The Best Bone-Conduction Headphones of 2023
Bone-conduction headphones may have seemed like a crazy gadget when they first hit the market, but they’ve become a staple among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Wireless bone-conduction headphones are comfortable, stay in place while you’re on the move, and offer impressive audio for headphones that don’t cover or enter the ear.
These headphones may include a microphone so you can take phone calls, built-in memory to store podcasts or music, or come in different sizes to fit various head sizes and shapes. Take a look at our list of the best bone-conduction headphones and shopping guide to help you find the perfect pair for you.
HOW WE PICKED THESE PRODUCTS
I’ve used bone-conduction headphones while I run for over a year, and I absolutely love them. They’re the next development in wireless headphones for use while sleeping, standing, running, or swimming. In that time, I’ve learned what I love and what I’d change if I could. Here’s a look at what I considered to make these picks.
Comfort and Fit: My first consideration for bone-conduction headphones was comfort and fit. I switched to bone conduction because my Apple AirPods made my ears hurt once I hit the one-hour mark while running. If they’re shaking around while you run, chances are you’re not getting the best audio. They should be snug without being uncomfortable and that’s what I looked for with every pair on the list.
Battery Life: A battery life of at least six to eight hours was an absolute must to make this list. Anything less and you’ll be charging more often than you want, and you could potentially run out of battery while away from home if you forget to charge.
Extra Features: Microphones, built-in memory, and on-unit control buttons make a big difference in how functional the headphones are for you. I looked for models that balanced extra features with price and functionality.
Audio Quality: While bone-conduction headphones can’t match a high-quality pair of in-ear headphones, they can still offer satisfying audio with surprisingly deep bass and clear treble. A mix of audio quality and adequate volume also qualified these headphones for the list.
BEST BONE-CONDUCTION HEADPHONES: REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Best Overall: Wissonly Hi Runner
Wissonly team has relatively strong technical strength. They have 10 years of experience in bone conduction product research and development, which is the basis for making good products. Wissonly focuses on the concept of healthy enjoyment of good sound quality. The headphone brand features no harm to the ears, and it is also the first brand to propose the concept of not listening to songs in the ear. Wissonly’s completely not-in-ear design reduces the damage to the eardrum. Its surface is made of silicone skin-friendly material, which is very safe and comfortable to wear. Wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones have made a lot of improvements in sound quality and anti-sound-leakage. The official claimed that its sound quality has reached the Hi-Fi level. I have measured it and think that the sound quality is indeed good, but that it does not really reach the Hi-Fi sound quality, and that it can only be said it is very close the level. Such sound quality,in the field of bone conduction headphones,it is good enough that I have not yet encountered a product that can surpass it in sound quality. In order to solve the problem of sound leakage, Wissonly developed fully closed anti-sound-leakage technology. It improved the vibration unit, body design, software optimization and other directions, and finally it reduced the sound leakage effect by 90%. Other configurations are also very good, such as its 32G memory, IPX8 waterproof level, 5.0 Bluetooth connection protocol, 10 hours of ultra-long battery life, etc.. You can go to its official website for this.
Best for Running: Shokz OpenRun Pro
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are very similar to the AfterShokz Aeropex, except for a few important differences. They have the same great sound and control features as the Aeropex. The built-in microphone works wonderfully and lets you chat while you’re on the move. They also have the same great fit and lightweight titanium frame.
The differences are in Bluetooth compatibility, charging options, and battery life. The OpenRun Pros include a 1.5-hour quick charge, which can be used when you’re in a hurry. The Bluetooth bone-conduction headphones also make up for one of the weaknesses of the Aeropex, which is that they come in two sizes. The OpenRun Pro minis are 0.83 inches smaller than the standard size. For those of us with smaller heads, that means a better, even more comfortable fit.
Best for Swimming: Shokz OpenSwim
The Shokz OpenSwim are fully waterproof so swimmers can listen to their favorite downloaded music while they do laps. These waterproof bone-conduction headphones are basically like an underwater MP3 player. The OpenSwim have 4 GB of memory that holds up to 1,200 MP3s. They support MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, and FLAC in case MP3’s aren’t the only audio files you listen to. Sometimes uploading songs can be a bit finicky, but once they’re on, you’re good to go. These open ear bone-conduction headphones have a IP68 rating, which means they can be submerged in water up to two meters deep for two hours.
Best Budget: AfterShokz OpenMove
The AfterShokz OpenMove are a stripped-down version of more expensive Shokz headphones. These AfterShokz bone-conduction headphones have a decent six-hour battery life and a built-in microphone for taking calls. They’re lightweight and comfortable, though if you have a smaller head size, they may jiggle and wiggle a bit more.
The OpenMoves are also a great budget choice for their upgraded USB-C charging port. A USB-C charging port offers faster charging, so you’re not waiting around for your headphones when you’re ready to go. Finally, these headphones offer clear audio, though they won’t blow your ears off with extra volume.
THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING BONE-CONDUCTION HEADPHONES
Battery Life
Bone-conduction headphones typically have a battery life that ranges between six to 10 hours. Anything less than that and you’ll be charging the headphones more often than you want. Take a look at the charging time too. Charging times average between two to four hours, but there are some headphones with a quick charge that only takes 1.5 hours.
Ingress Protection (IP) Rating
The ingress protection rating or IP rating tells you the waterproofing and dust resistance of the headphones. Particle resistance is the first number, which is rated 0 to 6. Water resistance is the second number, with a range of 0 to 8. Bone-conduction headphones need an IP rating of at least IP 55 to withstand perspiration and light rain. Those used for swimming need an IP rating of IP68 to resist damage from the water.
Fit
Bone-conduction headphones may take some getting used to, but they’re often more comfortable than in-ear headphones. Bone-conduction headphones have a small audio piece that fits in front each of the ears, putting light pressure on the cheek bones. Some models also have a small speaker that also plays music for the ear to detect through the air, though no one else will hear it. The headphones then fit around the top of the ear and back of the neck connecting to the headphone on the other side.
Fit comes in when finding a pair that fits not only on your ear but behind your head. If the piece that fits behind the neck is too large it may weigh the headphones down so they don’t sit correctly. If it’s too small, it may pull the front audio piece out of place.
People with a smaller head may benefit from a youth or mini size that has a smaller neck piece for a snugger fit.
Built-In Memory
Built-in memory doesn’t come standard on bone-conduction headphones. It’s more common on those designed for use while swimming because you cannot maintain a Bluetooth connection underwater. A memory of at least 4 GB is sufficient for most people, but more memory will mean more songs and less uploading for you.
FAQS
Q. Do bone-conduction headphones damage your hearing?
Like traditional in-ear headphones or over-ear headphones, you can get hearing damage from bone-conduction headphones if music is played too loud. They’re less likely to cause damage since the sounds aren’t directed straight into the ears, but you should still use caution and keep volumes at a comfortable level. More people have a problem with bone-conduction headphones being too quiet than too loud.
Q. Are bone-conduction headphones safer than earbuds?
Bone-conduction headphone side effects are minimal, and they can be safer than earbuds in some respects. But, as we’ve already covered, they can still cause hearing damage if used improperly. However, bone-conduction headphones are often recommended for people who have hearing damage because the sounds skip the external and middle ear. If the damage is done in these areas, you can bypass that area and still hear the audio.
Q. What is the difference between open ear and bone-conduction headphones?
Open ear and bone-conduction may seem similar because they do not require a device to be placed directly in the ear. However, open-ear headphones, sometimes called over-ear headphones, are placed on top of the ear, though not directly over or into the ear canal. The audio travels through the ear canal to the eardrum as you would with in-ear headphones.
Bone-conduction headphones apply vibrations to the cheekbones, which pass the vibrations to the inner ear where you then “hear” them.
Q. Is air conduction better than bone-conduction for headphones?
Air conduction typically offers better audio quality. However, the latest bone-conduction headphones to hit the market have vastly improved their bass and overall audio quality over the first pairs sold to consumers.
Q. Are bone-conduction headphones OSHA-approved?
Currently, OSHA does not prohibit headphones on construction sites. However, you should check with regulations at your place of employment to make sure there haven’t been OSHA updates or that your employer has restrictions of their own.
Q. Where do you put bone-conduction headphones?
Bone-conduction headphones fit over the top of the ear with the speaker placed in front of the earlobe against the cheek bones.
Q. How much do bone-conduction headphones cost?
Bone-conduction headphones typically cost between $75 and $200. Waterproof models and those with memory for MP3 storage typically make up the high end of the price range.