Headphones have changed the way we interact with the world. They aren't perfect, though. Noise-cancelling technology is effective but shuts out everything around you. This makes them especially problematic if you need to maintain a safe distance from others while exercising.

Bone conduction headphones, on the other hand, use vibrations instead of audible sound waves to get your music into your ears, so you can still interact with the world around you. As you aren't inserting anything into your ears or covering them, they are generally more comfortable, too.

If you've been considering switching, these are the best bone conduction headphones available today.

Premium pick

1. AfterShokz Aeropex

9.20 / 10
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If you're after a high-performance set of bone conduction headphones, then you'll want to check out the AfterShokz Aeropex. This headset offers similar advantages to other devices in the company's range. However, each feature here is a slight upgrade on other models. For example, audio reproduction has been engineered to perform well at both low and high frequencies.

This is no mean feat as bone conduction sets often struggle with treble frequencies. The Aeropex also offers an eight-hour battery life. The redesigned charging port means faster charging, too; they can reach a full charge in just two hours. To further enhance the Aeropex's fitness credentials, they even come with a free sport belt for you to store your belongings while exercising.

The headset is IP67-rated for sweat and waterproofing. Due to this, they are the ideal companion for extreme weather conditions. There's even a moisture detection alert, so you don't damage the headphones while charging. Despite these improvements, the Aeropex clock in at less than 26 grams. You can even connect the Aeropex to two devices simultaneously.

Key Features
  • IP67-rated for water resistance
  • Eight-hour battery life
  • Lightweight design, weighing just 26g
Specifications
  • Brand: AfterShokz
  • Battery Life: 8 hours
  • Material: Titanium
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Noise Cancellation: No
Pros
  • Balanced audio profile with good treble and bass performance
  • Moisture detection alert
  • Connect to two devices simultaneously
Cons
  • On-device sound effects and beeps are disproportionately loud
  • Only marginal improvements compared to other AfterShokz models
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AfterShokz Aeropex
Editors choice

2. AfterShokz Titanium

0.00 / 10
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One of the most popular sets of bone conduction headphones are the AfterShokz Titanium. These are primarily aimed at active users as they even come with a set of reflective stickers for exercise in low-light. Bone conduction audio products lend themselves well to outdoor exercise as you must have an awareness of your surroundings.

To that end, the Titanium are IP55-rated for sweat resistance. The AfterShokz Titanium come equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 and are designed to wrap around your head, with the conduction points resting just alongside your ear. The company's Premium Pitch technology can be found here, too, ensuring that you get a full dynamic range of audio reproduction.

This set also has microphones built-in, so you can still take calls on the go. Two external mics also provide noise-cancellation, so the outside world doesn't interfere with the sound quality. This headset should last for up to six hours on a single charge.

Key Features
  • IP55-rated for water resistance
  • Six-hour battery life
  • External mics for noise cancellation
Specifications
  • Brand: AfterShokz
  • Battery Life: 6 hours
  • Material: Titanium
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Noise Cancellation: Yes
Pros
  • Comes with a set of reflective stickers for exercise in low-light
  • AfterShokz Premium Pitch technology
Cons
  • Headband takes some adjustment for a comfortable fit
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AfterShokz Titanium

Perhaps you want to try bone conduction technology. In this case, you may not want to spend large amounts on a device. If you're after a budget set, consider the Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones. Despite their low price, they are still feature-packed.

This set can last up to eight hours and uses a Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connection. The headphones are lightweight and are even IP65-rated for sweat and water resistance. There are physical controls on the conduction pads, too, for music selection. You can even make calls using the built-in mics.

With all of these features, they are great value for money. Tayogo even includes a one-year warranty with the headphones. However, don't expect superior audio quality from this set. That said, if you're on a budget and need a set of headphones for safe outdoor exercise, then this Tayogo set is an ideal choice.

Key Features
  • One-year warranty
  • Eight-hour battery life
  • IP65 rating for water resistance
Specifications
  • Brand: Tayogo
  • Battery Life: 6 hours
  • Material: Silicone
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Noise Cancellation: No
Pros
  • High-performance Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
  • Lightweight design
  • Good dynamic range
Cons
  • Audio quality is acceptable but not outstanding
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Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones

The Vidonn F1 Sports Headset has also been designed with exercise in mind. The IP55-rated device is protected against sweat and light rain for peace of mind while exercising outdoors. Most bone conduction headphones use a standard wrap-around design, and that can be found here, too.

The F1 Sports Headset are equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 for an efficient and reliable connection to your device. They take just two hours to charge and can last up to six hours, long enough for most fitness sessions. The 180mAh battery even ensures that the headphones can last 10 days on standby, too.

There are also onboard mics so you can take calls and interact with your chosen voice assistant. A single button on the right-hand conduction pad gives you easy access to music controls. The headset is lightweight as well, thanks to the titanium alloy design. Vidonn evens offer a 12-month warranty on for F1 Sports Headset.

Key Features
  • Six-hour battery life
  • Built-in mics for calls and voice assistants
Specifications
  • Brand: Vidonn
  • Battery Life: 6 hours
  • Material: Titanium alloy, ABS
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Noise Cancellation: No
Pros
  • Titanium alloy and ABS lightweight design
  • IP55-rated for water resistance
Cons
  • Not ideal for bass lovers
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Vidonn F1 Sports Headset

The Zulu Exero are an affordable set of bone conduction headphones. These aren't an entry-level option, though; they still come equipped with all the crucial features. The Exero weigh just one ounce. Thanks to this lightweight design, they'll provide hours of comfortable use. Unlike traditional over-ear headphones, the Exero are even suitable to wear alongside glasses.

The wrap-around set rests just near your ear so that the vibrations can be felt around your upper-cheek and ear bones. Like the other options we've discussed, the Zulu Exero also have six-hour battery life on a single charge. Recharging the set is easy, too, thanks to the included micro-USB charging cable. The headset uses a Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connection.

There are built-in microphones as well, so you can take calls or talk to your phone's voice assistant. When you need to mute the microphone, just press the button on the left conduction pad. This set is IPX5-rated for splash proofing and weigh just 0.96 ounces. The Zulu Exero are available in either black or grey editions.

Key Features
  • Six-hour battery life
  • IPX5-rated for water resistance
Specifications
  • Brand: Zulu
  • Battery Life: 6 hours
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Noise Cancellation: No
Pros
  • Incredibly lightweight at just one ounce
  • Built-in mic allows for phone calls and use of your smartphone's digital assistant
Cons
  • Some sound leakage
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Zulu Exero

The FINIS Duo is a set of bone-conducting headphones with an integrated MP3 player. The unit is IPX8-rated for water resistance at depths up to three meters for 30 minutes. Despite including a built-in MP3 player, the Duo is not significantly larger than any other set of bone-conducting headphones. This makes them the ideal choice for swimmers. Place the pads on pads on your cheeks, and the built-in battery offers up to seven hours of playback.

Although 4GB isn't a lot of storage by modern standards, it's enough to store almost 1,000 songs, and there's support for MP3 and WMA files, audiobooks, and podcasts. Transferring files to the player is reasonably straightforward and can be done on any Windows or macOS computer.

Key Features
  • MP3 player with 4GB of storage
  • Seven-hour battery life
  • IPX8-rated for water resistance
Specifications
  • Brand: FINIS
  • Battery Life: 7 hours
  • Bluetooth: No
  • Noise Cancellation: No
Pros
  • Supports MP3 and WMA files, audiobooks, and podcasts
  • Works with any Windows or macOS computer
Cons
  • Desktop software complicted and difficult to use
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The Pyle PSWBT550.5 are some of the best bone conduction headphones for outdoor exercise. The design is IPX6-rated for water resistance to weather some light rain and sweat without issue. The headphones connect wirelessly to your smartphone via Bluetooth, and there's even a built-in microphone so you can take calls.

The wrap-around headset has physical buttons to allow you to change the volume, skip tracks, start or pause playback, and accept or reject calls. You can keep tabs on the battery using the integrated LED indicator. When it's time to recharge the 200mAh battery, the magnetic charging cable ensures a correct connection. It'll take just four hours to recharge from empty, and that'll keep you going for around five hours.

Key Features
  • LED-based battery indicator
  • Five-hour battery life
Specifications
  • Brand: Pyle
  • Battery Life: 5 hours
  • Bluetooth: Yes
  • Noise Cancellation: No
Pros
  • Button-based controls on the side panel
  • IPX6-rated for water resistance
Cons
  • Recharging takes four hours
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Pyle PSWBT550.5

FAQ

Q: Are Bone Conduction Headphones Safer than Earbuds?

Regular headphones, in-ear headphones, and earbuds create a barrier between your ears and external sound. They transmit the sound directly into your ear, enabling you to hear your audio but preventing it from becoming (too much) of a disturbance to others. This intimate, personal experience is ideal for some situations but is less well-suited to outdoors or higher risk environments.

There are times when you need to be aware of what's going on around you, perhaps while cycling, out for a run, or when crossing the street. Using vibrations rather than sound waves to transmit the audio, bone conduction headphones leave your ears open for whatever's going on around you.

Q: Can You Wear Glasses with AfterShokz?

AfterShokz bone conduction headphones are some of the most well-known, but the wrap-around design and over-ear cheek placement may seem at odds with wearing glasses. Fortunately, this isn't the case. You can wear glasses with a set of AfterShokz headphones, although the company suggests experimenting with the order you put the headphones and glasses on and how you place the glasses on your ears and nose. With some adjustments, you should be able to find a perfect fit.

Q: Can You Swim with Bone Conduction Headphones?

Traditional headphones have electronics exposed inside the earbud or ear-cup. As a result, they aren't suitable for swimming. Bone-conducting headphones use vibrations instead, leaving no electronics exposed. As a result, they are better suited to swimming and can more easily be made waterproof. However, not every set of bone-conducting headphones is suitable for underwater use, so be sure to check the description and waterproof rating before deciding which set to buy.