Customer Reviews

Jabra Eargels for Aliph Jawbone Icon The Thinker

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Before I got the Jabra Eargels, I wasn't that excited about my Jawbone Icon. The call quality was great on both ends, but only if I was in a near silent environment. And when I could bear the discomfort to actually wear it. Now that I've slipped these eargels on, I can confidently say the the Jawbone Icon is the best bluetooth headset on the market! The Jabra gels are desined to fit your ear, and to do so comfortably. There are designed to funnel the sound into your ear(my description, not Jabra's) and they do that extremely well. I no longer am forced to have the volume up to the max by default.

As for comfort, another home run. As I hinted at earlier, my Jawbone Icon with the provided earbuds were rather uncomfortable. It hurt my ear, and I was forced to wear the ear hook for added security. Now, with my new Jabra Eargels on, my headset is comfortable and secure! I do not need to wear the hook anymore, as the Jabras really are designed, and designed well, to stay in your ear. Also, I have tried wearing my headset for an extended period of time(an average work-day) and I didn't have the slightest hint of discomfort. It was secure enough to stay in my ear without the hook, and comfortable enough for me not to know it was there(except for the streaming Pandora Radio thru it :P).

I would definitely reccommend the Jawbone Icon to anyone, but only with the Jabra Ear Gels. I know I'm talking about a different product here(The Jawbone Icon) but only because the Eargels make the Icon worth it.

So TL;DR(= The Bottom Line): The Jabra Eargels are great. Comfortable, conveinent, and functional. I would reccommend the highly for any headset that they fit, and could use s replacement earpiece, and definitely for the Jawbone Icon! Well worth the price.

This product works fits perfectly with the Jawbone Icon, provided you do the following:

- Replace the rubber ear piece with the small donut shaped one (NOT the smallest cylinder shaped one) that comes with your Icon (You did save the other ear pieces, right?).

- THEN install the Jabra Eargel over it.

It will not slide around. In fact, it's even more stable than what Aliph includes in the box.

Now for the caveat:

- The Eargel fits the Icon perfectly, but it MAY NOT fit your ear perfectly. Remember, it's a mass produced product, and one size definitely doesn't fit all (in some cases, three sizes don't fit all). I got lucky and the large size fits well with my ear, the Icon's rubber nib still touches my jaw, and I can wear it for many hours with no soreness or pain. For my coworker, the large size fits a bit tightly and gets painful after a couple of hours. So the medium works for him even though it's a bit loose. For a perfect fit, you'll need to get a customized earpiece (~$80 at AverySound.com). If you have a friend who has these, you should ask to try them out before you buy them, (oh, and use alcohol wipes to clean it before and after you try your friend's Eargels)

Pros:
- Fits Icon perfectly when set up the way I described above
- Sound is even louder in the ear, so you don't need to turn up the volume
- If the Eargel fits, it's awesome and doesn't fall out.

Cons:
- Fitting your own ear is hit and miss. Only custom molded kinds (like those at [...]) will ensure a perfect fit.
- Sound is even louder in the ear, so you need to turn down the volume.

I decided to try these since I've been finding the stock peaces for the Jawbone icon to be either somewhat painful or not secure enough fitting.

These eargels come paired (one for each side) and in three different sizes. Unfortunately for me, the small ones are way too small, the large ones way too large, and the medium ones a little too small. So none of them fit really well.

So watch out. They're reasonably priced enough to give them a try, but it's a real hit and miss whether or not you'll find a secure enough fit among them.

My ears were badly hurting after just an hour of wearing my Jawbone. I literally wear my Jawbone 10 hours a day, so this was not a good thing. I found these and what a wonder!! They relieved the pain and I can wear my Jawbone all day, if needed. I've never been able to wear ear buds, but these gel covers have changed that forever. Even if you don't have a problem with ear buds, I would still suggest getting these. They don't compromise the audio quality at all and the comfort is fabulous. Best money I've spent in a very long time.

I was really excited to try these out after having read multiple reviews and I have to say I am sorely disappointed.
This is such a Frankenstein of a product they don't even bother to tell you how to put it together.
Luckily I read the reviews and knew so here it is for the uninitiated:
Put the smallest ROUNDED adapter on your icon (one you would use with the earhook).
Now place the new gel OVER that piece.
It does not really fit too well.
After trying all three earpieces I found that the largest worked best for me (though best was lacking).
I am unsure how people are saying that these puppies pipe the sound into your ear better than the jawbone's own earpieces!
I found that it sounded further away (as it was) and was not as directed into my ear.
I also found that these eargels held the jawbone off my cheek which is necessary for optimal sound for the person on the other end of the line (regardless of what Aliph says about the piece not needing to touch your cheek)

My take is that the non-earhook adapters that came with the jawbone work very well, fit more snugly, sound better and feel far lighter.
I think I wasted my money on these and wish I had not bought them.
I would return them, but I feel funny about doing so after use (as short as that lasted).

On a more positive note; The company that sold them shipped them free and fast. I think it took about one day post order for them to arrive.
Now, if only I liked them!
Namaste~

06/15/2011 Amended

OK, I have had the chance to play more with the fit and positioning and they are not as bad as I originally thought.
You really have to work your icon deep into the eargel to hear it well and if one of the eargels fits you it is a nice fit.
I still do not think that I can hear the caller as well with these and I also note that my callers seem to hear me better when I wear the aliph fit piece (cheek contact is better), but for the purposes of a tighter fit these gels work better than originally assessed.
STILL I contend that the jawbone's own fit kit is better and you should only spend the extra money if you absolutely cannot get that to work. In that case this may be a good solution for you.

07/20/2011 Amended AGAIN

I have really worked with these earpieces now and I must...take it all back. I am ashamed. Abashed. At a loss.
Having now used these earpieces for a while they have now become my staple earpiece. I do not even use the aliph fits anymore. They stay in the ear and even help to shut out other noise.
The only reasons I do not give higher ratings to these are: 1. They come off the earpiece at times (not when in use, but when stored or pocketed) and 2. they frequently need to be adjusted prior to use for best sound (distance from earpiece to output from the jawbone).
Great addition to the product, just give it some time to grow on you.

Up until now, my 60$ Jawbone was barely being used and silently hated by me. As soon as I used it, most people would tell me they couldn't hear me or it was very garbled. After the eargels, the jawbone fits properly and no one can tell I'm using it. If u have fit problems with the Jawbone, then this is a purchase you must make!

If the Icon doesn't fit you perfectly out of the box then the Jabra Eargels may just be the perfect accessory.

I found the standard Icon earpieces to have an okay fit for me but after a while in the ear they became a bit uncomfortable. Especially if I was chewing gum - the Icon would start to slip and I would constantly need to adjust its position.

I decided to give the Jabra Eargels a try based on many of the reviews and what a great purchase they have been.

Of course everyone has different shaped ears and one person's definition of "comfortable" will be different than another's but it's definitely worth a try (especially since they cost less than $10).

Here's what I found:
- For me,the large eargel fit the best and I used one of the larger standard "doughnut" earpiece on the Icon first then put the Jabra eargel over it and found it to have a very snug fit. (Thanks to earlier reviewers for that tip!!) Depending on what size Jabra Eargel fits you, try the different doughnut shape earpieces to see what works best. Definitely don't put the Jabra's right on the Icon because it will be so loose it won't work well.

- The contoured shape of the Jabra Eargels definitely enhances the sound quality of the Icon. Since the Eargel angles itself into the ear canal it really directs the sound and you can hear much more clearly.

- The Jabra Eargels are BIG & UGLY - but who cares, they work and they work well. Not only that, but they are only really ugly when you are not wearing the Icon. When you have it on/in, it really doesn't isn't noticeable.

- The Jabra Eargels are side specific. Meaning that there is a different eargel for the right side versus the left. I kind of liked having the flexibility of switching from ear-to-ear with the standard earpieces but the Jabra Eargels are so much better that I can live with only using one ear.

- The Jabra Eargels are really comfortable (for me). I have had these for a few weeks now and on two occasions I have actually forgotten that I had the Icon in my ear. I don't wear the Icon "all the time" so it's not like I've just gotten used to the feel - they are just really comfortable.

I have always had trouble with those fat, round earphones that a lot of bluetooth makers use. I read about using these clear earpieces over the regular round little pads that come with the earpiece, and they are great! they don't fall out, they are comfortable, and I can hear! They are also reasonable priced. Too bad they are not included with the earpiece originally..... These things are great!!!!!

Great accessory for the Jawbone Icon if you are on the road. Allows Icon noise suppression to work and focuses sound into ear channel.

I didn't like the earpieces that came with my Jawbone, they wouldn't stay in place and if I sweated a tiny bit, my Jawbone's angle would slide until it was pointing straight down. It always felt like the bluetooth was moving in my ear, very annoying.
After installing an Eargel all the problems have disappeared. For me the fit was perfect. My Jawbone does not slide or feel uncomfortable at all. It would take a good knock in the head to make it dislodge now.
One thing people need to keep in mind is that these gels will not fit over a "naked" Jawbone earpiece. You must have one of the "donut" type earpieces that came with the Jawbone installed before you attempt to install one of these Jabra Eargels. You'll find it works well.