These Bone Conduction Headphones Are My Best Tech Upgrade of the Year.
Bone conduction headphones (BCH) have been around for a while, but I only started using them this year, and frankly, they’ve changed everything for me. They help me distract myself—usually with an audiobook—while I go about my daily activities, while also allowing me to communicate with my wife without constantly taking my headphones out. As a result, I’ve listened to more books than ever before this year, but beyond that accomplishment, I love that I can stay connected to my surroundings while listening to music, podcasts, TV shows, phone calls, or, yes, an audiobook. That’s why BCH is my 2025 tech upgrade.
Why I like Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Earlier this year, I reviewed the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 headphones , and I’m glad I did. I’d previously tested other models with BCH technology, but the OpenRun Pro 2 were on a whole new level. They use a hybrid of BCH and open-back technology, which directs low frequencies directly into your ears. This means they sound almost like regular headphones while maintaining the benefits of BCH technology (they don’t cover your ears, so you’re more aware of the world around you).
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No more lost headphones!
I used to use regular earbuds for work calls or household chores, often using only one earbud to avoid completely shutting out the world around me. Yes, most modern headphones have some kind of transparency mode, but I usually found it easier to simply remove one earbud than to remember how to turn it on and off. The downside was that I’d often leave the removed earbud somewhere in the house or lose it altogether. Furthermore, if I was listening to something in stereo, I was missing out on half the experience. Everything changed when I started using the OpenRun Pro 2 as my main headphones.
Convenient and functional
Unlike in-ear or over-ear headphones, which can become tiring after extended use, the OpenRun Pro 2 are so comfortable that I sometimes forget I’m wearing them. Their microphones are excellent, so I can use them for calls or virtual meetings without issue. Thanks to the hybrid audio model, I don’t experience the vibration sensation that tickled my ears with other BCH models. I love that I can have a full conversation with my wife while washing dishes or cooking, without having to worry about pausing or fiddling with the headphones. Best of all, they’re waterproof, so I can head straight to the shower after a run without missing a minute—or, more often, a chapter of my current book (you’d be surprised how many extra minutes of listening time you can accumulate over the course of a year by showering, not to mention washing dishes, walking the dog, and other daily chores). With these headphones, I look forward to breaking my audiobook listening record again in 2026.