ActiveOutdoorsShokz OpenRun Pro 2 review: Smart bone conduction headphones with enhanced bassShokz’s headphones changed my opinion about running while listening to music, and now I struggle to go out without themWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)T3 VerdictThe Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes bone-conduction technology to the next level, delivering impressive sound quality with a noticeable bass boost while maintaining the open-ear design that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings. Its lightweight, comfortable fit, extended battery life, and improved sound customization make it a fantastic option for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who want a balance of immersive audio and safety during their workouts.Reasons to buy+Excellent ‘Dualpitch’ audio performance+Inbuilt intelligent volume optimisation and noise-cancelling tech+Safe to use on the street and during events+Long battery life++ Weather and sweatproof+Choice of headband sizeReasons to avoid-Changing EQ settings on the move is fiddly-No auto powerdown-Non-adjustable headbandWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveOutdoorsShokz OpenRun Pro 2 review: Smart bone conduction headphones with enhanced bassShokz’s headphones changed my opinion about running while listening to music, and now I struggle to go out without themWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)T3 VerdictThe Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes bone-conduction technology to the next level, delivering impressive sound quality with a noticeable bass boost while maintaining the open-ear design that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings. Its lightweight, comfortable fit, extended battery life, and improved sound customization make it a fantastic option for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who want a balance of immersive audio and safety during their workouts.Reasons to buy+Excellent ‘Dualpitch’ audio performance+Inbuilt intelligent volume optimisation and noise-cancelling tech+Safe to use on the street and during events+Long battery life++ Weather and sweatproof+Choice of headband sizeReasons to avoid-Changing EQ settings on the move is fiddly-No auto powerdown-Non-adjustable headbandWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Shokz’s headphones changed my opinion about running while listening to music, and now I struggle to go out without them
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)T3 VerdictThe Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes bone-conduction technology to the next level, delivering impressive sound quality with a noticeable bass boost while maintaining the open-ear design that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings. Its lightweight, comfortable fit, extended battery life, and improved sound customization make it a fantastic option for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who want a balance of immersive audio and safety during their workouts.Reasons to buy+Excellent ‘Dualpitch’ audio performance+Inbuilt intelligent volume optimisation and noise-cancelling tech+Safe to use on the street and during events+Long battery life++ Weather and sweatproof+Choice of headband sizeReasons to avoid-Changing EQ settings on the move is fiddly-No auto powerdown-Non-adjustable headband
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
T3 VerdictThe Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes bone-conduction technology to the next level, delivering impressive sound quality with a noticeable bass boost while maintaining the open-ear design that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings. Its lightweight, comfortable fit, extended battery life, and improved sound customization make it a fantastic option for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who want a balance of immersive audio and safety during their workouts.Reasons to buy+Excellent ‘Dualpitch’ audio performance+Inbuilt intelligent volume optimisation and noise-cancelling tech+Safe to use on the street and during events+Long battery life++ Weather and sweatproof+Choice of headband sizeReasons to avoid-Changing EQ settings on the move is fiddly-No auto powerdown-Non-adjustable headband
T3 VerdictThe Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes bone-conduction technology to the next level, delivering impressive sound quality with a noticeable bass boost while maintaining the open-ear design that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings. Its lightweight, comfortable fit, extended battery life, and improved sound customization make it a fantastic option for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who want a balance of immersive audio and safety during their workouts.
T3 Verdict
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 takes bone-conduction technology to the next level, delivering impressive sound quality with a noticeable bass boost while maintaining the open-ear design that allows you to stay aware of your surroundings. Its lightweight, comfortable fit, extended battery life, and improved sound customization make it a fantastic option for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who want a balance of immersive audio and safety during their workouts.
Reasons to buy+Excellent ‘Dualpitch’ audio performance+Inbuilt intelligent volume optimisation and noise-cancelling tech+Safe to use on the street and during events+Long battery life++ Weather and sweatproof+Choice of headband sizeReasons to avoid-Changing EQ settings on the move is fiddly-No auto powerdown-Non-adjustable headband
Reasons to buy+Excellent ‘Dualpitch’ audio performance+Inbuilt intelligent volume optimisation and noise-cancelling tech+Safe to use on the street and during events+Long battery life++ Weather and sweatproof+Choice of headband size
Excellent ‘Dualpitch’ audio performance
Inbuilt intelligent volume optimisation and noise-cancelling tech
Safe to use on the street and during events
Long battery life
- Weather and sweatproof
Choice of headband size
Reasons to avoid-Changing EQ settings on the move is fiddly-No auto powerdown-Non-adjustable headband
Changing EQ settings on the move is fiddly
No auto powerdown
Non-adjustable headband
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and featuresPerformanceVerdictAlso consider
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and featuresPerformanceVerdictAlso consider
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction Headphones deals
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First, an admission: I love music and I also listen to plenty of podcasts when I’m sat around at home or diving around the country, but I rarely wear headphones while running or riding, or doing any other outdoor activities in the wilds. I run on trails almost exclusively, avoiding tarmac wherever possible, because road running bores me to tears.
And one of the things I love about lacing up mytrail running shoesand going scampering along forest footpaths, hillside trails and coastal tracks is the twittering of woodland birds, the noise of the wind in the trees and the sound of the sea shoving pebbles around on my local beaches.
Suffice to say, when I was asked to review the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2s, I knew they would probably be among thebest running headphoneson the market, but I also thought it would take something pretty special to change my mind about running with headphones on. But test them I did, over the course of a couple of months. And this is what I discovered.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review
Price and availability
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones were launched in September 2024 and are available now in the UK for a recommended price of £169; in the United States they retail full price for US$179.99, and in Australia they cost A$319.
Specifications
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Design and features
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Things have moved fast over the last 10 years, and the OpenRun Pro 2 headphones utilise 9th-generation bone conduction technology. But that’s not all. Alongside the bone conduction speakers, this new model also features air-conduction speakers. The first supplies the mids and highs, while the latter brings the bass notes to the party, but in a carefully controlled way. This new set-up is called the Shokz DualPitch system, and the brand is billing it as a game changer in terms of sound quality.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
If you’re the kind of runner who wants to take phone calls while you’re out and about (which I’m definitely not, except in proper emergencies) then the OpenRun Pro 2 boasts dual microphones and noise-cancelling tech to deliver very clear call quality. You can answer calls with a single click of the multifunction button on the left ear loop, a feature that also lets you easily manage your music choices while you’re on the move.
And there are several more significant developments on the OpenRun Pro 2 that set it apart from the OpenRun Pro 1. While the original was rejuiced via a magnetic charging port, the new model has a USB-C charging port, which means you can restore it to full power much quicker. And once it is fully juiced, it will last longer, with a significant increase in the single-charge battery life from 10 to 12 hours.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Some adjustments have been made to the head harness as well, which is lighter than ever and is now available in a couple of colours (black or orange) and several sizes. An integrated Ni-Ti alloy memory wire has been introduced to enhance the grip and reduce movement while you are running, plus the ear hooks have been made extra ergonomic and a soft silicone finish improves the overall comfort level, especially for those with less hair on their head.
Performance
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Just like it’s predecessors, the OpenRun Pro 2 delivers high-definition sound via an open-ear system, allowing you to listen to music, immerse yourself in a podcast or take a call while you’re out running, without completely shutting you off from the rest of the world. With this kind of tech, you are much less likely to step out in front of a car halfway throughSweet Child of Mine.
Beyond that, this new model also intelligently optimises the volume range according to your surroundings, to improve your listening experience. I found that, with the volume set to the right level, not only could I avoid getting killed, I could also still hear sounds such as birdsong alongside whatever I was playing through the headphones. This was quite the revelation, and it made me much more likely to grab OpenRun Pro 2s when I setting off on all sorts of escapades.
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
The extra EQ modes are good for people who like to finetune their music, but personally I found it a bit fiddly to toggle through the options while wearing the headphones without accidentally turning the whole system off. For me, and I suspect most other runners, the ability to adjust levels is cool feature, but one that will go largely unused after the initial set-up - once you identify the mode that suits you, it’s rare you’re going to need to mess around with it while out running.
Much more useful is the multi-function button on the left ear loop, which lets you play or pause whatever you’re listening to, or to sip forwards or backwards through a playlist, or answer an incoming phone call.
The extra battery life the new model offers is also a huge bonus. This can make a massive difference, especially for ultrarunners (a group I’m tentatively putting myself in after a few recent adventures), who really need the extra boost some good tunes can provide when energy and morale is ebbing away, which is precisely when a weaker battery will be on its last legs.
This extra longevity is especially good because one of the frustrations I had with the new unit is that it doesn’t appear to automatically power down after a period of dormancy, or at least not very quickly, so the battery continues to drain even when you’re not listening to anything. That said, if you do forget to plug the unit in between runs, you can give the OpenRun Pro 2 a quick 5-minute charge, off the back of which it will deliver 2.5 hours of playback (which is undeniably impressive).
I found the OpenRun Pro 2 headphones very comfortable to wear. With the rear wire sitting slightly proud of the back of my head, I initially thought there would be a bit of bounce as I was running, especially when tackling tougher terrain, but the Ni-Ti alloy memory wire does its job really well, the ear hooks fit perfectly and the silicon finish is grippy without being abrasive, to the extent that it does genuinely feel like I’m barely wearing the unit at all.
I also enjoyed the reassurance the IP55 ingress rating supplied. Since they’re waterproof to a sufficient degree to deal with event the heaviest rain, it meant I was able to wear the headphones in any weather without worrying about them failing or getting damaged.
Verdict
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
(Image credit: Pat Kinsella)
Boasting a bunch of big improvements on the original model, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones last longer, feel more comfortable and perform much better than their predecessors, providing really high-quality audio to people on the move. Having not listened to music regularly while exercising outdoors for many years, I now find myself reaching for these headphones almost every time I run out the door, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. It is, however, a measure of the quality of the product.
Also consider
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction Headphones: Price Comparison
8 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
8 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
☆☆☆☆☆
$179.95View
$179.95View
$179.95View
$179.95View
$179.95
$179.95
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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