Similar to the Apple AirPods' "Hey, Siri" feature, Skullcandy's version allows you to say, "Hey, Skullcandy" to issue hands-free voice commands without touching a button. Skullcandy hopes its new voice-driven platform, Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology, will do just that. With so many new wireless earbuds and headphones being released on what seems likely a weekly basis, it's not easy for companies to differentiate their products in the marketplace. Note that Shokz makes other, more affordable bone-conduction headphones, including the OpenRun, if you don't want to drop $180 on its current flagship model. While they do offer incrementally improved sound that's a bit fuller with more bass, like other bone-conduction headphones these are strongest in the midrange where voices live so they're very good for podcasts, talk radio, newscasts and audiobooks. I found them comfortable to wear but you may have to adjust them on your head to relieve potential pressure points.
COCOSPACE EARBUDS REVIEW PRO
Like the Aeropex, the OpenRun Pro have a lightweight, wraparound titanium frame and are rated for up to 10 hours of music playback and you can get 1.5 hours of battery life from a 5-minute charge (they have a proprietary charging cable instead of USB-C, which is unfortunate). Also, some race coordinators don't allow runners to wear anything in their ears, which is where headphones like this come in handy.
The big benefit of this technology as a safety feature for running is that, thanks to its open design, you can hear what's going on around you - traffic noise in particular - while listening to music or having a phone conversation (yes, they perform well for voice calls). That makes the OpenRun Pro model the best bone-conduction headphones you can get right now, although they still can't match the sound quality of traditional headphones.īone conduction wireless headphones don't go on your ears - they actually deliver sound to your ear through your cheekbones. Water-resistant: Yes (IP55 rating - can withstand heavy sprays of water)ĪfterShokz has changed its name to Shokz and released new 9th-generation bone-conduction headphones that offer slightly improved bass performance compared with the company's earlier flagship model, the Aeropex (now called the Shokz OpenRun).
COCOSPACE EARBUDS REVIEW UPDATE
For this update to the list, I've added a few new models, including the Soundcore by Anker Sport X10, Cleer Arc, Sennheiser Sport True Wireless, Tribit MoveBuds H10 and JBL Live Free Pro 2.īest bone-conduction headphones for runners The majority of the headphones on this best list are true wireless, but there are also a few other types, including around-the-ear wireless bone-conduction headphones that are popular with runners and bikers because their open design allows you to hear the outside world. Most noise-canceling earbuds like the AirPods Pro now have a transparency mode that lets sound in, but look for that feature before you buy noise-isolating buds with ear tips.
So too is some sort of transparency mode - or an open design - that allows you to hear ambient around - and traffic in particularly - for safety reasons.
Comfort, durability and sound quality are also key factors. So I look for some design element - a sport fin, wing or ear hook when it comes to earbuds - that offers some added security. We have a list of best workout headphones, but this list for best running headphones is more geared to those who want their cans and buds to stay on their heads even while sprinting.