Shokz OpenFit Headphones Review
Truly Wireless Bluetooth Headphones for Hiking, Biking, and Outdoor Activities
April 16th, 2024
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Our Verdict
Shokz OpenFit headphones provide excellent sound quality, situational awareness, and long battery life. Shokz (previously AfterShokz) open-ear, bone-conducting headphones have been my primary headphones for several years. I value the situational awareness of the open-ear designs for my daily walks, hikes, and rides. Over the last five years, I’ve also used the Shokz OpenRun Pro and Aeropex headphones for multiple thru-hikes.
I have also been amazed at how many folks use Shokz open-ear, bone-conducting headphones, not just runners or cyclists, but also people who need to maintain situational awareness on the job (like in construction).
OpenFit are not bone-conducting like the previous Shokz models. The OpenFit earbuds sit above the ear canal. Shokz DirectPitch™ technology sends the sound into the ear canal while significantly reducing sound leakage outside the ear. This allows the listener to hear sounds clearly without earbuds being in the ear, thereby maintaining excellent situational awareness.
You can read more about headphones in our guide to Best Wireless Headphones for Outdoor Activities.
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Specs
Price: $160
Battery Life: 7 hours / up to 28 hours with the charging case
Charge Time: 60 minutes in case / case charges in 120 minutes
Quick Charging: Yes – a 5-minute charge gives 1 hour of battery life
Water Resistance: IP54 (note: the case is not waterproof)
Charging: The case charges with a USB-C cable. No wireless charging.
Warranty: 2 years
Comparison Table
| WIRELESS HEADPHONES | MSRP | TYPE | PLAY TIME | PLAYTIME W/ CASE | EARBUD IPXX RATING | CHARGING CASE IPXX RATING | CHARGE SYSTEM | CHARGE TIME | FAST CHARGE | WARRANTY | SINGLE EARBUD USE? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shokz OpenFit | $160 | Open ear/ wireless | 7 hrs | 28 hrs | IP54 | Unrated | USB-C only | 1 hr | 5 min = 1 hr | 2 years | Yes |
| Shok OpenRun Pro | $160 | Open ear/ behind neck | 10 hrs | N/A | IP55 | N/A | Magnetic induction or USB-C | 1 hr | 5 min = 1.5 hr | 2 years | N/A |
| Shokz OpenRun | $130 | Open ear/ behind neck | 8 hrs | N/A | IP67 | N/A | Magnetic induction or USB-C | 1.5 hrs | 10 min = 1.5 hr | 2 years | N/A |
| Apple AirPods Pro 2 | $249 | In ear/ wireless | 6 hrs | 30 hrs | IP54 | IP54 | MagSafe, Apple Watch, Qi/USB-C | 1 hr | 5 min = 1 hr | 1 year | Yes |
| Apple AirPods 3 | $179 | In ear/ wireless | 6 hrs | 30 hrs | IPX4 | IPX4 | MagSafe, Qi/Lightning | 2 hrs | 5 min = 1 hr | 2 years | Yes |
What We Liked
The Shokz OpenFit in their headphone case.
Excellent situational awareness
Great sound quality
Comfortable fit
Long battery life
Multipoint pairing
What Needs to Be Improved
The touch controls can be tricky to use
Some folks report that the ear hook can be difficult to fit securely (this has not been an issue for me and others I’ve had use the earbuds)
No wireless charging
Side view of the Shokz OpenFit in their headphone case.
Features
Excellent Situational Awareness
Situational awareness is the standout feature of Shokz products. The OpenFit earbuds do not block your ear. You can hear subtle noises in the environment. In our experience, open ear headphones are better at allowing you to stay alert to your surroundings than simply wearing one earbud or using earbuds with a “transparency” feature to allow external noises in.
While wearing the OpenFit earbuds, I could hear subtle sounds in the environment, such as a car approaching or a conversation from 30’ away, while listening to music at a moderate volume.
The Shokz OpenFit secure behind the ear for situational awareness.
Fit and Comfort
OpenFit has a dolphin arc ear hook design with a soft silicon finish. A built-in ultra-fine flexible memory wire provides an ergonomic fit that can gently adapt to your natural ear shape.
Each earbud weighs 8.3 grams. I found the earbuds to fit snugly, even during vigorous hikes. The earbuds also fit comfortably when wearing a bike helmet.
I have been wearing the OpenFit earbuds during the workday to make phone calls and listen to music. They remained comfortable and unobtrusive over many hours of continuous use.
The Shokz OpenFit come with a secure headphone case for charging.
Durability
The OpenFit headphones are rated IP54. This means they are dustproof and can withstand water splashes. OpenFit is not as waterproof as the Shokz OpenRun, which is fully waterproof (IP67), but is sufficient for use in the rain.
The silicone ear hooks are flexible but rugged.
The Shokz OpenFit can connect to two phones and be controlled via the app.
Sound Quality
Shokz OpenFit headphones sound surprisingly good. The DirectPitch system, designed for OpenFit, provides a rich bass sound. I compared OpenFit sound quality to Shokz OpenRun. OpenFit sounded significantly better. The bass, barely noticeable on the OpenRun, is significantly better. Overall, the sound quality is richer and less tinny-sounding than the OpenRun. The EQ settings can be customized in the Shokz app.
Battery Life
The OpenFit earbuds have 7 hours of battery life, but this can be extended up to 28 hours when charging in the case. There is a quick charge option – 5 minutes of charging for 1 hour of playback. The earbuds can be used and controlled individually, further increasing the potential battery life.
Music and Phone Controls
Each earbud has touch control for music playback, answering/ending calls, and accessing a voice assistant. The controls can be customized through the Shokz app.
I like that each earbud can be used and controlled separately. Each earbud has a microphone to use during calls.
I found the controls to be tricky to use. Unlike the OpenRun and OpenRun Pro, there is no large multifunction button. Instead, you tap the earbuds. It took me several days to get used to the gentle taps required. I have found that I can use the controls while wearing gloves and a stocking cap over the earbuds.
Multipoint Pairing
Multipoint pairing allows you to easily switch between two devices, such as a phone and laptop. You have to enable the feature in the Shokz app.
Shokz Phone App
Shokz has a phone app (iOS and Android) which offers several helpful features:
Battery Levels: there are battery levels for each earbud and the charging case.
EQ Controls: you can choose between five EQ modes – standard (default), which is balanced for listening to music, vocal, which is optimized for listening to podcasts or books, bass boost, treble boost, and custom.
Multipoint Pairing: the multipoint pairing is managed within the app.
Firmware Updates: firmware updates take place through the app.
OpenFit can be used without the app, but you will not be able to use multipoint pairing, customize the EQ, or receive firmware updates.
The OpenFit (white and center) and the OpenRun Pro (red and on the outside).
OpenFit vs. OpenRun Pro
I have been a devoted user of the OpenRun Pro and its earlier generations for over five years. It is my primary headphone for outdoor fitness activities, phone calls, and general use. That said, I plan to make the OpenFit earbuds my new daily headphones and carry them with me on my next thru-hike this spring. OpenFit has several clear advantages, especially when using on a thru-hike, including:
Battery life: I will be able to use the OpenFits for days between charges when on a long-distance hike or bikepacking trip.
Individual earbud use: I like wearing a single earbud when hiking to extend battery life and improve situational awareness. It also allows you to enjoy an audiobook with your hiking partner.
USB-C charging: I am trying to convert all my devices to USB-C. I’m tired of carrying proprietary cables on multi day hikes and bikepacking trips. In contrast, the OpenRun has a proprietary cable.
Sound quality: the OpenFit's sound quality is noticeably better than the OpenRun Pro – even to a non-audiophile like me.
The Shokz OpenFit charge in their headphone case. The case itself charges via USC-C.
How We Tested
I have used the OpenFit headphones for over a month on my daily hikes, runs, and walks. I also wear the OpenFit during the workday for calls and to stream music. They remain comfortable over hours of continuous wear.
Where to buy
The Shokz OpenFit headphones are popular gear items, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 90 days; 10% dividend for members.
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership
Other Headphones to Consider
Shokz OpenRun Pro
Price: $160
Battery Life: 10 hours
Charging Time: 1 hour
Quick Charge: Yes, a 5-minute charge gives 1.5 hours of battery life
Water Resistance: IP55
Warranty: 2 years
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are the open-ear, bone-conduction headphones that Shokz is known for. The OpenRun Pro has 9th generation bone-conduction technology and bass enhancers. While we think that the sound quality of the OpenFit is better than the OpenRun Pro, the situational awareness is where the OpenRun Pro shines. If you need the best possible situational awareness, the OpenRun Pro is what you need.
Compare prices of the Shokz OpenRun Pro
Price: $249
Battery Life: 6 hours, up to 30 hours with charging case
Quick Charge: No
Charging: USB-C
Water Resistance: IP54
Warranty: 1 year
The 2nd generation of Apple's AirPods Pro have excellent sound quality, but they're not open ear. While they have a transparency mode, it's just not as good as true open ear headphones. We think the OpenFit has the right balance of sound quality and situational awareness.
View the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
About the Author / Why You Should Trust Us
Mike Unger left his high-stress corporate job to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2006. That experience forever changed him, and he purposefully re-arranged his life to allow for as much adventuring as possible. Today, he’s closing in on 28,000 miles on North American long trails and is one of a handful of people who is Double Triple Crowner, having hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails each twice.
He’s also hiked the John Muir Trail, Great Divide Trail, Grand Enchantment Trail, Pacific Northwest Trail, Arizona Trail (twice), Oregon Desert Trail, and the first known thru-hike of the Blue Mountains Trail. He’s also picked up another passion along the way: long-distance bike packing, including the 1,850-mile Pacific Coast route. When he’s not hiking or biking, he’s probably planning his next trip and/or researching gear. You can see all articles by Mike Unger on his Treeline Review author page.
