I run every day, and unless I’ve managed to convince someone else to run with me, I listen to audio during my runs. Usually I listen to podcasts, but I switch to music when some extra motivation is required during hard workouts and long runs.
Since I mainly run in built-up areas and occasionally on the road itself when there are no sidewalks, I have to stay aware of my surroundings, so for a long time I used the best bone conduction headphones to keep my ears clear while listening to audio.
However, I’ve recently made the switch to open buds, which I now consider the best running headphones for most people because they offer a better balance of sound quality and awareness than bone conduction buds, and more fit options.
My go-to options right now are the Shokz OpenDots 2 because of the convenient clip-on design, but there are lots of good open options, including the Shokz OpenDots Air and Nank Ultra as more affordable picks, and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for those who are happy to pay top dollar for the best possible sound quality from open buds.
A wider range of designs than bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction headphones tend to have a similar design, with earhooks connected by a band, which allows pads to rest securely on your cheekbones to deliver sound via vibrations.
It’s a good design that’s secure for running, but it’s not as convenient as using separate buds and it’s sometimes hard to position the earhooks around glasses and a running cap or headband.
Open buds come in a variety of designs, including separate earhooks like the Shokz OpenFit Pro and clip-on buds like the OpenDots 2, which is my preferred style.
You can clip the buds onto the side of your ear, so the top is free for glasses, and they stay in place securely during runs, in my experience, while being comfortable to wear throughout the day.
More awareness than in-ear buds
Open buds work by positioning a speaker near the ear canal rather than completely blocking it, which means you can still hear what’s going on around you.
While you don’t get quite as much awareness as you do wearing bone conduction buds, which leave the ear completely clear, I find it’s still easy to hear traffic and anything else you might need to know about while running. You can also use just one open bud at a time if you need more awareness.
You certainly get more awareness than in-ear headphones, and I also find open buds more comfortable to wear for long periods than in-ear options that you insert into the ear canal.
Better sound quality than bone conduction buds
The main drawback with bone conduction headphones is that the sound quality is merely OK, and they’re also sometimes not loud enough when you are in noisy environments.
Open headphones are a big improvement on both fronts. They offer fuller, richer sound with more bass in particular, and are also loud enough to hear even when running alongside busy roads in my experience.
While they’re not as impressive as in-ear buds with regards to sound and volume, I’ve found the best open headphones sound good enough to use as my main headphones for general use alongside running, with the only real drawback being that they aren’t ideal for travelling when I do prefer buds with active noise cancellation.
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