WIRED has named Shokz’s OpenSwim Pro its best overall bone conduction headphones, putting the $230 swim-ready neckband ahead of Shokz’s own OpenRun Pro 2 and rival models from Nank, Mojawa and Suunto.
The ranking is useful if you want workout audio without plugging your ears, which remains the central pitch of bone conduction gear. These headphones use vibrating units near the ear rather than a sealed earbud sitting in the canal. That keeps outside sound in play, a good thing on roads and trails, and a compromise if you expected closed-back headphone bass. Physics remains undefeated, annoyingly.
WIRED says the category has improved from earlier models that were uncomfortable and sounded poor. Its current picks emphasize audio quality, fit, water resistance, onboard music storage and physical controls, the stuff that matters once marketing copy has stopped yelling about “open” everything.
Shokz leads the list
The OpenSwim Pro gets WIRED’s top slot because it handles both Bluetooth streaming and local playback through a 32 GB music player. The headphones support MP3, M4A, WAV, APE and FLAC files, according to the listed specifications. WIRED says the model produces better-than-expected bass and warmth for open-ear audio, while staying clear enough for calls and spoken-word listening.
The OpenSwim Pro has an IP68 waterproof rating, a silicone and titanium neckband, two microphones and Bluetooth 5.4. Battery life is listed at up to nine hours when streaming over Bluetooth and six hours when playing stored music. Charging uses a proprietary cable, because apparently one cable standard was too generous.
WIRED’s runner-up is the $180 Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, described as Shokz’s flagship bone conduction model. It combines a bone conduction driver for mids and highs with an air conduction speaker intended to add bass. WIRED says that design makes the sound warmer than the previous version, though with some loss of clarity. It weighs 30.3 grams, comes in two sizes, uses USB-C charging and has an IP68 rating in WIRED’s specs.
Other category picks
Nank Runner Diver2 Pro: WIRED names this the best option for swimmers. It has Bluetooth, a built-in 32 GB music player, physical buttons and an IP69 rating. WIRED says Nank claims it can survive fresh or saltwater submersion to 10 meters for as long as five hours. Battery life is listed at up to 10 hours.
Mojawa Run Plus: WIRED’s glasses-wearer pick weighs 28.6 grams and uses a lightweight neckband design. The guide says it works well with glasses, offers four EQ modes through a companion app and includes 32 GB of storage, roughly enough for 8,000 songs. WIRED notes the touch controls can be unreliable in water under a swim cap.
Suunto Sonic: WIRED lists Suunto’s Sonic as its pick for phone calls. The model is shown at $79 from Amazon and Suunto, with Suunto’s listing marked down from $129.
WIRED also discloses that its editors choose featured products independently, while the publication may earn compensation from retailers or purchases made through its links. That does not invalidate the testing, but it is the part of gear coverage readers should keep in view before treating any ranked list as scripture.
This story draws on original reporting from WIRED.
