Um, guys? I think I have to replace my Shokz… with Shokz.
MUSIC & RUNNING ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED FOR ME
I have gone on record: I don’t care if running without music would make me faster. For me, it would make running less fun. For some reason my brain converts music into kinetic energy. Music makes me WANT to run. Any speed I may gain in silence would be at the cost of my joy.
Therefore headphones are an absolute must for my running kit, and I have gone on a bit of a journey attempting to find the right pair for me. In particular, there’s something about the shape of my ears that just doesn’t work for hook-on or in-ear pairs. Everything falls out; indeed, at one point I gave up entirely and just wore a sweat band over my headphones to keep them in. Nothing else worked.
But that all changed when I got my first pair of Shokz.
WHAT ARE SHOKZ?
Shokz headphones operate differently from normal headphones. Crucially, they bypass your inner ear entirely, instead shooting the music straight into your skull via bone conduction. Metal!
In addition to being better for your aural health, this keeps your ear canal free to hear what’s going on around you. Think of it as the opposite of sound cancellation. True audiophiles may claim you sacrifice a little in sound quality, but in exchange you receive improved situational awareness of your surroundings and a less beleaguered cochlea, among other things.
I purchased my first pair of Shokz OpenRuns (back when they were still AfterShokz Aeropex!) and immediately loved them. They actually stayed on my head, for starters, which for me was no small thing. While not perfect (we will discuss below), they were comfortable, safer than regular headphones, and overall a great fit. I rode my first pair hard for a couple years, finally replacing them with a new pair of OpenRuns last spring.
And that, I thought, was that, until…
HEADS UP: SHOKZ SPONSORED THIS POST!
Surprise, surprise – Shokz sent me a pair of their OpenDots ONE headphones for free!
Please understand that I take brand sponsorships very seriously. I am not a huge influencer or anything, but I do get my fair share of offers. I mostly turn them down because they’re for products that don’t make sense for my niche or that I’m not familiar with, and the free product comes with obligations I can’t be sure I can fulfill. Believe me, I know how much it sucks to trust a review only to discover the product you spent your hard-earned money on is average at best. It would be highly hypocritical to do that to you.
However, I think it’s perfectly acceptable to campaign for brands you genuinely believe in, so long as you maintain your integrity and prioritize truth for your audience.
I sincerely love the Shokz I purchased and used for the last five years, and I am happy to tell you honestly that I LOVE my new OpenDots. Whether or not they’re the right fit for you, dear reader? That’s a separate question, which we will tackle… NOW.
WHAT ARE THE SHOKZ OPENDOTS ONE?
With its flexible nickel-titanium plate and soft silicone grip, OpenDots ONE stays securely in place through even your most intense workouts.
OpenDots ONE delivers rich, detailed sound and it’s virtually unnoticeable on your ears and in your pocket. Enjoy endless comfort with a featherlight feel.
OpenDots ONE’s sleek, minimalist design will stylishly complement your favorite accessories. Whether you’re going out or chilling at home, know that your earbuds will be comfortable and secure.
Shokz Bassphere Technology integrates two circular drivers into a unified speaker, delivering powerful bass and crystal-clear highs.
Optimize your listening experience with 4 pre-set EQ modes and 2 custom profiles. And with Dolby Audio, you’ll feel every note and every beat brought to life.
DirectPitch technology minimizes sound leakage, ensuring your music stays between you and your earbuds.
Up to 40 hours of total listening time with the charging case. Up to 10 hours of battery life with a single charge.
For more detailed information, visit the above link. As of this writing, the Shokz OpenDots ONE retails for $199.99 and comes in black, white, and wait a minute – pink?! Okay, I know what color to get next time…
WHAT MAKES THE OPENDOTS SO GREAT?
I’m not an audio snob; I use $20 over-the-ear headphones in my non-sporting pursuits. I’ve never had a problem with the sound quality of my OpenRuns. However, I run in an area with a lot of noise pollution – think busy roads and an honest-to-God major airport runway across the street – and have subsequently had to turn the sound all the way up to hear my music how I like it. Not great for battery life.
The OpenDots, by contrast, are much stronger. Part of that might be the adjustable fit; pinch them on hard enough and they’re real real cozy with your skull in a way the OpenRuns don’t fully achieve on me. But part of that is greater power; they’re just plain louder. And if you’re the sort who likes to fiddle with specs, there’s a Shokz app you can play around with to customize the sound balance.
Speaking of battery life, that’s improved in the OpenDots too! I’ll need to take them on a multi-hour long run to really test the limits, but the guarantee is baked right in: the way you turn your OpenDots off is by placing them in the charging case and closing the lid. As long as you keep the charging case juiced, they’ll always come out fresh for you.
Speaking of charging, the OpenDots use a USB-C charger, which is rapidly becoming a de facto charging cable for all sorts of tech products. I hate worrying about a bespoke charging method that can’t be readily replaced if you lose or break it. You probably have a couple USB-C cables lying around the house already.
This last one might seem kinda silly, but the final advantage I want to mention about the OpenDots is that my running sunglasses fit better while wearing them. My OpenRuns fit over my ear, grappling for the same space my sunglasses arms want to occupy. OpenRuns play nice with some pairs, but not others. No such problem exists when the OpenDots hug my outer earlobe.
But none of that is even the best part! Go ahead, ask me about how I said headphones never fit my ears.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR EAR FIT PROBLEMS?
What ear fit problems? Shokz OpenDots stay on my ears just fine. Yes, when running. Yes, when SWEATY from running!
OpenDots are adjustable so you can get your best fit. Pop them over your earlobe like a cuff earring and pinch them together until they feel snug. The back speaker should be flush against your skull for the bone conduction bit, and the front part hugs your inner ear to keep the buds in place.
Even when firmly in place, I didn’t find my OpenDots uncomfortable. Indeed, I was suspicious of how not uncomfortable they felt. I jumped up and down and danced around my apartment as a test, and they stayed in place.
All the same, I embarked upon my first OpenDots run with some trepidation. I was half convinced my weirdly-shaped ears would ruin things again. But no! They stayed in perfectly the whole time, sweat and all! And you can tell I was sweaty if you look closely at some of my photos. Or maybe just take my word for it. That’s your call.
WHEN WOULD YOU STICK TO THE OPENRUNS?
All that being said, I’m not throwing out my old Shokz OpenRuns just yet. I mean, that would be stupid; it’s always good to have a backup. Aside from that, though, there’s one particular instance where I would deliberately reach for my OpenRuns over my OpenDots, and that’s in the rain. Puerto Rico can get some serious rain on – we have a rainy season here and everything! (It’s in mid to late spring if you’re curious.)
Alas, while the OpenDots are water resistant, they are not waterproof. Neither is the OpenRun 2. The original OpenRun IS waterproof, however. Not to the point that you can swim in them – sorry, triathletes – but no amount of rain and sweat can take them down.
The website claims that the OpenDots are so light you’ll hardly feel them. This is true the strictest sense, but I do find the OpenDots more noticeable than the OpenRuns. They aren’t remotely painful and they don’t bother me in any way. It’s just that occasionally I’m aware of them, if that makes sense. That might be because, in my zeal to ensure they stay put on my weird ears, I pinch them on extra hard. At any rate, I thought I’d mention.
Let’s face it – Shokz doesn’t send everybody free headphones, and the OpenDots ONE is among their more expensive models. The OpenRun 2 is $20 cheaper, and the original OpenRun is $50 cheaper than that. Additionally, entry level OpenMove is a comparatively cheap $80, but as I haven’t tried them I can’t vouch for them personally.
As much as I would love to say that it’s not so much about cost as value, realistically, price can be a deciding factor. There are a lot of discount codes floating around out there to help, but I recommend holding for a holiday sale if you can afford to wait and are price-sensitive.
SHOULD YOU BUY SOME SHOKZ?
If you don’t already own Shokz and are at all intrigued by the advantages of bone conduction over traditional headphones, I think you should get some. I would’ve told you that any time since November of 2021, when I bought my first pair.
But which? If the features of the OpenDots ONE appeal to you, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the model again (in pink!!!).
Should you be concerned with waterproofing, I recommend the OpenRun. The OpenRun 2 improves on the original model in areas such as battery life and sound quality, but is no longer waterproof, just resistant. Of the water resistant models I am enjoying my OpenDots – but if you’re not sure, give my post another read. Check out the product page reviews. Which of my points resonate? Which everyman user reviews resonate? What’s important to you?
At the end of the day, only you can decide what’s worth it to you. Take your time so you can make a thoughtful choice. May I suggest putting on some music while you ponder?
Don’t forget, you can follow FRoA on Threads @fairestrunofall and on Instagram @fairestrunofall. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment or email fairestrunofall@gmail.com. See ya real soon!