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The best bone conduction headphones 2024: Stay aware in any environment
It might seem like wireless earbuds are the only innovation to come to headphones in the last few years, but that isn’t the case. There is another type that is much less talked about: bone conduction headphones. While they’re not for everyone, they fill a niche and may be precisely what some people seek. In particular, bone conduction earbuds and headphones are ideal for those who want to stay aware of their surroundings.
If you are a runner or cyclist, you’ll appreciate staying aware of oncoming traffic and potential hazards. In an office, bone conduction headphones are a useful way to listen to music without fully tuning out from your co-workers. Some people even use bone conduction headphones while swimming, though you’ll need to make sure you get a set that is both waterproof and supports onboard storage to avoid connection dropouts.
We’ve tested a variety of different bone conduction headphones, and these are our favorites.
Editors note: This article was updated on December 2, 2024, to include the Suunto Wing bone conduction headphones.
The Quick Answer
For a quick guide to the best bone conduction headphones that suit your needs and budget, check out our top picks below. Each has a link to our full review.
The best overall:
The best for battery life:
The best for value:
The best for features:
The best for safety:
The In-depth Answer
Below you’ll find our in-depth coverage of each of the best bone conduction headphones. Each model has been rigorously tested, ensuring you can trust our recommendations.
Best bone conduction headphones for most: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
If you’ve been browsing your local electronics store, you’ve likely seen some headphones from Shokz. The company has been pumping out multiple versions of bone conduction headphones for years, and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are the best option for most listeners. These have a similar design to some of the previous models. You’ll know what to expect if you’ve ever used a pair of Shokz (Aftershokz) headphones.
The plastic construction makes for flexible headphones that should hold up to some heavy usage, especially since they have an IP55 rating against dust and water damage. You’ll also get about twelve hours of constant playback, which isn’t too bad considering most people will probably be using this for exercise. These charge via USB-C, a notable upgrade from prior Shokz products.
In our testing, we found the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 lightweight and comfortable during long listening sessions, with good sound quality. If you want the best bone conduction headphones around, get the OpenRun Pro 2.
Read our full Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review
Best for battery life: Shokz OpenRun Pro
Most bone conduction headphones last 6 to 8 hours, but the Shokz OpenRun Pro lasts 10 hours. This battery life is two hours longer than the standard OpenRun. Also, these headphones have the most efficient fast charging out of the bunch: 5 minutes of charging yields 90 minutes of playtime. When you need to charge the headset, set aside one hour; other headsets take at least 90 minutes to complete a full charge. There is, however, one downside: that pesky proprietary charging two-pin connection.
Battery life aside, the OpenRun Pro has the best bone conduction technology of the pack with 9th generation tech, compared to the standard OpenRun’s 8th gen tech. Interestingly, the OpenRun Pro isn’t the most durable option as it merits an IP55 rating, while others from the Shokz portfolio have IP67 ratings. The build and design look rather sleek, and you get your pick of blue or black. Other Shokz headsets have a wider variety of color options.
If you value battery life, the OpenRun Pro will keep up with you.
Read our full Shokz OpenRun Pro review
Best for value: Shokz OpenMove
It might seem like Shokz has a chokehold on the entire bone conduction market, and that’s because it does. Audio is already a niche category — albeit a growing one, and bone conduction headphones are an even smaller sliver. The Shokz OpenMove have an IP55 dust and water resistant build with a reflective strip along the headband for visibility.
These bone conduction headphones sport Bluetooth 5.0. A USB-C charging port sits on the headband, much better than other Shokz/AfterShokz headsets with a proprietary two-pin connection. The Shokz OpenMove sports a lightweight design that makes it feel as if there’s nothing on your head. However, after a few hours, we found the ear hooks a bit uncomfortable. Still, for under $80, the Shokz OpenMove is a great way to dip your toes into the world of bone conduction headphones without breaking the bank.
Read our full Shokz OpenMove review
Best for features: Mojawa HaptiFit Terra
We had a great time testing the Mojawa HaptiFit Terra at CES this year. The Mojawa HaptiFit Terra is packed full of features, including haptic interaction and an AI Sports Trainer. You can use the activity tracking sensors, such as the heart rate monitor, to have Terra Coach tailor an effective training plan to your body.
Some other key features of the Mojawa HaptiFit Terra include an IP68 durability rating, 32GB of onboard music storage so you don’t have to take your phone with you on runs, and eight hours of battery life. Additionally, you can quick charge the battery for 2 hours of playback time from only 5 minutes of charging. For serious athletes, the Mojawa HaptiFit Terra are the best bone conduction headphones money can buy, though it will cost you a pretty penny.
Learn more about the Mojawa HaptiFit Terra
Best for safety: Suunto Wing
The Suunto Wing bone conduction headphones target outdoor athletes with features like LED safety lights, an open design for environmental awareness, and a portable battery pack offering 30 hours of total playback. With dust and water resistance (IP67) and aptX Adaptive codec for low-latency audio, they provide utility and convenience for active users. The LED lights enhance visibility without app dependency, while the USB-C battery pack bridges functionality with practicality.
However, fit issues and excessive vibrations at high volumes detract from the experience. The flush buttons are hard to use, and the 2-pin charging system feels outdated at this price. Priced $20 higher than competitors like Shokz OpenRun Pro, the Wing struggles to justify its cost despite its safety features, making it a niche choice for specific needs.
Learn more about the Suunto Wing
The best bone conduction headphones: Notable mentions
- AfterShokz Air ($99 at Amazon): These are also sweatproof with an IP55 water-resistant build, but they’re a little heavier than some of the others at 30 grams. You get Bluetooth 4.2 and a six-hour battery life, though it’s worth mentioning that these charge via micro-USB.
- DYCROL Bone Conduction Headphones: Unlike other options, this DYCROL headset has 8GB of onboard storage. With this, you can take these swimming since they don’t need to connect via Bluetooth to play music.
- Mojawa Mojo2: These bone headphones have an IP67 rating, and Bluetooth 5.2 contributes to the extended 8-hour battery life. An earhook-like design helps keep the Mojo2 in place while you work out.
- Philips Go A6606: Don’t let the uninspiring name fool you. This headset stands out from the crowd with its LED safety light that you can control through the mobile app. They have an IP67 rating that matches the Shokz OpenRun and lasts 9 hours.
- Philips Go A7607: More premium than the A6606 model, these headphones come with multipoint and extremely bright safety strip. If you run or cycle at night, these are the best headphones.
- Pyle Bone Conduction Headphones: This is the only set of bone conduction headphones listed that features some controls on the exterior of the wraparound band. This control layout may be easier to operate for those with limited dexterity.
- Shokz OpenRun ($129 at Amazon): The classic OpenRun are a great entry into bone conduction technology.
Hold up, something’s missing:
This best list’s frequency response charts are absent from this review because our Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test fixture cannot accurately measure the frequency response of bone conduction headphones. The isolation chart is absent because, well, the headphones don’t do anything to block out sound and they’re not supposed to.
Open-ear earbuds to consider
Open-ear earbuds don’t use bone conduction technology. Instead, open-ear earbuds place a speaker driver just outside your ears. This means they provide most of the same benefits as bone conduction headphones, serving as an excellent alternative option. Here are some of our favorites.
- Nothing Ear (Open) ($149 at Amazon): These are the best-sounding open earbuds that money can buy in 2024. If you want to stay aware of your surroundings, you can’t go wrong with the Nothing Ear (Open).
- Bose Sports Open Earbuds (on the product’s website): These wireless buds come with a protective (non-charging) carrying case. The fit lets each bud rest on top of the ear and descend from it, projecting sound down your ear canal from specifically angled speaker drivers.
- JVC Nearphones: These earbuds have a 17-hour battery life and a secure, hooked design. The buds only have an IPX2 water-resistant rating, though.
- Shokz OpenFit ($179 at Amazon): These true wireless earbuds are Shokz’s first non-bone conduction headphones. The OpenFit has hooks and an IP54 rating, making them suitable for exercise.
How to choose the best bone conduction headphones
Before throwing your hard-earned cash at something, being informed about what you’re buying is always good. So, let’s review some basic things about bone conduction headphones.
How does bone conduction work?
Maybe you haven’t stopped to think about it recently, but the fact that we can perceive slight changes in air pressure as sound is a pretty impressive feat. Physics and biology meet every day right inside your head. Most people are probably familiar with sound waves just being a change in the density of air molecules. Once those variations reach your ears, they’re reflected into your ear canal thanks to your external ear (pinna). They travel until they reach your eardrum, which vibrates in response to the air pressure. Those vibrations pass through your middle ear, including the famous malleus, incus, and stapes bones. (Fun fact: those bones evolved from jawbones).
Those three bones amplify and direct the sound into the cochlea of your inner ear to keep the wave going. We can stop here for this article because those three middle ear bones make conduction possible. The headphones on this list bypass the eardrum and send vibrations straight through the malleus, incus, and stapes bones. From there, the sound waves can carry on as usual.
Bone conduction headphones don’t have giant ear cups that you wear over your ears because they don’t need to send sound through your ears. Instead, these rest slightly before your ears, sending vibrations through the bone. This allows the middle ear bones to register the vibrations without blocking your ears, leaving them open to hear what’s happening around you.
Absolutely. Just because these headphones bypass the eardrum doesn’t mean they can’t cause hearing loss. The most common hearing loss type is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This loss of sensitivity to hearing higher frequencies occurs because of damage to tiny hairs inside your ears called stereocilia. These are located in the inner ear and along nerve pathways and can still be worn out by constant use or loud sounds, just as if you were wearing regular headphones.
If you suffer from moderate to severe hearing loss, you may benefit from hearing aids.
Do bone conduction headphones sound any good?
Bone conduction headphones don’t sound as good as a pair of the best headphones on the market will, but they do sound good for something that doesn’t provide any isolation. Typically, sub-bass and bass are virtually inaudible with bone conduction headphones, making them a good option for spoken-word content. These headphones are suitable for exercise because they keep you aware of your environment while tuned into your music — not because they boost bass (they don’t). For runners or cyclists who need to be mindful of their surroundings while out and about, bone conduction headphones are a helpful way to still enjoy music or podcasts without ever losing situational awareness.
What are the pros and cons of bone conduction headphones?
Like anything else in life, there are pros and cons to bone conduction headphones.
Pros
Bone conduction headphones are great for people with damage to their eardrums because sound bypasses the eardrum. That said, it’s worth mentioning that if you’re having trouble hearing, please visit an audiologist for a check-up, as they may be able to help you way more than some guy on the internet.
Again, if you’re a runner or cyclist, bone conduction headphones are a good way to stay motivated during a workout while remaining aware of your surroundings. Plus, you don’t have to worry about experiencing an unpleasant suction-like sensation with bone conduction headphones as they don’t touch or seal to the ear canal. This way, you avoid the chance of inner ear pain and infection altogether.
Cons
As stated earlier in this article, sound quality is not good here. A big part of enjoying the intricacies of music is blocking outside noise, and these don’t do that. Like, at all. If that’s what you’re after, you’re better off going for a pair of active noise canceling headphones.
Some people might find bone conduction headphones uncomfortable. While the sensation of comfort is relative, I think it’s fair to say that any pair of bone conduction headphones you get will not be as comfortable as something like Bose QuietComfort 45 or Sony WH-1000XM5 with their plush memory foam ear pads. But if you can get used to the sensation of having a plastic pair of headphones against your temples, bone conduction headphones can make a great tool. You can have your cake and eat it too.
How we test bone conduction headphones
Here at SoundGuys, we’ve built our brand on the backs of a rigorous testing setup. While you can’t objectively test the sound quality of bone conduction headphones on an artificial testing head since they rely on human bones, we make sure to put each product through its paces in the real world. We listen to each set of bone conduction headphones in a variety of environments to see you can still stay aware of surroundings. We also make sure to listen to the bone conduction headphones with a wide variety of music to see how well they reproduce lows, mids, and highs across the audible frequency spectrum.
In addition to sound quality, we evaluate the build quality and durability of each set of bone conduction headphones. We also wear the headphones for multiple hours at a time to see how comfortable they are during long listening sessions. We evaluate battery life claims to make sure they can hold up to a full day’s use. All of our testing comprises our scoring system for headphones.
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Frequently asked questions about bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction headphones don’t sound as good as traditional headphones, especially in terms of bass and sub-bass, which are virtually inaudible. They are designed more for situational awareness and safety, allowing users to hear their surroundings while listening to content. They are particularly suitable for spoken-word content and ideal for runners or cyclists who need to know their environment.
The Shokz OpenRun Mini is meant for smaller heads. These will serve you well if the back of your head measures 9.25 inches or less from ear to ear.
I don’t think bone conduction headphones are best for podcasts, no. However, the under-emphasized bass response of most bone conduction headphones doesn’t affect podcasts (spoken word content) as much as music.
If the main reason you’re considering bone conduction headphones is to be able to hear your surroundings while using them, then yes.
Something like the AirPods 4 or Urbanista Libson don’t have any ear tips and don’t isolate against outside noise very much. However, since these earbuds still block your ear canals, they will isolate sound a bit more than bone conduction headphones.
Listening to music through bone conduction headphones is far from immersive since external sounds mask your music. You’ll still hear your music, but it won’t sound as good as it would through a pair of earbuds that sit in and seal to your ear.
Bone conduction headphones don’t sound as good as standard headphones and earbuds. Some listeners may find that having something rest on their jawbone is uncomfortable, too.
The article mentions the microphone quality of several bone conduction headphones, such as the Shokz OpenRun, Shokz OpenMove, and AfterShokz Aeropex. The general consensus is that the microphone quality is decent but not remarkable. It suits quick calls but may not provide a true-to-life voice quality.
If you’ve never used bone conduction headphones, you may experience some slight discomfort during your first use. However, just like with any pair of headphones or earbuds, you shouldn’t experience any nausea or headaches if you’re careful about not raising your volume too much.
Most of the time, bone conduction headphones have IP ratings that can withstand, at minimum, the sweat that you develop during workouts.
Also, if you like to run at night or generally just be aware of your surroundings, bone conduction headphones keep your ears free to hear the world around you while you jam out to your playlist.
Yes, bone conduction headphones can still work for you because they make contact on the cheekbone, right below where the frames of your glasses rest.
That said, depending on how small or stout your ears are, you may have difficulty achieving a secure fit behind your ear with glasses and headphones. This also depends on your frames’ thickness because wireframes will be less obtrusive than thick plastic ones.
Bone conduction headphones, like Shokz, are not designed to be used as hearing aids. However, they can benefit people with certain hearing impairments because they bypass the outer ear. This means individuals can wear hearing aids while using a bone conduction headset. Someone with moderate to severe hearing loss may benefit more from specialized hearing aids, and it’s recommended to consult with an audiologist.