Best bone conduction headphones: Top 10 tested
Bone conduction headphones: listen to music and take calls without anything in your ear canal. Which bone conduction headset is best? That depends on how you use it. Running, swimming, cycling, calls or online meetings? Each activity calls for a different model. And is Shokz a good brand, or should you choose another? We put them to the test!
In this article
- 1. Best bone conduction headphones
- 2. What are bone conduction headphones?
- 3. Test results
- 3.1 Best bone conduction headphones in our test
- 3.2 Best budget bone conduction headphones
- 3.3 Best bone conduction headphones for swimming
- 3.4 Best bone conduction headphones for running
- 3.5 Best bone conduction headphones for cycling
- 3.6 Best bone conduction headphones for bass
- 3.7 Best bone conduction headphones for calls/meetings
- 3.8 Best Shokz and AfterShokz headphones
- 3.9 Best bone conduction headphones for small heads
- 3.10 Best model under €100
- 4. All about bone conduction
Best bone conduction headphones 2026
These are the best bone conduction earbuds in our test:
- Shokz OpenRun Pro
(Best bone conduction headset in our test) - Xiaomi bone conduction
(Best budget model) - Shokz OpenSwimroduct
(Best bone conduction headphones for swimming) - Shokz OpenRun
(Best bone conduction headphones for running) - OpenRun Pro
(Best bone conduction headphones for cycling) - Shokz OpenRun Pro
(Best bone conduction headphones for bass) - Shokz OpenComm
(Best bone conduction headphones for Teams) - OpenRun Pro
(Best Shokz and AfterShokz headphones) - Shokz OpenRun Mini
(Best bone conduction headphones for small heads) -
Shokz OpenMove
(Best model under €100)
What is a bone conduction headset?
Bone conduction is a technology that sends sound as vibrations through your cheekbone (the bone above your cheek) to your eardrum. The name literally means headphones that conduct sound through bone.
So you don't hear sound through little speakers (earbuds) placed in your ear canal. Instead, you place this bone conduction headset on the bone above your cheek. Vibrations carry the sound to your eardrum, allowing you to hear it.
Cool and innovative! It does take some getting used to: you can hear something while there's nothing in your ear canal or ear.
Bone conduction at a glance:
In short: useful for some. Not ideal for others.
Bone conduction headphones test results
One thing stands out with bone conduction headsets: quality varies much more than with regular earbuds or headphones. The hardest part for manufacturers is adding bass to the sound, or rather, the vibrations.
Water resistance also varies widely. Want to swim or run with your bone conduction headphones? Then you can't just pick any model. Some can't handle water. Most can.
Will you mainly use them for meetings? Buy a model with a good microphone. Obvious, right? But trust me: the microphone is the first thing manufacturers cut corners on with these headphones. We noticed that ourselves. We recorded audio samples with the headphones.
Best bone conduction headphones tested in 2026
Right now, we think these are the best bone conduction headphones you can buy. We keep this list up to date. A price change or a new model could change the rankings.
1. Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Good bass | Good fit | Versatile
- Price: ~170
Photo copyright: eardopes.com
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
The first thing that stands out about the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 is the bass. You get more low end than with the other bone conduction headphones we tested.
You can't swim with these headphones because they're rated IPX55. That means they can handle sweat, but not being underwater.
But is that a deal breaker? No. As far as we're concerned, these are the best right now. They're also versatile, apart from not being suitable for swimming. They work well for online meetings, calls and running.
Best budget bone conduction headphones
First, let's be clear: this technology is relatively new. At least when it comes to consumer products. Want good quality from this type of headphones? You'll either need to pay a little more or do some thorough research.
We found huge differences in quality among budget bone conduction headphones under €100.
In the end, we found 2 or 3 models under €50 that were good enough. But the model below is our top pick in this category.
2. Xiaomi bone conduction earbuds
Affordable | Decent sound | Decent mic
- Price: ~30
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
Xiaomi is a huge Chinese brand. They often make products like earbuds, and now bone conduction headphones, together with another brand. Take QCY earbuds, for example. Xiaomi works with QCY on those.
These are pretty much the only bone conduction headphones we like in this price range. They're not up there with the best Shokz models, but they're decent. The sound is good enough, the mic is good enough and the fit is good.
The fit is actually better than many other models because they're much lighter. There are fewer bells and whistles, and the technology is more straightforward. That makes them much lighter and easier to wear.
Best bone conduction headphones for swimming
We've often been asked which earbuds you can swim with. And the answer was usually pretty simple: you can't.
But bone conduction changes things when it comes to swimming with music or podcasts in your ears. And it really works.
In fact, some bone conduction earbuds are made specifically for swimming. But don't just buy any pair and jump in. Models designed for swimming have a few features that make them suitable:
- Waterproof (IP68)
- Memory card slot or built-in storage
Waterproof needs no explanation. But I'm mentioning it because people often assume you can swim with all bone conduction headphones.
The memory card matters. You can't take your phone swimming with you, or leave your phone or another device, such as a laptop, beside the pool. So you need to load songs onto a memory card beforehand. Better models have built-in storage, which is one less thing to worry about. For us, built-in storage is a requirement to make this list.
3. Shokz OpenSwim
IP68 (100% waterproof) | For swimming | 4 gb storage
- Price: ~160
Suitable for: 🌊 🏊♀️🏃♀️
How wild is it that this technology lets you listen to music while swimming? We think it's quite a breakthrough!
You'd expect a headset to fall off your head into the pool while swimming, or worse, into the sea. And with an average headset, it probably would. But the Shokz OpenSwim stay firmly in place.
So you can comfortably listen to music while swimming. But how, without your phone? These bone conduction headphones have 4 gb of storage for around 1200 songs. Essentially, they're an mp3 player. You can download songs, which is very easy to do from YouTube. Just search Google for something like "download YouTube audio."
All in all, a really cool option for any swimmer.
Best bone conduction headphones for running
Running with music: a perfect combination. You probably already know our test of the best earbuds for running. But we often heard comments like "running with earbuds isn't safe" and "have you tried bone conduction yet?"
We listened to that feedback. We bought more than 20 pairs and tested them all. And some bone conduction headsets really are well suited to running.
4. Shokz OpenRun
For running | Good sound | Good fit
- Price: ~120
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
The OpenRun from Shokz are made specifically for running. Shokz is the leading brand for this type of headphones. You can also connect them to your Garmin or another sports watch.
By the way, Shokz is the same brand as AfterShokz. The name changed to Shokz in 2016, but the products stayed the same.
The OpenRun are ideal for running. The OpenRun Pro might be even better, but they also cost a bit more.
The fit is excellent, the sound is good, they can handle sweat and rain, and the battery lasts a long time. These are very good bone conduction headphones.
Best bone conduction headphones for cycling
Cycling is a great sport. But with high speeds and limited protection, it can also be dangerous. Hearing your surroundings can save your life. A tire starting to skid, an engine revving, a car door opening: all sounds that could save you.
But with earbuds in, you hear nothing. It does depend a little on which earbuds you're wearing. Semi-in-ear earbuds (also simply called earbuds) let in a little more sound than in-ear earbuds. But both are dangerous.
And, you guessed it, bone conduction is a very good technology to use while cycling. The benefits are clear:
- You hear your music
- You also hear your surroundings because your ear canal stays completely open
5. OpenRun Pro
Fit under a helmet and glasses | Controls underneath for easy access
- Price: ~170
Suitable for: 🚴♀️🏃♀️🎤
We've already mentioned the OpenRun Pro in this article. That's simply because they're such a strong choice.
Best bone conduction headphones for bass
One downside of bone conduction is less bass. So if you're a true audiophile, don't choose bone conduction.
But if you want the best possible sound and a reasonable amount of low end, make sure you buy the right bone conduction headphones. Which ones? You'll find the answer below at number 7. Scroll down a little if you're curious.
Did you know that the main reason bass disappears is a "leak" in the way sound is transferred? Try putting an in-ear earbud in your ear without a proper fit. What's the first thing to disappear? That's right: the bass.
With bone conduction, your entire ear canal stays open. There's nothing in your ear, just something pressing against your cheekbone. So your ear canal is one big bass leak, because those frequencies are the first to escape. Manufacturers try to compensate for that through the vibrations of their bone conduction headphones. Shokz, there they are again, does this best.
Interestingly, if you put a finger in your ear while using them, you suddenly hear a lot more bass. That's because the low frequencies can no longer escape.
Many models can't deliver bass at all. But a few can.
6. OpenRun Pro
Better bass than the previous model | Comfortable fit | Top Shokz model
- Price: ~180
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
Bass and bone conduction aren't friends. But Shokz is the first to manage to add more bass to these headphones. The biggest difference between the OpenRun Pro and their predecessor, the OpenRun, is the bass.
With this headset, Shokz focused mainly on low frequencies, or rather, vibrations. And it worked. The OpenRun Pro give you a much better music experience than other models on the market. But is it enough for an audiophile? No. You're better off with wired earbuds or wireless earbuds.
All in all, a very good option if you want bone conduction headphones with a little more bass.
Best bone conduction headphones for calls/meetings
When you're on a call with earbuds, it can be really annoying not to hear your own voice. Here's another situation where hearing your surroundings is useful. During online meetings and calls, you want to hear yourself. Otherwise, talking is almost impossible.
That makes bone conduction perfect for Teams, Skype, Zoom and other online meetings. You can:
- Hear your coworkers, which isn't always ideal either :D
- Hear your own voice
- Hear what's happening around you at home
7. Shokz OpenComm
Perfect for Teams & Zoom | Also for calls | Excellent microphone
- Price: 160
Suitable for: 🎤
This bone conduction headset for Teams and Zoom online meetings is a real workhorse. Why? Because it has:
- -An excellent microphone
- -NFC
- -Multipoint
Let's start with that last feature. You're not limited to connecting this headset to 1 device, such as a laptop. You can connect it to 2 or more devices. Is that useful? Yes! Connect the headset to your phone and laptop at the same time.
Say you're listening to music on your laptop and your phone rings. Just answer the call and the headset switches to your phone. No manual device switching. No hassle. That makes this model a true office champ. And yes, I just came up with that title.
With NFC, just tap the headset against the device you want to connect to. Easy.
Best Shokz and AfterShokz headphones
Shokz or AfterShokz? We asked the same question. And we've since answered it.
Shokz is the leading name in bone conduction earbuds. You really can't go wrong with any Shokz model.
They offer:
- The best fit
- The best "sound" (vibrations)
- Good microphones
- Something for everyone
By that last point, we mean Shokz understands exactly who benefits from bone conduction technology. They've made a specific model for each group. Think:
🌊 Swimming
🏃♀️ Running
🎤 Online meetings
Now you know why we keep using those three icons next to products in this review. Suitable for running? Then we add 🏃♀️ next to that model.
8. OpenRun Pro
Very good sound | Good microphone | Good fit
- Price: ~170
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
Of all the Shokz models, the OpenRun Pro are the best option. They have the best sound, but they're also the most expensive so far. They work well for calls and exercise.
Shokz leads the way in bone conduction technology, and that deserves credit. They keep innovating and are putting this technology on the map almost single-handedly. That's something we should reward as consumers.
Best bone conduction headphones for small heads
The neckband on bone conduction headphones isn't adjustable. So if you have a small head or neck, the headphones may not fit properly.
That's why some models are designed specifically for a smaller fit. They have a shorter neckband that sits closer to your neck. It sticks out less, which is more comfortable, especially during exercise. Women often find that the neckband sticks out too far.
When you sit in a chair or lie on the couch with these headphones, the neckband can push the whole headset forward against your cheekbones. Then they no longer fit properly. So if you have a small neck or head, choosing a model with a shorter neckband is essential.
So far, Shokz is the only brand we've seen release a dedicated smaller version. But Asian brands often have a somewhat shorter neckband too. Xiaomi, for example.
9. Shokz OpenRun Mini
Shorter neckband | From Shokz | Good sound
- Price: ~120
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
These OpenRun have a shorter band behind your neck. Perfect if your head or neck is on the smaller side. Apparently, you weren't the only one who found AfterShokz or Shokz headphones too small, because the brand has made an entirely new model for people who need a smaller fit.
Under the hood, this model is identical to the regular OpenRun. In short: a good mic, clear sound and now a smaller fit too. Nice!
Best bone conduction headphones under €100
Can you buy bone conduction headphones for under €100? Yes, you can.
We've already mentioned the best budget model above. But here, we want to focus on the €60 to €100 range.
10. Shokz OpenMove
Good price | From Shokz | Good sound | Several fun colors
- Price: ~90
Suitable for: 🏃♀️🎤
The OpenMove cost a bit less than the newer OpenRun Pro. But they're a very good model, with good sound and a good mic.
This is a slightly older Shokz model, but the attractive price made it worth including in this test.
- Those were the 10 best bone conduction earbuds in our test. Find out more below, or head back up to the top 10.
All about bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction is a fairly new technology. Many brands are entering this market, often in a rush. There are only a few brands we consider truly good enough. Those offer the quality you need for running or swimming. Keep in mind that if you're buying them for a specific activity, such as running, swimming, cycling or online meetings, you'll need a model designed for that purpose.
How does bone conduction work?
Bone conduction headphones send vibrations against your cheekbones. Those vibrations travel through the bone toward your eardrum, letting you hear sound. So they don't work like traditional earbuds, which use a speaker to create vibrations in the air. The sound, itself a vibration picked up by your eardrum, reaches your eardrum through your cheekbone. Your ear canal stays completely open during use. It's quite a strange sensation.
Bone conduction has been around for about 20 years. Not for consumers, but mainly for the US military. Being able to hear their surroundings while working was ideal for them. Sound can be one of the first signs of danger. In other words, hearing something early can save your life. But communicating through headsets was also essential. Bone conduction headphones were an ideal compromise between those 2 needs.
Is bone conduction safe?
Bone conduction is safe. It has passed all safety tests, and if you buy your headset from a Dutch online shop, it will have all the certifications.
You could also argue that this technology is safer than the alternatives. Cycling or running with earbuds can be dangerous because you can't hear your surroundings. Some traffic accidents could have been prevented if someone hadn't been wearing earbuds and could hear what was happening around them.
Can bone conduction damage your hearing?
Just like earbuds, headphones or speakers, bone conduction can damage your hearing. So keep the volume at a normal level.
Remember: to your eardrum, it makes no difference how the sound gets there.
Think of a case of beer. If you drink it all in one evening, it's harmful. Whether that case arrived by moped or car doesn't matter.
Yes, that's a ridiculous comparison. But my point is this: eardrum damage always comes from excessive vibrations. How those vibrations are transmitted doesn't matter. Just make sure you don't turn the volume up too high, exactly as you should with earbuds.
What are the best bone conduction headphones?
Right now, the best bone conduction earbuds are the Shokz OpenRun Pro. They cost a little more, but they're the only ones with good sound, a good fit and a good microphone.
You can't really go wrong with any Shokz model. And let me be clear: this article is not sponsored by Shokz or any other brand. We bought every pair as regular consumers. That lets us stay 100% objective.
Others also viewed:
- Check out the 3 best earbuds for running
- Browse all our blog posts about wireless earbuds
- These are the best earbuds under €50
- These are the earbuds with the best microphone
