The 6 Best Bone Conduction Headphones, Tested by Fitness Editors

A pretty easy, clear-cut winner to the best overall bone conduction headphones, this pair of Shokz was featured in our 2025 MH tech award winners. With a classic wraparound headphone design, Shokz’ flagship model delivers the best tech for a rich, immersive bass and crisp, crystal-clear highs—all 100% customizable through the companion mobile app.

“I’m putting in a lot of miles when I run, so comfort and battery life are the most important elements in my headphones,” says Kilgore. “This new pair from Shokz is undefeated in that regard, and I feel like the battery lasts forever.”

But where these headphones truly separate themselves from the pack is with the use of its DualPitch tech, which helps eliminate unwanted vibrations found in other brands. What you get is high-quality sound without unnecessary auditory feedback. With its lightweight, ergonomic design, 12 hours of battery life, quick charge capabilities, and an IPX5 water resistance rating, these are the perfect package.

Most high-end bone conduction headphones will run you well north of $100. This model from KualaLup costs a fifth of that while still giving you everything you would ever need. These run on the latest Bluetooth 5.3 tech, giving you a quick and seamless pairing, which is harder to find in cheaper models. They also stay paired to your device as well. The battery life is great, even on hour-plus long runs.

While they are indeed a robust build that can take ground impact, they can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable. When you get into a quick pace, they may slide around and give you a headache. Even so, for this price point, they provide a solid audio experience while you run.

For those who don’t like wraparound style headphones and would prefer a traditional earbud option, we’ve got you covered. Though not bone conduction per se, these open-ear earbuds work similarly, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings while listening to audio. This model cups the earlobes (kind of hanging off like jewelry, so to say), and pipes sound into the ear canals without sealing them off.

This open-ear design of these earbuds allows you to immerse yourself in your favorite tunes, podcasts, or audiobooks while maintaining environmental awareness. The 48-hour battery is perfect for travelers in standby mode, while this set gives you seven hours of in-use battery. While some find the fit to be off-putting, for those who get used to it, the Bose Ultras deliver a solid audio experience in earbuds.

The one reoccurring issue with most wraparound headphones is their comfort level, especially on long-distance runs. The Wing Headphones from Suunto are some of the comfiest on the market. These headphones are barely noticeable on your head at a featherweight of only 33 grams. The snug, hug-like fit ensures they stay put while in use without weighing down on your ears during extended use.

With 10 hours of listening plus an additional 20 hours with its charging stand, you get a total of 30 hours of battery life. But one of the coolest features is the multifunctional head movement controls. With a simple shake or nod of the head, you can answer phone calls or skip songs. While some find the sound to be less than ideal for this price, most testers were overwhelmingly happy with the quality and audio experience.

Yes, bone conduction headphones make excellent options for swimmers or triathletes. More than just sweat or waterproof, these headphones are the highest rated, IPX8, making them fully water immersible up to 12 feet deep. Basically, this makes them fully waterproof.

While that may sound enticing enough to make you want to buy them, they are also excellent for open water swimming, as they come with a built-in MP3 player with up to 8GB of storage, so you can swim away offshore, leaving your phone behind. A snug fit ensures they stay on your head even if the waters get a little rough. While the battery life is lacking, most feel that being able to use them without a device more than makes up for the lack of battery ability.

If you want an open-ear design that fits snugly over the ear with a sporty over-ear construction, the OpenFit Air is as good as it comes. The more secure over-ear design ensures it doesn’t weigh down on your lower ear, like the Bose above, while not blocking your ear canal like traditional earbuds. Thanks to its DirectPitch tech, they pump in your songs without blocking out environmental surroundings or ambient noises.

With soft silicone ear hooks, you can wear them for hours on end without hurting your ears, or giving you a headache. While its battery life is lacking and the buttons can be hard to use with sweaty hands, most feel these earbuds overwhelmingly outperform their small inconveniences.

What Do Dust and Water Resistance Ratings (IP Rating) Mean?

A headphone’s “IP” rating is its Ingress Protection rating. The rating can be read by each number, the first being its dust protection and the second being its water protection. A lot of the headphones above have an “X” as the first number. The X means there was no data collected on the dust protection. Sometimes it helps to know the dust protection, especially if you’re doing something like trail running.

The second number represents how waterproof the headphones are. Zero is the lowest on this scale while 9K is the highest (though you’re unlikely to see a 9K rating on headphones ever because this is only given to materials that can handle direct, high-temp, and high-pressure water).

So what’s a good number range to look for? We recommend anything between a four and six, but seven and higher would be a premium rating and capable of withstanding full water submersion. Most of what you will see are “IPX4”, which is solid, but if you’re really wanting a pair of headphones that are made to handle intense activity (or even swimming) then look for a second number of seven or above.