We get excited about any new and exciting audio technology , and bone conduction headphones are one of the most absorbing arenas in headphones today . If you ’ve never seen one of these headset in the state of nature , the thought is relatively dim-witted : A series of reasoned waves are give by a set of conductors that lie along your jowl . These waves create vibrations throughout the skull and jaw that our inner capitulum record as sound .
With traditionalheadphonesandearbuds , sound wafture need to pass by our eardrums first , before arriving at the privileged spike . This is why bone conductivity earphone are ideal for commuters , gym - leaver , bather , and loud work . The sound of your straightaway listening environment will still be audible ( because your ears are technically headphone - innocent ) , but you ’ll still be able-bodied to savor euphony and podcasts via the vibrations in your cranium . Similarly , subject - pinna earbuds and headphonesare also a good choice for letting in out-of-door sound , but they ’re not to be disconcert with bone conduction .
While most of the better bone conduction phone are still made byShokz(a company that gets three shoutouts in our roundup ) , there are several other brands that do an excellent job with this unequalled engineering .
Best overall
Shockz OpenRun Pro 2
Back when Shockz was Aeropex and their headphones were called Aftershokz , they were the better bone conduction option in town . Fortunately , nothing has change since their rebrand . In fact , theirbone conduction technologyis better than ever , and these premium OpenRun Pro 2 headphones are the company ’s latest iteration of an first-class set of pearl conduction headphones for moon-curser .
With 12 hours of barrage life history , the 2nd Gen OpenRun Pro outlasts the previous generation by 20 % , and they feature wanton - to - use controls . Like any pearl conductivity headset , the OpenRun Pro 2 is a niche product . As our hands - on referee put it , " They ’re still recess headphones , built with an intended usance in intellect — specifically , exercising and other fighting types . "
While the sound has been improved over the previous model , bone conduction headphones in general are not for audiophiles . The faithfulness accomplishable by in - ear or over - capitulum headphones or earbuds is league above what you ’ll find here , but their convenience for use during fighting sports is undeniable .
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
Best for swimming
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
Shokz extradite again with the OpenSwim Pro , its newest pearl conduction headset for use while swim . Keep in judgement that headphones intended for use in the water are typically designed as all - in - one MP3 players , where you load your favored melodic line directly onto the gadget . This is for the most part because Bluetooth does not work underwater . This fashion model does tolerate Bluetooth , but that ’s really intended for utilization on dry land .
The OpenSwim Pro headset is IP68 - rate , stand for that it not only performs well in shallow but submerge conditions but is also sealed against debris . This is hugely important if you ’re using these to swim in any open trunk of water where your headset will be exposed to the Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and silt of oceans , rivers , or lakes .
We hold up workforce - on with these , and our reviewer felt that the OpenSwim Pro was " dead the sorting of thing I ’d buy if I were to drop hours doing lap in a pool . " This is another recess product , perfect for natator , where the power to function in the water direct precedence over overall sound timber . Our reviewer also found that the sound character is enormously improved when your head and ears are fully deluge underwater .
The best for exercising
Mojawa Mojo 2
Whether you ’re a cycling partisan , a bodybuilder , or a master of fencing material , sports devotees the world over can make great use of the excellent Mojo 2 osseous tissue conduction headset from Mojawa . Earning a solid IP67 rating , the Mojo 2 ( aka the Run Air ) headset is perfect for even the sweatiest of workouts . And because they fit snug and firmly , you wo n’t have to worry about always line up them while you ’re try on to get your reps in .
We ’re glad that Mojawa adjudicate to compensate a little more aid to bass too , a part of the audio experience that typically take a big hit with ivory conductivity headsets . This is thanks to the integrated Maglev bass actuator , which enhances the low end frequencies that jaunt throughout the finger cymbals in your head and neck . These are n’t going to give you the type of thump we ’d expect from premium earphone or earbuds , but it ’s definitely better than most osseous tissue conduction products .
As far as assault and battery run , the Mojo 2 headset fork up up to eight hour of power on a full charge , but this can drop down faster if you ’re rocking out at higher volumes . To combat this though , Mojawa designed the headset with quick charging in judgment . Just 10 minutes of charge time will get you an surplus 90 minutes of medicine and podcasts . Additionally , if you want to keep $ 20 , theMojawa Mojo 1model are very similar .
Best for business
Shokz OpenComm 2
Updated for 2025 , the OpenComm 2 from Shokz is made for more than just music . This bluetooth connected bone conduction headset features a haphazardness - canceling boom microphone that utilise DSP applied science to highlight your voice and filter out ambient stochasticity . This allows for easier communicating in noisy environment while also hold your ears clear for safety and quick conversations with nearby teammates .
That makes these headphones ideal for truckers and others in the conveyance industry as well as those working on a factory floor or in other industrial capacities . Office worker may also enjoy them as an alternative to chatting with a traditional headset on . The electric battery also offer 16 time of day of talk clip and eight hours of audio playback on a single charge . Integrate button right on the headset make control condition easy .
Best for multi-sport use
H20 Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport Series
H20 Audio may not be a brand of headphones we ’re head for the hills to the stores in droves for , but if you ’re looking for a satisfying bone conduction headset with a built - in retentiveness banking concern for a best-loved play list or two , then you might turn over a pair of H20 TRI 2 Multi - Sport Series bone conductivity headphones .
This good example let in up to 8 GB of internal storage and can run as an MP3 player . It also supports a Bluetooth connection for streaming audio frequency when staying active on dry land . They feature an IPX8 military rating , intend it can manage being submerged in shallow water for short squirt , but are not rank for dust immunity at all . The headset sports up to 9 time of day of Bluetooth playback and 6 60 minutes in computer storage mode .
Frequently Asked Questions
If you ’re going to be using your pearl conduction headphones for work or ironical workouts , then you ’re unlikely to need or benefit from onboard storage for your music or podcasts . os conduction headset with storage and MP3 instrumentalist functionality are more utilitarian for swimmers , as Bluetooth does not work in the piddle .
check that you choose the right-hand level of pee resistance for your chosen activeness . Commonly seen IPXX evaluation announce the tier of water and detritus resistance an electronic gadget can handle . For instance , for swim , you desire something rat IPX7 or higher . Any military rating low than that was not made to be submerge in water or exposed for foresighted periods , though it may be sufficient for sweat or slosh resistance . If you ’re swimming in open bodies of water or exert in dusty terrain , you ’ll ideally need something rat for dust as well , like IP67 or IP68 .
