Ryan Haines/Android Authority
Noise canceling headphones are amazing. There’s nothing quite like blocking out the whole world around you – until you’re almost hit by a bus like my colleague Edgar with the Bose QuietComfort 2. As an avid runner, I think I take safety very seriously, but there is always more to do. I run in the daytime, stick to populated places, and look both ways more than once. However, there are times when a high-speed car or truck can sneak up on you on the winding roads of a small town.
There are several ways to solve this problem, but they all have flaws. Regular headphones are out because they block sound too well, and streaming through my phone speakers is off because, well, not everyone wants to hear what I’m listening to. I tried to run in silence, but I can only tolerate this for so many kilometers. That leaves me with one option: a bone conduction headset or, more specifically suited to a runner like me, the Shokz OpenRun Pro.
About this item: I tested the Shokz OpenRun Pro for four weeks. Shokz provided the unit, but Shokz had no say in the direction of the article.
ear candy
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
From the minute you release the OpenRun Pro from its well-padded case, it’s clear that these aren’t normal headphones. The speakers (for lack of a better term) sit in front of your ear while the controls, battery and charging connector sit behind, bound by a thin band around the back of your head. It’s not immediately clear where to position the speakers for the best bone conduction results, but I found playing music and playing around with the placement helped. Once you find the right fit, putting them on and taking them off becomes second nature.
The controls are also easy to pick up. Shokz has hidden power and volume controls on the right side while there’s a multi-function button on the left. It works like the touch controls on your standard headphones, with single, double and triple taps for playing and answering calls.
It takes a few minutes to perfect the positioning, but using the OpenRun Pro quickly becomes second nature.
You’re looking at 10 hours of battery life from the OpenRun Pro, which I had no problem matching in my testing. That’s about a week of racing for me, so it was pretty easy to charge the headset as part of my Monday rest routine. You’ll need to keep the proprietary charging cable handy, but a five-minute burst is enough for an hour and a half of playtime. There’s also an IP55 rating, which is good enough to block out most dust and sweat, but not quite worthy for showering or swimming.
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
I had initial concerns about how the Shokz OpenRun Pro would fit with a hat or sunglasses, but there is no need to fear. Slim on-ear connectors fit snugly in your ears, providing more than enough room for your glasses temples. You end up feeling like RoboCop with it all on your head, but you get used to it. Just be prepared for the occasional “ghost ear cup” feeling when you feel pressure where the Shokz sit after taking them off.
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good vibes
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
I’ve made the Shokz OpenRun Pro my trusty podcasting companion while I’m on the run at this point, and it’s hard to see me wearing anything else. I’m a big fan of the true crime genre, especially in the fall, but that usually means my podcasts aren’t for everyone. Your average dog walker or mom with a stroller doesn’t need to hear the soothing tones of Keith Morrison narrating the most recent episodes of Dateline, after all.
The vibrations, rather the vibrations, are excellent, as is the environmental awareness. Shokz’s open-ear design means I can always hear everything going on around me, from the ringing of a bike bell to a small child shouting hello and waving furiously. It’s a nice social twist, as before I would have blown by just about anyone and anything with little more than a wave.
Not every dog walker or mom with a stroller wants to hear the sweet sounds of a Dateline podcast streaming from my phone speaker.
Sure, I could use a pair of traditional headphones to improve isolation, but security issues hold me back, as mentioned above. There’s not much running I can do on a flat, straight trail before looking for turns and hills. Eventually I have to trade the crushed gravel of the trail for thin shoulders lined with cows and crops. This means trading off the risk of robbing cyclists for cars and trucks taking advantage of the few country road restrictions. I tried to balance security with noise cancellation, but found myself skipping the music altogether at that point.
Unlike other models, the OpenRun Pro comes with a dedicated Shokz companion app. There’s not much you can do with it, although it offers two basic EQs to choose from – standard and vocal. They’re pretty self-explanatory, with standard as the best option for music and voice as the podcasting preference. You can also control multipoint Bluetooth pairing and playback, but that’s about it.
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I’m also pretty impressed with how the OpenRun Pro stays put when I’m racking up the miles. I expected changes and bounces, but the main speakers have remained tight so far. If anything, I’m still learning where to position the headband in relation to my hair, and even that’s easy to overlook on the back of my neck.
Although they started off as my dedicated running companion, I quickly found myself reaching for the OpenRun Pro at other times as well. Whether it’s a simple, mindless task like washing the dishes or browsing through some article updates, it seems to go by a lot faster with headphones on. The bone conduction style allows me to catch up on podcasting without getting out of conversations, and I don’t sound like “that guy” trying to talk with headphones in my ears.
I’m also not afraid to wear the OpenRun Pro and take a phone call. Simply press the multifunction button to answer or end a call. I feel like the voices are coming from inside my head, but the two noise-canceling microphones – both on the right side – make it possible to hear me clearly on the other side. I’ve taken mid-term calls more than once, and there have been no complaints other than my huff and breath.
Open (Run) at suggestion
Ryan Haines/Android Authority
Podcasts, audiobooks, and cooking videos all have one thing in common: they rely heavily on spoken words. Music quality is still a bit behind on the Shokz OpenRun Pro, although it has come a long way since the first generations of bone conduction headphones. The headset now features ninth-generation Shokz TubroPitch technology, but some lower tones, like bass, tend to give way to higher tones and vocals. There are two new bass boosters, but often it seems like you need to crank up the volume to get decent results. You might not mind if you’re a podcast addict like me, but if you have to run to listen to music, you might want more.
Despite Shokz’s strength with podcasts and audiobooks, the bass boosters could use a little more punch.
I think Shokz might share some features between their models as well. Right now, you have to choose between a high-end Bluetooth model for certain features or a swim-specific model for top-notch durability. The Shokz OpenSwim follows the same design language but upgrades to an IP68 rating for longer dives in the pool. It also skips Bluetooth connectivity in favor of 4GB of onboard storage, which I’m envious of. I run my hardest efforts and errands without my phone, so I wish I had the option to download a podcast or two and go hands-free.
Other than those few valuable points, it’s hard to go wrong with the OpenRun Pro or bone conduction headphones in general. They’ll probably never sound as clear as in-ear headphones with top-notch isolation, but it’s the very lack of isolation that makes them shine. I feel safer when I’m on the run, and I also like my Shokz when I’m lounging around the house. There’s no good way to plead to leave the voices in your head, but you won’t regret it.
Shokz OpenRun Pro
Ears not occluded for more safety • Comfort • Durable
This headset keeps you aware of your surroundings at all times.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro has impressive battery life for bone conduction headphones and a premium build.
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