Couple days ago I went hiking with my baby daughter up in the redwood-forested slopes of Marin County, California. She sat in a backpack and tried to grab passing branches, displayed her new trick of waving to amused passersby, and fell asleep and snored. This is an activity we do a few times a week. We both love it—well, she seems to, anyway. Hiking with her is radically different from hiking by myself, or trail running, or riding a bike. I pay far more attention to my fellow trail users with my daughter in tow, not out of suspicion, but because behind me, there’s a huge pack with a writhing kid in it who will grab your hair at the first chance she gets. So I’m making sure you see us and that I give you room. Observation antennae pointed directly ahead of us.
And my goodness do a whole lot of you have headphones on. Air pods (or whatever they’re called) are the most common, with regular wired headphones clocking in second. Occasionally, I’ve seen pairs of runners trot by listening to music over a small Bluetooth speaker, I suppose so they can run according to the same rhythm. Or maybe they hate talking to each other.
Point is, at least on my local trails which are admittedly popular with hardcore trail runners who are just trying to sneak in some dirt laps after their jobs as orthopedic surgeons and tech execs, or whatever it is they do to afford living in Marin County. They’re apparently using nature as a gym, which, hey, fine, so am I a little bit with 20-something pounds of kiddo strapped to my back as I huff and puff uphill.
Personally, I’ve never really enjoyed listening to music on trails, or hiking around deep in the backcountry. I’ve tried it mountain biking, but was terrified I wouldn’t hear somebody approaching or my chain rattling off. Plus, I use my ears for sensory awareness that makes me faster on the bike, I’m sure.
I like the sound of wind in trees, of water rushing over rocks, of the crunch crunch crunch my boots make on a trail. I can totally also see the appeal of those sounds being joined by some kind of slide guitar-heavy soundtrack that evokes wide-open spaces and contemplation.
There are endless products devoted to making sure you can listen to your tunes or your podcasts while on the trail, so, clearly, a whole bunch of you are.
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In addition to being present, in the moment, whatever you want to call it, I feel like earbuds would present an issue with me hearing someone coming up behind me, someone calling for help, or that songbird that just landed on that branch saying hello.
…..or maybe a Grizzly bear
I did Canadian Death Race a few years ago and and used beats during training. During the race saw bear spoor in the prints of the runner I had been following for around 7km. Never worn earphones since!
I don’t listen to music on trail but dont mind if you do. But for the love of all things holy, put your damn earbuds in… I dont want to hear your music blaring from a speaker strapped to your pack. I came out here to get away from the noise.
Yes, but only in my right ear, so I hear other runner approaching. I don’t want to be the guy the hogs the trail.
Yeah, I’ve done that too. Good plan.
In-bounds snowboarding: totally rocking some tunes in my helmet. Hiking, nope. Mtn. biking, nope (Though I can definitely see the appeal of some high-energy tunes to get amped up for park laps. Just never tried it myself, and don’t own any bt earbuds with which to try it.).
Basically, for me, if it’s an “artificial” environment (anything lift-served, city/commute cycling etc.) the more likely I am to enjoy some extra stimuli via music. The more “natural” the environment the more likely I am to not only forego, but be actively annoyed by recorded music.
I make no value judgements of others own choices in this regard unless/until their choices intrude on my own. People several miles from the trailhead blasting tunes via BT boomboxes clipped to their bag, are definitely getting some side-eye. If I’m choosing not to partake of music in this setting I’m gonna be annoyed if I have to listen to yours.
But if you wanna hike/run/ride (so long as you’re aware enough of your surroundings to practice basic trail etiquette) miles into the back-country with your earbuds go for it.
While I’m not personally a fan of listening to music while on the trail, it doesn’t bother me at all when I see others who are using headphones. What does bother me, and I don’t get, is the folks that deem it OK to use portable speakers to blast their music while moving on the trail. I mean, really? Are you afraid you might accidentally sneak up on another unsuspecting trail user or animal? (Unlikely, we probably would hear you without music anyways.) Are you trying to keep animals or other trail users away and/or block out nature sounds? (To the detriment of other users’ experiences.) Are you afraid of your thoughts when no music or artificial sounds is being projected at you? (Don’t know what to say about this one…)
I would love to see a follow up poll, or hear from others about why people choose to do this, and why they deem it OK to do so.
I once heard a marching band approaching me on the trail. I waited because, naturally, I was confused/curious. Up the trail comes a solo guy with – i kid you not – a full fledged boom box blaring what I can only describe as marching band music. Dude has this thing bungee strapped to the top of his pack. Sounded like a high school halftime show. We were in Glacier NP. I truly could not believe it. I asked him about it. He said to deter grizzly bears. So there’s one answer to your question.
Situational Awareness. End of discussion.
I never listen to music, podcasts, etc. when doing something active. Like Justin, I like the sound of my bike, the sound of my skis, the sounds in the woods, the sounds of my surroundings.
Nope. Gotta pay attention to your surroundings for many reasons.
I want to enjoy nature and its sound
Listening to audio while running messes up my cadence. I like hearing nature. Plus, you know, safety for myself and others.
Nothing ruins the outdoors for me like a few people with a big speaker and insensitively loud music. I am there to get away from the noise, not to hear your noise with less interference!
I’m afraid I might be “that guy” 1st off I only play music when I’m going solo which is most of the time. I also like to play it on a speaker on my shoulder strap. I don’t use it on any popular trails. I try to turn it down or off if I pass someone. Sometimes I can’t get to it in time.
On my local biking trails I might see one or two people every other time I ride. When I backpack or hike I will maybe see no one or a group or 2 over the course of a day. Like I said I also turn it down. Often there conversations are louder than my music. Am I being that guy?
I am more annoyed by someone’s “nice” dog jumping on me which happens far too often
its plane obnoxious to play music on speakers in nature. alone or with others.
Dan Murphy said all that needed to be said – Situational Awareness. When I see headphones I’m actually so perplexed. I’ve heard trees fall, bear and moose in nearby bushes and have had rattlesnakes warn me of their presence. Your senses are pretty important out there, so I’m not sure why you’d ever choose to eliminate one of them.
To each their own, just don’t ruin the experience for others by playing it aloud.
One earbud with music to enhance the surroundings…the best of both worlds.
I prefer to listen for natures warnings. Rock fall, whomping of heavy snow settling, a low growl of a bear, or maybe even a call for help.
I also prefer to be in the now and have conversations with my trail buddy. Solitude. Society left behind. Phone on airplane mode.
Nothing ruins these moments like somebody playing their music loudly. That, coming upon trail litter in the form of stacked rocks. Let the rocks be.
While the dreary winter rains drench the city I live vicariously by watching thru hiking videos and dreaming of future happy trails. I have been rather shocked at the amount of young folks who constantly have ear buds in on the PCT or whatever trail. I’m not judging it the wrong choice. Whatever works for you. But it does make me feel that people go out for vastly different reasons. For me getting away from human created spaces, physical and mental, is one of the primary draws of being in the backcountry. The “silence” is a major component of the liberating power of nature.
Every once in a while when I’m on the same trail in town with my pup I pop in my earbuds and listen to a podcast to get out of my head. But I always have one ear free to make sure I can still here if anyone is coming.
At times I will on long trail runs but rarely on hikes. Sometimes I need that to escape my own head. That being said I play it low or only have one earbud in. I’ve also been know to ask people to turn off their Bluetooth speaker they have since I think that’s super rude to everyone else on the trail + nature.
Normally i would never listen to music while trail running. Is there any better music than the nature sounds?
The ONLY time i do have music on (and that is ON. No earbuds) is when training alone on a certain not-so-hiker-busy trail in bear country and need to make myself loud. Music and random shouts is what (I hope) keeps bears and wild boars at bay.
Of course if I hear other people around, music stops until I am clearly away from them. Don’t be the weirdo guy sound-polluting other people’s outside time.
Ocassionally I’ll use my Aftershokz Aeropex – which sit on the bones by your ears, therefore allowing you to also hear external sounds around you, when I urban run. To me, the sound of nature is the most inspirational and calming ‘music’ you can listen to, so when trail running, no, I don’t use any music 🙂
I have a pair of shades with bone conducting speakers built-in and they’re pretty cool actually.
I can’t understand headphones in the wilderness. You miss so much, and are a hindrance to others on the trail.
I’ve scared the crap out of so many hikers/runners despite trying to announce my presence loudly. They’re in outer space listening to music and forget they are not alone!
No, but the worst are people who use their phone speakers or a Bluetooth speaker. Like the lady listening to a romance novel (love scenes and all) while staying right on my tail for a mile in a trail half marathon a few weeks ago.
a year ago i was hiking through the woods on my usual 3 mile loop when i heard a loud crack, I glanced up and saw movement above me and just barely was able to leap backwards and avoid getting clobbered by a huge branch (about 4 inches diameter). I think if i was listening to music i wouldn’t be here today.
No technology for me in the backcountry, but definitely in the slackcountry. This was my set list on a trail run yesterday: “Change the Locks,” Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers; “The Plan” (Live), Built to Spill; “Gravity Rides Everything,” Modest Mouse; “Tones of Home,” Blind Melon; “Goin’ Against Your Mind,” Built to Spill.
Not sure how Built to Spill got in there twice, but it fit the mood.
That’s a very solid playlist.
For me it depends on the trail and why I’m out there. On my wide open semi-urban trails that I climb repeatedly for exercise, I’ll pop in the headphones for that extra push of upbeat music. Sometimes listening to a podcast while hiking can be relaxing too. I’ve also found on really crowded trails the headphones can help return some solitude to my hike. For the most part on longer trips, forested trails, or new-to-me trails, I like to know what’s going on around me. Especially because the trails around me occasionally reveal horses, bikes, and bears. The absolute worst thing to run into on a trail is a speaker that I can hear. Please use headphones or put it away! Initially I just noticed this on really popular trails, but recently I’ve seen some alpine lakes, and far out trails deep in wilderness boundaries get turned into a private parties with loud music. Not cool.
I just avoid running with earbuds in general. They distract me from the moment. I like the quiet alone time provided by running.
Never, nor do my kids, and they are earbud monsters – being out is also about being disconnected for us and enjoying that moment – hard to do that w/Guns N’ Roses or AC/DC blasting in my head (& yes both of my teenagers listen to those bands as well – In fact they are very much into the Bangles at present & “Hazy Shade of Winter”)…lol
I also believe in order to be safe, you need to be aware, and if one of your senses is otherwise engaged, you just might miss that rattlesnakes warning… or that ‘on your left’…or watch out for that quicksand…
Yeah – but usually just 1 earbud so I can hear hikers/other riders coming up behind me. I’m not going to be so obtuse as to pretend that you can’t enjoy music and the sounds of nature at the same time.
I have a pair of sunglasses that have bone conduction speakers in them that allow for this. You can have a little bit of, I don’t know, say, Soundgarden, playing and only you hear it, but you can hear through the music very easily.
I’ve never listened to music while out on a trail and I don’t think I will! I’m out there to listen to nature’s music!
Do you cover your eyes with a blindfold while hiking or biking on the trail? Of course not. Neither should you block out the trail sounds. It’s unsafe for you and for other trail users. Do you go to a rock concert for peace and quiet? No. Neither should you use trails while blasting music or a podcast into your ears. On a more positive note, I’m happy to see that the vast majority of respondents to your poll do not wear ear distractions. It’s fairly consistent with what I’ve seen on the trails. About 70% of the people are considerate and conscientious and about 30% care only about themselves. What’s wrong with the sounds of nature? If you’re one of the 30%, give nature a try instead of earphones.
I spent 3 weeks in CO cycling, trail running and hiking. I was with a buddy and we had encounters with 2 mountain lions, a bear and 2 very close encounters with moose. I plan on moving there this year but I am concerned about trail running by myself – wouldn’t a small speaker warn off animals of my presence? Any other tips for scaring off animals?
I certainly wouldn’t be wearing headphones there, although I’m currently in KY and occasionally I listen to music on the trails. Quite often though, its most meditative just being in the zone without headphones.
A speaker may scare them off, sure. Should you do that? Really depends on how you feel about the wilderness and your place in it, along with leave no trace principles. There’s been plenty of studies posted about it, including on this site a few months back, but our presence and our voices alone have serious impacts on wilderness, so I’m sure a speaker would only make that worse. I try to hike as quietly as possible. That may be dumb, but part of the reason I’m out there is to see these animals in the places they call home. I get there is a fear about being out there alone, but I think that’s kind of just the risk that comes with going out in wild places. Is that an aggressive take? Maybe. Either way, everyone has their own views on the topic. Just remember to be courteous of others with the noise levels and I hope you never run into a problem out there on the trails.
Yeah those are great points and a good attitude to take into the wilderness. Still though, no one wants to accidentally sneak up on Mother Bear and her cubs. If there was an attack then the animal would be shot as a result. Negatives to all sides of the argument I suppose, even if you mean well. Although I think I would personally side with: go quietly and tread lightly.
Why, in a world so increasingly filled with artificial, often amplified noise, do people feel it necessary to create an even louder cacophony? I love music and podcasts, but have a far greater appreciation for the subtle sounds of nature that without careful listening would be missed. This is one of the essential elements that connects us to our environment. Obsessive talking in a natural setting is on par with portable speakers. Personally, I think it’s best to remove the earbuds, be quiet, listen to your footsteps and your breathing, hear the birdsong, be aware of your surroundings and tune in to nature’s soundscapes.
Don’t need to listen to artificial music when I’m outside enjoying my surroundings, preferring instead to hear the natural sounds.
Don’t really care if other folks use ear buds, etc. just refrain from the bluetooth speakers.
I’m curious whether the title of this article is more appealing to non-music listeners to click on, skewing the results of the survey.
Meh, I have seen a lot more of this recently on AJ, it’s disappointing. A lot of articles are framed like clickbait and are basically the outlet for writers to have a moan about a topic, rather than inspiring intelligent debate.
That’s not at all our intention. In fact, it’s the opposite. The poll questions are designed to get readers to weigh in. Engage each other in the comments. We’re hoping to provide a forum for, not debate necessarily, but conversation.
Not sure how the title could be a whole lot more neutral. Certainly didn’t mean to apply a judgment one way or the other.
Came here to respond and say the same thing. As a professional in the measurement and evaluation space, I work with A LOT of surveys. That question seems pretty darn straight forward and neutral to me.
Jamie, could you offer any alternative titles to pose this topic that you think aren’t clickbait? Not trying to be snarky, actually curious.
I just re-read the article a couple of times – and yes, the title is neutral – but after the first paragraphs its kinda full of backhanded comments which makes your bias very clear. The article definitely comes off as judgemental.
If it is suppose to be a neutral poll, then perhaps it could have been better debated on both sides of the argument. What about facts and data, rather than your own judgements. Instead it doesn’t really go into much detail, it just divulges us with your one sided opinion and seems to encourage people on your side of the argument to comment.
It’s not meant to be an argument. Just an invitation to discuss whether people listen to music on trails or not, with an anecdote about how much more attention I pay to fellow trail users lately, and how I’ve noticed how many people wear earbuds. Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts on the merits of music in the backcountry – we’re here to hear from everybody!
I think that’s a great point. I wonder if people who listen to music on trails, particularly those who do so with speakers, don’t even realize why this would be a question in the first place. Maybe they don’t even understand the incredible impact and frustration they’re (potentially) causing other trail users?
Personal preference that the reason I’m outside is to get away from modernism, so no electronics for me. Firmly against speakers in any designated wilderness area, but otherwise no problems as long as its localized and non-deafening.
I like audiobooks on the trail, my brain tends to absorb info better when I’m running a trail.
I usually do not listen to anything when riding/hiking but when i do i use Trekz Air wireless headphones that keep your ears open. I find i can still hear other trail users easy enough with them on.
Our current state in many areas seems to be that people are so ‘self-absorbed’ in many cases, that they don’t seem to care or understand that they have the absolute ‘right’ to do as they please…. as long as their usage of said rights, do not in turn infringe on my rights….That, is where the real problem lies….IMHO
It very much is the ‘me’ generation in many aspects.
Why do we need artificial sounds, when reality is the absolute best sound out there. I just don’t get it. Tune out to tune in!
I keep a 1st Gen. iPod Shuffle that refuses to die despite dunking sand beatings. It is the dedicated trip music machine and it rides in an altoid tin. I don’t listen to music while hiking, but I like a wake up tune ( probablybZZTop) and I like some Mandolin Orange while fly fishing in the middle of a stream.
Yes, I listen to music on the trails. I always have, probably always will. I’ve been doing it since I got my dad’s old Technics CD player and JVC cassette deck in the mid-90s and relied on pocket cassette players. I listen to whatever I want, at whatever volume level I want, almost always with both earphones on! (There’s no point in having a STEREO recording if you’re only going to listen to half of it, is there?) I have some crap-o Sony headphones that I slip into my helmet when going for a ride.
So, then, it would appear that I am exempt from criticism since this article only seems to focus on bluetooth devices whilst all my equipment is wired.
And you know what? It’s not hurting anybody, we’re all still here, the sun still rises in the east and North Korea is still a neo-Stalinist dictatorship.
But, haters on the Internet gonna keep hatin’, so whatever.
Nope. When I go on a trail, national park, or wilderness area I go there to escape everything: traffic, music, conversations. It’s just me being there, on my own with the nature. It feels like a soft reboot on my brains so I can juggle up another week or two at work again.
I posted above of my practices. (I listen and on a speaker), but after reading all the comments I have learned that everyone is riding or hiking in some pretty awesome places compared to me. My normal riding place doesn’t have that nature soundtrack, if anything I’m trying to block out what i’m hearing to a certain extent. The main place I ride in right next to a somewhat busy highway it is in a rural area. I hear noise from all the cars, and often hear folks either hunting or taking target practice on there adjacent property (I had to stop riding it was so close once). Second popular place I ride is on a few wooded acres bordered by a major road, a school, and homeless shelter. Very often there is a homeless tent or 2 either on the actual trail or next to it. There is often drinking and signs of drug use as well. The last place i get to ride if I have the time really fun trail. It is in a major city, in fact it goes under a 6 lane interstate, and it is bordered by a rock quarry.
Sometimes I do get visit places that are more nature than these. I understand what others are saying when It comes to that. I think the circumstance of where you are really matters on your decision to listen even on a speaker.
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I specifically enjoy the disconnect when running/biking/hiking/ski touring, etc. Most other times, music + podcasts FTW.
I’m with there whole situational awareness point.
That is spot on, besides a lot of time, music becomes background noise.
Personally, I would like to enjoy my music, I do that with studio cans in an armchair. No bears to interrupt a good deep soundgarden experience, and I can crank the volume to 12!
If you’re going to put in the effort to get to a glacier, then take the time and listen to what silence sounds like, there’s so much noise around.
I listen to music to drown out all of the banal “good jobbers”! Nothing worse than running next to one and having to hear them say that to every person they pass.