Bone conduction headphones are typically considered as sports headphones, meticulously designed with specific usage scenarios in mind. Before choosing any pair of headphones to better enhance your workout, start by asking yourself the following questions.
1. Will I still be aware of the surroundings for personal safety?
2. Will headphones stay secure all the way without wobbling?
3. Will wearing it for a longer period eventually cause irritation?
4. Will it stand against excessive sweat during extreme sports?
5. Will the battery last for at least a complete training session?
Shokz sports headphones span from entry-level models to flagship ones for common sport, including those in the water. They were purposely built to address the above 5 concerns of most sports enthusiasts.
Bone conduction headphones allow for Open-Ear listening, keeping the ears uncovered to stay aware of real-time happenings and to avoid sweat and earwax buildup. Sound is delivered into the ear by sending vibration through the human temporal bone, bypassing the eardrum.
Compared to traditional headphones, they distinctively feature a wraparound frame made of flexible nickel-titanium alloy wire, enclosed in a soft-to-the-touch silicone that ensures the headphones to stay put and remain comfortable for any physical activity you engage in.
For longer and intense sessions or unexpected weather changes, the battery life and waterproof performance have you covered.
Let’s compare the Shokz headphones designed for different purposes to have a clearer picture of what you could expect to level up your workout. They are the OpenRun Pro 2, the OpenSwim Pro, the OpenRun and OpenMove.
The table down below provides a brief knowledge about the 4 headphones before delving into their highlights and ideal scenarios of use.
MP3 mode: 6 hours
Bluetooth mode: Idled for 6 hrs
MP3 mode: Idled for 2 hrs
OpenRun Pro 2 — The best sounding flagship sports headphones
Recently released, the OpenRun Pro 2 stands out from the entire lineup, boasting an amazing sound quality and a long-lasting wearing comfort for professional sport.
The headphones feature Shokz latest acoustic technology, DualPitch, leveraging the advantages of bone conduction and air conduction drivers so they would reproduce the sound of instruments and human voice at their original state. Moreover, it reduces vibration to a great extent, taking listening immersion to another level.
Additionally, OpenRun Pro 2 packs up to 12 hours of music playtime, making it suitable for extended training sessions. The redesigned AI-powered dual noise-cancelling microphones also provide clear call quality, even in windy conditions.
OpenSwim Pro — Built versatile for sports underwater and on land
“Water to land, the music never ends”. As the tagline suggests, these headphones were built for athletic users that frequent multiple sports, including those in the water.
The OpenSwim Pro features both Bluetooth and MP3 modes so you can choose the one that works best for your training. The MP3 mode, a standalone music playback feature, is recommended for swimming and adventures in the wilds where signals fail to transmit smoothly.
They are IP68 waterproof, meaning that they support up to 2m submersion for about 2 hours, and the 32GB storage of MP3 allows to curate multiple playlists, or audiobooks and podcasts.
In the Shokz App, there are 2 EQ modes. For swimmers, it is recommended to activate the swimming EQ that creates an immersive listening experience like a live concert underwater.
OpenRun — The best-selling model with prominent waterproof capability
What makes users love the OpenRun is its high waterproof capability, IP67. Even if you are swamped with sweat or running in the rain, the headphones remain safe from liquid penetration and it can be easily rinsed with running water.
Even though IP67 means it supports up to 1m submersion for about 30 minutes, keep in mind that it is not for swimming and that hot water shower and any cleanser will damage the waterproofing layer.
What else appeals is how comfortable they are to wear for an entire day. As they are so light, you’ll almost forget you are wearing headphones, which makes them so great for listening to music while running, cycling, working out, or just for daily commute.
OpenMove — Entry-level model to discover the magic
For anyone new to the world of bone conduction headphones, the OpenMove is a great choice to start with. It has a decent sound quality, 6 hours of battery life, and the price is reasonable to get an idea on how open-ear headphones seamlessly blends your audio with surround sound.
The headphones come in 4 colour options, and the white and the pink are so refreshing for summer vacations. They are ideal for everyday use and light workouts like yoga, dog walking, strolling, or simply commuting.
In conclusion, the above models are all suitable for most physical activities and daily use. By asking yourself the 5 majors questions, you are likely to end up with the right headphones that would elevate your workout experience.
