Introduction

I love my AirPods, but they don’t work well in the wind. Especially when I’m calling my beloved girlfriend during my lunch break (lots of wind noise in mic, and I need to turn volume all the way up to hear her) or listening to a podcast while biking to work (on the lovely, car-free Bay Trail). How could I reduce wind noise?

Inspired by the foam-y covers over fancy microphones, I had a hypothesis that maybe just a thin piece of fabric over the AirPods would help. Pulling my shirt over my head seemed to work (I wonder what passersby thought of me talking to myself with my shirt over my head???), as did tucking tissues under my helmet straps and wrapping a thin towel around my head. Time to try sewing something more ergonomic!

Step 1: Cut fabric outline

Measure out the size of your ears, and cut a piece of stretchy fabric a bit bigger than twice that size.

Step 2: Cut ear-hole

Cut a line in the center of one-half of the fabric, whose length is roughly the height of where your ear connects to your head. This will be the hole that you put your ear through.

Step 3: Sew the edges

Fold the fabric in half and sew an ear-shaped oval (you can leave the folded edge unsewn).

Step 4: Cut off the excess fabric around the border

Step 5: Flip it inside out

Flip the fabric inside out so that the seam is on the inside.

Final Result: Ear Socks!

Conclusion

These work surprisingly well! I still get some wind noise in extreme wind (Bay Area natives will know what I mean), but on the whole I consider it extremely effective and they satisfy all my requirements (though the stylishness could stand to be improved).

Maybe try them out and let me know what you think!