MP3 players for sport

Round-up by: Nate Lanxon

Last updated: 08 Jun 2007

If you're kayaking down the rapids or winding your way down a snowy mountain in Austria, you can guarantee two things: firstly, that a dead MP3 player battery is nothing short of mental torment; and second, that finding the 'skip' button is almost impossible. For your consideration, here is a collection of the music players best suited to you outdoor-types.

iRiver's Clix 2 plays right into the hands of people whose hands spend most of their time maintaining balance. The entire screen on this player is a four-way navigational button, meaning there's no time wasted fiddling around for tiny forwards and backwards controls. Only split seconds of time are needed to change a song or skip an album, leaving you free to ensure your safe journey down the most challenging of pistes.

Sony's NW-E013 might not have the easiest of control systems, but with 30 hours of battery life, you can be sure you'll have music throughout the weekends you spend up mountains. Sony has a reputation for outstanding battery life in its digital music players, so it's no surprise this player's stamina is almost unrivalled. If you're intending to spend extended periods of time away from a power outlet, consider Sony's players above most others.

iRiver's U10 is almost unrivalled for size. This tiny little player will slip inside any sports gear with ease, and with 28 hours of battery life it'll keep on pumping longer than almost any human is capable of doing. Its intuitive control system makes for easy navigation too, and a bright screen provides an easy ride for choosing what to listen to next. Consider this player if size is absolutely crucial beyond all measure.

Whether or not you're a fan of Apple's players, you can't deny the Click Wheel makes navigation blisteringly easy. Minuscule weight and over 20 hours of battery life make this ideal for many applications, and the range of sports-related accessories will cater for any hobbyist's adventures. There are players with significantly better battery life -- so if you're away from power sockets a lot, the nano might not be your best bet -- but if ease of use is at the forefront of importance, its intuitive controls may make your sports days that little bit easier.