It's summer and that means more time well spent outdoors, gathering with friends, and enjoying nature. Which means, you may be taking more long walks or running outside.
So, you may be in need of a new pair of headphones to compliment those nature walks or your daily run. And, that’s where bone conduction headphones come in.
There’s a lot of options on the market right now, with varying tech specs and functionality. How do you pick the best ones?
As an audiologist, I am often asked about different types of headphones and earbuds. Bone conduction can be a less intrusive way to experience audio while staying aware of your surroundings.
And, just how do these devices work? Simply put, bone conduction headphones use vibrations to conduct sound to your inner ear through your cheekbones instead of traditional earbuds that use speakers in your ear canal.
In this article, I'll shed light on the mechanics behind bone conduction headphones, what to look for when buying a pair, and my top picks for the best bone conduction headphones on the market so you can make an informed decision about which one should accompany all of your summer fun.
What are bone conduction headphones and how do they work?
Ever wonder how you can stay aware of the world while enjoying your favorite songs? That's a job for bone conduction headphones.
Bone conduction headphones use a technology that allows sound to be transmitted through vibrations that travel from your cheekbones to your inner ear.
Here’s how it works:
- Instead of blocking outside noise, this technology enables you to hear both your music and the world around you.
- The headphones are placed on your cheekbone directly in front of each ear.
- The vibrations then travel through your skull bones to the inner ear.
Note: As with any headphone, it's still important to listen at safe levels regardless of type.
What To Look For In A Pair Of Bone Conduction Headphones
Getting the right device is vital, but what features should you be on the lookout for?
First things first: Comfort is key. You want a set that sits securely and feels comfortable on your cheekbones.
Sound quality is also crucial, but the audio experience differs from traditional headphones since bone conduction provides environmental awareness. You'll appreciate great sound quality, but don't expect a bass-heavy experience with the open-ear design.
And here is when you’ll want to consider your lifestyle and preferences. For starters, look at these considerations:
- Consider battery life: Do you enjoy streaming music for hours at a time? Engage in long-distance running? Most bone conduction headphones last four to eight hours, and some offer recharge capabilities that are lightning-fast.
- Think about protection: This includes device protection like warranties and waterproofing. Some models are water resistant or waterproof, the latter being ideal for swimming.
- Charging and cables: Depending on the battery you want and functionality (i.e. waterproof), you might need speciality charging cables.
The Five Best Bone Conduction Headphones 👇
Ready to take your outdoor runs to greater heights? Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction Headphones may be just what you’re looking for.
This lightweight and water-resistant set is perfect for athletes, and offers strong sound quality with its PremiumPitch™ 2.0+ technology. Which means, you can enjoy your music while staying aware of your surrounding environment.
Shokz is one of the most popular, best-performing options among bone conduction headphones. Their models tend to be lightweight and comfortable, to boot.
- Good sound quality
- Open-ear design allows environmental awareness
- Flexible fit
- Comfortable to wear
- Volume is easy to adjust with your phone
- No app or equalizer function
- Fit accommodates most, but the two sizes won't work for all
- Without a headband, sound quality can fluctuate with movement
- Control buttons on the headphones take getting used to
Are you an athlete who wants both superior sound and eye-catching style? Then, consider the Bose Frames Tempo.
Wearing glasses and bone conduction headphones can be challenging, so that’s where this device is unique. With these one-of-a-kind audio sunglasses, you can easily hit the trails, run errands, or just lounge outdoors and simultaneously stream music and get UV ray protection.
Specially designed with Bose speakers in each temple with an aerodynamic nylon frame and soft silicone nose pads, so you can enjoy maximum performance regardless of terrain or lighting conditions.
The headphones also come with multi-colored interchangeable lenses so you can customize shades to match your style.
- Minimal to no sound leakage, enjoy music without disturbing others
- Lenses come in different color options
- Microphone in the right arm for noise reduction
- Battery life lasts only 3.5 hours
- Proprietary magnetic charging cable
These cutting-edge bone conduction headphones are athlete-friendly. The Mojo2 is designed to provide solid audio quality with a lightweight design in order to optimize a superior sound performance without sacrificing comfort.
The device offers high-quality audio that goes straight to your inner ear through your temporal bones, to provide an immersive listening experience. Mojawa is all in on bass sounds with faster bass response and intensity.
What else might make this product a good fit? The headphone employs touch-sensitive controls and a 150mAh lithium-ion battery that gives eight hours of usage. The battery charges rather fast—just five minutes of charging yields 50 minutes of wear time.
- A 5-minute quick charge gets 50 minutes of playtime
- Good bass sound quality for bone conduction
- Streamlined control buttons
- 30-day return policy
- Proprietary magnetic charging cable
- Volume beeps and 'Power On' sound is very loud
Do you enjoy life in the great outdoors? Take your sound with you—wherever and anywhere you go with Philips A6707 Bone Conduction Headphones.
This pair is both water-resistant and sweat-proof, making them ideal for any fitness activity like hiking, running, or cycling.
Additionally, they feature an open-ear form factor which enables you to stay aware of your surroundings while streaming music or podcasts. With their comfy neckband design, these headphones are designed to wear and stay put.
And as an extra safety measure, the neckband is equipped with a bright red LED light that can be controlled through the Philips Headphones app.
- Fairly comfortable fit
- Sweat-resistant
- Universal charging port
- LED safety lights for added safety on the road
- Audio quality is average
- Push buttons are not intuitive
Distractions, be gone. These headphones make it easy to stay connected during any activities like sports or just some self-care.
With a titanium headband and soft silicone to ensure comfort, this lightweight design seamlessly moves from activity to activity without compromising sound quality, comfort, or situational awareness. And the dual microphone technology, volume control buttons, re-wind track capability with triple-click, connection ability to two devices at once.
When your SuperQ3 inevitably runs out of power after six hours of continuous play or eight hours of talk time, plug in the standard USB-C charging cable and wait until that red indicator light turns blue—then you're good to go.
- Best budget bone conduction headphones
- Sweat and water resistant
- Durable titanium headband with soft silicone for comfort on the head
- Uses a universal charger (no proprietary charger), easy to replace
- Bulky compared to others
- Only 6 hours of battery life
- Bluetooth can be spotty underwater
- The charging port doesn't close well
- Fair to average sound quality, with less desirable call quality
Final Thoughts
Bone conduction headphones are the perfect tool to balance safety with music motivation.
Key Takeaways:
- Whether you're taking your run to a whole new level, upgrading your cycling ride, or just trying to stay safe while you exercise, these bone conduction headphones have top-notch features to immerse you in sound without being cut off from your surroundings.
- When selecting a pair, it's essential to consider factors such as comfort, battery life, and overall audio quality.
With this in mind, you can make an informed decision and find the perfect pair of bone conduction headphones to suit your needs.
