The best bone conduction headphones of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

At $300, these Bose Ultra Open earbuds won’t work for everybody. But if you’re a runner who prioritizes awareness and fantastic sound, these earbuds are about to become your favorite running accessory. The Ultra Open utilizes bone and air conduction to deliver music that doesn’t take you out of your environment while offering fantastic sound. The design is unique, too: the earbuds cuff to your ear like a clip-on earring, and through this design, they stay put. You can move and shake your head all you want — they won’t budge. 

Review: Bose Ultra Open 

They’re the first earbuds I could wear everywhere, whether playing music or off. The design and sound make it so easy to manage environmental awareness that I kept them in while grocery shopping in a busy Trader Joe’s, on the subway, and while walking home. Usually, if a pair of earbuds isn’t playing, I’ll remove them from my ears because they take me out of my environment. These don’t. They’re also pleasant to wear on long runs and can handle dust and water. 

However, one downside to these earbuds is how the connection tends to go in and out on certain occasions. People on Reddit agree and have complained about the earbuds’ tendency to disconnect randomly. 

If you’re interested in aware sound, want an alternative to bone conduction headphones, and are willing to pay a premium price, these are certainly worth it. 

Bose Ultra Open earbuds specs: Type: Open ear/ear cuff | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IPX4 | Weight: .01 pounds | Battery life: 7.5 hours