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

It can be hard to find a bone conduction headphone with bass-forward sound. Since bone conduction headphones prioritize environmental awareness over an immersive soundstage, most of these headphones, “by design — sound tinny and lack any sort of bass,” ZDNET’s Jack Wallen writes. 

The space is thankfully improving, and some bone conduction headphones, like H2O Tri 2 Audio are creating aware headsets that produce impressive sound. “Up until the H2O Tri 2, I just assumed bone-conducting headphones would never be able to deliver anything close to punchy bass. I’m not saying you’re going to feel the kick drum in your chest, but you’ll certainly hear it with more clarity than your other bone-conducting headphones,” he writes. 

While running with the H2O Tri 2, Wallen saw a train in his periphery. Normally when he runs, the train’s rumbling path makes music listening — no matter how loud — difficult. “That was not the case with the H20 Tri 2; I heard everything loud and clear (while still being able to hear my surroundings),” he writes. 

Also: One of the best bone conduction headphones I’ve tested is also waterproof

With a waterproof design of up to 12 feet, these headphones are fit for swimming laps in a pool, running in the pouring rain, or maintaining amazing sound during a sweaty weight-lifting session. 

The Tri 2 also has a fun feature that’s not only useful for swimming, but also helpful if you want a phone-free workout session. The feature in question is Memory mode, which loads music to Memory, so you don’t have to rely on a phone connection while you’re swimming. 

“Not only do they allow you to enjoy your music without having to carry your phone with you (which could be disastrous in a pool), but they produce some of the best sound I’ve heard from bone-conducting headphones,” Wallen writes.

H2O Audio Tri 2 bone conduction tech specs: Type: Open ear | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IPX8, waterproof up to 12 feet | Weight: .08 pounds | Battery life: 9 hours 

The Open Run Pro 2s offer reduced vibrations, longer battery life, and AI-powered noise-canceling and wind-resistance microphones compared to its earlier model. You’re getting two more hours of battery life with this headset, alongside a comfortable build that could stay on your head for hours as you train. 

The OpenRun Pro 2 nails comfort. As I write in my review of the headset, “They’re light and flexible, with a tactile exterior that makes them stick to your head. Wearing them in the office is a breeze, and they don’t hug my head or build up excessive pressure around my ears.” 

One of the key improvements of the OpenRun Pro 2 headphones Shokz highlighted ahead of the launch was how the second generation has significantly reduced vibrations compared to the first. As I ran, I felt no such vibrations near or around the jaw area. The best headphones deliver sound without sacrificing comfort, and these did exactly that. 

Review: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

The sound isn’t as loud as I’d like, and I found myself regularly turning my music up while running on busy roads, only to find that the low-to-me volume was the highest the headphones could reach. So I wouldn’t recommend these for exercising in intensely loud places, like a busy gym with clanging machinery, but I would recommend these to those who exercise in the outdoors with their music at lower volumes for full environmental awareness. 

These were also, unexpectedly, great for wearing in the office. Normally I wear noise-canceling eabuds that take me out of my environment while working in the office, but while I was testing the OpenRun Pro 2s, I found that I didn’t have to pause and play my music as much while conversing with coworkers near me. 

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 tech specs: Type: Open ear | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IP55 | Weight: .07 pounds | Battery life: 12 hours 

Bring these bone conduction headphones to the office for your conference calls and then take them right to the gym for a weight-lifting session or on an outdoor run afterward—they’re that versatile. They have an IP66 rating, making them water-resistant and sweatproof, and their open-ear form factor makes them a great choice for someone who wants to be as aware of their surroundings as they are immersed in the content they’re streaming. 

ZDNET editor Jada Jones switched from AirPods to the Phillips Go A7607 while going on outdoor walks. She reports that they not only give her more peace of mind as a young woman walking alone but also deliver groove-able audio that gets “plenty loud.” Amazon reviewers also complimented the headphones’ waterproof rating and long battery life. 

Review: Philips Go A7607

These headphones are made for athletes and fitness junkies, with a few subtle features that make them a match for any outdoor exercise obsessive. The neckband integrates a bright red LED light that helps you stay visible to cars and people if you prefer to exercise at night.

Philips Go A7607 tech specs: Type: Open ear | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IP66 | Weight: .49 pounds | Battery life: 9 hours | Dimensions: 6.65 x 5.31 x 2.72 inches

Avid swimmers will get a lot out of the new Shokz OpenSwim Pro if you’re looking to shake up the monotony of endless laps in the pool. The OpenSwim Pro has a comfortable fit that stays on your head, a long battery, and amazing sound. “As long as you have access to your own saved music files, this headset is a solid option for waterproof beats,” Matt Miller writes in his review. 

If you’re new to bone conduction headphones for swimming, know these aren’t like your average Bluetooth headphones. You can’t connect to your phone with them and play Spotify or Apple Music in the water. Instead, the headphones operate in MP3 mode. You will load your audio files onto the OpenSwim Pro by connecting it to your computer and transferring the files over. This also means you’ll need some songs in MP3 mode to get the most out of these in the water.  

Miller suggests installing the Shokz app to support standard and swimming modes. The app also works for EQ settings, multipoint pairing, physical button customization, and battery status. 

Review: Shokz OpenSwim Pro

Because of the design of these headphones, you can’t wear them and also cover your ears with a swim cap, which is something to keep in mind if you are trying to avoid water getting into your ears as you swim. But besides that, these are highly recommendable waterproof headphones that will please any swimmer.

Shokz OpenSwim Pro tech specs: Type: Open ear | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IP68 | Weight: .06 pounds | Battery life: 9 hours 

ZDNET contributor Jack Wallen replaced his $180 pair of Shokz OpenRun Pros with these $160 bone conduction headphones, and he says he’s pretty pleased with them. They offer a great user experience and similar sound quality to the Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones. Plus, they can withstand sweaty workouts, which Wallen found difficult for other bone conduction headphones to achieve. You can run with these, but you can also swim with them, given their IP68 waterproof rating. 

Review: Mojawa Run Plus

The touch controls are intuitive (and far larger than the buttons on the Shokz headphones), and the sound is great. “If you regularly exercise and produce considerable sweat (and aren’t concerned about the best sound possible), these are for you. Also, if you find the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones challenging to control, the Mojawa gear will make you very happy,” Wallen writes in his review. 

A few Amazon buyers also compared the Run Plus to the OpenRun Pro and concluded that the Run Plus is a winner in most categories, like comfort, battery, and sound quality. Plus, these will suit swimmers and outdoor runners with a more robust waterproof rating than the OpenRun Pro. 

Mojawa Run Plus tech specs: Type: Open ear | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IP68 | Weight: 0.07 pounds | Battery life: 8 hours | Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.1 x 1.2 inches

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 

ZDNET’s Matt Miller ran, cycled, indoor rowed, and commuted with the Shokz OpenFit Air headphones, and he says they’re a great option for people who want to ditch bone conduction headphones but still maintain awareness. The OpenFit Air improves on comfort and price from the previous model (these are somehow cheaper than the OpenFit), but what you gain in comfort and price you lose in battery life. 

Review: Shokz OpenFit Air

Open-ear headphones are a little different from bone conduction headphone in that they hang on your ear instead of wrapping around your head. Miller complimented the stylish touch that you get with the upgrade, and says they’re a thoughtfully designed yet affordable option.

“If you’re interested in keeping your ears open while working out and don’t like bone-conduction headsets, I highly recommend the OpenFit Air, even over the OpenFit model with the $60 savings and very limited compromises made to achieve that lower price,” Miller writes in his review of the product. 

Shokz OpenFit Air tech specs: Type: Open ear | Wired/wireless: Wireless | Waterproof rating: IP54 | Weight: .16 pounds | Battery life: 6 hours