I ran, cycled and worked out with the Shokz OpenFit 2 — here’s my verdict

If I put together a list of updates I wanted from the Shokz OpenFit 2 compared with the original Shokz OpenFit, it would be improved (and louder) sound, better battery life and a physical button instead of touch pad controls.

So credit to Shokz, because all of those upgrades have been made with the OpenFit 2, along with a slight improvement to the fit of the headphones. They are among the best running headphones I’ve tested, and great for other workouts and general use as well.

There are still trade-offs to be made because of the open design — you lose out on sound quality compared with in-ear buds — but in my Shokz OpenFit 2 review I’ll explain why I still rate them so highly, and compare them with other top open headphones and the best bone conduction headphones.

Shokz OpenFit 2 review: Price and availability

The Shokz OpenFit 2 launched at CES 2025 and are available in the U.S. at the same $179 price as the original OpenFit. They will be available in the U.K. and Europe later this year. Shokz also has the cheaper OpenFit Air headphones in its range, which cost $119 / £119.

Shokz OpenFit 2 review: Design and fit

The OpenFit 2 are independent earhook headphones that position a speaker near your ear canal without blocking it. This provides better sound quality than bone conduction headphones, while still allowing you to hear more of your surroundings than in-ear buds.

Shokz has changed the curve on the flexible nickel-titanium earhook of the OpenFit 2 compared with the OpenFit to improve the fit. I found the original OpenFit comfortable and secure to wear during and outside of workouts, but some people found they would come loose when running. The new shape worked well for me — you can wear the OpenFit 2 all day without any pressure points on your ears.

I ran, cycled and did strength workouts and yoga while wearing the headphones and they didn’t come loose at all. They are light and comfortable enough to almost forget you’re wearing them, and I could use them alongside glasses and a hat while running without them getting in the way.

I’ve been able to link up the headphones with my phone and laptop without problems using Bluetooth 5.4, and there is multipoint pairing for two devices. You charge the headphones in their case using a USB-C port, so you don’t need a proprietary cable.

The Shokz OpenFit 2 are available in black and beige at launch and have an IP55 rating, meaning they are not fully waterproof but will easily withstand sweat and rain. The case doesn’t have a water resistance rating though, which might be a concern if you carry it in a sweaty running belt or backpack for long events.

Shokz OpenFit 2 review: Controls

Having spent many a run fiddling with the annoying touch panel controls on the Shokz OpenFit I was delighted to see that a physical button has been introduced with the OpenFit 2, alongside the touch panel.

The small multi-function button is much easier than the touch panel to use mid-workout, or even outside of workouts, and you can adjust the controls in the app to suit your preferences.

Having tested the OpenFit 2 during the British winter almost all my outdoor workouts were done while wearing gloves, and you can use this button without a problem, whereas the touch controls are basically unusable while wearing gloves.

Shokz OpenFit 2 review: Sound quality

There is always a sacrifice to make on sound quality if you opt for open headphones, but the OpenFit 2 do sound significantly better than both their predecessor and the cheaper OpenFit Air headphones, and are among the best-sounding open headphones I’ve tested.

The new DualBoost setup sees two speakers used on each bud, one focused on bass and one on mids and highs. The mids and highs certainly benefit from this approach, being crisper and more detailed than on the OpenFit, and while the bass still lacks punch compared with in-ear buds, the sound is fuller and more enjoyable on the OpenFit 2.

They are also louder than most open headphones, which is a plus if you’re in noisy environments — I spend more time than I should running by a busy road and you can still hear your music with the OpenFit 2, though podcasts can still be hard to hear. When traveling, however, the sound can be drowned out, which is always a problem with open headphones.

There are four preset EQ modes in the partner app and you can also adjust the settings manually using five sliders. The standard setting is balanced and I found if I opted to boost the bass too much it did lead to the mids and highs getting muddied. After a lot of tinkering I ended up just back at the standard setting myself.

Shokz OpenFit 2 review: Battery life

Shokz has substantially increased the battery life on the OpenFit 2, which last up to 11 hours on a charge and 48 hours in total with the charging case. If you listen to music with the volume at the max and the bass boost activated, your numbers might fall short, but for the most part in my testing the OpenFit 2 drained at the rate suggested by Shokz.

If you are caught short of juice just before a run or workout, 5 minutes in the case will net you two hours of playback on the headphones. It takes 60 minutes for the headphones to charge fully from empty in the case.

Should you buy the Shokz OpenFit 2?

If you want a set of open headphones for your workouts, or general use, the Shokz OpenFit 2 are one of your best options. They are a significant improvement on the OpenFit and now offer a big upgrade on the cheaper OpenFit Air, though the latter do offer better value if you don’t mind their lesser sound quality and shorter battery life (6 hours on the buds).

The only open headphones I’ve tested that I’d say offer better audio quality are the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which are considerably more expensive, and the OpenFit 2 certainly sound better than bone conduction headphones even including the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, which impressed me on that front themselves.

You still have to weigh up the negatives of open headphones, which aren’t always suitable for general use in loud environments, but the benefits of a secure and comfortable fit plus awareness make the OpenFit 2 ideal for sports use, and the sacrifice you make on sound quality is smaller than ever.