Headphones for dog walkers – NL25 and transparency mode save your day
Walking the dog without music is like going to a sauna without beer. Technically possible, but why?
The problem is familiar: you want to listen to a podcast or music, but your dog decides to chase a squirrel across a crosswalk, and you can't hear the approaching bus because Metallica is blasting in your ears at full volume. Or your neighbour Dave is yelling something important about your dog's behaviour, and you just nod and smile because you can't hear a word.
There's a solution, and it doesn't involve leaving your headphones at home.
Transparency mode is a dog walker's best mate
The NL25 earbuds have three listening modes: ANC (active noise cancelling), transparency, and normal. You switch between them by pressing the left earbud once. One press, next mode. No need to dig your phone out of your pocket with gloves on.
Transparency mode lets ambient sounds through via the microphones while your music keeps playing. So you hear Spotify AND your dog starting to growl at an oncoming bulldog. You hear traffic. You hear Dave's comments. Unfortunately.
ANC mode is for when you're on the sofa at home and the dog is asleep. That's when you get to shut the world out.
Why NL25 for dog walks?
- Transparency mode actually works. You're not deaf to the world, but you still get music in your ears. That's the essential bit.
- Earbuds don't have the headband problem. Wearing a beanie, hoodie, or headband? Over-ear headphones go crooked. Earbuds stay put.
- Memory foam tips. The NL25 comes with both memory foam and silicone tips. Memory foam seals better and stays in your ear even if the dog drags you into a ditch. Try different sizes – a wrong-sized tip is the most common reason for bad sound or earbuds falling out.
- Vincent van Gogh mode. You can use just one earbud at a time. Keep one ear free for dog commands and the other for music. This is surprisingly handy outdoors.
- Price. The NL25 costs a fraction of what AirPods Pro does. With the savings, you can buy your dog a new fetch toy set. Or beers for yourself. We don't judge.
- Repairability. If your dog decides to chew the case, we'll fix it in Kajaani. With Apple, you get to buy entirely new ones.
Jasse's tuning is made for listening to music, not for lab tests. The bass doesn't rumble into mush, and speech comes through clearly on podcasts. On a dog walk, that matters more than fancy frequency response curves on paper.
Who should pick something else?
Let's be honest.
If you're running marathon training with your dog in the rain, sports earphones are a better pick. The NL25 has a basic IP rating – light rain and sweat are fine, but in heavy downpours and sweaty interval sessions, you might want to consider something like Jaybird or Beats Fit Pro.
If ANC is your number one priority and budget doesn't matter, the Sony WH-1000XM5 over-ears isolate noise a bit more effectively. But they're over-ear headphones, cost twice as much, and can't be repaired. And good luck during beanie season.
If you need more than six hours of battery life on a single charge, the NL25's 4.5 hours with ANC on might fall short. Without ANC you get six hours, and the case tops you up – but if you're walking dogs for eight hours straight, you've got bigger problems than battery life.
Summary
| Need | NL25's solution |
|---|---|
| Hear my surroundings | Transparency mode |
| Wearing a beanie | Earbuds, no headband |
| One ear free | Van Gogh mode |
| Dog ate my headphones | Repaired in Kajaani |
| Budget | Half the price of AirPods Pro |
The NL25 is the sensible choice for dog walkers. Transparency mode keeps you alive in traffic, memory foam keeps the buds in your ears, and Van Gogh mode gives one ear to the dog. The price is humane and the device is repairable.
And if your dog actually eats the headphones: snap a photo, send us your order number, and Jasse's team will handle the rest. We've seen worse. Henri's Alfa Romeo has broken down more often than any customer's earbuds.
Every NL25 purchase funds 0.000001% of our Death Star. Your dog deserves an owner with good music in their ears and a space station in the works.
