fit slightly.

Experience the Sony Float Run headphones for a retail price of S$199 (inclusive of GST) from selected retail shops or Sony's online store. Enjoy an exclusive 10% discount by using promo code FLOATRUN10 when purchasing from Sony Store Online!

Founded in 2019, we are a team of triathlon coaches with a strong passion to raise the sport of triathlon in Sunny Singapore. We hope to share and impart the skills and techniques that we have honed to the new, the seasoned and also the next generation of triathletes!
For more information, please visit TRIBAL Triathlon Singapore.

Running headphones have been a trending product in the local scene especially with the rapidly growing number of sports enthusiasts. Within months of the first wave of sports headphones from international brands reaching local shores, we saw a large mix of bone conduction and earbuds (in-ear and over) products emerging in stores and online platforms – each offering their own unique set of pros and cons.

Choosing a pair of sports earphones can be a delicate process – there are many variables you may want to consider. On the top of the list being comfort (no pressure in the ears, stuffiness, or unwanted vibration), fit (secure even through motion), music quality and product durability (element and drop proof). With every individual’s head profile and ear shape differing, it does take a certain level of customization especially for in/over ear headphones to ensure a good fit and their drastic lack of ambient awareness can also prove to be a safety issue for the outdoors.

This season, Sony has announced a new model of headphones designed with runners in mind. The Sony Float Run is an off-ear headphone that positions the speaker near, but without touching the ear canal, leaving the ear safely uncovered while still delivering a rich sound experience when listening to your workout beats.

The Float Run headphones were designed to offer a comfortable and stable fit no matter how the user moves and were tested on a wide range of head shapes and hairstyles along with common running accessories such as hats and sunglasses. The flexible neckband design conforms to the user profile and does not slip when in motion. Discomfort on the ears over prolonged periods are a common pain point and the pressure-free design that sits off the ears help resolve this, so runners no longer need to worry about sweat or chafing getting in the way of their workout

Packed into the light-weight design - just 33g - are a proper sound unit consisting of 16mm drivers and precise tuning to ensure there is no compromise on sound quality even with the off-ear style. Aside from training, the high quality built-in microphone and carrying pouch with charging cable (USB-C) also makes it ideal for daily productivity tasks.

The Float Run is the perfect outdoor companion regardless of the weather thanks to its IPX4 water resistant rating and long battery life of up to 10 hours playtime at full charge (it even comes with a quick charge option for those who tend to forget – 10 minutes gives you an hour of playtime – enough to last a training session). The user will also be fully aware of his/her surroundings as the music mixes naturally with the ambient sound so you can focus on nailing that workout.

The product was officially launched after receiving strong reception from crowdfunding – and we’re excited to see how this novel design will shape up the running scene!

Experience the Sony Float Run headphones for a retail price of S$199 (inclusive of GST) from selected retail shops or Sony's online store. Enjoy an exclusive 10% discount by using promo code FLOATRUN10 when purchasing from Sony Store Online!

I recall when wireless headphones first launched and I was really excited because I wanted to run wire-free. In the past, I would run with wired headphones that kept getting caught in my hands when I ran or the early adoptions of wireless headphones would fall out within the first few steps of running.

Thankfully, technology has been advancing quickly over the past few years and the truly wireless headphones of today not only stay in your ear snugly, they also deliver superior sound quality, have features like noise cancelling for distraction-free music time and ambient sound mode to allow a mix of environment noises in.

The latest in the market are the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Headphones and I’ve been using them for my runs lately. They stick out of the ears a little bit, but they stay in my ears securely when I’m running or doing a workout.

Here are my five favourite features of the WF-SP800N headphones:

1) Frees you of distractions with digital noise cancelling

With digital noise cancelling, it means I can literally cancel out noise and just focus on the task at hand – whether I’m working out or trying to do work. When I run in parks (where there is no traffic), I like to shut out everything else so it’s just my music and I – I can’t even hear my own breath.

And I realised that not hearing my own breath is actually better, because when I hear myself panting so hard it somehow gives me the impression that I’m dying and makes me feel worse mentally.

2) Packed with various sound features to adapt to your environment

There are times when you don’t want to shut out the environment entirely – like when you’re running on the pavements and you need to listen out for traffic, or when you’re working out with a friend and you want to be able to have a conversation at some point.

There are three cool features to help you with this –

Ambient Sound Mode: Mixes your music with the sounds of your environment so you are still aware of your surroundings.

Adaptive Sound Control: An automatic function that detects your activity and adjusts ambient sound settings. You can lock your frequented locations like your office or the gym, by customising the settings in the Sony Headphones Connect app.

Quick Attention: If you need to quickly and immediately hear what’s going on around you, you can simply press down on the left earbud to temporarily boost outside noise.

3) Suits an active lifestyle

I mostly use these earbuds for my runs – whether on the road or on the trails – so it is important that they can withstand the amount of sweat, dirt and dust that I put it through.

The WF-SP800N headphones have an IP554 rating for water and dust resistance and you can run them under water after a sweaty workout. Make sure you dry them before returning them to the case.

Also, once you have connected them to your phone via Bluetooth, the next time you run, they will automatically connect for ease and convenience.

4) Has a long battery life

If you activate noise cancellation, the earbuds will last nine hours on one charge and another nine hours from the case – the case only gives one extra full charge. But if you feel like you don’t need the noise cancellation, the battery life can go up to 13 hours on one charge. The charging case is a little big though! But even without the charging case, the earbuds itself can last me through a full marathon!

5) Has a solid bass

My running playlist typically has more upbeat, dynamic tunes, so that it will keep me motivated to run. What I like about the WF-SP800N is the solid bass it has, along with lots of EQ fine-tuning.

If you’re looking for something that you can use for your workouts and also for work, this is worth considering!

The Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones are available at S$299. Shop online now.

With no races in sight throughout the world, whether it was the Sundown Marathon in Singapore you were looking forward to, or the Gold Coast Marathon in Australia, it is quite hard to stay the course and keep training. The early hours, the required mileage to hit, the pain from pushing to meet timings… most, or all of us, have at some point in our lives questioned our decisions.

This lack of purpose makes it hard to stay motivated, but here are some tips to help you:

1) Work out with friends

In Phase 2, we are allowed to resume sports and physical exercises with group activities limited to no more than five. That means you can gather four friends to run or work out with you! This will definitely give you more incentive to get out the door and get a run in.

2) Set a fixed schedule to work out

Set out fixed days and times to work out, set aside time for it and stick to it. Develop this habit over time and make sure you get out there to exercise regardless of the weather, rain or shine.

3) Set small goals

When a goal is too big or seems too far away, it is easy to feel demoralised. Thus, it is better to set yourself small short-term goals so you celebrate progress as you go along in your journey. For example, if you are planning to complete 20km, aim to start running three times a week first, then aim to complete 5km three times a week, then slowly increase to more runs or more distance a week. At the end of each week or month, you can treat yourself to a good meal!

4) Make effort to reduce stress

This period can become quite stressful, so try to minimise negativity in your life. Keep your mood light and happy, and control what you can, whilst letting go of what you can’t. Get enough sleep and rest too, and you might be in a better mood to exercise.

5) Reward yourself with the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones

Set a longer-term goal – for example, a target to achieve in three months – then keep your eyes on the prize, like a pair of the new Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones. It feels a lot more satisfying when you work for something and earn it, rather than just buying it off the website.

The latest Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones come with a multitude of features that would suit your active lifestyle well. Designed to rough it out with you, it has a long battery life of up to 18 hours, is water-resistant and sweat-proof, and has a deep bass sound with digital noise cancelling. It also has a host of features like Ambient Sound Mode, Adaptive Sound Control and Quick Attention which help you to be aware of your surroundings while plugged into your music.

These headphones will also come in handy for your daily activities, such as commuting and working from home, or when you travel in future.

The Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones are now available at S$299. Shop online now.

A common activity we use headphones for is to listen to music on our runs, but there are actually many other things that we can use our headphones for.

With 18 hours (9 hours of power + extra 9 hours from the charging case) of battery life from the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones, it is so versatile that you can use it for various activities throughout the day without having to recharge it. If you forgot to charge your earbuds, just 10 minutes of quick charging will give you up to 60 minutes of music playback with noise cancelling.

Here are five uses of headphones:

1) Working Out

Designed for an active lifestyle, the water resistant WF-SP800N has an IP552 rating, thus sweat and dust won’t ruin your workout. If you perspire a lot, you can wash the headphones after every training session.

If you want still be able to hear what’s in your environment when working out, you can use the Ambient Sound Mode which mixes the music you love with the sounds of your environment. That way, you can still listen to your favourite tracks and still hear your workout buddy.

2) Virtual Conferencing

With many of us still working from home, it is important to have a good pair of headphones so we can focus on the task at hand like rushing a document out or immersing in a video conference call. The digital noise cancelling feature blocks out all distractions, so it’s just you and the other party.

3) In-Car Conversations

When you are driving and you need to take a call, the WF-SP800N delivers clearer voice quality for hands-free calling. You can take calls using just one or both of the earbuds. This way, you can alternate the buds for recharging or be able to hear calls clearer in noisy environments.

4) Commuting

When you’re out on the bus or train listening to your music or tuned into your favourite drama on Netflix, it is easy to get lost in the moment and be unaware of your surroundings. The WF-SP800N has Adaptive Sound Control that automatically detects what you’re doing – running, walking, waiting or travelling – and it will adjust ambient sound settings to suit your environment so you are not completely oblivious to the world around you.

5) Doing Household Chores

Sometimes you just want to put on your favourite music as you get down and dirty cleaning up the house. But if someone calls you or someone comes up to you, you can quickly place your finger over the earbud to activate the Quick Attention mode which turns the volume down and let in ambient sound so you can instantly talk to someone without removing the headphones.

The Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones are now available at S$299. Shop online now during Sony's Mid Year Promotion and receive a FREE Gregory Sacoche M Bag worth $69. Terms and conditions apply. 

One thing that Dr See Hui Ti absolutely needed on her conquest to run 20km every day for 55 days – as part of the Majulah Run – was music. “Running tempos, intervals and time trials usually cannot be done with headphones, but for this Majulah Run, music is the key. If I feel good in the morning and am ready to push my best, I will loop the same song 20 to 30 times,” said the 49-year-old medical oncologist who tried the Sony WF-SP800N truly wireless sports headphones.

The Majulah Run is a virtual challenge that commemorates Singapore’s 55th birthday where participants pledge to complete 55 days of non-stop running with different distances for them to choose from. For example, you can choose to do 5km every day for 55 days or do what Dr See is doing and run 20km every day for the whole duration.

Studies have shown that music can help to improve your run performance. It can reduce the perception of exertion, making you feel like less effort is required. Music brings about a positive mood and with the right music, you can match your stride to a particular beat and regulate your pace better.

The Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones is easy to use, has stable connectivity and also superior audio quality. The Extra Bass feature delivers powerful, punchy low-end sound to give your tunes an added boost to help you run faster and lighter.

Currently, Dr See is ranked within the top 3 of the Resilience category as we lead up to National Day when the Majulah Run concludes. “Running 20km a day isn’t that difficult if I ran at a leisurely pace all the time, purely just to make up that volume. But to run daily without a break at a speed I am happy with daily was a challenge and I hope to complete the challenge within my own expectations. This has taught me to relearn the importance of nutrition and sleep as I don’t have any rest days,” she added.

If you run daily like Dr See, you will be thrilled to know that the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones can be washed after each run. After you’ve dried it, pop it back into the charging case and when you take it out again the next day, it will automatically connect to your phone, ready to run.

The Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones are now available at S$299. Shop online now during Sony's Mid Year Promotion and receive a FREE Gregory Sacoche M Bag worth $69. Terms and conditions apply. 

Not having access to a gym and proper equipment for nearly three months can really throw a spanner in the works, especially for those who have a specific gym training programme that they adhere to.

For co-founder of HIIT gym GRITYARD, Lim Yao Xiang, he had to change up his usual routine of training with weights and get creative with his given circumstances.

“I used to train at least two hours a day in the gym but over the Circuit Breaker period, I learnt how to be more efficient with my workouts. I designed different types of workouts to do outside the gym and I started going to the car park at my condo with some light equipment like parallel bars and resistance bands.

“Over the weeks, I found the routine was becoming stale so I started adding sprints and shuttle runs within the condo compound to the HIIT sets I was doing,” the 37-year-old former national water polo player shared.

When it was announced that gyms could operate in Phase 2, though at a reduced capacity, Yao Xiang was excited that he could see his members again. On top of that, he was also grateful that he could start focusing on weights training again since he now has access to the gym.

His latest addition to his renewed gym routine is the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones. “The fit of the buds in the ear is very important for me because I need a pair that allows me to move freely around and do any exercises I wish without worrying that they will fall out. As most of our exercises can be dynamic and explosive, I like that the three-dimensional curved design of these headphones ensure a secure, comfortable fit,” he shared.

The WF-SP800N headphones are also resistant to water, sweat and dust, so you can wash them after working up a sweat from a tough training session. One very useful feature is Quick Attention, where you simply place your finger over the headphone to turn down the volume so you can chat with someone without having to take your headphones off.

Tips on returning to the gym in Phase 2:

1) Start at a pace that your body can handle. If you have not been working out regularly at home, do come back slowly and don’t feel demoralised if you find that your fitness levels are not the same as before. It will take time to get back into the groove, so just keep working at it.

2) Do not overestimate yourself, even if you have been religiously working out at home. Intensity increases exponentially with weights, especially the heavier weights that you have not been using for months.

3) Continue to observe safe measures, practise good hygiene habits and follow the protocols set by the gym.

The Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones are now available at S$299. Shop online now during Sony's Mid Year Promotion and receive a FREE Gregory Sacoche M Bag worth $69. Terms and conditions apply. 

Even though we are in Phase 2 at the moment, there are many people who are still working from home and more who choose to stay at home and work out despite gyms and fitness studios reopening.

Avid runner Sherlynn Tan is one such example. Her fitness regime includes running mostly in the evenings and doing home exercises on most days.

“I’m still working from home, so my situation is relatively similar to Phase 1. I have started to enjoy doing workouts from home because it is convenient and fuss free — there’s no need to travel or pack any gear,” said the 27-year-old software developer.

“I usually do basic exercises focusing mostly on lower body and core, as well as exercises like squats, lunges, leg raises, single-leg work, bridges, crunches, planks. Sometimes I’ll pick five to six exercises and perform 20 reps of each, for three sets. Once or twice a week I’ll pick and follow an online exercise class to learn new exercises and keep things fun,” she added.

After her runs, Sherlynn also spends time stretching and foam rolling.

Accompanying her on her workouts is the latest Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones. “I use these headphones for my runs, for exercising at home and also for working from home. I like that this is wireless, provides good noise cancellation and has a snug fit.

“There’s currently a construction project going on near my home so it’s frustratingly noisy at times (I’m very sensitive to noise). Thankfully, the Digital Noise Cancelling quality is pretty good and it helps to block out the distractions so I can focus and enjoy my workouts. When I’m outside running, the Ambient Sound Mode allows me to adjust the ambient sounds so I am still aware of my surroundings while still listening to my favourite music,” she said.

Here are some tips for working out at home:

1) Browse the different types of virtual classes offered by various gyms and fitness studios. Even though they have reopened, most of them are still offering online classes.

2) Spend some time collating free workout resources so you can plan out your fitness schedule.

3) Get simple equipment like a set of dumbbells, a resistance band and a medicine ball so you can spice your workouts up.

4) Set goals and reward yourself with new workout gear. For example, if you complete your target of 4 workouts a week, you can buy that sports bra or pair of shorts you’ve been eyeing.

5) Invest in a good pair of headphones so you can immerse fully into your workout.

The Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless Sports Headphones are now available at S$299. Shop online now during Sony's Mid Year Promotion and receive a FREE Gregory Sacoche M Bag worth $69. Terms and conditions apply.