Why My 20-Year-Old iPod Shuffle Still Gets Regular Use
Two things that have been with me all my adult life are my passion for surfing and music. Surfing has been a part of my life since I was a teenager on the Jersey Shore. Back then, I would haul my board to the beach and sit while listening to mix tapes on my Walkman cassette player, while I analyzed the rhythm of the breaking waves, trying to find the perfect set.
These days, I live in Florida near New Smyrna Beach, Florida, arguably the best surfing spot on the East Coast and I'm still out in the ocean with my board, but my gear has changed. Now I surf with a soundtrack. But the technology powering my audio-filled surfing sessions isn't new at all.
Retro iPod MP3 Players
Back in the early 2000s, the iPod was one of the hottest tech items. It changed how we listened to music. Up until its release, most other MP3 players were big and clunky, and they ate through batteries at an alarming rate. We also had portable CD players and cassette players, but these paled in comparison with the sleek and convenient iPod.
The iPod came in a multitude of different models and sizes. My first iPod was the iPod Mini. It was a great feeling to be walking around with hundreds of songs in my pocket that I could access with a little click of the wheel. Not long after that, I bought an iPod Shuffle and was amazed by its size. It was perfect for running on the beach, riding bikes or any activity where a clunky Walkman would get in the way.
Rich Hein/ How-To Geek
Fast-forward a few months, and I was surfing when I noticed one of the other surfers was wearing what appeared to be headphones. I approached him as soon as I had the chance, and he was more than happy to show me his waterproof MP3 player set up and share his thoughts with me. I knew right then and there that this was for me.
I Still Surf With an iPod
For over 2 decades, H2O Audio has been making waterproof headphones and MP3 cases that allow me to surf with a soundtrack. Founded back in 2003, right alongside the new portable MP3 market, they've expanded their lineup quite extensively, but I'm still using the one I bought in late 2006.
Over the years, I have had to replace the headphones and the elastic band, but these items are relatively inexpensive. I also upgraded my waterproof case at one point to a larger waterproof unit that could carry my smartphone. However, that was a short-lived experiment, as I quickly went back to the smaller Shuffle. The thought of drowning my iPhone was too much.
Rich Hein/ How-To Geek
Why I Still Use the iPod
Sure, there are other solutions out there, but if it isn't broke, I don't want to fix it. For surfing, swimming, or any water sport, the iPod Shuffle is my MP3 player of choice , and after nearly 2 decades it's still going strong. You may be asking yourself why I haven't upgraded my MP3 player or switched to a smartphone. For the same reason I originally bought it. The iPod Shuffle has the smallest footprint possible. It fits snugly on my arm and is easily accessible while I'm out in the surf.
My larger waterproof case is just that, larger. I found myself having to regularly adjust it. Also, the controls are also more difficult to access because it's more like a clear waterproof bag where the shuffle case is more like a molded waterproof container where all the buttons are still accessible. Finally, the thought of seawater killing my phone doesn't sit well with me. I still have the larger waterproof case for when the battery in my Shuffle is dead, but instead of a smartphone, I use the even older iPod Mini.
Here's the kicker: I haven't updated the music on either of these iPods since 2010. In the late 90s, I ripped a large catalog of CDs that my wife and I had amassed over the years and that library has lived on those devices ever since. Every time I paddle out it's like listening to a time capsule of my youth. Not every track has aged gracefully, but hearing them instantly pulls me back to a time when everything felt wide open and full of possibility.
Some Tech Refuses to Die
A lot of the technology I buy today seems disposable. Smartphones stop getting updates and batteries fade, leading to the inevitable upgrade. But every now, and then you find a piece of technology that just works. My iPods have proven themselves over time. They survived decades of sweat, sun, and countless waves. I don't even know how they still hold a charge.
All of this gear, from the iPods to the waterproof cases, has really lived long past their sell by date. There is something special about that kind of reliability. In an era where all of my gear seems to have a short shelf life, these things remind me that many times the simplest things are the best.
To this day, nothing clears my head better than sitting on my surfboard, grooving to my favorite songs, and looking at the horizon waiting for that perfect wave. As the summer reaches an end, I'll be out there enjoying the surf, lost in my music.
