Headphone manufacturers have spent copious amounts of time and money developing technology that isolates you from the outside world, but what if you want to stay aware of your surroundings? Whether you're a seasoned road runner listening for oncoming traffic or a hiker who wants to listen to both a podcast and rustling leaves, bone conduction and open-ear headphones let you enjoy your audio while maintaining some situational awareness.
Although bone conduction and open-ear headphones are distinct headphone types, they share key similarities. They leave your ears unsealed, allowing for more situational awareness and avoiding the 'plunger'-like sensation you get with in-ear models. Their open designs share similar sound characteristics, too: they both tend to lack bass, and some designs also roll off the treble. However, note that bone conduction models may not be for everyone, as their use of vibrations to produce sound can often be uncomfortable or jarring, especially at higher volumes. You can read more in our Bone Conduction article.
We've tested over 860 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best open-ear and best bone conduction headphones. Given that most people prefer to use these for running, cycling, and other exercise, you can also see our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones for working out and the best wireless earbuds for more options.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
-
Best Open-Ear Headphones
Sports And FitnessComfortStabilityBuild QualitySee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are the best open-ear headphones we've tested. These buds clip to your earlobe for a secure fit while you're on the move. This design delivers a comfortable, extremely stable listening experience, as the buds cling to your ears like sporty clip-on earrings, avoiding the in-ear fit many find uncomfortable. The downside is that they can cause some pressure on your outer ear, particularly during long runs. They boast a very solid build quality too, with an IPX4 rating to protect them against sudden rain showers.
As you'd expect from an open-fit design, you'll be able to hear everything around you, even while blasting motivational tunes. Just don't expect your music to feature much bass, as they struggle to reproduce thumpy club kicks and deep basslines. If you're more of a podcast fan, these will suit you perfectly, though, as the balanced mid-range renders the host's voice in plenty of detail. Plus, there's an immersive audio feature that adds extra dimensionality to your audio. Rounding out their feature set are 9 hours of battery life and a solid built-in mic, giving them some extra versatility for calls and conferencing.
-
Best Upper Mid-Range Bone Conduction Headphones
Sports And FitnessComfortStabilityBuild QualitySee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)If you don't quite have the budget for the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, consider the Shokz OpenRun 2 Pro Bone Conduction. These are the best bone conduction headphones we've tested. Building on the foundation of the Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone Conduction, the headphones use a combination of bone conduction and dynamic drivers (air conduction), reducing the potentially uncomfortable vibrations needed to produce louder volumes with pure bone conduction. One advantage they have over our top pick is comfort, as their lightweight silicone design makes them comfortable to wear on long runs, as the material adjusts to your body temperature. The IP55 rating indicates protection against dust and water damage, too.
As with our other picks, the design leaves your ear open, resulting in great awareness of your surroundings but also a lack of bass response. Their mid-range-centric sound makes them a great choice for podcasts, though there's always a chance ambient noise will mask your audio. They come equipped with nine hours of battery life, Bluetooth multi-device pairing, and a built-in mic that isn't bad. The companion app even comes with a 5-band graphic EQ, though it won't do much to overcome the headphones' inherent lack of bass and treble.
-
Best Mid-Range Bone Conduction Headphones
Sports And FitnessComfortStabilityBuild QualitySee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)Next up is another bone conduction headset, though this one eschews the additional dynamic drivers found in the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Bone Conduction in favor of a pure bone conduction design. The Suunto Wing is a sporty headset that boasts an IP67 rating and a titanium-alloy frame for durability in a wide range of environments. It's comfortable, too, though the vibrations from the bone-conduction drivers can cause some pressure on your ears over extended wear. As with other pure bone-conduction designs, this is especially true if you wear glasses, earrings, or other headgear, as the drivers can vibrate them, too.
They have a few features that help them stand out from the pack, especially for extreme endurance events, like ultramarathons. Their built-in power bank extends their 12-hour battery life by two additional charges. Plus, they come with integrated LED hazard lights so you can remain visible even in low-light conditions. While the built-in microphone's recording quality is okay, it does a much worse job of separating your voice from its background compared to the Shokz.
-
Best Budget Open-Ear Headphones
Sports And FitnessComfortStabilityBuild QualitySee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)If you're looking for open-ear buds that'll get the job done without breaking the bank, the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro are well worth a look. With their lightweight, clip-on design and excellent stability, they're a great choice for those who need to prioritize situational awareness without shelling out for the Suunto Wing. Their low cost comes with some trade-offs, though: the fit isn't as comfortable as the Suunto, and they're not as well-constructed. Still, the SoundPeats provide enough stability for brisk runs and vigorous pedaling, and they carry the same IPX4 rating for protection against water splashes.
As with other open-ear designs, the SoundPeats' sound profile lacks bass, but they also reproduce boosted high-mids that can make vocals sound a bit honky. This won't be much of an issue with audio content like podcasts, where the hosts' voices aren't competing with other sonic elements. While their built-in mic does an okay job of rendering your voice, and they feature Bluetooth multi-device pairing, these open-ears have an Achilles' heel: they barely last three hours on a single charge. Still, even this can be mitigated somewhat by keeping the volume low and dipping into the three extra charges provided by the carrying case.
-
Best Cheap Open-Ear Headphones
Sports And FitnessComfortStabilityBuild QualitySee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)The Anker Soundcore C30i are among the cheapest open-ear headphones you can buy right now. That said, the brand has established a reputation for offering great value for money, and these headphones are no exception. They sport a similar clip-on design to the SoundPeats PearlClip Pro, which provides excellent stability, even during higher-intensity activities like interval or speed work. However, the cuffs have a more rigid design compared to the SoundPeats, which may not be as comfortable for most people.
While they inevitably lack bass energy, they make up for it with flat mids and a balanced treble range, so the rhythm guitars and vocals in your favorite pop punk anthems cut through the mix, even if the kick drums don't. With over 14 hours of continuous battery life and two extra charges in the case, they're equipped for even the longest endurance events. Just don't expect too much of the built-in microphone, which introduces some distortion into your voice. That said, while it sounds worse than our other picks, it'll get the job done in a pinch.
-
Best Bone Conduction Headphones For Calls
Sports And FitnessComfortStabilityBuild QualitySee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)While most people gravitate towards bone conduction headsets for sports and fitness use, the situational awareness they provide can also be a huge asset in an office environment. The Shokz OpenMeet UC is a specialized headset that employs both bone conduction and air conduction drivers in its over-the-head fit, recalling classic communication headsets. It's not as stable as the wrap-around design of the Shokz OpenRun 2 Bone Conduction, but it features an ace up its sleeve: a dedicated boom microphone.
The microphone is easily the best of our picks in this article, rendering your voice with plenty of detail in the mid-range, where most voices lie. It can also effectively separate your voice from its backdrop: perfect for staying understandable while competing with other voices in a bullpen-style office. The comfortable fit and call-centric controls are further assets if you spend a lot of time in virtual meetings or pitching to clients. There's even a wireless dongle for non-Bluetooth wireless connectivity, though latency isn't particularly low.
If you need a headset with a dedicated mic that can also double as fitness gear, it's worth checking out the Shokz OpenComm2 2025. This bone conduction headset uses a more conventional neckband design for better stability. Its mic isn't quite as good as the OpenMeet, though, and the fit isn't as comfortable.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best open-ear headphones and bone conduction headsets for each price range. We factor in price (cheaper headphones beat pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are hard to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you want to do some extra research, here's a list of all our bone conduction and open-ear headphone reviews. Be careful not to get caught up in the details, especially sound-related ones, since our testing methodology may not always provide a full picture.