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My favorite bone-conduction headphones are comfortable, durable, and it's on sale for $40 off
What's the deal?
Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are on sale at Amazon for $140. While there's a second-gen version out now, the originals are still an excellent buy, especially at a discount.
Why this deal is ZDNET recommended
Headphones don't have to be over your head or in your ear. There's a headphone technology that you might not have heard of that allows you to keep your ear canals totally free to listen to the sounds around you while also listening to music and audio on the go.
Also: 3 reasons why you need noise-canceling earbuds ahead of the holidays (and which models to buy)
That technology is called bone conduction. Shokz (previously Aftershokz) is one of the top companies manufacturing bone-conduction headphones.
I'm a big fan of Shokz bone conduction headphones, having owned several different models, so I was excited to try out the OpenRun Pro.
In many ways, the OpenRun Pro is much like any other set of Bluetooth headphones. You pair them (there's an app available for customizations and firmware updates), pop the ear clips over your ears and away you go.
Popping them on and taking them off is easy since there's nothing to cram into your ears and the OpenRun Pro has a reasonable size to it. There's also a mini version for those with smaller heads.
Bone conduction can initially feel a bit weird. Your ears are open and can take in ambient sounds, but you're also getting the sound from the headphones via your skull. At first, I found this a little disconcerting (and you might feel a slight buzz if the headphones aren't properly fitted), but I quickly got used to them.
Also: These headphones solved my biggest issue with listening to music while running
If you're in a noisy environment, then Shokz has supplied earplugs to allow you to blot out the world and immerse yourself in the audio coming in through your skull. It's a nice touch.
Shokz OpenRun Pro
Size-wise, I have quite a big head, and they fit me fine (although they feel just a little smaller than previous models), but if you have a particularly big or small head then fitment could be an issue with the regular version (if you buy from Shokz, you get 45 days of "stress-free" returns). Also, as with anything else you put around your head, comfort is something to consider.
For me and my head/ears, I can wear the OpenRun Pro for many, many hours. They are far more comfortable than my AirPods Pro, and I don't feel like my ear holes are getting sweaty.
Also: The best bone conduction headphones
The audio is also acceptable. I'm no audio engineer, so I can't give you anything specific here, but having used them to listen to music, audiobooks, and to make and receive calls, I've had no problems with them. The volume is adequate, the range excellent, and the volume and play/pause controls are easy to find and use.
And talking about making and receiving calls, the OpenRun Pro's microphones do an amazing job of noise-canceling the environment and picking up the voice out of the hustle and bustle of the world.
Battery life comes in at the rated 10-hours, a full charge takes about an hour, and a 5-minute charge will give you 90 minutes of playback time. Charging is via a bespoke cable with a USB-A connector at one end and a magnetic connector on the other. This is the same as supplied with other Shokz/Aftershokz headsets.
Also: These headphones solved my biggest issue with listening to music while running
I've also extensively tested the water- and sweat resistance and the Shokz OpenRun Pro seem totally immune to moisture. The bottom line is they're great, and I highly recommend them!