Shokz have become something of a household name in the open-ear headphone world, particularly among runners and outdoor enthusiasts. Rather than sitting inside your ears like conventional earbuds, their headphones are designed to leave your ears completely open, allowing you to listen while still hearing what’s happening around you.
I’ve been testing the Shokz OpenFit Air 2 for the past month, using them on dog walks, in the gym, during my ankle physio sessions (after a bad break earlier this year) and while working at home. And, as someone who doesn’t normally wear headphones when I’m out walking or running, they’ve actually managed to win me over.
Shokz OpenFit Air 2 Key Details
The OpenFit Air 2 use an open-ear design that sits around the outside of your ears, with Bluetooth connectivity, physical controls and an IP55 water-resistance rating. Each earbud weighs just 7.2g, while the compact charging case weighs 60g.
Price: £129
Weight: 7.2g per ear, 60g case
Battery: Up to 8 hours, 36 hours with charging case
Water resistance: IP55
Pros: They let you keep some awareness of sounds around you, comfortable, surprisingly good sound, secure fit, impressive battery life
Cons: Some sound leakage, buttons can be fiddly with gloves, no cover over USB-C port on storage case
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Shokz OpenFit Air 2
How I’ve Been Testing The Headphones
I’ve been using the OpenFit Air 2 intensively for around 30 days, generally for about two hours a day usually. They’ve been with me on my morning dog walks, during gym sessions and while doing physio for a badly broken ankle. I’ve also used them while working from home, particularly when taking calls.
Outdoors, they’ve been exposed to plenty of typical British weather too, including on a recent hike in the Black Mountains, on a two-hour hike around the Wiltshire Downs, and on just daily dog walks in the rain. One walk in particular saw rain coming sideways in some pretty strong winds. I’m building myself up to doing some multi-day long-distance walking and again and these will be certainly coming with me.
Comfort and Fit
For me, one of the biggest advantages of the OpenFit Air 2 is their comfort. Because they don’t sit inside your ear canal, you don’t get the same fatigue that can develop with conventional earbuds after a couple of hours.
I’ve worn them for two-hour walks and 90-minute gym sessions without any rubbing, pressure or irritation. In fact, there have been occasions when I’ve briefly wondered where I’d left them, only to realise I’m still wearing them.
Once they’re positioned correctly, they’re also very secure. I haven’t had any issues with them moving around while walking or exercising, and they’re quick enough to put on once you’ve got used to the positioning.
They work surprisingly well with different types of headwear too. I’ve used them with a baseball cap, beanie, buff and even a straw hat without any problems.
The buttons take a little getting used to. They’re easy enough to operate once you’ve learnt the different presses, although I found them almost impossible when wearing gloves.
Sound Quality
I wasn’t expecting audiophile levels of sound from something that doesn’t actually sit in your ears, but the OpenFit Air 2 have genuinely surprised me here.
The sound is clear and the bass has a good amount of presence. They’re obviously not going to match a pair of over-ear headphones that completely surround your ears, but for an open-ear design, I think they sound remarkably good.
I’ve particularly enjoyed listening to classical music through them, where I can still pick up plenty of the subtleties. More energetic music sounds good too, while podcasts and spoken-word audio are excellent.
There’s one podcast I listen to where I regularly find myself adjusting the volume on my car radio depending on which of the hosts is speaking. I don’t have that problem with these.
Hearing What’s Around You
This is where the OpenFit Air 2 really come into their own.
You can listen to music while still hearing what’s going on around you. On dog walks, I can hear birds singing, my dog on the trail behind me and other walkers saying hello. I’ve also been able to hear bikes approaching from behind and cars moving across roads.
It’s a nice middle ground. You get the entertainment of listening to music or a podcast, but without that slightly tunnel-visioned feeling you can get from conventional headphones.
I particularly like this in the gym. If I need to ask someone else in the gym a question, I don’t have to take my headphones out to hear their response and I also can hear people out of my field of vision speaking to me too.
It’s also made me much more comfortable wearing headphones outdoors. I don’t normally listen to anything while walking or running, but I’ve been very happy to wear these.
There are still times when I’d rather leave the headphones at home, though. If I’m out on a quiet hill and want to hear the wind in the trees and everything else going on around me, I’d rather embrace that.
Calls, Battery and Weather Resistance
Call quality has also proved impressive. I’ve been able to have clear conversations while walking beside a busy road, and my partner tells me I’ve always sounded clear when calling her through them, even when there’s been plenty of wind around.
Battery life has been equally good. Shokz quote up to eight hours from the headphones, with the charging case extending total listening time to 36 hours. Based on my testing, that feels realistic.
The case is compact enough to slip into a hand or jacket pocket, which I like for hiking. My only slight gripe is the exposed USB-C charging port. Given how often these headphones are likely to be used outdoors, I’d have preferred some protection from rain and general dampness. I think I’d need to store the case in a drybag on any long hikes in rainy conditions.
The IP55 rating means they’re protected against rain and sweat, and I’ve had no issues using them during wet walks or sweaty gym sessions. They aren’t designed for swimming, however. It’s worth noting that Shokz have other options that will suit swim sessions.
How it Compares
The obvious alternative in the Shokz range is the OpenRun Pro 2. Personally, I prefer the Open Run Pro 2 for running and more active outdoor use because the two sides are connected, making them harder to lose and, in my experience, easier to put on and take off when moving. I go camping a lot and I’d prefer to have the one-piece design of the Open Run Pro 2 in the tent with me as it gives me one less thing to locate/lose in the dark.
The OpenFit Air 2 have their advantages over the OpenRun though. There’s no band around the back of your head, nothing to tangle and they’re incredibly easy to slip into a pocket. Their battery life is much longer too – but only when carried with the case.
One thing to be aware of with any open-ear headphones is sound leakage. I haven’t found this to be much of an issue outdoors, but I’ve been a little more conscious of the volume when using them on trains and in other quiet public spaces. That’s probably the main drawback to these for me.
Should You Buy the Shokz OpenFit Air 2?
In short, I’d say yes. If you’re looking for headphones for hiking, running, dog walking or other outdoor activities where being aware of your surroundings matters, there’s a lot to like here.
For me, the combination of comfort, good sound and situational awareness is the real selling point. They’re also incredibly convenient. No wires, nothing sitting inside your ears and no need to take them off whenever someone wants to talk to you.
At £129, they’re a bit of an investment, but it does come across as a quality, well-made product.
