MP3 players for sport

If you're kayaking down the rapids or winding your way down a snowy mountain, you can guarantee two things: Firstly, that a dead MP3 player battery is nothing short of mental torment; and second, that finding the "Skip" button is almost impossible. For your consideration, here is a collection of the music players best suited to you outdoor types.

Iriver's U20 plays right into the hands of people whose hands spend most of their time maintaining balance. The entire screen on this player is a four-way navigational button, meaning there's no time wasted fiddling around for tiny forward and backward controls. Only split seconds of time are needed to change a song or skip an album, leaving you free to ensure your safe journey down the most challenging of pistes.

Sony's NW-E013 may not have the easiest of control systems, but with 30 hours of battery life, you can be sure you'll have music throughout the weekends you spend up in the mountains. Sony has a reputation for outstanding battery life in its digital music players, so it's no surprise this player's stamina is almost unrivaled. If you're intending to spend extended periods of time away from a power outlet, consider Sony's players above most others.

Iriver's U10 is almost unrivaled for size. This tiny little player will slip inside any sports gear with ease and, with 28 hours of battery life, it'll keep on pumping longer than almost any human is capable of doing. Its intuitive control system makes for easy navigation, too, and a bright screen provides an easy ride for choosing what to listen to next. Consider this player if size is absolutely crucial beyond all measure.

Whether or not you're a fan of Apple's players, you can't deny the Click Wheel makes navigation blisteringly easy. Minuscule weight and over 20 hours of battery life make this ideal for many applications, and the range of sports-related accessories will cater for any hobbyist's adventures. There are players with significantly better battery life--so if you're away from power sockets a lot, the nano might not be your best bet--but if ease of use is at the forefront of importance, its intuitive controls might make your sports days that little bit easier.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	iriver U20 (4GB)       CNET Asia rating: 8.7 out of 10 The good: Sleeker and slimmer than its predecessor; offers the same unique and intuitive interface; stellar audio quality; FM radio; voice recorder; alarm clock; support for subscription content as well as OGG and Audible files; photo, video, and text viewing; includes SRS Wow sound effects; good battery life. The bad: No cradle or line-in recording options yet; iRiver doesn't offer an easy way to get video content for the device. The bottom line: The iriver Clix offers the perfect blend of hot design, desirable features, and stellar sound quality. If you're looking for an alternative to the iPod nano, this device should top the list. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Sony NW-E016 (4GB)   First take As if releasing a delicious video Walkman wasn't enough, Sony has built another compact and smart-looking MP3 player. The NW-E01x series is a range of ultra-slim and sporty players, with 30 hours of battery life from a 1-hour charge and the same audio-enhancement tech that delivered cracking playback on the NW-A808. First take | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	iriver U10 (512MB)   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Flash Lite 1.1 compliant; supports both ID3 tag and tree directory-type navigation; great battery life; QVGA screen. The bad: Video playback is restricted; sluggish transfer rate; high price. The bottom line: The U10 may be the best MP3 player in a long time to take on the mantle of an iPod killer, but its high cost may just price it out of the market. Review | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	Apple iPod nano (4GB; second generation)          CNET Asia rating: 8.3 out of 10 The good: Scratch-resistant aluminum body;supports photos (with thumbnail grid); great sound quality. The bad: Still doesn't play video; no built-in FM tuner or recording capability; not all color options are available for all memory sizes. The bottom line: The second-generation Apple iPod nano is like the successful offspring of an iPod mini and a first-generation iPod nano. It's small, stylish, user-friendly, and competitively priced--a great player all around and suitable for a variety of users. Review | See full specs | Rate this