Bone conduction headphones sit in front of your ears instead of in them, so you hear music and your surroundings together. This page compares seven open ear picks on the things the listings actually state: battery life, water rating, weight and the ratings behind each one. Five are bone conduction headphones from Shokz and other brands, one is a swimming set, and one is an open ear earbud that suits people who want the open feel for less.
All the facts below come from each Amazon Australia listing, and every pick is rated 4.4 or higher.
Best overall: Shokz OpenRun
Best overall: the Shokz OpenRun, because it is the best rated bone conduction headphone here, with 4.6 stars from more than 20,000 ratings and 8 hours of playtime.
The OpenRun is the one to buy if you want a proven sports set. The listing describes an open ear design that rests in front of your ears, PremiumPitch 2.6+ sound, 8 hours of playtime and a quick 10 minute charge that adds 1.11 hours. It lists a noise cancelling mic with dual mics for calls, and says it is ideal for running, cycling, remote work, gaming and workouts. It holds 4.6 stars from 20,174 ratings.
It suits runners, gym goers and anyone on calls while they move. The honest catch: the rating is shared across the OpenRun range, and the listing gives the water rating as IP67 in the title and heading but IP73 in the bullet text, so confirm it on the page before you rely on it for heavy rain.
Best cheaper alternative: Soundcore V20i
Best cheaper alternative: the Soundcore V20i, because it is a true wireless open ear earbud that keeps your ears open at a lower cost, with 4.5 stars from more than 16,000 ratings.
The V20i is the pick for people who want the open ear feel without paying Shokz money. The listing describes four adjustable positions for a secure fit, 16mm drivers with titanium coated domes, BassUp technology, four mics with AI enhancement for calls and customisable lights that sync with the music. It holds 4.5 stars from 16,084 ratings.
It suits commuters, desk workers and casual listeners. The honest catch: it is an open ear earbud, not a bone conduction headphone, so the sound path is different, and the listing says it does not have active noise cancelling. The bullets give no water rating either.
Best value Shokz: Shokz OpenMove
Best value Shokz: the Shokz OpenMove, because it is the cheapest Shokz here and has the most ratings of any bone conduction headphone, with 23,901.
The OpenMove covers the basics well. The listing describes 7th generation bone conduction technology, PremiumPitch 2.0, Bluetooth 5.1, a weight of only 29g and 6 hours of playback with 10 days of standby. It lists an IP55 rating for sweat, rain and dust and says the lightweight design suits glasses wearers. It holds 4.4 stars from 23,901 ratings.
It suits commuters, dog walkers and office workers who want a Shokz without the sports extras. The honest catch: the battery is the shortest of the Shokz picks here, and IP55 is a lower water rating than the OpenRun.
Best premium: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Best premium: the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, because it adds 12 hours of battery, dual drivers and noise cancelling mics to the Shokz design.
The Pro 2 is the flagship. The listing describes Shokz DualPitch, a bone conduction and an air conduction speaker working together, ergonomic ear hooks on a unibody frame, wind resistant mics and 12 hours of playtime. A 5 minute quick charge gives 2.5 hours, and the USB C port takes the included cable or your own. It holds 4.4 stars from 12,659 ratings.
It suits long run and ride sessions and people who take a lot of calls outdoors. The honest catch: it is the most expensive bone conduction pick here and is rated 4.4 against 4.6 for the OpenRun. The bullets give no water rating.
Best budget: Bluetooth 6.0 Bone Conduction Headphones
Best budget: the Bluetooth 6.0 bone conduction headphones, because they offer an IP67 sweatproof rating, magnetic charging and 10 hours of playtime at the lowest price on this page, with more than 1,000 ratings.
This set from the lesser known brand Niecase packs a lot into a low price. The listing describes a weight of just 26g, a titanium alloy frame that works alongside glasses, Bluetooth 6.0 with dual device pairing, a 200mAh battery for up to 10 hours and a magnetic charging cable that fully charges it in about 2 hours. The box includes a silicone retaining strap and foam earplugs. It holds 4.4 stars from 1,088 ratings.
It suits first time buyers and anyone who wants to try bone conduction before spending more. The honest catch: Niecase is a lesser known brand with a fraction of the Shokz rating count, and the listing says it is not intended for swimming.
Best for swimming: IFECCO Swimming Headphones
Best for swimming: the IFECCO Swimming Headphones, because the listing sells them as swimming headphones with an IP68 rating and 32GB of built in MP3 storage.
The IFECCO is the only pick here with a swimming claim. The listing describes bone conduction technology, an IP68 rating, use underwater up to 3 metres and built in 32GB MP3 storage that you fill through a data cable. It says to switch to MP3 mode when swimming underwater. It also lists Bluetooth 5.4, dual mics, a weight of 29g and 6 hours of playback. It holds 4.4 stars from 217 ratings.
It suits lap swimmers and snorkellers who want music in the water. The honest catch: only 217 ratings so far, so the sample is thin, and swimming use means loading your music onto it first.
Best for smaller heads: Shokz OpenRun SE Mini
Best for smaller heads: the Shokz OpenRun SE Mini, because it is the Mini size of the OpenRun, with 8 hours of playtime.
The SE Mini carries the same feature list as the OpenRun: PremiumPitch 2.6+ sound, a quick 10 minute charge that adds 1.11 hours, a noise cancelling mic and an open ear design, in grey. The title gives 8 hours of playtime. It shows 4.6 stars from 20,174 ratings, the same figure as the OpenRun.
It suits anyone who finds a full size band loose or large. The honest catch: it shows the same pooled rating as the full size OpenRun and costs a little more, and the listing gives no head measurements, so only the Mini name tells you the size.
How to choose bone conduction headphones
Bone conduction or open ear earbuds
Bone conduction headphones rest in front of your ears, while open ear earbuds such as the Soundcore V20i sit at the ear and point sound in. Both keep your ears uncovered, and the listings for both describe staying connected to your surroundings. Choose bone conduction if the Shokz style band suits you, and open ear earbuds if you prefer a small bud. Our wireless earbuds guide covers standard in ear options.
Read the water rating
The picks here range from IP55 on the OpenMove to IP67 on the OpenRun and the Bluetooth 6.0 pair, and IP68 on the IFECCO. The listings describe IP55 as sweat, rain and dust, and IP67 as sweat, splashes and rain. Only the IFECCO listing gives underwater use, up to 3 metres, and the Bluetooth 6.0 listing says it is not intended for swimming.
Battery and charging
Playtime runs from 6 hours on the OpenMove and IFECCO to 8 on the OpenRun, 10 on the Bluetooth 6.0 pair and 12 on the OpenRun Pro 2. The OpenRun Pro 2 lists a 5 minute charge for 2.5 hours, and the OpenRun lists 10 minutes for 1.11 hours. The Bluetooth 6.0 pair charges through a magnetic cable in about 2 hours.
Weight and fit
The listings give 26g for the Bluetooth 6.0 pair and 29g for the OpenMove and IFECCO. The OpenMove and the Bluetooth 6.0 listings both say they work with glasses. The Soundcore V20i has four adjustable positions, and the OpenRun SE Mini is the Mini size if the full OpenRun is too large.
Calls and microphones
The OpenRun lists dual mics with a noise cancelling mic, the OpenRun Pro 2 lists wind resistant mics, the V20i lists four mics with AI enhancement and the IFECCO lists dual mics. If calls matter more than music, start with the OpenRun Pro 2 or the V20i. For a quieter alternative see our noise cancelling headphones guide.
Swimming needs its own set
Most bone conduction headphones are sold for sweat and rain, not laps. If you swim, look for a listing that states underwater use, as the IFECCO does, and plan to load music onto its memory. Our swimming goggles guide covers the other half of the kit.
Rating counts and shared ratings
The OpenRun and OpenRun SE Mini show the same 4.6 stars from 20,174 ratings, which means the rating is pooled across the OpenRun range. The IFECCO has 217 ratings and the Bluetooth 6.0 pair has 1,088, so treat their scores as early signs, not settled verdicts.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best bone conduction headphones in Australia?
The Shokz OpenRun is our top pick: it has 8 hours of playtime, an IP67 waterproof rating in the listing and 4.6 stars from 20,174 ratings. The OpenMove is the best value Shokz, and the OpenRun Pro 2 adds 12 hours of battery. All three are open ear designs.
What are the best budget bone conduction headphones?
The Bluetooth 6.0 bone conduction pair is our best budget pick, with an IP67 sweatproof rating, magnetic charging and 10 hours of playtime, rated 4.4 from 1,088 ratings. For a Shokz at a lower price, the OpenMove has 6 hours and IP55. The Soundcore V20i is cheaper again but is an open ear earbud.
Which bone conduction headphones are best for running?
The Shokz OpenRun is our pick for running: the listing says it is ideal for running and cycling, with IP67 water resistance and 8 hours of playtime. The OpenMove listing says it weighs only 29g and suits running in rain, and the OpenRun Pro 2 gives 12 hours for long sessions.
Are there bone conduction headphones for swimming?
The IFECCO Swimming Headphones are the swimming pick: the listing gives an IP68 rating, use underwater up to 3 metres and 32GB of built in MP3 storage. The listing says to switch to MP3 mode when swimming underwater. The Bluetooth 6.0 pair says it is not intended for swimming.
Which is better, open ear or bone conduction?
They suit different people. The Shokz OpenRun is a bone conduction headphone and the listing describes an open ear design built for workouts. The Soundcore V20i is a true wireless open ear earbud with four mics and 16mm drivers, so it suits calls and everyday listening. The V20i listing says it has no active noise cancelling.
Are bone conduction headphones waterproof?
Ratings differ by model. The Shokz OpenRun and the Bluetooth 6.0 pair are listed as IP67, the OpenMove as IP55 for sweat, rain and dust, and the IFECCO as IP68. The Soundcore V20i and OpenRun Pro 2 bullets give no IP rating, so check the full listing before you wear either in heavy rain.
Are bone conduction headphones any good in loud places?
The Bluetooth 6.0 pair includes foam earplugs, which the listing says you can wear to block outside noise and boost bass in loud environments. The OpenRun Pro 2 listing describes wind resistant mics for clear calls in windy conditions, and the OpenRun lists dual mics with a noise cancelling mic.
Which Shokz bone conduction headphones should I buy?
Buy the OpenRun for most people, the OpenMove if you want the cheapest Shokz here, the OpenRun Pro 2 if you want 12 hours and dual drivers, and the OpenRun SE Mini if you want the Mini size. The OpenRun and SE Mini show the same 4.6 stars from 20,174 ratings, shared across the range.
Are bone conduction headphones good or bad?
They are good for hearing your surroundings and less good at blocking noise. The Shokz OpenRun listing describes an open ear design that keeps you connected to your surroundings during workouts, and the Bluetooth 6.0 listing adds foam earplugs for loud environments, which shows the trade off. For sealed sound, choose standard in ear earbuds instead.
