Words: Mike Blewitt Photos: Gerard Lagana
In early 2021 I was sent a pair of Shokz OpenRun (formerly Aftershokz Aeropex) headphones. They're a one-piece set of open-ear Bluetooth headphones that don't cover your ears, instead relying on bone conduction to hear the music you want to listen to, or a podcast or phone call. I really liked them and used them for riding, in my shed, in the garden, to take calls while driving and for Zoom calls and the like. I'd still be using them except they died in late 2022 – likely due to a lot of sweaty use in Queensland. I ended up buying myself a new pair in August as nothing else I was using proved to have a reliable fit while still allowing me to be aware of my surroundings. Soon after, I was sent the new Shokz OpenFit headphones. While it is still Bluetooth and has an open ear design (nothing in the ear cup) it is otherwise completely different.
A closer look
The OpenFit headphones use a design with a comfortable silicone hook that sits over your ear, while a small speaker (or driver) sits near the targus (look it up, I did it) and forms a small pocket of sound in your ear. They weigh just over 8g each so it's easy to forget them. Your ear is open, but you get good sound quality. The fit is the same as the Earshokz, but there is no magnetic support. They are very comfortable, but I didn't feel like they would be as secure, and I was worried about all the other things in that area – like sunglasses and seat belts. The Shokz OpenFit comes with a rechargeable charging case, which is enough for up to 28 hours of use. The case is palm-sized, so it's easy to carry on the go or even in a small trail bag for quick cash on a big day on the trails.
Pairing is easy, and you can download an app to allow you to customize the buttons. This is based on tap, long or short tap both left or right. You can also add bass boost, or treble boost, or customize the whole lot and save your EQ setup. There's a microphone for calls, like the OpenRun and all wireless Bluetooth headphones.
It is used
Not everyone will choose to use headphones while riding. I usually use them throughout the week, when my rides are usually 1-3 hours alone before work. I actually didn't use headphones when riding for years, until I tried the Earshots and the Shokz OpenRun. The latter has been my way of adding easy-to-use buttons to pause or skip tracks, make a call or adjust the volume. And as long as I wasn't running high volume, it was easy to notice what was going on around me. The loop on the back of my neck was a little annoying, but it definitely helped prevent losing part of the set.
While I was happy with the sounds with the OpenRun, the sound quality from the OpenFit needs to be used to be believed. The driver is 18x11mm, the largest unit size and larger than any earbuds. I'm not an audio engineer but that would undoubtedly affect the sound quality. I've found with smaller headphones you end up with a higher volume to hear better, but it certainly doesn't make the quality better. It's just noisy. I didn't have to do this with OpenFit, and I'm sure that's the best for my long-term listening.
While I find OpenRun's buttons easy to use, with only the occasional 'repeat last number' sound making me quickly fumble to cancel a call on my phone, OpenFit is completely different. I rarely had them respond at the first tap. I used the app to use a press and hold on either side to control the volume up or down, with a double tap on the right, or a play/pause on the left. There are other settings, but you are limited to four options. In general, the buttons weren't as secure as I'd hoped for a $289 set of headphones.
Although the OpenFit is very comfortable, I didn't feel comfortable with its security, always knowing that someone could slip up and get lost. That doesn't happen when I take my helmet off or put my sunglasses on or off, but it's always something I'm aware of every time I use them on my bike. The thing is, like my ride OpenRun is not their only use. I use them for phone calls while driving, and by all accounts the sound is pretty good for callers – less so when I pick up the phone while riding and start to descend, when the wind noise disables the microphone and I can't argue with the fact that I'm not working tirelessly on my laptop.
My music habits tend to revolve around a set of tracks or a playlist that rotates a lot until I'm done with it. During this testing period the Boiling Room set from Chase and Status was my go-to. I added Bass Boost through the app and was very impressed with the sound. I wouldn't know enough to find a use in the adjustment of the equalizer, but if you managed you can get the sound quality you wanted – in different types or uses, as you can save profiles.
I wasn't disappointed with the battery life, and I just put the units back in their charging station when I was done. I plug the case in to charge with the USB-C cable about once a week. The app will let you know what percentage of battery each headphone has and the status – so there's no need to guess.
The decision
I found the Shokz OpenFit to be very comfortable to wear, and easy to use in a set-it-and-forget-it fashion. Plug them in, set your playlist and go. I also find that they are great for calls, when I use my phone to receive calls, I turn them off and adjust the volume. Overall, I avoided using the units for any repairs as I found them to be duller than the OpenRun I bought in August. That said, the sound quality and comfort is better – so if I didn't need to change much, it would be the choice. And while I've never felt that OpenFit is as secure as OpenRun, it's also nowhere near as comfortable as OpenRun.
Throughout the week of riding I found myself reaching for OpenRun more often than OpenFit. But OpenFit is my choice for work and home use. Although I have both if I had to choose one I would go for the OpenFit based on sound quality, portability of the charging case, battery life and convenience. They ended up being more stable than I expected and had better sound quality than OpenRun. I wonder if people with small ears or long hair would feel the same way about the fit, considering it depends on how they fit.
Price: $289
From: shokz.com.au
Priority:
– Good sound quality and battery life
– Bass Boost!
– You are very relaxed
You miss:
– Buttons are hit or miss
– May not be safe for everyone
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