Hi fellow cyclists,

I do have a tricky questionI have used Shokz Aeropex for 2 years until they failed and now replaced them with the new Shokz Open Run.

But while I totally like the awareness that you get from using bone conduction headphones I am struggling with the volume. The Aeropex where borderline loud enough, especially when going >25 kph and the new Open Run are even less loud.

So I am wondering if open ear headphones would be a better choice.What are your experiences?

Some things to consider:- the open ear headphones I have found are individual earpieces and I am afraid to loose them. I would prefer something that is connected with a strap or similar.- I definitely do not what in ear headphones- I use them mainly for podcasts and audio books.- My typical rides are 2-3 hours. My longest rides are 5-6 hours.

Edited: Adding links while I find Options on my own or from comments

Open Ear - none bone conduction options:

• Upcoming Oladance OSW Sport might be an option:

https://www.oladanceshop.com/pages/ows-sports

• Soundcore AeroFit Pro:

https://us.soundcore.com/products/aerofit-pro-a3871011

• JBL Sondgear Sense:

https://de.jbl.com/bestsellers/SOUNDGEAR-SENSE.html?cgid=bestsellers

• Ali Express option:
  https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005005349965303.html?gatewayAdapt=4itemAdapt

Hello to every runners!

I was wondering what is better to wear when running - air vs bone conduction. I am well aware of how both technology works, but in terms of running, what is a better option? I like to run outside and I have the Galaxy Buds Pro; however, I am starting to realize that it can be dangerous without awareness of the surrounding. So, it would be nice what is more comfortable to wear (especially with someone who wears glasses) and which one can provide better awareness to the surroundings and lastly can you recommend me a good budget friendly earphones?

Edit: thank you everyone for your suggestions! I read them all and has helped a ton!

I’m starting to train for a marathon and I’m debating between getting bone conduction earphones or open-ear earbuds.

The main things I care about are:

• Comfort over long distances

• Battery life (since the race could be several hours)

• Safety/awareness of surroundings

• Sound quality decent enough to keep me motivated without blocking out the world completely

For those of you who have used either (or both), which do you prefer for long-distance runs? Any recommendations or models you’ve found reliable other than Shokz. I have nothing against it, but I can't afford it right now. Is there an affordable version?

Would love to hear your experiences before I make the purchase!

Hey,

I really want to buy bone conduction headphones for cycling and other sports activities. But I only know brands like "Shokz" because they sponsor a lot of road cycling influencers. Unfortunately, they're really expensive, 'cause the top model costs about €200.

So, I'm asking you guys, are there comparable headphones for a lower price?

Thanks in advance!!

For the average music listener, not a hard core audiophile or someone with hearing loss....

which might produce better sound quality and/or be more comfortable for longer periods of time

especially during exercise?

Has anyone used either with tinnitus. I also have very sensitive hearing and cant use an earbud in one ear and when I have it in the other I can feel the voices in the other ear then causes pain.

I found all of these options, as I’m very interested in a pair of earbuds that allow me to hear my surroundings better than a pair of in/on-ear ones with “transparency” on. Any advice is appreciated :)

I recently purchased the Shokz OpenRun Mini and I gotta say, I'm underwhelmed. First impression was that it's basically a clever crafted speaker that sits right outside your ears. I notice a slight difference when I don't have skin contact with the phones, but I get the same quality of sound if I just move them to right outside my ear canal. With the volume at a low to medium level, I had a hard time having a normal conversation without feeling like I need to turn them down or take them off.

If it wasn't for the idea that they're supposed to be "bone conducting" they'd be pretty decent headphones for what it's worth.

Overall, IMO, seems like a gimmick. Maybe I'm ignorant to the tech behind them, but sure seems like I'm holding some earbuds right outside my ear.

If you’re like me and have really waxy ears, you may have faced the constant frustration of destroying in-ear headphones. Mine would either get grossly caked in wax or stop working altogether due to sound quality deterioration or complete failure.

I switched to over-ear headphones and they solved the problem. However, they are bulky and not very convenient for everyday use.

That’s when I discovered bone conduction headphones, and they’ve been a life-saver! They’re completely unaffected by ear wax since they don’t go in your ear at all. Plus, they’re lightweight and more comfortable for everyday use.

Another bonus is that bone conduction headphones allow you to stay aware of your surroundings since your ears remain open. This has made them especially useful when walking around or commuting.

Why YSK: Bone conduction headphones can help people who produce a lot of ear wax preserve their headphones and avoid constantly replacing them. They are also more comfortable for everyday use and can improve safety when walking or running outdoors by allowing you to stay aware of your environment.

Im a college student who live with roomates, and as a result I wear earphones everyday for around 6 hours (roughly 40-60% volume), which is 6x longer then doctors reccomend. I would notice that after 2 hours or more my ears would become hot and red. Although this would dissapear after 1 hour of not using earphones, I am worried that this habit will lead to some long term hearing problems. Im wondering whether bone conduction can help with my situation?

I know the topic of headphones while cycling is controversial. I live in a pretty small town with minimal traffic so I feel I can safely getaway with listening to music/audiobooks/podcasts while cycling. Obviously everyone’s situation is different. I always keep it at a low volume and am very aware of what’s happening around me.

I currently use AirPod pros in the “transparency” mode which uses the mics on the headphones to allow additional sound through. It works pretty well but there can be wind noise. I’ve looked at bone conduction headphones a few times but never pulled the trigger. Anyone have experience with both? Thoughts?

Looking to get some wireless headphone and wanting to know the differences in abilities between the two types. What you do you like/dislike about them? What makes you favor one over the other? The one concern I have right now is I have tiny ears, so I often have issues with ear buds hurting my ears or constantly falling out. TIA

Anyone have any good long-term recommendations?

I've used Shokz for the last two years and had enough of them, serious quality issues with them.

I'm also not interested in Beats or Airpods.

Just want some decent bone or air conduction earphones that are going to last.

I get a lot of mixed reviews when it comes to these two things and from what I can tell, the open run are recommended because of their utility and comfort and that they have “good enough” sound but then I see reviews that say air conduction beats bone conduction every time when it comes to sound. Do the open run pro 2 with the hybrid air/bone tech still fall victim to this rule?

I just got the TOZO Open O2, which sound great to me and are pretty comfortable. I can still feel them in my ears which are very sensitive and why I am seeking this style of earbud.

But my perfect earbud style would be closer to the open run in which nothing is on or in my ear at all. But h read over and over that the bone conduction sound is actually not great and you are really paying for the comfort and openness more than sound quality.

So I’m just wondering once and for all, will sound quality suffer when it comes to the open run?

Or am I better off sacrificing a small amount of comfort for better sound?

Looking for some feedback by those that use either open ear, clip on or bone conductive headphones/earbuds. I want to be able to hear when my kids or wife are talking to me without having to remove my earbud or slide an ear back while playing on the steam deck. Pulling out an earbud or moving my headset is getting old.

So I have a late model Shokz and can tell you from experience: this "technology" is just hype and bullshit. It's just a speaker placed next to your ear, that's all. At best, what's left to be conducted through your skin and bones is just residual bass, maybe less than 5%. Plugged my ears with proper earplugs and played music in the Shokz. Nearly NOTHING is left, and I assure most of it is just normal sound still leaking through the earplugs, and appropriately muffed.

I don't know how no one ever tested or debunked this thing yet. I was first made aware of this possibility when I visited a Best Buy and tried on these eyeglasses (mind me, from Bose!) with tiny speakers attached. So, they don't purport to be "bone conduction" phones. They sound pretty much the same as my Shokz, it's the same experience.

Coming to think of it, how could it possibly work in the first place? Good sound is a lot more complex than just shockwaves.

My 2 cents.

Edit: I'm not saying the end result is unsatisfactory. I'm just saying it's not conducting any significant amount of sound through the puported means (bone conduction) and that's their entire claim to fame. Bone conduction. It's the deceitful nature of the purported technology itself that bothers me. Other than that, these headphones are good for the intended result - leave your ears free to outside noise.

Edit 2. Still not convinced? I have my Shokz on me now. If I slightly remove its contact with the skin, it should go silent, right? Well, it doesn't. Now try that with the screwdriver thing and see if you can hear anything.

Edit 3. Hey, look: all these "bone conduction" headphones have clear sound openings conveniently directed to you ear canals!

I just saw this for sale.

They go like on your ear, but not in your ear, and supposedly they sound like headphones.

If they work, can other people hear this?

I have a pair of AirPods Pro already which I use daily. They are not the latest versions (I think they are about 4-5 years old) but they have transparency mode.

Assuming the AirPods can stay secured in the ears and using transparency mode, are there still any advantages getting some of those bone conduction headphones, such as those from Shokz? I will be using them mostly for audio books, podcasts and online radios.

I did try the AirPods while cycling once and they worked fine except that during the trial I was quite worried about them falling off for the whole time. I can see something like imagine a Shokz Open Move (which is what I am looking at) will be more secure, but apart from that I am not sure what else can be gained using them instead of my AirPods Pro?

I'm really using Bone conduction headphones. I think they are very good, especially suitable for sports. They have many advantages,such as safe,health,hygienic.

Here, I will recommend some excellent headphones.

1.Wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones

Reason for recommendation:

I noticed Wissonly wireless bone conduction headphones when they were first crowdfunded online. And later, I saw that some otologists were recommending them on online forums, so I bought them. This Hi Runner is their flagship product whose overall functionality is also the most perfect. The headphone use the latest research from the Wissonly lab. It increases the vibrating area of the vibrator by 35% and optimizes the direction of sound transmission to make the sound more concentrated, resulting in a wider range and more spatial of the music. The brand claims that its sound quality is HI-FI level, and I actually tested it myself. I thought that the sound quality was very close to HI-FI level, but it did not reach this level. Of course, the current sound quality is satisfactory enough.

Wissonly Hi Runner wireless bone conduction headphones are also equipped with a new Bluetooth 5.0 chip that has stronger anti-interference ability, that can easily cope with various complex outdoor scenes, and ensures the good mood during exercise is not disturbed by disconnection. At the same time, the stable connection also brings low latency performance, and there is no problem in listening to songs, following dramas, and playing games. What’s more, they have 32G of built-in memory that can store 5,000 songs. This helps you to enjoy music when you are exercising outdoors without your phone.

In terms of comfort, the Wissonly Hi Runner performs well, it is very light, only less than 30g, and it does not feel any weight to wear. The body is made of titanium alloy which makes it have a good fit, and you don’t need to worry about their falling off during sports.

The waterproof of the Wissonly Hi Runner deserves special mention, and it is IPX8 grade. It means that you can carry it underwater for up to 20 meters and still use it normally, which is crazy!

2. Philips A6606 bone conduction headphones

Reason for recommendation:

In terms of appearance, A6606 adopt a simple and solid color design. Except for the logo at the end of the ear hook, there is no unnecessary decoration. The overall sense is very strong, and they visually give people a simple sense of technology. They feel quite good to wear, neither compressing the head and cervical vertebrae nor messing up the hair. A6606 do not need to be worn into the ears. They do not hurt the eardrum during long-term wearing ,and they will not cause you sweat during exercise, and are comfortable and breathable. In addition, their IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, 9-hour battery life, Bluetooth 5.2 and other features make the bone conduction headphones a good choice.

3.Shokz OPENRUN PRO bone conduction headphones

Reason for recommendation:

Openrun Pro wireless bone conduction headphones have IP55 waterproof rating, they are waterproof, sweatproof, and dustproof. They are no problem to get caught in the rain or splashed with water. Even in outdoor sports, when encounter bad weather, you will be not afraid at all, they let you enjoy the fun of sports all the time.

In addition, the headphones do not need to be plugged into the ears. Their comfort is just amazing. Their is no need to poke the ear like a drill any more. And you do not have to worry about that after you wear them for a long time, your ear canal will itch and be uncomfortable, and as well as breed bacteria. The whole body surface is silicone material, their net weight is 28g, and they are comfortable and lightweight.

4.Earsopen PEACE bone conduction headphones

Reason for recommendation:

The Japanese wireless bone conduction headphones adopt the wearing method of ear clipping that is very novel. Although they are ear clipping type, after wearing it for a long time the ear will be somewhat painful. They have IPX7 waterproof performance. Both battery and charger can be used in the charging case, but there is a small problem that the charging case is not waterproof. Their sound quality is still good, and they are excellent in the audio performance of the high, medium and low. And there is a sound leakage problem, but the overall is still good.

5.Nank Runner CC3 bone conduction headphones

Reason for recommendation:

The titanium alloy body of the Runner cc2 wireless bone conduction headphones is more flexible and durable, and there is no need to worry that the paint of wearing the headphones for a long time. Their weight is so light that you don’t even feel their presence while wearing them. The headphones are equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes the Bluetooth connection more stable. The sound quality and sound leakage reduction performance are also very good. The Runner cc2 also reach the IPX6 waterproof rating, so there is no problem with rain and sweat.

I am using Wissonly Hi Runner myself, and I have used Shokz Openrun Pro before, and they are all good. Hi Runner has more features and lower prices, and Openrun Pro is a more well-known brand.