Shokz is one of essentially the most reliably fascinating firms I cowl, which is saying quite a bit. In its first iteration, it made bone conduction headphones, which performed soundwaves by means of your cranium, that have been so profoundly uncomfortable, we stated we’d fairly not put on headphones in any respect. Then 2022’s OpenRun Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) someway turned one in all my favourite pairs of workout headphones. They have been mild, safe, and surprisingly great-sounding, and allowed me to maintain an ear out for site visitors or youngsters whereas nonetheless listening to podcasts whereas biking or working within the backyard.

So I used to be immensely curious concerning the firm’s newest product. In a briefing, Shokz spokespeople famous that prospects wished comfy, all-day headphones that didn’t circle your neck and didn’t should be securely wedged, match, or heat-molded into your ear canal. Hence, the OpenFit are open-ear headphones that depend on “air conduction” expertise. They are tiny audio system that ship sound from instantly above your ear canal.

Do the earbuds work completely? No. But are these a number of the extra fascinating headphones I’ve ever tried? Yes, and in a crowded market, that’s quite a bit.

Hangers On

The OpenFit buds are available in a compact, palm-size case with an influence indicator mild and a USB-C charging port. Each bud is roofed with a tender silicone and has a slim ear hook, with a tiny weight on the backside to carry it in place. Each bud weighs 8.3 grams, or about 3 grams greater than my Beats Fit Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends). I didn’t discover the load distinction that a lot.

The headphones got here with directions on find out how to slide the buds into place, however I nonetheless needed to verify with Shokz instantly. It simply doesn’t look like this could work. You slide the headphone again and tuck the physique of the unit behind the tragus of your ear. (That’s the little nubbin that stands out and shields your ear canal, and, sure, I needed to search for what it’s referred to as.)

It works, however it simply doesn’t really feel that safe, particularly in case you’re not sitting quietly at your desk. It wasn’t till I attempted the OpenFit that I spotted that my ears actually are the coat hooks of my head. I tuck my lengthy hair behind them; I placed on sun shades each time I am going exterior and push them up on high of my head. With virtually each motion, I dislodged the OpenFits and needed to discover them in my hair or on the ground.

I additionally by chance pushed the buttons quite a bit. The buttons themselves are unreliable; typically they’re delicate sufficient that readjusting my hair can cease a track. Other occasions I can determinedly faucet “skip” a number of occasions at a stoplight with none end result in any way.

I attempted sporting them in one in all my favourite methods to make use of the OpenRun Pro, to hearken to music whereas biking to choose my youngsters up from college. But the mix of hair, sun shades, and bike helmet was an excessive amount of for the OpenFits. I spent the entire trip paralyzed in concern that I’d by chance faucet the testers out and crush them below my bike wheels, so after I acquired to my youngsters’ college I put them again into my pocket for the trip residence.

Wave Motion

I love the hubris of an organization that claims to have invented air conduction expertise. Most sound waves are performed by means of air—air is the medium that’s in between you and your audio system, in spite of everything—however making a speaker this tiny, that sounds this good, designed for use this near your ear, is definitely fairly a feat.