While discerning listeners will still want to pick up a pair of over-ear headphones or full in-ear wireless earbuds, bone-conduction headphones serve a unique need for anyone who wants to enjoy their favorite tunes without being cut off from the outside world. Even the best transparency modes available on standard headphones can’t match keeping your ears entirely open to what’s going on around you.
That’s where bone-conduction headphones come in. They have a unique look because they sit completely outside your ears, transmitting sounds through vibrations in your cheekbones rather than your eardrums. Those vibrations eventually reach the inner ear and make their way to your brain where they’re translated as normal audio.
While the sound quality can’t compare to traditional cans and in-ear buds, bone-conduction headphones still sound surprisingly good considering how they work, and the important thing is that you can hear everything else that’s going on around you, making them ideal for those who would prefer to avoid being hit by a bus during urban running workouts. The design also makes bone-conduction headphones well-suited for swimming, as long as you get a pair with an appropriate level of water resistance.
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Best overall
YouthWhisper SuperQ3
The YouthWhisper SuperQ3 open-ear bone conduction headphones allow you to keep an ear out on your surroundings while still enjoying quality audio. These wireless headphones connect via Bluetooth 5.2 and are flexible yet durable. The transducers produce pretty good quality sound and don’t rattle your skull with unnecessarily loud bass. The headphones are IP67-grade waterproof, so you can wear them in rain or shine. As a surprise extra for this price range, these headphones have ANC too!
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Premium pick
Shokz OpenRun Pro Headphones
The Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones are one of the best and healthiest headphones money can buy. These open-ear comfortable headphones transmit premium quality sound through your temporal bones, with rich details and thumping (but not damaging) bass. They connect via Bluetooth 5.1 to Android or Apple phones. The batteries last 10 hours on a full charge or 1.5 hours for a 5-minute charge. With IP55-grade water resistance, these wireless earphones can easily tackle sweat and light rain.
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Best value
Tayogo S2
The Tayogo S2 bone conduction headphones are built for workouts and heavy exercises with their durable, stay-put design. And like all bone-conduction headphones, they feature an open-ear design that lets you stay alert and aware of your surroundings. As far as features go, the headphones offer great Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and the headphones provide plenty of battery life (8 hours) for extended workouts.
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H2O Audio Sonar
True to its name, H2O makes a wide range of waterproof products, but the H2O Audio Sonar stand out for their swim-focused design. You’ll need to clip them onto your goggles as they lack ear clips or a neckband, but they deliver surprisingly good sound while listening underwater. Although you can pair them up with a smartwatch over Bluetooth, those signals don’t pass so well through the water, but a built-in MP3 player lets you store your swimming mix locally so you won’t need to worry about that too much.
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Suunto Sonic
The Suunto Sonic may be the best-designed bone conduction headphones we’ve yet seen. A titanium-reinforced neckband and grippy exterior ensure they stay in place during even the most rigorous workouts, yet they’re light and unobtrusive enough that you can almost forget you’re wearing them. Unfortunately, the IP55 rating means they’re for use on dry land only, and they’re also pure Bluetooth with no built-in storage, so you’ll need to bring your own audio player. However, with ten hours of battery life, you’ll probably run out of steam before they do, but
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H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport
As their “Tri” moniker suggests, H2O Audio’s Tri Multi-Sport headphones are built to handle a broad range of athletic activities, from swimming to biking and running. The lightweight and comfortable design means they won’t get in the way of your workouts, but they’ll also stay firmly put during all but the most extreme activities. A built-in MP3 player means you won’t have to rely on spotty Bluetooth connectivity once you hit the water, and they offer solid sound and six hours of battery life to carry your favorite pump mixes through to the end.
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Shokz OpenComm2
Tired of headphones keeping your ears covered and hot? Need more spatial awareness? Opt for the Shokz OpenComm2 bone conduction headphones. The obstruction-free design keeps your ears open to the air and environment, and the adjustable boom mic (CVC) has built-in DSP to filter out background noise, so you’re clearly heard. The battery gives 16 hours of talk time and 8 hours of listening. And with a connection of up to 90 feet, these headphones unleash you from your devices.
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Haylou PurFree
The Haylou PurFree bone conduction headphones have quality transducers with a directional bass-heavy sound that should enthuse the sportsperson in you. Their light 28g weight means you will almost not notice them. They have Bluetooth 5.2, which means you can hook up to two devices at once with the same pair of wireless headphones. Additionally, they are IP67-grade waterproof and can withstand sweat and light rain, with 8 hours of playtime.
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CelsusSound S800C
Among the newer bone-conduction headphone models, these certainly shine. They are IPX7-rated, making them great for outdoor exercise and commuting in any weather. Connected via multipoint Bluetooth 5.3, they are built for a sporty lifestyle. The big 230 mAh battery can last 10 hours on a single charge, and they support magnetic fast charging. Regarding fit, these flexible headphones can bend and twist to accommodate any neck size, and a silicone pad on each transducer keeps them soft, comfy, and sweat-free.
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Phillips A6606
$74 $79 Save $5
The Phillips A6606 bone conduction headphones are an admirable effort on that front, with stylish contemporary looks and a sturdy build. They also include safety lights firing backward, which you can control via their app, coming very handy during nighttime runs. And their IP67 waterproofing rating also protects you from sweat and light rain. The Phillips sound is always admirable, as here. The batteries are excellent with 9 hours of playtime; a 15-minute top-up gives you an hour.
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Naenka Runner Diver 2
The Naenka Runner Diver 2 bone conduction headphones offer accessible listening and comfortable, secure wear. They feature 32GB of storage, plenty to store your favorite songs and podcasts, and a long, 10-hour battery life for all-day listening without interruptions. These headphones are also water-resistant, so they are an easy choice for swimmers.
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Philips Go A7607
The Philips Go A7607 open-ear bone conduction Bluetooth headphones are excellent devices for various sports and activities, helping you streamline your workday with multipoint connectivity. The headphones are fantastic for runners and swimmers due to their secure fit (and IP66 rating), and they are even capable of crisp and clear calls on the go. This pair can last up to 9 hours on a single charge, providing a long listening experience.
Why bone-conduction headphones?
Instead of subjecting yourself to potential hearing damage by using earbuds and wireless headphones that direct sound right into your eardrums, consider bone-conduction headphones instead. They don’t put any pressure on your ear canals or plug them up either (take a look at whatever you’ve been using — they’re probably kind of gross).
While traditional headphones send sound waves via tiny speakers, aka drivers, bone conduction headphones do exactly what their name suggests. They conduct audio via transducers through the bones that sit in front of your ears, essentially the back of your cheekbones. By sending audio directly into your head, your ears remain completely open to hear the surrounding environment, which is ideal when you’re going for a jog in a busy neighborhood.
Advantages of bone conduction headphones
There are several benefits of using a pair of bone-conduction headphones. First, since they bypass the eardrum, they won’t damage your ears, even at high volumes. Also, the transducers leave your ear canal open, so you can freely hear outside noises, but they do not mix with the audio. It works just like hearing your own voice, which is perfect for working out in public spaces, where you have to be aware of other people and traffic.
Finally, they are an absolute boon if you have ear damage. If you cannot use earphones or headphones, bone-conduction headphones might be the alternative you’re looking for. As a bonus, you don’t have to worry about bothering anyone around you if you’re blasting your tunes, no matter where you get your music.
Issues with bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction headphones have some downsides. For one, the transducer technology has not developed enough to compete with speakers, so the audio quality will always be lower than a standard pair of wired earphones. Also, if you don’t like outside noise and want to suppress it, you’ll have to look elsewhere, as these are explicitly designed to let outside noise in.
While they help protect from ear damage, they aren’t foolproof. For example, if you crank up the volume of your bone-conduction headphones, they can still cause damage. Also, if you use them for extended periods, you may get vertigo, or your skin may develop rashes from the vibration. Additionally, the tech that goes into these headphones is power-hungry and drains the batteries quickly. So, bone conduction headphones generally don’t play more than a few hours for each charge.
Choosing the best bone conduction headphones
If you’re after the best overall bone-conduction headphones, consider the YouthWhisper Super Q3. They offer excellent and modern connectivity features, IP67 ingress protection that makes them waterproof, and even ANC (Active Noise Cancelation), making it great for listening to music wherever you are.
If you have a bit more to spend, the Shokz OpenRun Pro Headphones are a great choice. They are one of the best bone-conduction headphones sets that money can buy, and they support all smartphones. The headphones have great connectivity features, up to 10 hours of battery life, and even have an IP55 rating, making them usable in wet, dry, and dusty conditions. Whether you want to run out on a sandy beach or get caught in the rain, rest assured they will survive a beating and provide a fantastic listening experience.
However, suppose you just want something that works and gets the job done for not that much money. The Tayogo S2 might be the option you’ve been searching for. They’re one of the cheapest bone-conduction headphones on the market right now, offering Bluetooth 5.0 and a comfortable headband that fits all sizes. If all you need is cheap headphones that get the job done, it won’t get any more affordable than this.
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