Rocking Out with Skullcandy’s Push ANC Active Wireless Earbuds

This will tell you how old I am, but I’ll never forget my first Walkman. It was so cool to be able to listen to music anytime, anywhere without disturbing anyone else. The methods we employ now have become way more high-tech tech but the goal is the same.

We want something easy and convenient for our “on the go” lifestyles, and Skullcandy is a brand that’s made that happen for a long time now. I was thrilled to try the Push ANC Active wireless earbuds and my kids thought I was pretty cool for having a pair too.

Looks

The earbuds are black with orange accents. Like most wireless earbuds these days, you can charge them in their case, which has the cool Skullcandy logo on the outside. The case should tuck away nicely when the earbuds aren’t in use. There’s a little bungee cord on the side if you want to tether the case to something.

In addition to the earbuds and the charging case, you’ll get three sets of ear gels (small, medium, and large) as well as the USB-C charging cable.

Function

Once the LED lights on the charging case turn amber or white, you’re ready to go, and the earbuds are fully charged. They will automatically power on and pair when you take them out of the case, which makes the whole process easy-peasy.

Both earbuds have touch sensors to control music as well as phone calls. You can use either earbud and it’s all straightforward once you get used to where the buttons are and how long to press each button.

For example, you’d employ a single tap on the skull button to play or pause a song or to answer a phone call, and you’d “triple tap” to control the “Stay-Aware” mode feature. The rocker buttons have a “+” bump and a “-“ dimple to aid you in turning the volume up and down (single press) or to move a track forward or backward (1 second hold).

To charge the earbuds, all you have to do is put them back in their case, and they will power off and do their thing until the next time you need them. The earbuds themselves will stay charged for 7 to 12 hours or for 30 to 46 hours in the case (all depending on whether you have the ANC feature on or off), so that should give you plenty of time to play. A rapid charge of 10 minutes will get you 2 hours of juice.

My favorite feature of the earbuds is the “Stay-Aware” mode you can use to make sure you hear your surroundings. When I used to wear headphones, I’d keep one out of my ear completely so I could hear everything going on around me, but this technology means I don’t have to worry about that. However, you can use one earbud solo if that’s your preference, as they can work independently or together.

Other features include: Bluetooth v5.3​ with multipoint pairing​, the Clear Voice smart mic, Google Fast Pair, Spotify Tap​, and Tap to Activate Voice Assistant,​ to name just a few.

Construction & Fit

The hooked part of the earbuds that goes around your ears is rubberized and flexible, which makes them really flexible and comfy after you get them into place. The construction over the ear will ensure that they aren’t coming out until you’re ready to take them out, no matter how much you’re jumping around.

There’s an adjustable 4-mic digital active noise cancelling functionality, which means they will sound great, and they also have an IP67 Waterproof rating, so you shouldn’t have to worry much about getting caught in the rain (or for your workout sweat to ruin them) while listening to your tunes.

Overall/For Consideration

The Push ANC Active is Skullcandy’s “zero-compromise” wireless earbud that has everything a runner needs from a short jog to a long ultra journey. This particular model has every feature you’re looking for, including low-profile ear hangers, rock-solid waterproof construction, and a long battery life. They are noise canceling but also feature a “Stay-Aware” mode to keep you dialed into your surroundings.