Do you know how to wear headphones with glasses without causing discomfort?
Finding ways to comfortably wear glasses and headphones together is a technique that many have pondered since the dawn of creation. Well, since the creation of headphones, at least.
Wearing the two together is like merging hip-hop and rock music. Most of the time, it causes massive headaches, but when you discover the right mix, you get Rage Against the Machine.
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So, how can you find the perfect amalgamation between the two?
Let’s find out as we go through the ancient art of merging glasses and headphones without needing cranial surgery and establish exactly How to Wear Headphones with Glasses?
Major Issues Wearing Headphones and Glasses Together
Did you know that over 4 billion people wear glasses in the world? It’s an astounding statistic that doesn’t seem plausible, but apparently, it’s true. That breaks down as more than half the world’s population.
The Vision Council of America states that roughly 75% of the world uses some kind of vision correction. They also report that 64% of those wear spectacles. Over 58% of all bespectacled people are women, while men make up 42% of that statistic.
It seems like wearing glasses and headphones at the same time could be a problem for the majority of Planet Earth. Here are some of the common issues and discomforts experienced by those who wear both daily.
1. Getting Headaches and Migraines
Learning how to wear glasses and headphones correctly at the same time can help alleviate many medical complaints such as headaches. Bespectacled people often suffer from headaches while wearing headphones, especially if they’re a tight fit.
This is usually caused by added pressure on the temporal bone in your skull. The extra stress on the cutaneous nerve causes headaches. These are called ‘compression headaches,’ and they usually start within an hour of wearing headphones.
This is one of the most common complaints. And if you wear headphones for an extended period, the pain gets worse.
2. Auricular Chondrites and Sore Ears
Even if you don’t wear glasses, excessive headphone usage can cause sore and painful ears. Wearing both glasses and headphones at the same time can cause Auricular Chondrites, which is a condition that causes inflammation of the ear cartilage. Your ears will turn red and swell, and it can be painful.
The main cause is extra pressure on the outer ear. This can even cause soreness in your earlobes. The added pressure of using headsets and glasses at the same time simply exacerbates such issues with ear soreness. Learning how to wear headphones and glasses together is the only way to solve these issues.
3. General Pain and Discomfort
If you are getting pain from wearing headphones and glasses together, the issues could be caused by one of the following reasons…
- The style and design of your glasses.
- The type of headphones that you use.
- The thickness and materials of your earphone padding.
- The tightness and pressure of your headphones.
The harsh reality is that everyone is different. Ears are unique in many different ways, so one type of headphone isn’t the right solution for everyone. One size does not fit all. However, some extremely comfortable headphones can help to alleviate these issues.
But firstly, let’s look at how to wear headphones in the most comfortable way before we discuss viable headphone products.
How to Wear Glasses and Headphones Together?
Now we have unearthed some of the medical issues created by wearing earphones and spectacles together; it’s time to get practical. What can you do to alleviate this? Check out these beneficial tips to ensure maximum comfort.
Wearing Glasses with Thinner Frames
Although we have placed much focus on wearing comfortable headphones, the type of glasses you wear is just as important. If not more so. The thickness of spectacle frames can play a major role in the discomfort.
Glasses with thin frames have less surface tension, which results in less pressure on your temporal bone and ear cartilage. Thick-framed glasses have large surface areas that cause a wider area of pain when wearing headphones. The best advice is to buy glasses with thinner frames.
Adjusting Your Headphones for Looseness
It’s mainly the headphones that cause the harshest amount of pressure. These types of products were not designed by people who wear glasses. But you can perform some adjustments to alleviate the pain. Reducing the clamping pressure of your headphones is a great place to start. If the clamping pressure is too tight, loosen it a touch.
Another way to counteract this issue is to place books side-by-side in between your headphones when you are not wearing them. This will cause the headphones to stretch wider, therefore causing less pressure. Be careful not to overstretch them, or you will be buying new headphones sooner than you thought.
Slide Tissue Paper Between Your Glasses and Head
One of the simplest ways to solve the issue is to place two folded pieces of tissue between your glasses frames and your temples. These act as a buffer between your frames and your head. Okay, you won’t win any fashion or style awards, but it might help lessen the pressure.
Finding Headphones with Thicker Ear Padding
One of the best ways to counteract these issues is by purchasing headphones with thicker ear padding. Different brands and manufacturers use a multitude of varying materials for their padding. The materials and padding size can make a massive difference.
If the padding material is too thin, there will be less cushioning and protection to distribute the clamping pressure.
There are generally four types of padding materials used in headphones: foam, velour, leather, or pleather. Everyone has their preference, and only you can decide the best material that creates the most comfortable headphone experience.
Combining Headphones and Glasses that Complement Each Other
By utilizing our beneficial tips, you can combine the best choice of glasses and headphones. Find thin-framed glasses and headphones with lots of padding and protection so you can customize and find the perfect pairing.
Always remember to never sacrifice sound quality for comfort. You can mix and match to find headphones that have lots of padding and quality audio. This is about finding the right fit, not just settling for the second-best.
Understanding Headphone Types
Next, let’s find out if there are headphones that are comfortable when wearing glasses? Or are we resigned to a lifetime of fiddling about and adjusting? Plus, what are the differing headphone types?
There are several types of headphone and earphone products, but only two cause issues in conjunction with wearing glasses. And both have designs with a band that goes over your head to connect each ear cup.
- Circumaural headphones– This ‘over the ear’ headphone type is heavy and usually has tighter clamping pressure. These headphones can also exert more pressure on your temples that cause headaches.
- Supra-aural headphones – This headphone type sits directly on the ear, and although it has less clamping pressure, this type can cause ear soreness. These are much lighter than the standard ‘over the ear’ products.
If these two types of headphones are your favorites, don’t fret. We have found you some of the best Supra-aural and Circumaural headphones with extra padding.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Headphones
The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Headphones are one of the most comfortable products for people wearing glasses. This durable product was made in Germany, which is the home of engineering brilliance.
Using robust workmanship and combining quality and comfort, these are a top pick, especially if you are looking for ‘over the ear’ Circumaural headphones with extra padding.
These headphones use soft and replaceable velour ear pads that act as a buffer for distributing the pressure on your ears and temples. These design features make this product perfect to be worn in tandem with thin-frame glasses.
Never sacrifice sound or quality…
This over-the-ear headphone variety also has high-resolution sound quality. You do not have to sacrifice sound quality for comfort. This product has both in equal amounts.
Key selling points
- Circumaural headphones.
- Lots of extra padding.
- Soft and replaceable velour ear pads.
- Merging quality sound with comfort.
Or, if you want something even better, check out our in-depth review of the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Professional Headphones.
Samson Technologies SR850 Semi Open-Back Headphones
The Samson Technologies SR850 Headphones are also popular Circumaural type products. If you seriously want to know how to wear headphones with glasses, purchasing this product is highly recommended.
The partially open-back design reduces ear fatigue, making it the perfect complement for bespectacled people. The soft velour ear cushions are designed to fit snugly. But it’s the self-adjusting band that takes it to the next level in terms of comfort. They are easy to adjust when wearing glasses, which is why so many people swear by this product.
Key Selling Points
- Circumaural over-the-ear headphones.
- Snugly fitting soft velour ear cushions.
- Open-back design that reduces ear fatigue.
- Self-adjusting band to control clamping pressure.
Status Audio BT One Wireless On-Ear Headphones
Status Audio BT One Wireless On-ear headphones are the perfect ‘on ear’ supra-aural headphones if you wear glasses. These premium wireless headphones have padded headbands and ear-cups that are extremely comfortable.
The self-adjusting headband was designed to fit all head shapes and sizes. Even Herman Munster would be happy. The featherweight design also ensures that the least amount of pressure is placed on your glasses, ears, and temples.
Compatibility and comfort…
The product is compatible with all devices and has a recharge time of 1.5 hours. They were designed for comfort and quality in equal amounts, perfect for wearing with glasses.
Key selling points
- Self-adjustable padded headband.
- On-ear supra-aural model.
- Featherweight design.
- Padded ear-cups.
How to Wear Headphones with Glasses? – Buying Tips: Purchasing Headphones for Glasses
It’s important to remember a few key points when buying headphones that complement glasses. The only issues you will encounter will be with on-ear supra-aural or over-ear Circumaunal headphones.
Generally speaking, earbuds don’t have the same issues in regards to clamping pressure. However, earbuds can cause soreness to the interior of your ear, with or without glasses.
Our headphone recommendations?
We would suggest that you purchase over-ear Circumaural headphones that have lots of padding. Headphones that use foam or velour ear-cup padding are highly recommended by all industry experts.
Headphones with adjustable bands are also hugely popular because you will need to control the clamping pressure. Tight headphones put pressure on your glasses, which ultimately transfers pressure on the temporal bones and can cause headaches and ear soreness. This is especially true if you wear headphones for substantial amounts of time.
For more superb options…
Check out our reviews of the Best Bluetooth Headphones for Commuting, the Best Headphones under 1000 Dollars, the Best Podcast Headphones, the Best Headphones with Google Assistant Integration, and the Best Headphones Under 200 dollars you can buy in 2023.
Or just search ‘Headphones’ in the search bar on the top right-hand side of this page for even more excellent headphones.
Recommended glasses?
Glasses with thin frames are recommended when using any type of headphones. The least amount of surface area means less pressure on your temples. Big and bulky glasses will result in you having a headache the size of a politician’s ego. Yep, that big!
How to Wear Headphones with Glasses? – Final Thoughts – Combining the elements
Finding headphones that fit with your glasses is something we cannot control. Everyone is different. If you use thin-framed glasses in combination with one of our recommended headphone types, you will be very happy with the results. However, it could take some mix and matching on your part to find a combination that works.
Now you know how to wear headphones and glasses at the same time without getting a headache or sore ear. It is totally possible to combine the two.
Hip-hop and rock music might not go together like birds of a feather. But under the right conditions, it can be a magical experience. Very similar to finding the perfect combination of glasses and headphones. We wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of audio comfort and perfection.
Happy listening.
