If you’re on the hunt for some decent bone-conduction headphones, then you have come to the right place. However, if you aren’t quite sure what these are, bone-conducting headphones allow you to hear things happening around you as you listen to music.
Bone conduction headphones send sound through your temporal bone and into your eardrum. Remember that this means you won’t get the best sound quality with your music.
Have you ever been on the bus or otherwise in public while listening to music or other audio through your headphones, only to not be able to hear what’s happening around you?
That can lead to some awkward situations, especially at work, so it might be a good idea to consider bone-conduction headphones to avoid such awkward situations. These might be great for people using public transportation or working and still need to hear what’s happening around them.
You may also hear these headphones referred to by different names, including “bonetech” headphones and “eardrumz.”
In this review, we will talk about some of the best bone conduction earphones out there and what you should consider when buying yourself a pair.
Top 10 Bone Conduction Headphones
Bone Conduction Headphones vs. Traditional Headphones
While traditional earbuds and headphones cover the eardrums, the ear canal is free and open with bone-conduction headphones that have no ear tips so you can be aware of your surroundings. Audio sound waves or vibrations are sent behind the cheekbone directly into the inner ears.
Bone conduction headphones have a wrap-around design behind your head and don’t cover the ear canal.
Because of this open design, they don’t have noise-cancelling properties, they have great situational awareness so you can hear if someone next to you is speaking to you or traffic and cars are going down the street, for example.
Since they don’t have any noise-cancelling properties, most of them also come with a pair of earplugs. So you can wear your bone conduction headphones with earplugs when you want to, which will allow you to block any surrounding noise.
If you suffer from any degree of hearing loss, you can wear your bone-conduction headphone with hearing aids or a hearing amplifier since the ear canal is not blocked.
If you consider some bone conduction headphones to improve your listening experience, you have come to the right place.
This article will provide you with a list of the best bone-conduction headphones based on factors such as hours of battery life, comfortable fit, Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities, fully waterproof features, audio quality, and so much more.
Different Types of Bone Conduction Headphones
There are not many different types of bone-conducting headphones. However, they all serve the main purpose: to allow you to listen to music through vibrations while also hearing what’s happening around you so you can be aware of your surroundings.
However, there is one clear difference, and several different brands you can choose from provide some of the best bone-conduction headphones.
Bluetooth vs Wired
You can choose to purchase either Bluetooth bone conduction headphones or wired ones. Bluetooth is a far more common option due to its convenience, but people would inevitably prefer wired headphones.
What some people especially like about wireless headphones is that they don’t have to worry about having them yanked out of their devices accidentally, which may cause damage to the wiring.
You will also need to make sure that they are compatible with the device you plan to listen to music using (most of them will be, but it’s important to double-check).
But in the case of bone conduction headphones, you also will need to charge the batteries of wired headphones since they still operate using a special technology that regular pairs of headphones don’t. So, while people might prefer Bluetooth v5.0 headphones because they often don’t have to charge these, this won’t be the case with bone-conduction headphones. You must always ensure that the headphones have a full charge, no matter what type you choose.
Whether or not you choose to get Bluetooth or wired headphones ultimately depends on your preferences and whether or not you want a wire to get in the way of your listening.
Wireless headphones have been getting increasingly popular recently, so most of the bone conduction earphones on the market are wireless and operate using a Bluetooth 5.0 connection.
Brands
There aren’t too many brands out there that offer bone-conduction earphones, but some have become the industry leaders and have the best reviews.
AfterShokz
AfterShokz models are the most popular headphones and are considered the leading brand in the bone conduction headphones industry. It’s a brand that exclusively makes bonetech headphones, and there are several different options you have to choose from. Many of the other brands that offer these types of headphones took inspiration from AfterShokz models – read our reviews of Aftershokz headphones here.
The main goal of earphones created by AfterShokz is to carry the vibrations of your music directly to your eardrums. They are a great option for people with hearing impairments or hearing loss since they allow you to hear sound through vibration.
Besides that, you can avoid some of the damage that can be done to your ears when you wear traditional headphones, and you don’t have to worry about them getting dirty due to earwax buildup.
The brand-created headphones are meant for military and law enforcement people due to the nature of their jobs. But, then, the headphone brand expanded to include various options for people of all backgrounds.
When you look online, AfterShokz is the main brand you will see for a good reason. Their most popular models include the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium, Aftershokz Trekz Air, Aftershokz Xtrainerz, Aftershokz Aeropex, AfterShokz Openmove and more. Aftershokz models are the main innovator and leader in the bone conduction market and are highly trusted.
Vidonn
The main downside to AfterShokz is that their headphones are a bit more expensive than the ones offered by other brands. While undoubtedly the leader in the bone-conducting headphones industry, you may not want to spend as much on a pair of headphones.
We aren’t talking about several hundred of dollars here, but there might be a difference in the price offered by AfterShokz versus other bone conduction headphones.
The main brand that gets attention aside from AfterShokz is Vidonn, although they only offer one type of bone-conducting headphones, which we have included in our review below.
They are a lot cheaper than AfterShokz headphones, but they also are made with high-quality materials and are included in many reviews.
This brand is headquartered in China, so you may not have heard too much about them, but it seems that many people on the hunt highly trust their products for a good pair of vibration headphones.
Best Bone Conduction Headphones Reviews
Without any further ado, let’s review the best bone-conduction headphones on the market.
As we mentioned, AfterShokz is the best-rated brand in the industry. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that a pair of their headphones are among the top bone-conduction headphones available.
AfterShokz Trekz Titanium wireless bone conduction headphones allow you to hear music or audio through the cheekbone. These headphones’ bone conduction is secure and comfortable, and the titanium frame keeps the headphones in place even if you are jogging, playing sports or doing other activities.
The AfterShokz Trekz Titanium bone conduction headphones are sweatproof and have an IP55 rating, so you can wear them when you are out jogging; plus, you don’t have to worry if it rains or not, since they can withstand even the rainiest outdoor activities. They are some of the toughest headphones that don’t break because they are so lightweight.
They have 6 hours of battery life, so you can listen to continuous music and calls for up to 6 hours on a single charge. Hours of battery life are one of the most important factors to consider.
On the side, you have an easy-to-control button, which allows you to play, pause, skip answer calls or activate the voice assistant. You can listen to music or answer calls with the AfterShokz Trekz Titanium.
The Vidonn F1 Titanium uses bone conduction technology and has compatible features like those of AfterShokz headphones, but it comes lower. These are also considered to be among the best bone-conduction headphones available.
They use the latest Bluetooth 5.0, giving you a fast and stable connection with a 33 feet signal to enjoy good sound quality and clear calls using the built-in microphone. Vidonn F1 Titanium headphones have an open-ear design, are ergonomic, and stay in place without falling. In addition, the titanium headband is lightweight and durable.
Vidonn F1 Titanium has a long battery life, so you can use them for 6 hours non-stop, while there are 10 days of standby. Having many hours of battery life makes these a good option. However, to fully charge the lithium battery, you’ll need to charge them for 2 full hours using the micro USB cable. So, if you want something that can keep a full charge and has a 6-hour battery life, it might be a good idea to consider purchasing these to improve your listening experience.
These ear headphones are convenient and easy-to-use control buttons on the side of the headphones, allowing you to answer or hang up calls or play or pause your favorite soundtrack. In addition, there is a button that you can use to increase or decrease the volume.
These AfterShokz open-ear headphones are a bit cheaper, but they provide many of the same high-quality features as all of the headphones made by this brand.
If you want a pair of headphones available at a decent price point, this is a great option. It also could be a good option for someone who uses hearing aids, as they won’t impact the work of hearing aids since they go over the ear.
You can still hear what’s happening around you since they have an open-ear design. This means they are more comfortable to wear than other options because they only affect the outer and middle ear, meaning that you won’t have to worry about the headphones fitting your inner ear.
You also get a microphone built into the headphones, which means you can talk on the phone while wearing them. This added feature, included with many of the models on our list, provides a lot of convenience for those who want to use them for longer periods of time.
These AfterShokz Titanium bone conduction headphones are also great if you want to use them for exercise. These ear headphones come with reflective strips so you can have additional safety while on the go. You can use them for 6 hours if you plan to use them continuously before you charge them. Six hours of battery life is perfect for most people.
This option is also made of lightweight materials (they only weigh 1.27 ounces), so you won’t feel tired or weighed down when you wear them for long periods of time. There is also a mini option if you have a smaller head and worry that the regular sizes won’t fit.
Aftershokz Aeropex headphones are best for those who enjoy sports because they come with a special sporting pack and a sport belt.
The brand claims that it has upgraded the sound quality with these headphones, so you are said to listen to music at louder volumes and have a lot less sound leakage when you do so. Their comfortable fit will also make it easier to listen to ambient noise while you are working.
These also have a very long 8-hour battery life, higher than other headphones created by AfterShokz. With AfterShokz Aeropex, you can listen to music for 8 hours non-stop. This also means the headphones have a long standby time if you aren’t listening to music constantly. The lithium battery will be fully charged within two hours.
Since these are mostly meant for exercise, you can do some tough workouts and not experience any fatigue or discomfort. The AfterShokz Aeropex headphones are waterproof (ip67 rated), but you cannot use them when you want to swim.
They also absorb the moisture from sweat to keep you as comfortable as possible while wearing them. These are also one of the lightest models produced by this brand. They weigh less than one ounce, so you will feel extra comfortable wearing them.
While AfterShokz doesn’t make these, they are still one of the best bone-conduction headphones. They use vibration to send sounds directly to your cochlea in your middle ear. This can prevent a lot of the damage done by traditional headphones.
And the bonus is that you will be able to hear what’s going around you quite clearly, so you can avoid danger and avoid getting into trouble because you didn’t hear what someone said. So, even if you have a hearing impairment, these are great because they work by using vibrations.
The back is made of lightweight titanium, and you won’t have to worry about getting tired if you wear these for longer periods. Much like the AfterShokz headphones, this WGP option allows you to continuously listen to music for six hours. The battery will charge within two hours.
These operate using Bluetooth and are compatible with a multitude of different devices. The fact that they use features such as Bluetooth 5.0 is a major plus, and they rely on vibrations through the air to prevent ear damage means you will get the most for your money. Plus, they offer a 45-foot Bluetooth connection, meaning that you can be up to 45 feet away from the source of your music and still be able to hear it.
These open-ear headphones are easy to use as one button allows you to perform several functions, including answering phone calls and playing or pausing your music.
According to bone conduction headphones reviews, these are also not made by a well-known brand, but these AKASO headphones are some of the best.
They are completely wireless and compatible with any smart device you own, whether manufactured by Apple or Android. All you need to do is connect the headphones to your smart device, and you’re ready to go.
These headphones are also extremely lightweight, ensuring extra comfort while you wear them for longer periods of time. In addition, you will be able to wear them while you exercise and do other activities or sports outdoors.
The fact that they are sweatproof and water-resistant (with an ip55 rating) means that you can also use these headphones when it is raining outside, and you won’t have to worry about sweat impacting their performance or comfort. Fully waterproof or water-resistant headphones are a major plus in the industry.
Suppose people want to use these headphones while swimming or participating in any other activity where they might sweat or be exposed to water. In that case, it is always a good idea to seek fully waterproof or water-resistant models.
The battery is meant to last for 6 hours of continual use. The 6-hour battery life will enable you to get a full exercise routine and much more. The bone conduction headphones are also comfortable to wear, meaning that you can exercise for long periods, such as 2 hours or 6 hours, and not have any problems.
The headphones also feature two buttons that will allow you to perform various functions. For one, you will be able to play and pause your music. You can also use these buttons to answer calls. And like the other options, these include a microphone, which adds to their overall convenience.
The nice thing about the AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones, particularly, is that they also come with reflective strips. This is good for people who want to wear them during exercise at night because it lets drivers be aware of your presence.
They also have a special design that allows them to be used all day. They’re lightweight and won’t cause you to feel tired while wearing them for extended periods of time.
They are comfortable to wear, and even if you want to wear them anywhere from 2 hours to ten hours, you won’t experience any discomfort. The high-quality design and superior audio quality will also be major pluses when purchasing these ear-bone conduction Bluetooth headphones.
The AfterShokz Trekz Air bone conduction headphones are wireless, as the name suggests, and they are also compatible with various devices. So whether you use an iOS device or an Android, you can use them no matter what type of Mac or PC you own.
As we said, bone conduction headphones will not provide you with the same sound quality as a pair of regular headphones, but you still get decent quality. The AfterShokz Trekz Air also work to produce as little sound leakage as possible when you listen to your music at louder volumes.
Besides, you can choose between several colors for these headphones per your taste and what you like. Moreover, this AfterShokz Trekz Air have a long battery life that will last you for six hours if you listen to music continuously.
Here is another good pair of bone-conduction Bluetooth headphones from Pyle, which have a comfortable design that wraps around your head. They have Bluetooth version 4.1 and can be paired with many devices: smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops, MP3 players and more.
You can use the Pyle bone conduction headphones up to 35 feet from the device you’ve connected them to. In addition, there is a built-in microphone that allows you to answer calls while you are on the go.
While the side panel button controls are easy to use, so you can adjust the volume, play or skip tracks and more. A cool LED indicator also shows how much battery you have left.
Another reason why you’ll like them is that they are waterproof IPX6 rated, and have a weather-resistant design. Regarding the battery life, some people have said that recharging takes longer than expected, around 4 hours, plus the battery life is around 2 hours, which is much less than AfterShokz headphones.
Although a battery life of 2 hours might not be ideal, consider all the additional features you would get with these headphones, such as superior sound and audio quality or Bluetooth. In addition, it is a good price point for what you’re getting.
These new bone conduction headphones from Aftershokz feature a boom mic. They also have dual noise canceling mics on board to cancel out background noise. A noise canceling microphone is common in most standard headphones, but not as much with bone conduction headsets.
They connect with all Bluetooth devices, including consoles and PCs. These are great for work as they keep your ears open, while you can still hear music playing or take calls.
These Bluetooth headphones weigh practically nothing and work well at high volumes.
Buying Guide
If you want to get a better idea of how bone-conduction headphones work and if people think they’re worth purchasing, we recommend that you watch this YouTube video.
If you want to get a better idea of how bone-conduction headphones work and if people think they’re worth purchasing, we recommend that you watch this YouTube video.
Again, these types of headphones are not for everyone. Some people won’t like that the sound quality is much worse than that of traditional headphones. On the other hand, many people prefer to listen to loud music and cannot hear anything else.
This is extremely damaging to your hearing, however, and even though the quality of sound would be infinitely better with a regular pair of headphones, you want to make sure that you do the best you can when it comes to protecting your ears.
The main purpose of bone conduction headphones is to listen to what is happening around you so you can be aware of your surroundings. This means that they are not noise-cancelling as you can still hear the sound around you.
Also, some people won’t like the strong vibrations you will feel as the music gets louder. However, this is a great feature for people with hearing impairments or those who wear a hearing aid, as they can access the sound a lot better. Therefore, this is why these headphones don’t have noise-cancelling properties.
In all, there are some things that you may want to consider when you purchase a pair of bone-conduction headphones.
Sound Quality
One of the main concerns of people looking to purchase headphones that use bone conduction technology is the sound quality. Since bone conduction headphones don’t enter the inner ear but instead transfer sound waves through your ear bones, the sound quality is worse than traditional headphones.
They are open-ear devices designed to go around your outer ear. You can choose between various headphones, such as the Aeropex Trekz Air headphones. The Aeropex Trekz Air enables you to hear audio while also being able to hear ambient noise.
They are not the best choice for a musician or an audiophile. However, people who play sports, exercise or go cycling often won’t be bothered by the sound quality and will enjoy all the benefits they give you. They are great with bass heavy music.
In these cases, you often don’t want background noise, and because of all the air whizzing around you when you’re running, it’s always a good idea to have high sound quality with a regular pair of headphones.
If sound quality is important to you, check out our Cowin headphones review, which doesn’t use bone conduction technology; but provides a rich music experience and has excellent noise-cancelling properties.
The headband and ear cushions are soft and comfortable so you can wear them for a long time. In addition, these headphones are resistant to air getting in, and you won’t have to worry about the vibrations and other factors that fall into using bone-conduction headphones.
Battery Life
This is another point to consider when you purchase a pair of bone-conduction headphones. The best bone conduction headphones have a long battery life and can keep a full charge for long periods.
However, it is important to understand that a pair of headphones that offers Bluetooth 5.0 will have fewer hours of battery life than the hours of battery life available with wired headphones. This is because Bluetooth headphones operate using batteries that will need to be changed from time to time.
Usually, the battery life will range from 4-8 hours, where 8 hours is considered a long battery life. In addition, most bone-conduction headphones will come with a USB charging cable, so you can charge them once the battery runs out.
What devices are they compatible with?
As we said, these headphones work by transmitting sound directly to your eardrum through sound vibrations and produce much less damage than regular headphones. So while they might not produce the same high-quality sound, there are plenty of great reasons to consider purchasing bone-conduction headphones.
If you want to get bone-shock headphones that connect using Bluetooth, you will want to make sure that they are compatible with the device you plan on using to listen to music or make calls. Also, check if they have a microphone to know if you can use them to make calls.
How much do they weigh?
You might not have thought about this before, but because these headphones lie on your temples, you don’t want to get a heavy pair. In addition, this could cause headaches and discomfort in general if you plan on wearing the headphones for longer periods of time.
Most of them are made out of lightweight materials, though, so you won’t have to worry too much. Nonetheless, check the weight of the pair of bone-conduction headphones you’re planning on buying—the models we listed in this article weigh between 0.88 ounces and 1.27 ounces.
Sweatproof vs. Waterproof Bone Conduction Headphones
You won’t be able to swim using bone-conduction earphones, but it’s probably better to purchase a pair that you can use in the light rain and a pair that can handle sweat if you plan on using them for exercise.
Check if the pair of headphones have an IP55 rating or IP67 rating. If they are IP55 Certified, they are designed to repel sweat, dust and moisture.
If they are IP67 Certified, they are completely waterproof and sweatproof, so you can take them outside even if there is heavy rain. However, remember that you should not use Bluetooth bone-conduction headphones for swimming even with the waterproof rating.
Bone Conduction Headphone FAQ:
Are bone-conduction headphones worth it?
For the most part, people who use bone-conduction headphones already have hearing impairments and need to be able to hear the music or audio through vibrations. Otherwise, the impaired sound quality might not appeal to people, and lots of air can interrupt your listening because these are open-ear headphones.
They are great for casual music listening and phone calls while you are busy, but not great for overall audio quality. They also let in ambient noise without other protection in your ears.
Which are the best bone-conduction headphones?
We have provided a list of some of the best bone-conduction headphones on the market. Aftershokz Trekz Air, Aftershokz Xtrainerz, and Vidonn F1 Titanium are among the best and roughly the same quality.
Are bone-conduction headphones bad for you?
No! In fact, bone-conduction headphones, such as the Aftershokz Trekz Air, are great in terms of how well they protect your hearing. In addition, since they don’t go into your inner ear like a regular pair, you won’t have to worry about the potential hearing damage they can cause. Learn more about if bone-conduction headphones are safe for your hearing.
Are bone conduction headphones good for phone calls?
The bone conduction headset is great for phone callsThe bone-conduction headphones keep the ears closed allowing you to keep an eye on your surroundings. These headphones offer good protection against hearing loss.
Can a deaf person use bone-conduction headphones?
Yes! Beethoven used bone conduction to compose his music. In addition, bone-conduction hearing aids have been around for a long time to produce sound vibrations. Therefore, someone deaf would be the perfect candidate for bone-conduction headphones.
Those with conductive hearing loss have poor hearing through their ears, Bone conduction will provide easy music listening for those with hearing health issues.
Can you still hear with bone conduction headphones?
The advantage of the open-ear bone conduction for everyone is that you can listen to music and listen to the surrounding world because there is no obstruction to ear canals.
Unlike traditional headphones they leave your ear canal open so you’ll hear everything. In-ear headphones passively protect from loud noises, sound better at louder volume and often provide noise-cancellation.
Can other people hear bone conduction headphones?
Do Bone Headphones sound distorted? Bones can be heard more clearly by people around you though, if not completely silent. Because drivers cannot produce ear-drum vibrations that cannot be removed through the canal, others cannot. They will need to be much closer or even more, touching you, for it to be heard.
What is better air conduction or bone conduction headphones?
Generally the conduction air headphone offers better sound characteristics. Air conduction (conventional headphones) provides high-fidelity sound directly to your ears, whereas bone conduction can sound muffled at loud volumes.
Which is the best AfterShokz model?
AfterShokz Aeropex has dominated the bone conduction headphones market. Premium pitch 2.0+ is a superior quality sound system compared to previous products.
Can you make phone calls with AfterShokz? Yes, when you connect a wireless mobile to a Bluetooth device, you hear the sound of two separate microphones making incoming calls.
Definitely the Best Overall AfterShokz Aeropex AfterShokz dominates bone conductive headphones with its new AeropEx ($133) models. PremiumPitch 2.0+ is designed for higher performance and sound quality than many competitors.
How Much Do Bone Conduction Headphones Cost?
The bone conduction headphone market is vast, but typically they cost $100-150. More affordable bone conduction headphones can be found for less but may have poorer sound quality.
Conclusion
In this bone conduction headphones review, we compiled a list of some of the best bone conduction headphones out there with good reviews. You can choose to use such headphones for various reasons, including for your everyday exercise, your daily commute, added convenience at work, and more. They’re also great if you have hearing impairments because you can hear music through vibrations.
In this review, most of the products listed were from AfterShokz. Overall our number one recommendation is the AfterShokz Titanium Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones AS600BK. They are comfortable and designed for long wear.
Their battery life will last up to 6 hours of straight use. In addition, you can both listen to music or answer calls since they have a microphone. Another cool feature is that they are available in six color combinations, so you can find one you love. You can also get custom ear hooks for your earbuds.