The brand formerly known as Aftershokz was rebranded as Shokz, but that didn’t manifest any different change in approach. When it comes to bone-conduction headphones, Shokz is probably the most known entity out there, and the OpenRun Pro model is one of the better proponents of the technology.
Bone conduction works by producing vibrations through your cheek/jawbone to your ear. This means the design is an open-ear model, which also allows you to hear what’s around you. This is especially useful if you’re using them in an outdoor environment.
The OpenRun Pro are lightweight at 29g and we found them comfortable to wear. Despite the lightweight frame, our reviewer found they stayed put during exercises, so there’s no fear that they’d be dislodged when running. A rating of IP55 means the OpenRun Pro can resist the likes of sweat, water and dust, though in fact, this is a weaker IP rating than older Shokz headphones.
The Shokz promise 10 hours of battery life, which is up from the eight hours of the original OpenRun. Using them with the volume set pretty much at its maximum, we managed to get five hours of use, though Shokz was testing at 75% so if the volume is lowered you’re likely to eke out more battery life. Multipoint Bluetooth is supported, so you can switch between two devices simultaneously. There’s no built-in MP3 player that you’ll find on the Naenka Runner Pro model, as this only supports audio over Bluetooth.
When it comes to audio performance, the OpenRun Pro promise a sound that offers enhanced bass and premium sound quality. We found it didn’t quite live up to those expectations, especially when it comes to bass, which has been a shortcoming with most bone-conduction headphones. If you do want a bassier, bigger sound, however, the Philips TAA6606 is an alternative.
There are two modes to choose from in Standard and Vocal, and the latter presents a greater focus on clarity, while the Standard mode offers a punchier sound than previous Shokz headphones. These aren’t as good as a true wireless pair such as the Adidas FWD-02 in terms of audio, but they are one of the best bone-conduction headphones.
If you find the OpenRun Pro too expensive, there is the option of the less expensive OpenRun. There’s also the OpenRun Mini, which is a version for smaller heads that costs the same as the ‘Pro’ model.
Reviewer: Mike Sawh
Full Review: Shokz OpenRun Pro
