If you’re running or exercising outside, earbuds that close around your ears can make it more difficult to hear traffic, cyclists, or anyone calling your name. Open ear headphones avoid this by leaving your ears exposed, which is the idea behind Shokz OpenRun Pro. You can get it now for $99.99 from Best Buy, which is $60 off the regular price.
- Play time
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Up to 10 hours
- waterproof?
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IP55
- Brand
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Shox
Bone conduction makes the OpenRun Pro our choice for outdoor runners. The open ear design won’t block your ear canal, so you can still listen to music while staying aware of what’s happening around you. Available in four colors and two band sizes, the OpenRun Pro fits gently but securely around the back of the head, wrapping around the ears and resting on the temples. This pair is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 technology and features PremiumPitch 2.0+, which prevents bleeding and reduces distortion.
What makes the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones so good?
Open-ear sound designed for workouts
Basically, Shokz open ear headphones are designed specifically with athletes in mind. Because your ears are not exposed, you can hear your surroundings, which is safer than noise-canceling alternatives, especially when you’re outside.
You also get about 10 hours of playback per charge, which is enough for long training sessions, and a 5-minute charge gives you about 90 minutes of listening. For calls, there are dual noise-canceling microphones. The companion app adds Standard and Vocal EQ modes, so you can fine-tune the sound to your taste.
However, there are trade-offs. IP55 rating covers rain and sweat but not water sports. Bluetooth is limited to the SBC codec, the magnetic charging port on the back requires a Shokz-specific cable, and the bass follows what you’d get from in-ear headphones. So OpenRun Pros makes a lot of sense if you run or train outdoors and want to monitor your surroundings. If you mostly listen to bass-heavy music, or want headphones for water sports, you’re better off looking elsewhere.
If you want open headphones for running or the gym and can live with the trade-offs, we think $99.99 is a fair price for the OpenRun Pro. Just make sure of it Get it from Best Buy While the holiday deal still stands.
