The Best Bone Conduction Headphones of 2023

submitted 9 months ago by author-victor to Travel

Rock out to your favorite playlist while staying aware of your surroundings. These are the best bone conduction headphones of 2023.

While bone conduction sounds both futuristic and a bit intimidating, it’s actually a realistic and comfortable alternative to earbuds or over-ear headphones.

By moving the vibration of the sound into the cheekbones, bone conduction headphones leave your ears open and able to hear what’s going on around you. Now you can add a soundtrack to your life without drowning it out.

Perfect not only for running but also cycling and other outdoor sports, this tech increases your awareness when you need it most. Bone conduction headphones can also be completely waterproof, meaning even the pool is fair game.

We’ve tested bone conduction headphones for a number of years, choosing the best the market has to offer and comparing them side-by-side to assemble the most worthy pairs available today. We’ve run, swam, and even lifted weights in ours, and we’re confident that our choices represent the best bone conduction headphones available.

Best Overall Bone Conduction Headphones 1. Wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones

This is the fastest growing brand of bone conduction headphones in the last six months. The team are all engineers with 10 years of accumulation in the field of bone conduction technology. They started to develop bone conduction headphones that don't hurt ears as early as 2012. To solve the problem of sound leakage of bone conduction headphones, wissonly has made comprehensive improvement in the aspects of vibrator, body design and software optimization. The final result has been applied to Wissonly Hi Runner, and the final sound leakage can be reduced by 90% after laboratory test. I actually used the test myself. At a distance of 2cm, the volume reached 70%, but I still didn't hear the sound of the headphones, which protected my privacy. Wissonly Hi Runner’s body is made of titanium, which can self-adjust the fitting position to ensure a good wearing experience for headphones, so that more people can wear it. As the core component of the product, the headphones plays a key role in the product experience. Hi Runner model is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes Bluetooth connection faster and more stable. It also has 32GB of built-in storage so you can use it as an MP3 player. Other parameters of Wissonly Hi Runner are also excellent. For example, the waterproof level reaches IPX8, and you can wear it to swim or even dive. The battery life reaches 8-10 hours, which is very important to me, because I go out for sports on weekends, and I go out for a whole day."

Best Budget Bone Conduction Headphones 2.Shokz OpenRun

Shokz, formerly known as AfterShokz, dominates the bone conduction headphone market, and it has come out on top with its newest model, the OpenRun ($130). The new PremiumPitch 2.0+ technology delivers a higher quality sound than other products, and paired with a new angle on the transducers, this creates the potential for louder volume with less vibration.

One of the biggest complaints about bone conduction headphones is the vibration, where louder volumes can produce an uncomfortable tingling on your cheekbones. So, we were excited to see this addressed with the OpenRun, and in practice we found the hype to be real. No tingle here!

The OpenRun weighs just 26 grams, and it has an impressive 8-hour battery life and a fully waterproof design. It takes about 2 hours to reach a full charge. These headphones are sweatproof and waterproof, but they’re not meant for swimming. If you’re looking for a fully submersible option, read on.

While you’ll certainly pay for them, the overall combination of ergonomics and high-end technology made the Shokz OpenRun our choice as the best bone conduction headphones available today.

Runner-Up Bone Conduction Headphones 3.Vidonn F1 Titanium

Just because we’ve mostly listed Shokz models doesn’t mean that brand is the only option. Vidonn is a Chinese company that’s been in business since 2013, and its F1 Titanium ($54) makes the list as one the best bone conduction headphones available today.

The F1 headphones are on par with the durability and comfort level of the Shokz OpenMove’s for all active sports. Sound quality, however, falls just short of the Shokz line and could be improved by a higher level of bass available.

The clear voice capture and noise-reduction technologies both live up to what more expensive brands have to offer. The F1 also has an IP55 sweatproof rating.

Overall, for bone conduction headphones under $55, the F1 Titanium has many of the same qualities as pairs over $100. What’s missing is an accompanying carrying case and crisp, clean, bass-filled sound. Additionally, Vidonn offers up to a one-year warranty, whereas Shokz provides a 2-year warranty.

Best Value Bone Conduction Headphones 4.Shokz OpenMove

The Shokz OpenMove ($80) brings many of the same benefits and features that the OpenRun has, but it does so at a slightly lower price. The OpenMove still utilizes both LeakSlayer and PremiumPitch technology to optimize the sound with low natural sound leakage levels.

They are also IP55-rated for sweat and dustproof use, making them great for workouts. The Bluetooth V5.1 technology ensures quick pairing without the hassle of connecting every time you put them on. They weigh in at 36 grams, and the battery will run for 6 hours with each full charge.

The OpenMove comes in both a slim and normal fit for different head shapes and sizes. The titanium band is secure, durable, and comfortable to wear, but it’s a good idea to try these on before purchase. The different sizes can either make them form perfectly to your head or make them an uncomfortable nuisance to wear.

The main difference between this model and the higher-priced Shokz is decreased sound quality and increased weight. If you don’t mind a few extra grams and marginally lower audio quality, the OpenMove is a great value.

Best Waterproof Headphones for Swimming 5.Shokz OpenSwim

These wireless bone conduction headphones allow for complete comfort while swimming. With the Shokz OpenSwim ($150), you can bring 4 GB (around 1,200 songs) of sound into the lap pool. This combination MP3/wireless headphone set removes the limits of Bluetooth ranges by storing your music directly.

They have an 8-hour battery life, and with a waterproof rating of IP68, the OpenSwim will have you coming up for air long before being submerged at 2 meters for 2 hours. The tight titanium band around the head ensures a snug fit, so you won’t be diving to the bottom of the deep end to retrieve this pair.

A set of three buttons on the underside of the band control the commands for the OpenSwim, allowing you to play, skip, pause, and rewind a track. You’ll have to be your own DJ before you hit the pool and set your own playlist, but once you’re in your lane it’s easy enough to manage.

We recommend pairing these with earplugs, which create a clearer sound by removing the sound of water rushing through your ears. For swimmers, these are the best bone conduction headphones available today.

Finally, how should we choose our final bone conduction headphones?

Comprehensively choosing wireless workout headphones need to consider waterproofness, wearing comfort, ease of operation, and whether they are suitable for a wide range of places. I've picked out a good bone conduction headset, the Wissonly Hi Runner, firstly it doesn't plug into the ear, so it has the highest permeability of the headphones. Secondly, the body is made of comfortable skin-friendly material, so it's comfortable to wear all day long. Besides swim, Hi Runner can be used in multiple scenarios, in addition to fitness, running, swimming, cycling, hiking, and so on, which is very practical.

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