When it comes to bone conduction headphones, Shokz is the biggest brand in the market. Although its budget-friendly SHOKZ OpenMove headphones didn’t make it on the list for the best bone conduction headphones of 2024, they are still the best entry-level bone conduction headphones you can buy, which is helpful if you want to test the whole bone conduction thing before you go all in. Right now, you can get them for $54.99 (originally $79.95) on Amazon, the lowest price they have been according to price-checking tools.
Bone conduction allows you listen to media while having your ears open to your surroundings, and allows you to listen underwater (as long as the headphones are waterproof). The technology works with amplifiers that send vibrations, not sound, which your bones then send to your brain so you can hear your media. It’s a pretty cool sensation knowing you’re listening to vibrations, not traditional speakers. The point is to be able to hear your surroundings when working out outdoors for safety, but they’re also great for office settings when you want to hear if a coworker calls for you.
The Shokz OpenMove are the most basic of its three headphones—the Shokz OpenRun and the Shokz OpenRun Pro are more high-end. They have the shortest battery life at six hours of playtime and are water-resistant with an IPX55 rating (meaning you can’t submerge them in water). There is very little noise bleeding, so you don’t have to worry about people around you hearing your music.
From my experience with bone conduction headphones, they’re great for any outdoor activity, but terrible for the gym. Gyms are loud and most already play music, so unless you like listening to two songs at the same time, I suggest checking out in-ear or over-the-ear headphones. I do enjoy using them at home when doing chores and talking to people around me without having to pause or take my headphones off.
