Shokz is probably best known for its bone conduction headphones, which are a popular choice among runners and cyclists and a fairly common sight on the roads and trails. The brand also makes a few different models of open-ear headphones in its OpenFit and OpenDots lineups. Whether bone conduction or open-ear, all of Shokz sports headphones share one thing in common: they’re specifically designed for situational awareness, so you can hear your audio and what’s going on around you.
I like listening to music or podcasts when I’m running or riding, but I don’t like being unable to hear oncoming vehicles or other trail users. I was really quite impressed with the open-ear speakers in the Oakley Meta Vanguard sunglasses I tested last year, and figured it would be nice to try some other standalone open-ear headphones. I’ve known of Shokz for years, but the bone conduction models have never really appealed to me. I heard good things about the OpenFit models, so I decided to give them a shot.
Shokz OpenFit 2+ Details
Shokz makes a few different OpenFit models, including the top-tier OpenFit Pro, the mid-range OpenFit 2 Series, and the budget-friendly OpenFit Air. The OpenFit models share the same general design but offer varying levels of audio quality and features that determine their respective price points. All the OpenFit models look quite similar, with a flexible ear hook and a small speaker that directs audio into your ear without completely blocking it.
The OpenFit 2 Series includes 2 models: the standard OpenFit 2 and the OpenFit 2+. They look identical, but the 2+ comes in a few more colors and steps up to Dolby Audio and wireless charging for a $20 bump in price — $179.95 vs. $199.95. According to Shokz, the OpenFit 2+ has Dynamic Audio with DualBoost Technology for crystal-clear mids and highs, with the OpenBass 2.0 algorithm delivering bold bass. Meanwhile, the Dolby Audio “creates a rich, expansive soundstage that surrounds you with lifelike audio.”
The OpenFit 2+ has a flexible ear hook that wraps around the back of the earlobe and holds on with light tension. Aside from the speaker and controls, the whole thing is coated in Shokz Ultra-Soft Silicone 2.0 for comfort and a no-slip grip. Each earbud weighed just 9.4 grams on my scale.
As mentioned above, the speaker nests on your ear, rather than in it. It directs the audio into your ear without blocking out external noise, so you can still hear what’s going on around you. Each earbud has a single physical button on its top side, and the control button functions can be customized through the Shokz app. There’s also a “touch” button on each earbud, though its function currently appears limited to using Siri or another voice assistant.
The Shokz app also has other functions, including changing EQ modes, Multipoint pairing, and microphone noise cancellation during calls. Additionally, the app is used for firmware updates and includes a Find My Earbuds feature to make your earbuds ping so you can track them down if you misplace them.
Charging and Battery Life
The OpenFit 2+ earbuds come with a charging case and a USB-C charging cord. Shokz claims up to 11 hours of battery life on a single charge, and up to 48 hours of total listening time with the charging case. They also claim that a quick 10-minute charge delivers 2 hours of battery life.
When placed in the charging case, the earbuds begin charging automatically from the case’s battery supply. Of course, when the case is plugged in, it charges the earbuds and the case, too. The OpenFit 2+ case also features Qi wireless charging, an upgrade over the standard OpenFit 2.
Using the OpenFit 2+
Getting started with the OpenFit 2+ was straightforward and as simple as pairing any other Bluetooth device. The Shokz app is not required to use the earbuds, but it’s useful if you want to customize your controls, set up multipoint pairing, or do firmware updates.
Fit and Comfort
Putting them on for the first time is also a no-brainer. The earbuds are left- and right-specific and marked as such, but it’s also pretty obvious which is which. The silicone ear hooks slide over and wrap around the back of the ear, and the earbud itself nests slightly in your ear. I’m not sure what I expected, but I’ve been very impressed with their comfort.
The earbuds themselves go nearly unnoticed on the ear. They make very light contact with my earlobe, but they don’t really exert any pressure. Compared to earbuds that go in the ear, which I typically find get more uncomfortable over time, these are barely even noticeable.
Likewise, the ear hooks are surprisingly unobtrusive; I’ve found them to be comfortable against my skin, and they don’t create pressure points or discomfort of any kind. Yet, the gentle wrapping force they exert keeps them more secure and stable than I expected. Whether trail running or riding rough mountain bike trails, they haven’t shifted around at all on my ears.
I initially assumed the ear hooks would conflict with the arms of sunglasses, but I was surprised to find that isn’t really an issue. The ear hooks just sort of push over the side and make room for the sunglass arms, which is ideal because I don’t run or ride without eye protection.
Controls
The button controls are well placed and easy to press both with bare hands or with bike gloves on. Customizing the controls to your preferences is easy through the app, but it’s a system that uses varying numbers of clicks for different functions. One click to play/pause (or answer a phone call), two clicks to advance the track, hold the right button to lower volume, etc. Of course, you can also control your audio through your device, too.
Sound Quality
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not an audiophile, but I do appreciate good sound, and I think I’ve used enough cheap headphones to tell the difference. In my opinion, the OpenFit 2+’s audio is fantastic. I won’t pretend to explain the technical jargon or the exact reasons why that is, because frankly, I don’t know.
All I can say is that it’s crisp and clear with rich, well-rounded sound. It seems very well balanced to my untrained ears, with no distortion or loss of detail. Even when they’re turned up very loud, the sound remains clear and avoids getting too tinny or muffled. That said, there isn’t much need to turn them up too loud anyway.
The speakers are well positioned, and they deliver the sound right straight down the barrel of your ear. I haven’t felt the need to turn them up very high at all. Assuming there isn’t much external noise, I can listen to my audio at very low volume and still feel immersed in sound. At the same time, I can still hear everything that’s going on around me. A vehicle approaching from behind, another rider or runner on the trail, someone talking to me, even me typing on the keyboard right now.
It’s actually very impressive to me how well you can hear the audio from the earbuds and hear external sounds at the same time. You’ve obviously got both sound sources to deal with, but neither seems to drown the other out, unless you turn them up really loud — and they get very loud if you want them to.
Which brings me to my only real complaint about the OpenFit 2+ and pretty much any other open-ear headphones. Wind interference. At lower speeds while trail running or climbing uphill on a mountain or gravel bike, this is not really an issue. Once speeds pick up, however, the sound of wind passing over the ears is pretty noticeable.
To be clear, it isn’t really any different than wind noise over the ears without earbuds in, but it’s perhaps a bit more noticeable given that there’s music or other audio it’s competing with. Still, in my experience, most in-ear earbuds aren’t immune to wind noise either, and you also can’t hear what’s going on around you. I think if you want both audio and situational awareness, the sound of the wind rushing by is pretty much unavoidable.
My Takeaway
Overall, I’ve been very impressed by the Shokz OpenFit 2+. Throughout my testing on trail runs and gravel and mountain bike rides, they’ve remained comfortable and surprisingly stable on my ears. They’re intuitive and easy to use, and the sound quality is fantastic in my opinion. Best of all, I can listen to my audio and hear what’s going on around me at the same time. That situational awareness makes listening to music on the road or trail feel much safer.
While they aren’t immune to wind noise, I think that’s just kind of the nature of the beast and something I’m willing to put up with if I want to listen to audio while I’m out recreating. If you like listening to music or other audio while you’re outdoors but want to remain aware of what’s going on around you, I think the OpenFit 2+ and Shokz’s other OpenFit models are worth checking out.
