iPod Headband Featuring Bone Conduction

Ever wish you could rock a throwback 80s headband while running, and have it be functional too? Well, now you can, thanks to the ingenuity and fearlessness of Japanese businesses. A company called Thanko has come up with a rather interesting new headband which acts as a set of headphones without requiring you to put anything in your ears.

Their new product, the VONIA headband, uses bone conduction to send the music through your skull to your brain. This means you don’t have to wear anything over your ears, leaving them free to appreciate the sounds of chirping birds and oncoming traffic, or dogs. As a runner, I actually kind of like this idea; I’m not a big fan of running with earbuds, getting them sweaty, and not being able to hear ambient noise.