review – What kind of magic is this? ! ? I’m testing the Shokz OpenRun Pro sports headphones, which feature bone conduction technology for those who enjoy an active lifestyle. These are game changers for me. Let’s find out more. Leave a comment! !
What is it?
The Shokz OpenRun Pro sports headphones are bone conduction open-back headphones.
What’s in this box?
You get headphones, a charging cable, and a hard-sided carrying case.
Hardware Specifications
- Premium sound quality with enhanced bass
- 9th Generation Bone Conduction Technology (TurboPitch™ Technology)
- 10 hours of music and calls + fast charging
- IP55 waterproof
Design and Features
Your Shokz OpenRun Pro adventure begins with a hard-sided carrying case. Behold!
The molded case protects your earphones and charging cable from your gym bag or backpack. This is important considering these are premium headphones.
The headphones themselves are built on a wraparound titanium frame that’s coated with a rubberized material. They have an IP55 water resistance rating, which means they are suitable for working in rainy or sweaty conditions.
These are bone conduction headphones, so you don’t have anything in your ear holes. The pods wrap around your ears, and the band holds them in place. Sound is delivered to your ears through the magic of bone conduction technology.
I was pleasantly surprised that not only did the earphones fit comfortably over my glasses, but they also paired well with the baggy toque I’m wearing here. This is a good thing. It has been freezing cold in Pennsylvania where I live for the past few weeks.
All your onboard controls are managed on a pod in front of your ear. The left pane has a simple button to play/pause music (one click), next song (two clicks), previous song (three clicks), or answer/hang up calls (one click ). The buttons themselves provide good tactile feedback, so it’s easier to feel what you’re doing.
The pod on the right has two buttons on the bottom for managing power on/off, volume up, volume down, and Bluetooth pairing. The volume down button is a single-function control; the rest of these functions are managed by the power/volume up button and performed by some combination of click and click/hold.
Behind the power and volume controls, you’ll find dedicated charging ports.
The charging cable is a USB cable with a port accessory on the other end for connecting headphones. It’s a proprietary cable, so it’s a good thing they have a place for it in your suitcase. You don’t want to lose it!
The port accessory snaps into the headphone port with a magnet… no need to mess with the plug here! 10 hours of continuous use on a single charge. When you turn on the headset, the headset will tell you your level (“Battery high!” “Battery low!”), which is helpful. If the headset is completely dead, you can also quickly charge it for 5 minutes and use it for 90 minutes.
Audio feedback also includes notifications for pairing and connecting devices; pairing is simple and without drama.
Performance
This was my first pair of bone conduction headphones and I don’t think I’ll be going back now. At first I thought they would dangle and maybe slip off because you can see the gap between the collar and neck in the picture below…
……this is not the truth. There’s just enough pressure to hold the ring in place without so much pressure that they feel like they’re pinching. I use them 5 times a week for rucking, weight training and elliptical. They stay put even when I work out on the bench.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the sound quality. Excellent bass and treble range, and great stereo sound. I’ve tried a variety of music from the iPhone and movies from the iPad and it’s always the same. You’ll notice right away that you’ll get more ambient sound than in-ears, but that’s a good thing if you’re out in the wild. I wear these and I have full awareness of what’s going on around me (like passing cars). You can turn up the volume and still be safe enough about the world around you.
I also like the fact that they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. No sweaty ear piercings or irritation. When I work, I always take these to the office for music and podcasts, where I can comfortably use them for hours. Call quality was excellent (another big surprise).
The controls still require a bit of a learning curve to use some of the more advanced features, but they’re nowhere near as good as some of the other earbuds I’ve tested. You can also download an app to help you pair and set up your equalizer. Honestly, I find that I don’t need it.
what do I like
- very comfortable
- Well Built, Water/Sweat Resistant, Durable
- Top-notch sound quality
- long battery life
- nice suitcase
Areas for improvement
- The only knock I’ve found so far is bone conduction technology, if you’re used to in-ear phones. It takes a little time to get used to the extra ambient sounds.
final thoughts
The Shokz OpenRun Pro sports earphones can be expensive, but if you’re looking for bone conduction earphones, I think they’re worth the money. You’ll love them for indoor and outdoor activities, and I use them for other things all the time. Keep in mind that you’ll get ambient noise as a trade-off for comfort, which is something to consider. These are my personal go-to headphones right now.
Price: $179.95
where to buy: Shokz.com and Amazon
resource: This product sample is provided by Shockz.
