The best bone conduction headphones 2024 | TechRadar

Ears-free listening with the best bone conduction headphones

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The best bone conduction headphones on the market will supply you with premium audio while you workout, all while helping you maintain awareness of your surroundings. Bone conduction headphones pipe audio directly into your skull, using vibrations to send music and podcasts into your eardrums. That might sound a bit gross, but the effects are profound and the benefits numerous, you can workout while listening to music without sacrificing your hearing.

That means runners, cyclists, and more can exercise on the streets while still being able to hear traffic and potential hazards. When you're not exercising, they can also be a great office companion, letting you enjoy music without cutting you off from your co-workers.

Bone conduction headphones are also ideal for swimming, and make for the best waterproof headphones on the market, excelling where closed headphones can often be extremely uncomfortable underwater.

We've tried and tested all of the main players on the market, including 2024's latest and greatest, the Shokz OpenSwim Pro.

Matt is TechRadar's Fitness, Wellbeing and Wearables Editor, which means he's an expert on workouts, sports headphones, and all things fitness tech. Matt's spent years covering the health and fitness beat, and he commissions a team of swim-happy writers to help curate this guide.

If you don’t have time to read our full list of the best bone conduction headphones, you can read the round-up below for a shortcut to the top options for your needs and budget.

Best overall

Best overall

The feature-rich H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport comes with both Bluetooth and an 8GB MP3 player, giving you plenty of options for streaming your tunes. Sound is rich and it's well-priced, too.

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Best value

Best value

The YouthWhisper SuperQ3 does plenty of things reasonably well, and it does it a super-low price of below $50. There's Bluetooth streaming, including during swims, decent sound and nice controls.

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Best premium

Best premium

The Shokz OpenSwim Pro feature onboard storage for MP3 playback of up to 8,000 songs. They're waterproof and can be used for swimming as well as exercise on land. Their elite design and comfortable fit make them our top premium pick.

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Best for running

Best for running

Small and light, with excellent sound quality and IP67 water-resistance, the Shokz OpenRun is the best option for most people. The newer Pro model offers superior specs, but costs more.

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Best for bass

Best for bass

Bone conduction headphones can sound tinny, but the Shokz OpenRun Pro has new bass transducers that deliver far richer sound than any other model we've tested. Pricey, but worth it.

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Best for battery

Best for battery life

The Suunto Wing may only have a four-hour battery life, but it comes with a charging dock which offers a further three hours with just 10 minutes of contact time.

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Best for calls

Best for calls

Aimed at the office rather than the gym, the OpenComm UC is incredibly lightweight - so you can wear it for hours at a time without getting sore ears. Mic quality is also far better than on most headsets.

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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best bone conduction headphones in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

Our expert review:

The H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport bone conduction headphones may be among the pricier options on our list, but they're certainly the best value of the bunch being more feature-rich than the others. Best for swimming as well as for land-based workouts, they come with its own MP3 player that stores 8GB's worth of music, which means that you don't have to rely on Bluetooth connectivity when you're in the water. Outside of the water, however, you still have that Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream any music or podcast you like.

During our testing, they've also proven to be great for listening in general – a little bass-heavy, but rich-sounding overall in all modes. Worn above water, both music and podcasts boast solid sound, regardless whether you're using Bluetooth or internal storage. Underwater, podcasts’ sound quality was just as good, but you lose some of the finer points from music tracks.

The button controls are a little finnicky, so do take time to master and memorize them. However, that's only a very minor inconvenience and doesn't take away from the fact that these are the best bone conduction headphones right now.

Read our full H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport review

Our expert review:

Quite a lot of newer bone conduction headphones brands are hesitant to promote theirs as swim-friendly simply because they do not have built-in MP3 players and Bluetooth doesn't work well underwater. But, we had a go at swimming with the YouthWhisper SuperQ3 headphones anyway, and were very surprised at how well it works as long as you keep your phone above water and your head close to the surface.

That's a compromise you'll have to make if you want to make sure you're not missing out on any phone calls during your swims. Of course, these are better suited for pool swims where you can keep your phone within range. The fit is great as well, ensuring they stay on during such swims.

The sound quality is good here, if a little tinny, and better for podcasts than for music. Wearing the included earplugs does improve things a little bit, but they kind of beat the main purpose of these headphones. As for the controls, they're easy to use even with wet hands.

Read our full YouthWhisper SuperQ3 review

Our expert review:

New for 2024, the Shokz OpenSwim Pro are some of the best bone conduction headphones we've tested this year. They're the beefier version of Shokz OpenSwim headphones, and come with Bluetooth connectivity for music streaming, alongside their existing support for MP3 playback. 32GB of onboard storage is enough for 8,000 songs, so you can swim without a phone in your vicinity.

They have IP68 waterproofing, which means they're rated for up to two hours at two meters of submersion, perfect for a quick triathlon or a pool session. Battery life is good for up to 9 hours of Bluetooth playback, or 6 hours of streaming music from the onboard storage. The only quirk here is that you'll need to own the music you want to play from your headphones, so if you rely on streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music, they might not be for you.

The over-ear design ensures comfortable fit for a range of ear shapes, and at just 27 grams you'll hardly notice them on your head. Sound is delivered via Shokz' PremiumPitch 2.0+, with clear audio and noise-cancelling to boot. Sadly, they miss out on the more recent Shokz ninth-gen bone conduction tech, but they're still absolutely brilliant in their field.

Read our full Shokz OpenSwim Pro review

Our expert review:

The Shokz OpenRun (originally called the AfterShokz Aeropex before the company rebranded itself in December 2021) is a flagship headset that offers an impressively small and light design, plus a slight step up in sound quality over rival bone conduction headphones.

They're 30% smaller and 13% lighter than the company's older Trekz Air headphones, and they have an IP67 water-resistance rating, so they're an excellent option for exercise and use in the rain. Despite their slender frame, they include two physical buttons to control volume, and the move to a proprietary charging setup helps them achieve that improved water-resistance rating. Dual noise-cancelling mics are available when you need to take calls, too.

On the sound front, Shokz has adjusted its approach to delivering audio to your ears to improve the bass performance and offer less vibration and sound leakage than the brand's other headphones. We found the improvements in bass and clarity to be noticeable, and with an improved eight hours of battery life and the same quick-charge support as the Trekz Air. The newer OpenRun Pro model does offer more superior specs, but the OpenRun are still some of the best bone conduction headphones around and a better value option for most people.

Read our full Shokz OpenRun review

Our expert review:

Usually, opting for bone conduction headphones means sacrificing clarity, but thanks to the Shokz OpenRun Pro that's no longer the case. These headphones contain a set of new bass transducers that deliver far richer sound than any other bone conduction headsets we've tested, which is a real advantage for activities like running, where a solid beat can drive you on. You can even tweak the EQ settings in the new Shokz app to optimize the sound for music or audiobooks.

Design-wise the OpenRun Pro are very similar to the original OpenRun (below), but Shokz has made a few thoughtful design tweaks, including repositioning the charging port, so it's now easier to access and increasing the size of the volume/power buttons. The headset is still light and comfortable to wear, and it stayed comfortable during testing, even during our longest training runs. Plus, the quick-charge function gives you an hour and a half of playtime on just a five-minute charge.

The only downside is that those new bass transducers sometime felt a little tickly against our cheekbones, but that's a minor gripe. The OpenRun Pro are the best bone conduction headphones you can buy right now, and they prove that opting for safety doesn't have to mean compromising on sound quality.

Read our full Shokz OpenRun Pro review

Our expert review:

Suunto Wing is the only set of bone conduction headphones on this list with a portable charging dock, which allows you to charge the headset on the move. That means while the Wing headset itself only has four hours of battery life, just ten minutes of contact with the dock extend the battery by a further three hours, offering the user a total of 30 hours before the dock has to be recharged.

It's a nifty system, and if you're using the Wing for runs and rides, you're unlikely ot be working out for longer than four hours at a time (and even if you are, you can pack the dock in a slender running or cycling backpack along with your energy gels and CamelBak). It allows for you to use the Wing headphones even across multi-day trail events, when charges are few and far between.

Otherwise, the Wing is well-constructed, via a combination of titanium and silicone, with a three-button control array and IP67 waterproof rating. While not fully swimproof, they're theoretically able to handle "short periods of submersion" and more than capable of being worn in heavy rain. The only downside is a relatively high price point compared to some of the older Shokz on the list.

Read our full Suunto Wing review

Our expert review:

Headsets are tiring when you spend all day making calls. So, when Shokz decided to put bone conduction technology in a productivity-minded headset, we were here for it. To start, at 33 grams, the OpenComm UC is incredibly lightweight. Since it weighs significantly less than traditional headsets, you won’t feel like you’re really wearing anything, even after hours of use. And, of course, your ears will be completely uncovered so they start to feel cramped or get sweaty.

We were also very impressed with the mic quality. While it wasn’t quite on par with holding a phone up to our face – a longer boom mic might have closed the gap – it’s still better than most headsets out there. Of course, you do have to pay a hefty price for OpenComm UC and the vibrations of bone conduction technology at higher volumes can feel unpleasant but we think it’s worth the cost. And, since you’ll most likely get it to make calls, keeping the volume at a reasonable level is easy.

Read our full Shokz OpenComm UC review

While we recommend bone conduction headphones for fitness folk who want to be more aware of their surroundings, they can also be useful in any scenario where you’d benefit from hearing a mix of your own music and any background noise, such as walking on a busy street or working at home while needing to listen out for family members or the doorbell.

But too much choice can feel like a burden, which is where we come in – because we've done the heavy-lifting (swimming, running and commuting) for you here.

What we're saying is, we've tested the best bone conduction headphones you can buy right now for training, trying to beat your 10k and more.

Right now there aren't as many bone conduction headphones to choose from as other types of wireless headphones. However, there are a few points to consider.

For example, if you’re thinking about investing in a pair of bone conduction headphones for use while exercising, then be sure to check the IP (ingress protection) rating, which will provide an indication of how well they will be able to fend off sweat and water.

What's more, those who will be using the headphones to take calls, but who don’t want interaction with their smartphone while doing so, should look for units with built-in controls and a microphone.

There's plenty more to consider, including the design, the fit and budget. Let's take a look at the top bone conduction headphones of 2022 to find out more.

All of the bone conduction headphones in this guide offer a decent audio performance, but you're never going to get the same sound quality as you would from a pair of in-ear headphones or over-ear headphones.

If you do want to stay aware of your surroundings without sacrificing audio quality, there are plenty of true wireless earbuds out there with transparency modes, which feeds in sound from the outside world to your ears.

Aside from the obvious benefits of being aware of your surroundings while working out, bone conduction headphones could be better for your hearing health than earbuds, over-ear, and on-ear headphones.

That's because they're not driving air directly to your ear drum, which can lead to damage if you listen to music at loud volumes.

While some other models might feel more comfortable to wear, the best-sounding Shokz headphones are the OpenRun Pro. As we mentioned in our guide above, these headphones contain a set of updated bass transducers that deliver far richer sound than any other bone conduction headsets we've tested. You can even adjust the sound profile in the Shokz app using the EQ settings to further tailor the audio to your liking.

We've tested dozens of bone conduction headphones over the years, which puts us in a great position to select our favorites for this guide.

We have reviewed every pair listed above. In each case, we give the product plenty of time to run before evaluating its sound quality across a variety of music genres, games, movies, and podcasts, from several sources, against known class leaders in the category. Sound quality is obviously a priority, but we understand bone conduction headphones aren't going to give the same listening experience as over-ear headphones or earbuds.

We also consider how comfortable it is to wear these headphones over extended periods, and how secure the fit is going to be, especially when exercising.

When it comes to additional features, we look at voice assistant integration, on-device touch controls, how comprehensive the companion app is and anything else that each set of bone conduction headphones provides.

We also evaluate those battery life claims to ensure we could give an accurate opinion on how long they will last in normal use. Ultimately, we want you to have a product you'll be over the moon with. We hope we help you achieve that.

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Matt is TechRadar's expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech. A former staffer at Men's Health, he holds a Master's Degree in journalism from Cardiff and has written for brands like Runner's World, Women's Health, Men's Fitness, LiveScience and Fit&Well on everything fitness tech, exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.

Matt's a keen runner, ex-kickboxer, not averse to the odd yoga flow, and insists everyone should stretch every morning. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them.

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