Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 review

Putting the OpenRun Pro 2 on is a pleasant surprise. The open-ear design is liberating; there’s no denying the joy of having nothing jammed in your ear canals, getting all warm and waxy. They are genuinely light enough to be forgotten, and for all-day wear at a desk, they beat most earbuds hands down.

The lightweight, unibody frame with its soft silicone finish and Ni-Ti alloy memory wire is as comfy as a pair of old slippers. The ergonomic ear hooks keep them securely in place, whether you’re out for a jog or just vigorously nodding along to a banging tune at your desk. You can even wear sunglasses over them because the silicone wire is very thin. This might be good news for pro runners and cyclists.

Now, let's talk about the case. It’s… substantial. While the headphones themselves are sleek and minimalist, the case is a bit of a chunky monkey. It's not exactly pocket-friendly, so you won't be slipping it into your skinny jeans. But hey, at least you're unlikely to lose it. It’s also squish-proof and sturdy which makes it perfect for throwing it in your bag with your cycling, running, climbing gear and not worrying about it getting damaged. It’s purpose built for those sorts of things.

Shokz makes a lot of noise about its new DualPitch tech, which pairs a bone conductor with a tiny air conduction driver to beef up the bass. And to be fair, the low-end is better than I expected. The first time you wear them, it’s truly impressive how much audio can be funneled into your ear without leaking out. And so much of that audio is coherent and clean. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 definitely has impressive sonic chops for bone conduction headphones. 

The Pro 2 hits all the groovy rhythm of Loser by Tame Impala. But let's be blunt: this is not an audiophile experience. Not even close. The sound feels substantial but not meaty. You lose all the immersion, detail, and punch that you get from even a mid-range pair of earbuds. However, it’s still a very private listening experience as long as the volume is under 70%. And at higher volumes, they leak sound, but not as badly as those smart glasses with speakers. Crank them up on the train and you’ll be sharing your guilty-pleasure playlist with the person next to you. 

This is purely functional audio. It’s designed for listening to a podcast or some background tunes while you're pounding the pavement and need to hear that cyclist/rickshaw/escaped tiger bearing down on you. For that specific task, it’s fine. For anything else, it's not competing with traditional earbuds.

Even so, I feel the quality is commendable for a bone conduction headphone. It’s primarily designed for sports and, more specifically, outdoor sports that require you to look over your shoulder every now and then. If you’re a cyclist, this might really tempt you in more ways than one.

It has Bluetooth 5.3, which has a very good range and maintains a connection better than most TWS we’ve tried. It also has multipoint support, which can be enabled through the app. The app also lets you adjust the EQ and tweak the audio quality.

You also get the basics, of course. A single button on the left side to pick up calls and skip tracks with a single or double tap, or go back to the previous on with triple taps. There’s also a volume rocker on the right side. An IP55 rating means they'll survive a workout, and the mics are actually rather good at isolating your voice from background clatter, making them decent for calls on the go. The 12-hour battery life is perfectly respectable, too. 

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 is a master of one trade, providing audio while maintaining complete situational awareness. For serious runners and cyclists, that single feature might be a compelling enough reason to buy them.

For everyone else, it’s a tough sell. You’re sacrificing audio fidelity and noise isolation for flights and some peace. In a world where excellent true wireless earbuds offer superb sound and brilliant transparency modes that do 90% of what Shokz does, the OpenRun Pro 2 feels like a very specific choice.

However, there’s also the fact that they don’t enter your ear canal or cover your ears means that many folks might even enjoy the freedom of wearing this and forgetting it’s hooked to your ears. The uncomfortable TWS fit or the steamy headphone cushions will never be an issue with the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, and that’s something to consider.