The 8 Best Bone Conduction Headphones
Updated by · How we research
Bone conduction headphones for running, swimming and commuting, compared on bass, battery and sealing. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 wins with an added bass speaker. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Bone conduction headsets rest on your cheekbones and pass sound through bone to the inner ear, leaving the ear canal open to traffic and voices. The trade is weak bass and some sound spilling out at high volume. They suit runners, cyclists, swimmers and anyone who can't stand earbuds, but they aren't hearing aids, and loud is still loud.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes the lead here because it adds a small bass speaker on each side, which helps with the thin sound bone conduction is known for. Every old pick had to go or change. AfterShokz is now called Shokz, and the AfterShokz Aeropex lives on as the Shokz OpenRun, which stays. The AfterShokz OpenMove is sold out at Shokz, the AfterShokz Xtrainerz and AfterShokz Titanium have newer replacements, and the Vidonn F1 and Tayogo Earphones are no longer around.
New picks cover swimming, heavy rain, commuting and a cheap way to try the style. Swim models got extra scrutiny, since wireless signals die underwater and only headsets with music stored inside work in a pool. Our evidence was Shokz's size charts and battery ratings, the Raycon, Mojawa, NANK and PSIER spec sheets, reviews from SoundGuys, The Gadgeteer, Wirecutter and RTINGS, and the CPSC recall database, which lists no recalls for any brand here.
Earlier notes
October 18, 2020, by Brendon Hannaford:
Bone conduction headphones are still an evolving technology, so we've refreshed our list to better represent the most up to date options on the market. AfterShokz is still the primary producer of these devices, so it's no surprise they're the creators of the three most cutting-edge selections on our list, namely the AfterShokz Aeropex, the AfterShokz OpenMove, and the AfterShokz Xtrainerz. The Aeropex are the company's current flagship model, and truly the best option you could get by most metrics. Not only do they feature a high-quality build and probably the best frequency response of all bone conduction headphones to date, but they also feature an eight-hour battery life that beats most other models by two hours or more. The Xtrainerz are also a recent release and offer similarly advanced features, however they're definitely not for everyone since they are essentially a pair of headphones and an MP3 player all in one. If you're a swimmer or someone who doesn't like their phone jiggling in their pocket while they exercise they're an awesome solution, but the fact that they can only play songs from internal storage and can't stream from a phone via Bluetooth makes them a relatively niche choice.
Of course, not everyone wants or needs to pay a premium price for top of the line headphones. The AfterShokz OpenMove are the company's current midrange offering, and while they do lack a few features in comparison to the Aeropex the differences are slight. Their ability to play for six hours continuously is plenty for many users, and though their build is ever so slightly more plasticky and weighty than the Aeropex they're still a well-built selection with great sound-quality in comparison to most other choices. The AfterShokz Titanium also made it on to our list, which may seem odd since the OpenMove are essentially their successor. Despite being a few years old they made it on our list because they are actually still a very popular option, and this is because they are less expensive than the OpenMove and only lack features that some users find inconsequential. They're bulkier and heavier than the OpenMove by a small margin, and they're compatible with Bluetooth 4.1 rather than the newer 5.0 standard, however many have found these elements to be mostly unimportant for their experience. If you want to pay a lower price but still want the quality of an AfterShokz brand product, they may be the best option.
Finally, we've included the Vidonn F1 and Tayogo Earphones as affordable options for those who want to try out this technology but aren't interested in the prices AfterShokz models usually command. The Vidonn F1 is relatively similar to the AfterShokz Titanium in terms of functionality, with only minor differences in terms of overall build and sound quality. The Tayogo Earphones are extremely inexpensive and rival the price of normal earbuds, and while they lack the audio-fidelity or premium materials found on higher-end models they are still a worthwhile choice for those who just want to test the waters. Note that they tend to offer less bass and volume than more expensive choices, so they may not be ideal for loud ambient environments.
June 2, 2019, by Christopher Thomas:
If you're in the market for a pair of these, first know what they can and can't do. They can transmit decent-quality audio, but only if they fit properly. If the pair you select doesn't clamp tightly to your head, they'll essentially just be tiny speakers blaring tinny sound at your head, and you won't hear much. Also, they just don't put out much bass, because you need to use your actual ears to hear that. But they're great for the middle and high ranges, especially vocals. So if you want a light soundtrack or to be able to hear a phone call, but don't want to block out ambient sounds, give one of these options a try.
You'll notice most of the best options are from AfterShokz. They're one of the few companies that's worked hard at providing a refined product. If you want to spend a little less, the Vidonns are also a worthwhile choice. And we've included a mask-style option that's suitable for use in areas where breathing in particulate matter is a concern.
Special Honors
Suunto Wing Suunto, the Finnish sports watch maker, sells the Wing, a bone conduction headset with small lights on the band that make you easier to see on dark roads. SoundGuys named it a good choice for safety, though its flush buttons can be hard to press. suunto.com
ASHA ProFind If you're shopping for bone conduction because of hearing trouble, start with a hearing test. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's free ProFind directory lists certified audiologists across the U.S. asha.org
How Bone Conduction Works, And What It Can't Do
At high volume in a quiet room, people nearby can hear your audio, and some listeners feel a tickle on the skin.
A bone conduction headset presses small vibrating pads against your cheekbones, just in front of the ears. The vibrations travel through the skull to the cochlea, so sound skips the ear canal and eardrum entirely (Wikipedia). Your ears stay open, which is the whole point: you hear cars, bikes, trail noise and the person talking to you.
The physics has costs. Bone passes low notes better than high ones, but small pads can't move much air, so bass is faint on most models and fades fast on a loud street. SoundGuys found the sound fine for podcasts, calls and awareness and weaker than earbuds for music (SoundGuys). The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 tackles this with a second, ordinary speaker on each side for bass (The Gadgeteer). At high volume in a quiet room, people nearby can hear your audio, and some listeners feel a tickle on the skin.
Don't confuse bone conduction with open-ear earbuds such as the Bose Ultra Open or Shokz OpenFit. Those hang a tiny speaker near the ear canal and play sound through the air. They usually have more bass, but they leak more sound, and they don't wrap around the back of the head the way a sport band does.
Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids And Safe Volume
Bone conduction headphones are not hearing aids. They may help some people with conductive hearing loss, where the outer or middle ear is the problem, because the sound goes around it. They do much less for sensorineural loss, the common age- and noise-related kind, which affects the inner ear itself (ASHA). If you have trouble hearing, see an audiologist before you buy anything. Many hearing aid users can wear a sport band headset around their aids, but check the fit first.
Open ears don't make loud listening safe. Your inner ear still takes the full sound, and the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health sets its recommended limit at 85 decibels averaged over eight hours (NIOSH). Because traffic masks the audio, it's tempting to turn it up outdoors; resist that.
Some countries and U.S. states restrict headphones while driving or cycling, and the rules often cover both ears, not how the sound arrives (Wikipedia). Bone conduction falls in a gray area in many places, so check local law before you ride.
Swimming, Rain And Getting The Fit Right
Water ratings use the IP code, and the second digit is the one that matters (Wikipedia). A 5 means sweat and rain, a 7 means a brief dunk, and an 8 means longer submersion under limits the maker sets. Shokz rates the OpenSwim Pro for 2 meters for up to 2 hours. Ratings above that, such as the IP69 NANK claims, rest on the maker's own figures.
Bluetooth doesn't work underwater, even on a fully sealed headset. To swim with music, you need a model that stores songs inside and plays them in MP3 mode, as the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, Mojawa Run Plus and NANK Runner Diver2 Pro do. You load those files from a computer. Earplugs help you hear in the water, but they close your ears, so leave them out on land. Let any headset dry before charging; the Shokz OpenRun warns you if its port is wet.
Fit decides comfort. Shokz sells Standard and Mini bands for several models: measure from one ear, around the back of your head, to the other, and its chart puts heads under about 9.25 inches in the Mini. Most people can wear glasses and bike helmets with these, though thick sunglass arms can press against the band (The Gadgeteer).
How we researched this
We compared 16 bone conduction headsets, including every pick from the previous version of this page, read the makers' published specs, size charts and warranty terms for the eight finalists, weighed independent reviews from SoundGuys, The Gadgeteer, Wirecutter and RTINGS, and checked every brand against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database.
Sources (10)
- SoundGuys: best bone conduction headphones
- The Gadgeteer: best bone conduction headphones 2026
- Wirecutter: the best bone conduction headphones
- RTINGS: best bone conduction and open-ear headphones
- Wikipedia: Bone conduction
- ASHA: types of hearing loss
- NIOSH: about noise and hearing loss
- Wikipedia: Headphones (legal restrictions)
- Wikipedia: IP code
- CPSC SaferProducts recall search
Frequently asked questions
What are bone conduction headphones?
Headphones that rest on your cheekbones and send sound as vibrations through bone to the inner ear. Your ear canals stay open, so you can hear what's around you.
Are bone conduction headphones better than earbuds?
For awareness and comfort, yes: nothing sits in your ears. For music, no: bass is weaker and noise drowns them out. Many runners and cyclists own both.
Can bone conduction headphones help with hearing loss?
They may help some people with conductive hearing loss, but they are not hearing aids. See an audiologist first, especially for age- or noise-related loss.
Can you swim with bone conduction headphones?
Only with a fully sealed model that stores music inside, such as the Shokz OpenSwim Pro. Bluetooth does not work underwater, so you load songs from a computer.
Do bone conduction headphones leak sound?
Yes, at high volume in a quiet place people nearby can hear your audio. At moderate volume outdoors, the leak is hard to notice.
Is AfterShokz the same as Shokz?
Yes. AfterShokz renamed itself Shokz, and the AfterShokz Aeropex is now sold as the Shokz OpenRun.
