Enjoying nature isn’t a difficult ask. Although sometimes it can be, especially if you’re dealing with tough temperatures and annoying pests and bugs. Sometimes, you just want to be able to go out into your yard and take care of some yard work that you’ve been putting off for weeks. That’s some people’s idea of enjoying nature.
Making your yard the best that it can be is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors. But you have to put in the work to get it that way. I’m learning this the hard way, trying to balance work, fatherhood, and keeping up with a large yard. Luckily, I don’t do any yard work without some form of entertainment. That entertainment comes in the form of my bone conduction headphones.
I love wearing bone conduction headphones outside
It’s the perfect tool for any outdoor job
I was first introduced to bone conduction headphones a few years ago when I was training to run a race. I had been using earbuds that were great when it came to dealing with sweat and the controls were easy to use. But they had a knack for falling out when I was in the middle of my run, making them incredibly frustrating to deal with. If they weren’t in my ears, they weren’t any good to me.
I’ve used over-ear headphones in the gym as I’m not moving around with quick movements often where they will fall off my head. Sitting and doing bench press is something you can do with ease when you’re wearing over-ear headphones. But they aren’t practical for being outside because they do almost too good a job of blocking out noise.
A colleague mentioned trying bone conduction headphones for working out outdoors. They have a unique wireless design that sends vibrations around your ear and straight to your cheekbones. This allows the sound to travel to your inner ear without needing to stick anything in it. The open design lets me hear ambient sound around me while also providing me with good sound quality in a design that fits me.
As an avid runner and as someone who owns a home with a yard, being able to hear what’s going on and wear headphones comfortably is priceless. I get through a lot of long hours of yard work thanks to these headphones.
I prefer the Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones
These have been the best I’ve tried
The Shokz OpenRun Pro have the best overall design and features of any bone conduction headphones that I’ve tried. They were the first bone conduction headphones I’ve tried out and they are still the best.
As a tech writer for nearly 10 years, I’ve been able to test out many pairs of headphones, including multiple pairs of bone conduction ones.
The OpenRun Pro headphones have served me well on training runs for years. I much prefer to run outdoors than on a treadmill if I can and running on the road comes with inherent risks. I have to look out for cars, cyclists, and other people. If my back happens to be turned to traffic or as I’m crossing the road, I want to be able to hear what’s going on around me.
These headphones sit comfortably on my cheekbones, providing quality sound without leading to any fatigue on my face or ears. They are relaxed around the ear, so they don’t hurt, even if I’m wearing them for a long period of time. The previous owner of our home had planted a massive patch of pachysandra in the middle of an island in the backyard. When my wife and I moved in, she immediately wanted it gone.
I threw on my bone conduction headphones and got to work. After 10 hours of pulling up the invasive plants, my body was sore, but my ears and face weren’t. I listened to podcasts, music, and sporting events to pass the time and never got tired.
I can wear these in any season
I’m out there at different times of the year
Trying to maintain my yard is nearly a round-the-clock endeavor. From putting down mulch in the spring to shoveling and snowblowing the driveway in the winter, I want the curb appeal of my home to shine.
I have my bone conduction headphones on when I’m spreading salt or ice melt on the driveway or grass seed in the yard. I can’t tell you how many football games I’ve listened to while raking leaves in the fall.
The Shokz OpenRun Pro have a sweat-resistant design that measures an IP55 water resistance. I’ve worn them in snow, sleet, rain, and baking sun where I’m the one providing the moisture.
They pair easily with my phone via Bluetooth, so as long as I have my phone near me, I’m good to go. I also appreciate how long the battery of the OpenRun Pro lasts because I do get up to 10 hours of charge for those long, grueling days of picking weeds or mowing the lawn.
The only downside to bone conduction headphones that I’ve found, and this is generally across the board, is the fact that they usually use
proprietary connectors to charge. These don’t have typical chargers, due to their design. This makes you have to use one cord and only one to charge it, meaning if you happen to lose it, it’s a frustrating replacement.
Bone conduction headphones let me move with freedom outdoors
I love wearing wireless headphones and I’ve found that bone conduction headphones are my favorite type for when I’m outdoors. Whether I’m working out or working to make the outside of my home look better, I prefer this style, specifically the Shokz OpenRun Pro. They make it easier to get through all kinds of chores, thanks to their comfortable design and fit.
- Battery Life
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10 hours
- Wireless?
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Yes
- Microphones
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Yes
- Compatible With
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Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows
- Brand
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Shokz
- Sensitivity
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105±3dB
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are bone conduction headphones with a comfortable design and fit. They are IP55 water-resistant, making them great for sweaty workouts. They can be worn for hours without causing pain.
