I didn't expect ANC earbuds to save my solo beach trip

The sun was out, it was a beautiful day in Vancouver, BC, and I was pumped to hop on my bike and head to the beach. Reviewing earbuds and Bluetooth speakers requires a fair amount of screen time, so this was my chance to finally get outside, soak up some sun, and enjoy a few hours by myself.

I was in a great mood when I got there. The weather was perfect, I had nowhere else to be, and for once, I wasn’t staring at a screen. Then a rowdy group set up nearby and quickly became impossible to ignore. Thankfully, I’d brought a pair of ANC earbuds with me.

Transparency mode got me to the beach, but ANC saved my afternoon

I almost exclusively use transparency mode when I’m biking. I keep my music at roughly the same level as everything happening around me, so it becomes part of the ride rather than masking it. I can still hear cars, other cyclists, and what’s happening around me without giving up my music.

When I got to the beach, there was plenty of space, and I managed to snag a primo spot next to a log where I could stretch out for the afternoon. I took my earbuds out, went for a swim, and settled in to enjoy the sun and the sound of the water.

Then, in a classic beach move, a rowdy group decided to set up right near me despite having plenty of other spots to choose from. And, of course, they brought a Bluetooth speaker.

At first, I tried to ignore it, but eventually their music and conversations became all I could hear. I could have packed everything up and moved, but I had a great spot and didn’t feel like giving it up. So I put my earbuds back in, switched on ANC, and started playing my own music. Within seconds, the group faded into the background, and I could get back to enjoying the afternoon I’d biked there for.

ANC gave me control over a place I couldn’t control

The beach is a public space, and I can’t expect everyone else to enjoy it the same way I do. Some people want to lie in the sun and listen to the waves. Others want to hang out with friends, crank some music, and have a good time. Neither of us gets to decide who shows up.

What surprised me was how quickly ANC gave me some control over the situation without having to go anywhere. I’m not there to tell anyone how much of a good time they can have, but I can control how much of it I have to hear.

Once I settled back in with my music playing, I finally felt like I could escape for a bit. More importantly, I was actually listening to my music again. This wasn’t background music playing while I hung out at the beach. I was locked in, paying attention to what I was hearing in a way that felt much closer to sitting at home with a wired pair of headphones.

At the same time, I could still feel the sun and look out at the water. There’s a reason I head to the beach when I want to clear my head. Being outside with nowhere else to be for a few hours gives me a chance to switch off in a way that sitting at home doesn’t.

I’d gone to the beach partly to get away from screens and technology, only to have a pair of earbuds help me disconnect. ANC didn’t pull me away from the experience. It let me get lost in my music while still enjoying everything I’d gone to the beach for.

I didn’t expect the beach to become one of my favorite places to use ANC

I take several flights a year that are five hours or longer, so good ANC has been a must for me for a long time. I also cycle almost every day, which has made a good transparency mode just as important. Until now, those were the two situations where I appreciated these features the most.

Now I’m adding solo beach days to the list. I’ll still take my earbuds out when I want to hear the waves or go for a swim of course, but if the beach gets a little too lively, I know I don’t have to pack up and head home. I can put on some music, switch on ANC, and get back to doing absolutely nothing for a few hours.

That sounds like a pretty good beach day to me.