Now I’ve messed around with quite a good handful of earbuds over the year. The ones I continue to reach for over and over have been from Shokz. Last year, I raced my first marathon, and every day training for it, I set out the door with the OpenRun Pro 2. Amazon happens to have them on sale at the moment. Right now, you can grab a set for 17% off. Normally sold for $180, this discount brings them down to just $150, saving your a good $30.
Situational Awareness
Shokz’ open-ear design delivers a surprisingly crisp and loud audio quality without blocking out the important sounds from my surrounding that I need to stay aware of.
It’s able to do this through bone conduction. Any elder millennial will remember those novelty lollipops that commercials would play for on Nickelodeon all through the 90s. You put the lollipop in your mouth and suddenly you can hear Britney Spears or the Baha Men or whoever else were were all listening to at the tail-end of the 20th century.
The Shokz Open Pro 2 work the same way, but instead of going through your teeth, the sound goes through your cheekbones. As audio plays, it vibrates your skull, transmitting the sound that way.
By going about it this way, Shokz is able to keep your ears open. Open to hear what’s happening around you which can be crucial when running. Cyclists, walkers, on coming traffic—all important sounds to hear when you’re out running on an active road.
Comfortable Listening
The headphones are built with a lightweight titanium wraparound frame, and rest securely around the ears—almost like a pair of sunglasses flipped backward. That flexible construction keeps pressure low while maintaining a snug fit. Even during demanding workouts—sprints, interval training, or long-distance runs—they stay put without shifting.
Reliability extends beyond fit. The frame feels durable yet barely noticeable after extended wear, making them suitable for both exercise sessions and everyday listening. There’s no constant adjusting or reseating. Personally, I like that they’re connected mainly because I always used to be paranoid I’d lose an earbud while running and have it roll down a sewer grate. No more sewer anxiety with these.
Battery performance is superb. Users can expect up to 10 hours of listening on a full charge, enough to power through a full day of training, commuting, or work. For tighter schedules, the quick-charge feature delivers about 90 minutes of playback from only five minutes plugged in. That short boost comes in handy on busy mornings when charging slips your mind.
Shokz also accommodates different head sizes with two variations. The standard model spans 20.7 cm, while the mini version trims the frame down by roughly 21 mm to 18.6 cm, offering a better fit for smaller heads. Both options are currently available at the discounted price of $150 and come in black, blue, silver, and orange.
