Finding good headphones for running sounds simple until you actually start looking.
Traditional earbuds can block out too much of the outside world. Some wireless earbuds gradually work themselves loose. Over-ear headphones are hardly ideal once you start sweating.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 take a completely different approach.
Rather than plugging your ears, they use an open-ear design combining bone conduction with an air conduction driver. You can listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks while still hearing what’s happening around you.
For runners in particular, that’s a compelling combination.
But the OpenRun Pro 2 are premium running headphones, so the bigger question is whether they’re actually worth paying for.
Short answer: for runners who regularly train outdoors, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 are one of the most compelling alternatives to traditional earbuds. Their secure fit, excellent awareness, improved sound and long battery life make them particularly well suited to running.
👉 Check the latest Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 price on Amazon
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Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 at a Glance
| Feature | Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 |
|---|---|
| Headphone type | Open-ear |
| Audio technology | Bone + air conduction |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours |
| Quick charge | 5 minutes for up to 2.5 hours |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Weight | 30.3g |
| Water resistance | IP55 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| EQ | 4 presets + 2 custom modes |
| Sizes | Standard and Mini |
The headline specification isn’t really any individual number.
It’s the combination.
At just over 30g, they’re exceptionally light, while the wraparound design is specifically intended to remain secure during exercise.
Most importantly, your ears remain open.
That’s what separates the OpenRun Pro 2 from AirPods, Galaxy Buds and conventional sports earbuds.
👉 View the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 on Amazon
Why the Open-Ear Design Makes Sense for Running
This is the biggest reason to buy the OpenRun Pro 2.
If you regularly run outside, completely isolating yourself from your surroundings isn’t always desirable.
You may want to hear:
- approaching vehicles
- bicycles
- other runners
- people around you
- announcements during organised races
- general traffic and environmental noise
The OpenRun Pro 2 sit outside your ear canal, so your ears aren’t physically blocked.
Your music is effectively layered over the sounds around you rather than completely replacing them.
For road running in particular, that makes a lot of sense.
It also means you don’t have earbuds sitting inside your ears for an hour or more during a long run.
For runners who dislike the plugged-up feeling of conventional earbuds, this alone could justify switching to Shokz.
How Do the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Sound?
Historically, sound quality has been the obvious compromise with bone conduction headphones.
Shokz has attempted to address that with what it calls DualPitch technology.
Instead of relying exclusively on bone conduction, the OpenRun Pro 2 use two different types of driver.
The bone conduction driver handles the mids and highs, while a separate air conduction driver handles the bass.
That matters.
Bass has traditionally been one of the weaknesses of bone conduction headphones, and the additional driver gives the OpenRun Pro 2 a fuller sound than you might expect from an open-ear sports headset.
You can also adjust the sound through the Shokz app, with four preset EQ options plus two custom EQ modes.
Are they as good as premium in-ear headphones?
Not necessarily.
And that’s an important distinction.
If your number-one priority is absolute audio quality, noise isolation and deep bass, premium in-ear headphones still have advantages.
That’s not really what you’re buying here.
The OpenRun Pro 2 trade isolation for awareness.
For running, cycling, walking and other outdoor exercise, that’s arguably a much more useful trade-off.
Comfort Is One of Their Biggest Strengths
Running headphones need to pass a simple test:
Can you forget you’re wearing them?
At 30.3g, the OpenRun Pro 2 are extremely light.
Shokz uses a nickel-titanium frame with soft silicone around the headset, while the wraparound band and ear hooks keep everything positioned around your head.
There are no earbuds that need pushing back into your ears halfway through a run.
That’s particularly useful for longer distances.
If you’re training for a half marathon or marathon, comfort becomes much more important than it might be during a 20-minute gym session.
The OpenRun Pro 2 are available in both Standard and Mini sizes, so it’s worth checking which version is right for you before ordering.
Do Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Stay in Place While Running?
This is another major selling point.
The wraparound design means the headphones aren’t relying on a small earbud tip to keep them attached to your head.
Shokz uses flexible ear hooks and a nickel-titanium frame designed to remain secure during movement.
That makes them particularly attractive for:
- running
- marathon training
- walking
- hiking
- gym sessions
- cycling
If you’ve ever had a wireless earbud slowly work itself loose as you run, you’ll understand the appeal immediately.
Battery Life: Up to 12 Hours
Battery life is another area where the OpenRun Pro 2 perform strongly.
Shokz advertises up to 12 hours of playback from a full charge.
That’s easily enough for most training sessions and should even cover particularly long endurance events.
There’s also fast charging.
A five-minute charge can provide up to 2.5 hours of listening, according to Shokz.
That’s an excellent feature if you’ve ever discovered your headphones are nearly dead just as you’re getting ready for a run.
Charging is now via USB-C, too.
That might sound like a small feature, but it makes living with the headphones considerably easier if most of your other devices already use USB-C.
Are the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Waterproof?
The OpenRun Pro 2 carry an IP55 rating.
That makes them resistant to sweat, rain and splashes, which is exactly what most runners need.
However, they’re not swimming headphones.
Don’t interpret the open-ear sports design as meaning you can take them into a pool or the sea.
For running through a rain shower or completing a sweaty workout, however, IP55 is much more relevant.
What Are They Like for Phone Calls?
The OpenRun Pro 2 aren’t limited to music.
They include dual microphones and noise-reduction technology designed to improve voice clarity.
That makes them considerably more versatile if you’re also planning to use them while walking, commuting or working.
Bluetooth multipoint is supported as well, allowing the headphones to connect to two devices.
For example, you could have them connected to both a laptop and smartphone rather than constantly disconnecting and reconnecting devices.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 vs Normal Wireless Earbuds
The decision becomes much easier if you think about what each type of headphone is trying to achieve.
| Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 | Traditional Earbuds | |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental awareness | Excellent | Usually lower |
| Secure running fit | Excellent | Depends on fit |
| Ear canal blocked | No | Yes |
| Noise isolation | Low | Much better |
| Running comfort | Excellent | Varies |
| Sound quality | Very good for open-ear | Potentially better |
| Bass | Improved considerably | Usually stronger |
| Long-run suitability | Excellent | Depends on comfort |
Neither design wins every category.
The important question is where you plan to use them.
For sitting on an aeroplane, I’d want noise-cancelling headphones.
For running alongside roads, through parks or around a busy city, I’d rather retain awareness of what’s happening around me.
That’s where the OpenRun Pro 2 make much more sense.
Who Should Buy the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
I’d put them near the top of the shopping list if you:
Run outdoors regularly
This is their natural environment. The combination of environmental awareness and secure fit is difficult for conventional earbuds to replicate.
Are training for a marathon or half marathon
Long battery life, low weight and an open-ear fit are particularly appealing over longer distances.
Don’t like earbuds inside your ears
Some people simply don’t get on with in-ear headphones. Shokz eliminates that problem entirely.
Want to hear traffic while listening to music
This is arguably the biggest reason to choose open-ear headphones.
Have problems keeping wireless earbuds in place
The wraparound frame is far more reassuring during vigorous movement.
👉 Check today’s OpenRun Pro 2 price on Amazon
Who Shouldn’t Buy Them?
There are situations where I’d choose something else.
If you mainly want headphones for flights, trains or a noisy office, open-ear headphones don’t make much sense. Their ability to let external noise in is deliberately part of their design.
Likewise, serious audiophiles looking for maximum detail, isolation and bass can get better outright sound quality from premium conventional headphones.
And while IP55 is plenty for running in poor weather, these aren’t designed for swimming.
The OpenRun Pro 2 are specialist sports headphones that happen to be versatile enough for everyday use – rather than headphones designed to be perfect in every environment.
Are Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Worth the Money?
This is where the decision ultimately comes down to how often you run.
For someone who occasionally does a 20-minute treadmill session, spending this much on dedicated sports headphones may be difficult to justify.
For someone running several times a week, it’s a completely different calculation.
You get:
- a secure running-specific design
- open-ear environmental awareness
- improved bass through DualPitch
- up to 12 hours of battery life
- USB-C charging
- quick charging
- Bluetooth multipoint
- app-based EQ
- IP55 sweat and water resistance
- Standard and Mini sizing
You’re paying a premium, but you’re also getting headphones designed specifically around the problems runners encounter.
And that’s why the OpenRun Pro 2 are considerably more interesting than simply buying another pair of wireless earbuds.
👉 See the latest Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 price and availability on Amazon
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
For regular outdoor runners, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 make a very strong case for themselves.
The clever part isn’t any single specification.
It’s how the package fits the way people actually run.
They’re lightweight. They don’t plug your ears. They remain securely positioned. You can hear what’s happening around you. Battery life reaches up to 12 hours. USB-C makes charging straightforward, and the addition of an air conduction driver addresses one of the biggest historic weaknesses of bone conduction headphones: bass.
There are compromises.
You shouldn’t buy them expecting the isolation of noise-cancelling earbuds, and dedicated in-ear headphones can still provide superior outright sound quality.
But that somewhat misses the point.
If your priority is finding a comfortable pair of headphones specifically for running while retaining awareness of your surroundings, the OpenRun Pro 2 are exactly the type of product you should be considering.
For someone running several times a week – particularly outdoors – they’re much easier to justify than they first appear.
👉 Check the latest Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 price on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, ReviewedByFred may earn from qualifying purchases.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 FAQ
Are Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 good for running?
Yes. Running is one of the main use cases for the OpenRun Pro 2. Their lightweight wraparound design provides a secure fit while the open-ear design allows you to retain awareness of your surroundings.
Can you hear traffic while wearing Shokz OpenRun Pro 2?
The open-ear design means the headphones don’t physically block your ear canals, allowing environmental sounds such as traffic to remain audible. You should still keep the listening volume appropriate to your surroundings.
Do Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 have noise cancelling?
They aren’t designed to provide active noise cancellation for listening. The purpose of the open-ear design is essentially the opposite: allowing you to hear your surroundings while listening to audio.
The microphones do, however, use noise-reduction technology for calls.
How long does the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 battery last?
Shokz advertises up to 12 hours of playback from a full charge. Actual battery life will depend on factors including listening volume and usage.
How quickly do Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 charge?
A full charge takes around one hour. Shokz also states that five minutes of quick charging can provide up to 2.5 hours of listening.
Are Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 waterproof?
They have an IP55 water-resistance rating, making them suitable for sweat, rain and splashes. They are not designed for swimming.
Do Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 use USB-C?
Yes. The OpenRun Pro 2 charge using USB-C.
What’s the difference between OpenRun Pro 2 Standard and Mini?
The main difference is the size of the headband. Shokz recommends measuring from the centre of one ear around the back of your head to the centre of the other. Its current sizing guidance recommends Standard above 23.5cm and Mini below 23.5cm.
Are bone conduction headphones worth it for runners?
They can be particularly useful for outdoor runners because they leave the ear canal open. The compromise is that you don’t get the same isolation as conventional in-ear headphones.
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