For a limited time, Amazon is offering the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro Open-Ear Wireless Sport Headphones for only $139.94, a savings of 22% off the original $180 MSRP. We picked the OpenRun Pro as the best non-earbuds headphones for running. The AirPods Pro might be an amazing all-around earbud, but the OpenRun Pro is a superior sport headphone in situations where you need to be fully aware of your surroundings.
SHOKZ OpenRun Pro Sport Headphones for $139.94
The SHOKZ OpenRun Pro is a more traditionally styled sport headphone with the earbuds connected to a lightweight titanium band that goes around the back of your head. It does an excellent job of keeping everything in place, which is important because the buds need to be positioned precisely. Instead of the traditional method of sending sound vibrations to your eardrums, the OpenRun Pro uses bone conduction technology to send vibrations through your cheekbones directly to your inner ear. As such, the headphones are actually placed in front of your ear instead of on your ear. The biggest advantage is that you can fully hear your surroundings; if you like running on the street, for example, you'll be aware of everything that's going on around you and still be able to hear your music perfectly well.
The OpenRun Pros are IP5 rated to withstand sweat, dust, and grime. You'll get up to ten hours of continuous playback on a single charge. They also feature multipoint Bluetooth pairing, which means that you can pair it with up to two different devices simultaneously.
I have a pair of AirPods Pro that I use regularly, but I always set them aside for the OpenRun Pros when I run. The Transparency mode on the AirPods Pro does work well for most situations, but they still can't compare to the awareness you get without having any buds plugging up your ears. In my experience these headphones stay in place extremely well and the sound quality is good compared to other bone conduction headphones I've tried. The "Pro" version offers a bit more bass as well. It doesn't quite live up to audiophile standards, but it's more than good enough to keep you motivated during your long runs.
