9 Best Bone Conduction Headphones (for Perfect Awareness) 2023

If you’re looking for an alternative to regular headphones, here are the best bone-conduction headphones in 2023.

Bone conduction headphones sound almost as good as normal headphones, though not the same (more on that below).

On the other hand, they have top-notch fit, comfort, high durability and offer perfect awareness of surroundings.

Check them below:

Wireless bone-conduction headphones are an exciting alternative to regular headphones.

Unlike traditional headphones, they send vibrations through your temporal bones to your ears (leaving your ears open), offering a unique way to experience sound.

They’re an especially suitable replacement for workout headphones. And lately, they’ve gotten better than ever before (thanks to Shokz).

How does bone conduction work?

Simple explanation: Bone conduction headphones make sound travel through your bones, directly reaching your inner ear, so you can hear the music without blocking your ears.

It’s why your voice sounds different…

Did you know you hear your own voice deeper than it actually is because bone conducts lower frequencies better than air? That’s why your voice sounds different than you expect.

See the best bone-conduction headphones below.

Related:

Best workout headphones

Best running headphones

Best waterproof headphones for swimming

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Bone Conduction Headphones

There are a couple of things you have to know:

With an open-ear design, you remain aware of background noises

Because you leave your ear canal open, you still hear your surroundings. This is especially useful for running in a city, cycling, or anywhere else you want to hear loud noises.

Amazing fit and comfort

For the same reason, they feel amazingly comfortable. There are no earpads or eartips that would touch your skin. They lightly sit next to your ears which is much less bothersome.

The fit is also best-in-class. Usually, they come in a lightweight ear hook design. Once you put them on, they stay there, no matter the head shapes.

Highly durable

Because they are not using regular drivers, there is no air canal for sound waves. This makes them much easier to waterproof.

For that reason, most come with a certified high IP rating which means high dust and water protection.

Mediocre sound quality

The biggest caveat is their lack of bass. Due to different technology, the music transmission isn’t as clear. The details are a bit muffled, and they lack the deep-end rumble.

Though you can still enjoy music and listen to audiobooks.

Learn everything you have to know about bone conduction headphones and how they compare to traditional headphones.

The Best Bone Conduction Headphones

1. Shokz OpenRun Pro

While bone conduction headphones aren’t known for audiophile sound quality, the OpenRun Pro boast some impressive results.

Newly renamed Shokz (previously AfterShokz) have managed to boost the bass response, making your favorite tunes sound fuller and with punchier bass.

However, that comes at the cost of slightly more noticeable vibrations. Thankfully, they’re only distracting when playing near full volume.

Otherwise, Shokz OpenRun Pro offer the same quality as the OpenRun (Aeropex) model. They’re as comfortable and lightweight, so you can easily wear them on longer jogs, while Bluetooth 5.1 maintains a stable connection.

Furthermore, the new bone conduction headphones have 10 hours of battery life and fast charging support. Also, they’re IP55 rated and fully resistant to sweat while also having the ability to deflect dirt.

2. Mojawa Run Plus

Run Plus are one of the best-sounding headphones of this type. They’re the lightest on bass, but they provide a much more natural and clear overall sound instead.

Inside the app, you can toggle between different EQ presets to add more bass or increase voice clarity. Although they’re a bit muffled when making phone calls.

Thanks to an IP68 rating and onboard storage with 32GB of space, the Run Plus are ideal for swimmers and outdoor runner who dislike taking a phone with them.

The battery life of almost 9 hours per charge is nothing groundbreaking, but it should suffice for at least 2 lengthy workouts.

3. Shokz OpenRun (rebranded AfterShokz Aeropex)

These bone conduction headphones have improved bass from the other AfterShokz bone conduction models, but it’s no high-fidelity sound. These use PremiumPitch 2.0 to make the sound better. Sadly, no EQ settings are available.

The Shokz OpenRun have quality, rubbery ear hooks and stay in place while you exercise. They’re designed for a full-on active lifestyle and offer plenty of stability thanks to the hooks.

Waterproof and dustproof design (IP67) protects them from water and small particles like sand and dust. So, you can confidently use them in harsh conditions like the best waterproof Bluetooth headphones.

The Shokz OpenRun offer a 3-button control scheme with a power button and two volume buttons. They’re located on top for easy access during workouts.

4. AfterShokz Trekz Air

Their sound signature is somewhat balanced, with a slight lack of bass. Mids are more in front, so the vocals are crystal clear. But if you want to listen to bass-heavy music, you might look elsewhere.

The sleek, over-ear design makes them suitable for all situations, from sports to office jobs. AfterShokz headphones are extremely lightweight. They’re extremely comfortable to wear for hours. You could probably wear them the whole day.

On top of a comfortable fit, they are amazingly stable. You can use them for all types of sports, even for fast running. IP55 casing protects them from dust and water, so you’re safe in any weather.

Also, you get remote buttons to manage your tracks and a good-sounding built-in mic for when you answer calls. Long battery life can last up to six hours. Plus, you can simultaneously connect them to multiple devices via Bluetooth.

Looking for regular wireless headphones at a lower price? Best Bluetooth headphones under $100.

5. Mojawa Mojo2

Due to larger transducers than the other bone-conduction headphones, the Mojo2 can produce a tighter, more rumbly bass.

On the other hand, they lag a little in overall resolution and can also vibrate on higher volumes. However, at the lower asking price, that’s something you can forgive them for.

The design is a bit bulkier but doesn’t feel heavy (just over an ounce). They’re perfect for outdoor running, but be careful as your right earlobe can easily touch the controls behind it and activate voice assistant.

While Mojo2 aren’t fit for swimming, you’ll be glad to know they’re rated for IP67. Meaning they survive full submersion. On top of that, one full charge will last you 5.5 hours in total.

Check the best headphones for running.

There are no wired bone conduction headphones because they’re outdated.

6. AfterShokz OpenMove

Considering they transmit sound through ear bones, they output good quality audio. It is more detailed than other models (like the Air one), especially if you use them in earplug mode. Although that eliminates the benefits of bone-conducting headphones.

OpenMove are new affordable bone-conducting earphones from AfterShokz. They have a lightweight design and offer a good fit with ear hooks, and use the same PremiumPitch technology and LeakSlayer technology (the latter reduces sound leakage).

They have also minimized that tickling sensation when you listen to music at high volumes. With an IP55 rating, they’re fully sweatproof and dust resistant.

Bluetooth version 5.0 provides a reliable connection without any stutters and supports multipoint pairing to different Bluetooth devices. They use USB-C for charging, with a total of 6 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Want other options around 100 bucks? See the best headphones under $100.

7. AfterShokz OpenComm

Most bone-conduction headphones don’t offer the best audio quality. It’s the same with OpenComm.

Unlike other AfterShokz models, these primarily focus on vocals, rendering them with great clarity, even at high volume.

Having to wear headphones at work for more extended periods can start hurting, which is why OpenComm are a godsend.

They offer full awareness (ears-free usage) and don’t press against your ears. And the best thing: they have a dedicated noise-canceling microphone with clear audio.

On top of that, AfterShokz OpenComm have a 16-hour talk time with a quick charge function. They’re among the top picks if you want something more comfortable to wear at your work and you have to answer lots of phone calls per day.

Want to check standard headphones with a great microphone? See the best headphones with microphone.

8. Orange O Bones

O Bones have a typical bone conduction headphones sound that lacks deep bass response and can be harsh in upper frequencies. Using provided earplugs increases the bass immensely but can make the rest a bit muddy.

Headphones are well-constructed and very lightweight. Apart from the tingling sensation from vibrating drivers, you quickly stop noticing them on your head.

Even though they mainly press against your cheekbones, the O Bones provide excellent stability during exercises.

To ensure they the sweat can’t harm them, headphones have an IPX4 rating, which is relatively low compared to the competition.

A tiny rubber flap covers the USB-C charging port. Nonetheless, headphones can play music for almost 11 hours on a single charge, which is impressive.

9. Vidonn F1 Titanium

The sound quality isn’t impressing anyone, but they do an excellent job for budget headphones. Clarity is decent, with a good bass presence. Use earplugs for a fuller listening experience.

The frame is ergonomically designed and very flexible, thanks to the aluminum alloy backbone. They provide great comfort, even during more intense moments.

F1 earphones boast an IP55 weather-resistant ingress protection rating, protecting them from excessive sweating and dust.

With their 10 days of standby time and 6-hour battery life, they can last you for a full training session before checking the battery status. Sadly, they still use a Micro-USB cable for charging.

With the addition of the aptX Bluetooth codec, the latency is practically non-existing. On top of that, you get reliable Bluetooth connectivity.

A built-in microphone is clear enough for taking phone calls with good ambient noise reduction technology.

Honorable Mentions

TrueFree F1

AfterShokz Xtrainerz

9 Digital N1

Questions About Bone Conduction Headphones

Are Bone Conduction Headphones Safe?

Bone-conducting headphones are at least as safe as traditional headphones, if not more.

You bypass the eardrums and go straight to the internal ear. Consequently, you eliminate the possibility of damaging eardrums, causing infection by ear tips, and so on.

Also, because your outer ear is completely open to the air, you’re staying aware of your surroundings (no background noise isolation). You hear all sounds just like if you didn’t wear anything.

It’s maximum protection for street runners or other outdoor activities where you need to listen to the world around you.

And at the same time, you hear the music playing in your head loud and clear.

However, prolonged use can still make you hearing impaired, so you should use them at moderate volumes. Here’s a good explanation of hearing loss and how they test it.

Who is Bone Conduction Best Suited for?

Open-ear bone conduction headphones are for most people who can hear normally or have an eardrum-related hearing impairment (difficulties with detecting air conduction).

If you find regular earbuds uncomfortable, you might test these. The “earphones” don’t go into your ear canal or over your ear but just rest on the outer side of your skull.

Also, if you’re poor hearing and know your inner ear works normally (conductive hearing loss), bone-conduction headphones are a great choice because you’ll actually hear them.

Are Bone Conduction Headphones as Good as Regular Headphones?

They don’t have the same sound quality as conventional headphones and earphones.

On the other hand, in terms of build quality, comfort level, and snug fit, the bone conduction headphones are the same as normal, if not better.

You can find other headphones with bone conduction technology that are good-sounding but don’t expect any Hi-Fi models.

The main issue is that they lack bass, especially if you listen to them in a loud environment. Open ear design with conduction isn’t best suited for that.