Running & Cycling · The rankings
Best open-ear headphones for running: ten pairs that stay on, take the rain and let the traffic through
Running is the sport open-ear was built for: a road shoulder needs your ears, a downpour needs a rating, and a stride needs something that can't bounce loose. Neckbands, hooks and clips, ranked for the road.
By Mike M.Updated Spec-checked, not worn by us
#adReader-supported: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never decides a ranking. How we rank · Disclosure
Quick picks
The rankings at a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 The bone conduction pick for most people: the neckband stays put through anything, 12 hours of battery, and Shokz's DualPitch driver adds an air-conduction unit for bass the older models can't make. | Best for running overallBone conduction (neckband) | 8.5 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 2 | Shokz OpenRun Air 2 Lighter and better sealed than the Pro 2 (26.4 g, IP67) with 10 hours of battery and Bluetooth 6.0; you trade the Pro 2's bass driver for a frame you can rinse off. | Best in the rainBone conduction (neckband) | 8.7 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 3 |  Shokz OpenFit 2 The open-ear pick for most people: 11 hours per charge, IP55 buds, a physical button plus touch, and Shokz's DualBoost dual-driver sound. The hook fit is the reference the others get compared to. | Best-sounding for runnersOpen-ear hook | 8.3 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 4 | Suunto Wing 2 The cyclist's bone conduction set: IP66, 12 hours plus a 24-hour power bank, LED safety lights that react to your cadence, and head-movement controls so you never take a hand off the bars. | Best for dark roadsBone conduction (neckband) | 8.3 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 5 | Soundcore AeroFit 2 A four-position adjustable hook, IP55, 10 hours per charge and LDAC, for less than the Shokz OpenFit 2. The adjustable hinge is why it fits more ears than a fixed hook. | Best adjustable hookOpen-ear hook | 8.4 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 6 |  Shokz OpenDots 2 The clip-on with a real sweat rating: IP57 buds, 6.4 g, 10 hours plus 40 with the case, a 5-minute quick charge and a bone-conduction mic for calls. This is the clip-on for people who sweat. | Best clip for runningOpen-ear clip-on | 8.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 7 | Shokz OpenFit Air 2 7.2 g per side, IP55 buds with an IP54 case, 8 hours and a 10-minute charge worth 3 hours. The lightest Shokz hook and the one to start with if the OpenFit 2 feels bulky. | Lightest hookOpen-ear hook | 8.4 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 8 | Suunto Spark Suunto's ear-hook: 9.7 g, IP55, up to 30 hours with the case, LHDC codec, dual-device connection and head-gesture controls that work with Suunto watches. | Best with a Suunto watchOpen-ear hook | 8.0 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 9 | Baseus Bowie MC2 IP67, 5.1 g, 11.5 to 13 hours per charge and 55 to 60 with the case, Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint and LDAC. On paper the best-rated budget clip-on by a distance. | Best budget for runningOpen-ear clip-on | 8.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 10 | Cleer ARC 5 IPX7 is the strongest water rating of any ear-hook here, with 12 hours per charge, 60 total, aptX Lossless and LDAC, and an AMOLED touchscreen case. Heavy at 11.5 g, and priced like it. | Longest battery hookOpen-ear hook | 8.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
#ad · Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Scores are ours, built from published specs and cited independent reviews, not our own wear tests. Photos are illustrative stock. Tap a row for the full write-up.
How this ranking was built
Same rubric as every page on the site (How We Rank), applied to a runner's conditions: fit security is about bounce, not impact; the water rating is about rain as much as sweat; awareness is the whole point; and calls and wind matter because runners take calls at 12 km/h into a headwind. Every spec comes from the maker's page on September 21, 2026 and links to it. We haven't run in these; where an independent reviewer has, it's cited as theirs.
Neckband, hook or clip for a run
- Neckband (bone conduction: OpenRun Pro 2, Air 2, Wing 2). Nothing bounces, nothing falls, no case to carry. Bass is thin. The band sits under a cap band and above a collar. Our default for the road.
- Ear-hook (OpenFit 2, AeroFit 2, Air 2, Spark, ARC 5). Fuller sound, 7 to 12 g per ear, shares the top of the ear with sunglasses. Nearly as secure as a neckband for running.
- Clip-on (OpenDots 2, Baseus). Lightest, glasses-proof, and secure enough for road running; a hard trail descent can rotate a cuff. The two here are the ones with real ratings.
If you're also considering sealed sport buds for running, the broader list is best earbuds for running.
The table
| Evidence | Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 | Shokz OpenRun Air 2 | Shokz OpenFit 2 | Suunto Wing 2 | Soundcore AeroFit 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband) | Bone conduction (neckband) | Open-ear hook | Bone conduction (neckband) | Open-ear hook |
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 (dust, sweat and water resistant) | IP67 (dust-tight, temporary immersion); Shokz: not for swimming | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof | IP66 | IP55 |
| Weight | 30.3 g standard / 30 g mini | 26.4 g standard / 25.9 g mini | 9.4 g per earbud; case 53 g | 35 g / 1.23 oz | 10 g per earbud |
| Battery | 12 hours listening | 10 hours listening | 11 hours; 48 hours with case | 12 hours; up to 24 more from the included power bank | 10 hours; 42 hours with case |
| Wind handling | — | — | — | Anti-wind noise to 30 km/h | — |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant to 25 km/h | Dual AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant | Dual AI noise-canceling | — | 4 mics with AI noise reduction |
| Score | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 |
| Evidence | Shokz OpenDots 2 | Shokz OpenFit Air 2 | Suunto Spark | Baseus Bowie MC2 | Cleer ARC 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on | Open-ear hook | Open-ear hook | Open-ear clip-on | Open-ear hook |
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP57; charging case IP54 | Earbuds IP55; charging case IP54 | IP55 | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Weight | 6.4 g per earbud; case 38.8 g | 7.2 g per earbud; case 46.4 g | 9.7 g per earbud; case 57.5 g | About 5.1 g per earbud; about 52 g with case | 11.5 g per earbud; 117 g with case |
| Battery | 10 hours; 40 hours with case | 8 hours; 36 hours with case | 7 hours; up to 30 hours with case | About 11.5 h (bass boost on) or 13 h (off) per charge; 55 to 60 h with case | Up to 12 hours; 60 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2 hours | 10 min = 3 hours | — | — | 10 min = 4 hours |
| Score | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.6/10 |
Rain, wind, dark and heat
Rain: IP55 handles it; IP67 (Air 2, Baseus) handles a rinse afterward; the Cleer ARC 5 is the only IPX7 hook. Wind: only Shokz (Pro 2, Air 2: 25 km/h) and Suunto (Wing 2: 30 km/h) publish a mic wind rating, and wind is the thing that ruins running calls. Dark: the Suunto Wing 2's LEDs pulse with your cadence, which is a genuine visibility feature and unique here. Heat: an open ear traps nothing; on a summer long run that's the difference between taking earbuds out at mile eight and not.
In detail
The picks, in full
Rank 1
Stock photoBest for running overall
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
The bone conduction pick for most people: the neckband stays put through anything, 12 hours of battery, and Shokz's DualPitch driver adds an air-conduction unit for bass the older models can't make.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 (dust, sweat and water resistant) |
| Weight | 30.3 g standard / 30 g mini |
| Battery | 12 hours listening |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2.5 hours |
| Charging | USB-C, 1 hour to full |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, 33 ft range |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant to 25 km/h |
| Controls | Physical buttons |
| Driver / tech | 10th-gen bone conduction (DualPitch: bone + air conduction unit) |
| Sizes | Standard (over 9.25 in head circumference) and Mini |
| Launched | August 2024 |
How the 8.5 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 10
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 6
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- Titanium neckband plus ear hooks: nothing to fall out of an ear canal
- 12 hours per charge and a real quick charge, on USB-C instead of a proprietary cable
- DualPitch adds an air-conduction driver, so bass exists where older bone conduction sets had none
- Wind-resistant dual mics rated to 25 km/h for calls on the move
Where it falls short
- IP55, not IP67 like the cheaper OpenRun and OpenRun Air 2: fine for sweat, not for rinsing under a tap
- Bone conduction still leaks at high volume in a quiet room
- The most expensive of the three OpenRun models
Skip this if…
…you want to rinse the headphones under a tap after a soaked run (get the IP67 OpenRun Air 2) or you train mostly indoors where a sealed earbud's bass would matter more than an open ear.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Rank 2
Stock photoBest in the rain
Shokz OpenRun Air 2
Lighter and better sealed than the Pro 2 (26.4 g, IP67) with 10 hours of battery and Bluetooth 6.0; you trade the Pro 2's bass driver for a frame you can rinse off.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP67 (dust-tight, temporary immersion); Shokz: not for swimming |
| Weight | 26.4 g standard / 25.9 g mini |
| Battery | 10 hours listening |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2 hours |
| Charging | USB-C, 1 hour to full |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling, wind-resistant |
| Controls | Physical buttons |
| Driver / tech | 8.5-gen bone conduction (PremiumPitch 3.0) |
| Launched | August 2026 |
How the 8.7 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 10
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 5
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 7
What the spec sheet supports
- IP67 means sweat, rain and a rinse under the tap are all inside the rating
- Lightest current Shokz neckband; Shokz says the frame is 9% smaller than the OpenRun's
- USB-C charging and a 5-minute quick charge
- Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint
Where it falls short
- No DualPitch air-conduction unit, so bass is thinner than the Pro 2
- Two hours less battery than the Pro 2
- Bone conduction leakage and cheekbone buzz at high volume, like every neckband here
Skip this if…
…sound quality is the reason you'd spend more (the Pro 2's DualPitch is audibly fuller) or you need the Pro 2's 12-hour battery for ultra-distance days.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenRun Air 2
Rank 3
Stock photoBest-sounding for runners
Shokz OpenFit 2
The open-ear pick for most people: 11 hours per charge, IP55 buds, a physical button plus touch, and Shokz's DualBoost dual-driver sound. The hook fit is the reference the others get compared to.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP55; charging case not waterproof |
| Weight | 9.4 g per earbud; case 53 g |
| Battery | 11 hours; 48 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 2 hours |
| Charging | USB-C case; earbuds 1 hour, case 100 min |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling |
| Controls | Physical buttons and touch controls |
| Driver / tech | DualBoost dual drivers + DirectPitch |
| Launched | January 2025 |
How the 8.3 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- 11 hours per charge is the longest of the mainstream ear-hooks
- A real button, so a sweaty finger doesn't misfire a touch control
- Dual drivers give it more low end than single-driver open-ears
- IP55 earbuds handle sweat and rain
Where it falls short
- The case is not water resistant at all; don't drop it in a wet gym bag
- 9.4 g per side is heavier than the OpenFit Air 2 (7.2 g) or Shokz's clip-ons
- Open-ear leakage: people next to you on a quiet bus will hear it
Skip this if…
…you have small ears or glasses that fight a thick hook; the 7.2 g OpenFit Air 2 or a clip-on sits lighter.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit 2
Rank 4
Stock photoBest for dark roads
Suunto Wing 2
The cyclist's bone conduction set: IP66, 12 hours plus a 24-hour power bank, LED safety lights that react to your cadence, and head-movement controls so you never take a hand off the bars.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Bone conduction (neckband). Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP66 |
| Weight | 35 g / 1.23 oz |
| Battery | 12 hours; up to 24 more from the included power bank |
| Charging | Headphones 1 h or less; power bank 1.5 h or less |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, over 10 m; SBC codec |
| Wind handling | Anti-wind noise to 30 km/h |
| Controls | Head-movement control plus buttons |
| Extras | Reactive LED lights; titanium build; -20 to 60 C operating range; Suunto app |
How the 8.3 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 9
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 10
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 5
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 8
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- LED lights that pulse with cadence, a genuine visibility feature for road cyclists
- Head-movement controls: nod to answer, shake to decline
- 36 hours total with the power bank clipped on
Where it falls short
- 35 g, heavier than every Shokz neckband
- IP66, not IP67: heavy spray yes, immersion no
- SBC only; SoundGuys noted excessive vibration at high volume on the original Wing
Skip this if…
…you don't ride or run in the dark; the lights and head gestures are the reason to pay for this over an OpenRun.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Suunto Wing 2
Rank 5
Stock photoBest adjustable hook
Soundcore AeroFit 2
A four-position adjustable hook, IP55, 10 hours per charge and LDAC, for less than the Shokz OpenFit 2. The adjustable hinge is why it fits more ears than a fixed hook.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 10 g per earbud |
| Battery | 10 hours; 42 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 4 hours |
| Charging | USB-C; case supports wireless charging |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4 mics with AI noise reduction |
| Controls | Touch control |
| Codecs | LDAC Hi-Res (Android only) |
| Driver / tech | 20 x 11.5 mm drivers |
| Extras | Four-level adjustable ear hook |
How the 8.4 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 8
What the spec sheet supports
- Four hook positions: the fix for ears a fixed hook never quite fits
- 10 hours and a 10-minute charge worth 4 hours
- LDAC and large drivers for open-ear sound with some bass
- Wireless-charging case
Where it falls short
- 10 g per side; heavier than the Shokz OpenFit Air 2
- Touch controls, not buttons
- IP55 earbuds; Soundcore doesn't rate the case
Skip this if…
…you want a button you can hit mid-set; the Shokz OpenFit 2's physical button is more reliable when wet.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Soundcore AeroFit 2
Rank 6
Stock photoBest clip for running
Shokz OpenDots 2
The clip-on with a real sweat rating: IP57 buds, 6.4 g, 10 hours plus 40 with the case, a 5-minute quick charge and a bone-conduction mic for calls. This is the clip-on for people who sweat.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP57; charging case IP54 |
| Weight | 6.4 g per earbud; case 38.8 g |
| Battery | 10 hours; 40 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 2 hours |
| Charging | Case: wireless and USB-C; earbuds 1 hour |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Triple AI noise-canceling: two air-conduction mics plus one bone-conduction mic |
| Controls | Touch controls (upgraded) |
| Driver / tech | Bassphere 2.0 + Dolby Audio + DirectPitch + MirrorPitch |
| Launched | June 2026 |
How the 8.6 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 8
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 9
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 9
- Value (5%)
- 5
What the spec sheet supports
- IP57 on the buds: immersion-rated, which no Bose clip-on is
- 10 hours per charge and a 5-minute charge worth 2
- Bone-conduction mic picks up your voice through the jaw on windy days
- Even the case is IP54
Where it falls short
- Touch controls rather than buttons
- Clip-ons sit lighter than hooks but can shift on heavy impact; check the fit on the first sprint
Skip this if…
…you want buttons; the Bose cuffs have them, or go to an ear-hook.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenDots 2
Rank 7
Stock photoLightest hook
Shokz OpenFit Air 2
7.2 g per side, IP55 buds with an IP54 case, 8 hours and a 10-minute charge worth 3 hours. The lightest Shokz hook and the one to start with if the OpenFit 2 feels bulky.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | Earbuds IP55; charging case IP54 |
| Weight | 7.2 g per earbud; case 46.4 g |
| Battery | 8 hours; 36 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 3 hours |
| Charging | USB-C; earbuds 60 min, case 100 min |
| Bluetooth | 6.1 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | Dual AI noise-canceling |
| Controls | Pressure-sensitive buttons |
| Driver / tech | Bassphere + OpenBass 2.0 + DirectPitch |
| Launched | August 2026 |
How the 8.4 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 9
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 7
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 8
- Value (5%)
- 8
What the spec sheet supports
- Lightest Shokz ear-hook at 7.2 g
- The only OpenFit whose case carries a rating (IP54)
- Pressure buttons, not touch, so sweat doesn't trigger them
Where it falls short
- 8 hours versus 11 on the OpenFit 2
- Single-driver sound with less bass than DualBoost
Skip this if…
…battery is your bottleneck; the OpenFit 2 lasts three hours longer per charge.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Shokz OpenFit Air 2
Rank 8
Stock photoBest with a Suunto watch
Suunto Spark
Suunto's ear-hook: 9.7 g, IP55, up to 30 hours with the case, LHDC codec, dual-device connection and head-gesture controls that work with Suunto watches.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP55 |
| Weight | 9.7 g per earbud; case 57.5 g |
| Battery | 7 hours; up to 30 hours with case |
| Charging | USB-C; earbuds 60 min or less, case 100 min or less |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Dual-device connection |
| Controls | Head-gesture control plus buttons |
| Codecs | SBC, LHDC |
| Extras | Silicone and titanium alloy; Suunto app; real-time feedback from a Suunto watch |
How the 8.0 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 9
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 8
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 7
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 7
- Value (5%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- Head-gesture controls for hands-full moments
- Titanium alloy hook at 9.7 g
- LHDC for higher-bitrate audio on supported phones
Where it falls short
- 7 hours per charge is average
- The watch integration is the selling point, and it only helps Suunto owners
- No quick-charge figure published
Skip this if…
…you don't own a Suunto watch; the OpenFit 2 offers more battery at similar money.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Suunto Spark
Rank 9
Stock photoBest budget for running
Baseus Bowie MC2
IP67, 5.1 g, 11.5 to 13 hours per charge and 55 to 60 with the case, Bluetooth 6.0 with multipoint and LDAC. On paper the best-rated budget clip-on by a distance.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear clip-on. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IP67 |
| Weight | About 5.1 g per earbud; about 52 g with case |
| Battery | About 11.5 h (bass boost on) or 13 h (off) per charge; 55 to 60 h with case |
| Bluetooth | 6.0; 38 ms low-latency mode |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 4-mic AI call clarity |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Driver / tech | 11 mm dynamic, 20 Hz to 40 kHz |
| Extras | Detachable air cushions in M/L/XL |
How the 8.6 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 7
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 10
- Value (5%)
- 10
What the spec sheet supports
- IP67 at a budget price: the best water rating of any clip-on here
- Lightest clip-on at 5.1 g
- Battery figures nobody else in the category matches
- Three cushion sizes for fit
Where it falls short
- Less brand track record and fewer independent reviews than Bose, Shokz or Soundcore
- Baseus's battery figures are at 50% volume
Skip this if…
…you want a known name with a long warranty history; Shokz and Bose cost more for that reason.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Baseus Bowie MC2
Rank 10
Stock photoLongest battery hook
Cleer ARC 5
IPX7 is the strongest water rating of any ear-hook here, with 12 hours per charge, 60 total, aptX Lossless and LDAC, and an AMOLED touchscreen case. Heavy at 11.5 g, and priced like it.
Spec sheetSpec-checked · not worn by us
| Fit system | Open-ear hook. Ear canal stays open: you hear the room and traffic. |
|---|---|
| Water & sweat rating | IPX7 |
| Weight | 11.5 g per earbud; 117 g with case |
| Battery | Up to 12 hours; 60 hours with case |
| Quick charge | 10 min = 4 hours |
| Charging | USB-C smart touchscreen case |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Microphones | 2-mic Qualcomm cVc |
| Codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3, SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Driver / tech | 16.2 mm driver; Dolby Atmos and THX Spatial Audio |
How the 8.6 score breaks down
- Fit security (25%)
- 8
- Sweat & water resistance (20%)
- 10
- Awareness (open canal) (15%)
- 9
- Sound & leakage (15%)
- 9
- Calls & wind (10%)
- 7
- Battery & charging (10%)
- 10
- Value (5%)
- 4
What the spec sheet supports
- IPX7: immersion-rated, so a downpour or a dunk is inside the spec
- 12 hours per charge and 60 with the case, the most of any hook here
- Every high-bitrate codec that matters
Where it falls short
- 11.5 g per earbud; the case is a 117 g brick
- No dust rating (the X)
- The AMOLED case is a gimmick you pay for
Skip this if…
…you want light; the Shokz OpenFit Air 2 is 7.2 g and IP55 is enough for sweat.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Cleer ARC 5
Buyer's guide: open-ear for the road
Battery for your longest run, plus a quick charge
Per charge: Pro 2 12 h, Cleer 12 h, OpenFit 2 11 h, Wing 2 12 h (36 with its power bank), Air 2 10 h, AeroFit 2 10 h, OpenDots 2 10 h. Quick charges: 5 minutes for 2.5 hours (Pro 2), 10 for 4 (AeroFit 2, Cleer). A marathon plus the trip there is under 8 hours for almost everyone.
Rating for your weather
IP55 minimum. IP67 if you run in rain often. Digits explained at IPX4 vs IPX5 vs IPX7.
Sunglasses
Neckbands and clips coexist with sport frames; hooks can, with thin arms and the hook worn under. See open-ear with glasses.
Controls at a run
Buttons (all Shokz neckbands, OpenFit 2, Air 2), pressure buttons (OpenFit Air 2) or head gestures (Suunto) over touch. Sweaty fingers and touch panels don't mix.
How we scored this
Pairs we claim to have worn: none we haven't
Plenty of sites say they ran a hundred miles in every pair on the list. We don't say that, and we say so on every page. What we do instead: classify the retention system (hook, clip, wing, neckband), record the maker's published IP rating, weight, battery, charging, mic and control type from its own product page, cross-reference at least one independent published review where one exists, and score every pick on a public rubric. Every figure links to where it came from.
Scores are editorial judgments from that documented research, not lab results. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubric and its weights are published.
Corrections & updates
- First edition.
Questions
Frequently asked
Are open-ear headphones good for running?
Shokz or open-ear earbuds for running?
Which open-ear headphones are best in the rain?
Can I take calls while running with open-ear headphones?
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- Best bone conduction for runningNeckbands only.
- Can you hear traffic with open-ear headphones?The safety case, with limits.
- Best running earbuds under $100The budget cut.
- Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 reviewThe #1 pick in full.
- Best open-ear earbudsThe all-purpose open-ear ranking.
Receipts
Sources
- Shokz — official product comparison table (checked 2026-09-21)
- Shokz — OpenRun Air 2 vs OpenRun Pro 2 vs OpenRun (checked 2026-09-21)
- Suunto — Wing 2 product page, technical specifications (checked 2026-09-21)
- Soundcore — AeroFit 2 product page (checked 2026-09-21)
- Suunto — Spark product page, technical specifications (checked 2026-09-21)
- Baseus — Bowie MC2 product page, specifications (checked 2026-09-21)
- Cleer Audio — ARC 5 product page, specifications (checked 2026-09-21)
- NIDCD (NIH) — Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (checked 2026-09-21)
We haven't worn every pair on this site and we don't pretend to. Specs come from the maker's own product pages (linked on every product), independent findings are attributed to whoever published them, and Amazon prices change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read the full method.