Fitness Experts Agree This Style of Headphones Is Best for Outdoor Workouts

“If you plan on running outdoors, around vehicles and people, bone conduction headphones are the way to go,” says ultra-marathon runner and endurance athlete David Kilgore. “Especially when you are running in cities or on busy streets.” Unlike normal over-the-ear headphones or in-ear earbuds, bone conduction headphones allow you to listen to your music without covering or needing to insert anything into your ear, totally bypassing the eardrum altogether. These headphones transmit sound and emit vibrations through the cheekbones and jaw and direct these vibrations directly towards the inner ear, or cochlea.

Safety is the main benefit. While developed in conjunction with hearing aids for the hearing impaired, these eventually made their way into fitness tech, as they offer an excellent way to stay aware of your surroundings. This can be paramount, especially for those who love running or cycling outdoors in busy city environments—this makes them great workout headphones. Bone conduction headphones are a notable choice for any activity where it’s important to be aware of your surroundings (or even swimming where water comes into play).

Another big bonus of using them would be for comfort. We’ve all been there: We realize we have been wearing our headphones or earbuds for too long, all too late, and our ears start to get sore. Bone conduction is a great way to minimize ear pain, as it sits over and in front of your ears (technically resting on your upper cheekbones).

No matter your sport or activity, on your hunt for the best bone conduction headphones, be sure to consider design elements, comfort, durability, waterproofing, sound quality, and long-lasting battery life. We’ve listened and heard the sweet sounds of success. Here are the six best bone conduction headphones for right here and right now.

What to Consider

How They Work

Since most conduction headphones wrap around your head and sit on your cheekbones, comfort and fit will be huge factors in deciding which pair you go with (which makes this a little more difficult to buy online). That’s why you’ll want to look for a lightweight design or perhaps a pair with an adjustable strap or band. To some degree, others may be able to hear what you are listening to, as there will inevitably be some sound leakage. Unless you are standing still right next to them, this is minimal and not significant. There can also be a tendency to increase the volume because the sound is produced differently, but be careful as doing so can negate the benefits and start to drown out background noise.

Wraparound vs. Open Ear

There are two main types of design elements when it comes to bone conduction headphones: wraparound headphones and open-ear earbuds. Both offer excellent ways to listen to your music or audiobooks while working out and ensuring you remain aware of your environmental surroundings. Here is how they slightly differ.

Bone Conduction Headphones

Wraparound headphones utilize a band that literally wraps around the back of your head and uses ear hooks that rest on top of the ears. They transmit vibrations through the bones of your upper cheekbones directly to your inner ear, completely bypassing your eardrums.

Open-Ear Headphones

Meanwhile, open-ear earbuds generally fit in your ear like traditional earbuds yet do not completely close off the ear canal. They use traditional speakers placed near the ear while leaving it open so you can still hear surrounding noises. They do not completely seal off your ear canals like traditional headphones.

Sound Quality

As is with any headphones you decide to buy, you’ll want to ensure the pair you grab fits the quality of sound you seek. Most times, this may have a direct correlation to price, but not always.

Fit and Comfort

The best bone conduction headphones are only as good as how often you wear them. You could buy the most expensive pair on the market, but if the fit and comfort don’t work for you, you’ll never wear them. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind regarding comfort and fit.

Adjustability

Most models come with either an adjustable band for varying head sizes or flexible materials.

Materials

Silicone and rubberized materials ensure comfortable flexibility. These are what you should look for.

Weight

Lightweight headphones ensure that even on your longest of runs, your ears won’t feel weighted down or become sore.

Battery Life

A main consideration when shopping for wireless headphones is how long their battery will last. If you plan on using them often, especially on long-duration runs, grab a pair with long battery life. Be sure to also take into consideration its average usage time, charging time, charging port, whether they have battery indication lights, and their charging portability (i.e., do they come with a charging case/stand?).

Functions

Each pair of headphones will have its own unique set of features that make them a great option for the right individual, just like any other type of tech. Almost all come with easy-to-use buttons or functionalities such as: Play, pause, skip (song), volume, etc. so you’re not reaching for your phone constantly.

Water/Sweat Resistance

This is crucial when running outdoors, as Mother Nature can change in a hurry. Let alone the dripping sweat coming from you, which will need to be considered. Look for a pair around IPX5 or above.

How We Selected

One thing for sure is that our Men’s Health editors, made up in part of certified trainers and quite a few running and triathlon athletes, love a good song to jam out to when we workout. That means we’re big into all the best tech, especially headphones and bone conduction headphones in particular. Starting with our own experiences and preferences, we consulted the experts in our vast fitness network, like David Kilgore, to help determine what things you should consider when you are shopping for a high-quality pair of bone conduction headphones. From here, we were able to get the proper expert suggestions for more products to test while assessing them for their functions, how they work, ease of use, and sound quality.

Below, we hand-selected our list of the best tested bone conduction headphones that will allow you to jam out while outdoors for improved safety, allowing you to make the most out of each and every one of your sessions.

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