SHOKZOpenRun Pro, [England Athletics Recommended] Bone Conduction Headphones, Open-Ear Sports Earphones with Mic, IP55 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Headset for Running Workout Driving (Blue)Carbonfree Certified

This is my 3rd set of headphones from this brand. I started with the Trekz Airs: reasonably warm sound, some bass, highs were a bit lacking, then the Aeropex: detailed highs but very little bass (less than the Airs), then the OpenRun Pros: great highs and a reasonable amount of bass for bone conduction headphones - these bring together the best bits of the 2 previous generations and then polish the end result a bit. The sound from the OpenRuns is really rather pleasant, I'd give it an 8/10, and it loses 2 marks because in an A/B comparison with almost any set of in/over-ear headphones, you'd notice a huge loss in bass frequencies, but in isolation, the sound is really quite nice.So why pay £159 for a set of headphones that lack bass? Well, for me, these are about having some background music running while I'm focussed on other things: playing with/walking my dogs, doing jobs around the house etc, without being isolated from the sounds that I need to hear while doing these things. The second thing is the comfort and convenience. If I'm wearing these without music playing, I can literally forget I'm wearing them - a bit like when I look for my reading glasses and then realise I'm already wearing them. Also, no pushing things into my ears, no dropping and losing tiny earbuds in a field, no having to fiddle with putting earbuds into a case, no sweaty ears from large headphones covering my ears etc. When I'm not using these headphones, they lightly clamp to my neck - very convenient, and very quick to put back over my ears. Also, they take up very little space and are rugged enough that I can throw them into a bag without worrying about them getting damaged. Also good for dog walking in heavy rain - no worries there, unlike most large headsets.In summary, if you are lucky enough to be able to sit back on a sofa, close you eyes, shut out the outside world and focus on your music, then go for something else. If you need to be aware of what's going on around you and want nice sounding background music while you are focussed on other things, don't hesitate, get these! I do recommend tweaking the sound with the EQ in your music app though - bring down the mid frequencies a bit and bring up the high frequencies. You can also push the bass up a little bit, but it will start to distort if you push it significantly.I hope this was helpful!

In summary, if you’re wanting the best bone conducting headphones for all the positive advantages of not sticking things into your ear canals, these headphones are the best on the market for sound clarity, comfort, practicality, and even indoor phone use. There is nothing that comes close to these gen 9 Shokz. For reference, I bought four other bone conducting pairs two years ago and sent each back as they were awful. The Shokz were the only pair that were usable.Having owned the previous model for 2 years I am hoping that a bit of a comparison is of use to those considering purchasing them. I should stress that I was very happy indeed with my previous pair and my review below is a critical comparison of the two pairs and why I feel the extra cost is worth it if you can run to the new pro pair.Having left my 2 year old ‘Aftershokz’ in Portugal, I immediately bought these. I had misgiving about reports of the buzzing sensation and was anxious for their arrival. This was due to the ‘buzzing’ of the original pair which was uncomfortable at high volume. I had no need at all to be concerned. The vibrations of these ‘pro’ headphones is very subtle and not at all like the older model. The improvement is such I am so chuffed I opted for these and not the cheaper model.In use, the audio is of a far greater, and noticeable, fidelity compared with the non-pro headphones. There is more bass and it really adds that dimension needed for music listening. The ‘buzz’ is also far more subtle. It is only my opinion based on my experience of the previous model but I think I know why these are so much better. To start, the engineering improvements to the bass response means I can listen at a lower volume level than I ordinarily would have done; effectively, these are far more efficient. Then there is the headband and position of the speakers on my head. I think the band is shorter, as far less sticks out at the back. This in turn makes wearing them whilst lying more comfortable too. Lastly, either they have slightly tweaked the speaker angles or it is the shorter headband (or both) which means there is a more positive bone conductive transmission. Whatever it is, it is working for me fantastically well.Along with the upgraded headphones comes an elastic head band. I was initially confused as to what this did but quickly worked out that it goes over the head and over the back of the headband. There is a silicone bead on the inside to ensure it remains in place. Whilst this is laughably simple, it just works to not only hold them in place when exercising but ensures an even greater contact with the transmitters.The noise cancelling mics work very well indeed when in teams meetings or on the phone. I was told I sounded very clear even when workers from two doors down were drilling and I had patio doors open! I’ve not tested them outside in wind yet but I would never be chatting on the phone in such circumstances so don’t think it’s relevant.Having misplaced my last pair, it was nice that I could choose a lighter colour. Hopefully these will not be as easy to lose as a black pair on a dark coach - where I last had them.Aside from some minor, but really well thought out improvements to design and fit, the announcement voice too has been updated and is much clearer.Lastly, there is a much improved hard case which offers real protection when travelling although I am usually wearing them so I may not be getting much use out of this.