You nailed this review! You're exactly right, you just need ro manage your expectations when it comes to the Shokz Pro 2. I had the original ones and grew to love them for what they were. I can't run with airpods because I just cant ever get a secure enough fit and one always ends up slipping out. I recently upgraded to the Pro 2s and compared to the originals they are vastly improved in the sound quality department. But like you said just dont expect the sound quality or volume you get from an in-ear or over-ear. For running, the Shokz are by far my favorite headphones to use because of the combination of comfort, physical controls, environmental awareness, and now the better sound quality.
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave you thoughts and appreciate the kindness. I agree with everything you’ve said.. In fact I would say I like them more now as I’m running every day in the dark mornings and the awareness for hearing traffic is proving to be so helpful for safety. It’s a balance, and with the right expectations it difficult not to like these. Have a good week mate 🫡
Really appreciate this feedback, means a lot that people can get value from my reviews. They are great headphones for keeping you aware, I use them every morning now on my runs 👍
Subscribed. Came here to decide whether I should get the OpenPro 2 and after watching your video, the answer is YES. I only run on the road, don't bike so the wind issue is not relevant to me.
That’s great to hear, I appreciate the positive feedback and glad it helped you decide. I think they are great for the job they do, I wear them every morning now for running over the EarPods pro because the comfort and awareness is far better. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do 🫡
I just subscribed... This review is awesome... You did a great job articulating all the features along with the pros and cons. As a former owner of the Open Run Pros, I'll give the 2nd generation a try based on your review.
Great review, i was wondering about buying a set of these for running with. Im always frightened of losing my airpods, especially if its raining. Youve convinced me to pull the trigger and give them a try. Thanks again for sharing your honest thoughts with us. Cheers Col
You’ll enjoy them Colin. They aren’t as loud or as rich as the AirPods but they are comfortable and great for awareness for running. I wear them every time now, even when I could easily use the AirPod pros. 👍
I been using these for 2 weeks- I have never used open ear headphones before I’m coming from Bose QC earbuds I love these for running on the road and through the neighborhood- my traffic awareness is great with these
@@jhosoi808 couldn’t agree more. They will never have the same sound quality as the Bose or AirPod pro but the awareness is awesome and there’s something quite liberating about not having anything in your ears while running. Safety is fantastic and I find myself reaching for these even in the gym so it shows that they are even better than I imagined 👍
I currently have both the OpenRun SE $100 (available at Costco) and the OpenRun Pro $160. The sound difference between the two is marginal at best, as with most songs it's difficult to tell the difference. I will give the OpenRun Pro 2 a shot. Thank you for your review!
You’re welcome. I had OR SE and tried the openrun pro and returned them as I thought they were terrible. The OR pro 2 is light years better, the air conduction makes a big difference compared to the old versions. Hope you find them way better if you get them 👍
Recently went and got these and I'm rather impressed with them. Definitely among the best sounding open ear headphones out there, but of course they can't compete with anything going directly in or over your ear. My Jabra Elite 8 active earbuds are going to sound much better than the Openruns do, but the Openrun is much safer to use when going out running, bike riding, or whenever you need to actively be aware of your surroundings. Biggest improvement besides usb-c is they no longer vibrate at loud volumes. Even cranking the volume is no longer painful and that's legitimately impressive.
@@JustAFatGuyInTX totally agree. If you are realistic about what open ear headphones can do then it’s difficult not to be impressed with the improvements. And having that dreadful vibration and distortion gone is a huge improvement I agree 👍
When I do want to listen to music while running I use Apple air pods, but with only one in, usually my left. I find it works ok but I still struggle with awareness around me, especially when cyclists come up from behind me, usually gives a bit of a startle. I tried on a coworkers pair of open run pro’s and wasn’t overly impressed, mind you we were in a very noisy environment. After your honest review, I will give the open run pro 2’s a go.
Thanks for the feedback, I’m glad to have given you some info to help with your decision. I use the AirPods a lot and they are great for different reasons. The open run pro 2 is so much better than the open run pro so I think you’ll be happily surprised there. 👍
They're great at what they do, of course the sound is not the main thing here but what did you expect with such a concept? I use them everyday at work, at home, for sport and use others when I want a great sound. They're very good for calls also. The multipoint bluetooth connection really needs to be improved though, it's far from other competitors.
I agree with everything you’ve said there. I personally haven’t experienced any issues with the Bluetooth but personally not used it as part of a multipoint set up. Thanks so much for you feedback, appreciate it 🫡
I think they’ve come a long way. The sound quality is totally acceptable. However, compared to the competition of the open-ear earbuds of today (like the Bose Ultra Open) it’s hard to justify these for someone seeking the highest sound quality. These did show their colors in having nearly nothing in your ears. It was super transparent to hear what was going on around you, but even with that I found myself pausing the music to be able to do more in-depth tasks like talking to people.
@@NewbGamingNetworks absolutely agree with all you’ve said. They will never compare to the likes of Bose but they have a lot of great about them in their own way. The think the word used and what I emphasised was acceptable and I think you have that totally spot on. Acceptable sound and fantastic open ear experience is finally the right balance.
Just subscribed to you. Definitely love the feedback that you’ve given. What do you think about the noise cancellation? I am outside often but I’m also driving over the road quite a bit. Thank you for the feedback. You’ve provided already.
Thanks chad, appreciate that mate. There isn’t really any noise cancellation on them as such as they are more focused on keeping you aware of the surroundings. They give a great balance between sound and awareness 👍
Hi, Thank you for the review, may I ask you something? I want to know (if you know it) if the OPENRUN PRO 2, being also air conduction, give you the same ear massage feeling at higher volumes like the normal OpenRun (those at 130/140 €). Because I would like to have the same feeling I had with standard OpenRun I tried in store. If they dont have it I will go for the standard OpenRun and not the Pro2. Thanks
Hi Matt, thanks for the positive feedback. You can still feel the vibration yes, but I would say not quite as much at higher volumes as in the original. The air is taking care of some of the base giving a deeper and a little louder sound, but you can definitely still feel the vibration. Cheers 👍
Any opinion on using them for a treadmill in a gym? Guessing the environment will drown out all the sound from these headphones? Especially if the gym is playing some music in the background?
I use them to run on my treadmill at home, and you can hear your footfall but not so much that it overpowers your music. I expect of a gym had music on it would clash with what you are listening to, but I’ve heard several people saying they wear them at the gym and they are great. I think they are probably loud enough that you’d be ok. 👍
Not sure anyone has said they sound like high end earphones. But they have progressed hugely since bone conduction first came out. I love mine use them more than my Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
@@Fozzee.1970 agreed, they are so much better than any other bone conduction ear phones that have ever come out. I think the air conduction helps a lot with that though. I’ve been using mine for every run recently, even when there was no reason not to use the AirPods so they must be performing well. 👍
That’s fair dude - I know those moments when you need to dig deep and a huge bass filled song comes on and you get that little extra kick. There is definitely a compromise to be had with open ear headphones generally. Sometimes they don’t get the job done but for those who need that awareness the open run 2 is a very good option to consider.
@@Runningonthemind True. I, however, listen to music to "detach" myself from my surrondings and my thoughts and immerse myself into a sonic world. This is what makes me forget about how tired I am and how many km I have yet to go. For that, I only run on nature tracks, beach promenades etc. void of any traffic so I do not need that awareness offered by these headphones. The only reason I bought them is that I feel uncomfortable with in-ear earbuds. Headband headphones are ok but in summer they make me sweat. I think I will go with Jabra Elite 8 Active, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Beats Powerbeats Pro. All four have the added advantage that they are small enough that one could stick them into a small waterproof pouch, together with the phone, keys and credit cards when going for a swim in between the running sessions. This way one does not risk them being stolen when deposited on the beach. One big advantage I see with the OpenRun Pro (and also with Bose Ultra Open Earbuds) is the possibility to hit on chicks while running along the beach promenade))
@@tomasvujicschelin9659 thank you, appreciate it. I just tried it out after seeing your question. The sound actually seems better, fuller and more base. I guess it’s because the Beanie is pushing the speakers to the face more. It’s well over the top, didn’t seem uncomfortable at all, but only had it on for a short while. I guess it reduces the open ear awareness a little because it seems louder with the beanie on and ofcourse the beanie covers the ear. I see no problems.. if anything, they will better with a beanie on 👍
I hear you, but it’s needed for waterproofing I guess. The old proprietary charging was better for waterproofing but the usb-c is less so, so they need it to be covered.
@@RJB a little over a week later and i have decided to return them. super annoying as I really wanted to like these. guess I'll be sticking with the openrun.
I get on well with the AirPod pro gen 2 but the sony WF-1000 is supposed to be very good at reasons price. The Bose quiet comfort are fantastic but expensive. 👍
I get on well with the AirPod pro gen 2 but the sony WF-1000 is supposed to be very good at reasons price. The Bose quiet comfort are fantastic but expensive. 👍
You mean on the openrun 2 pro? I image that the open pro would do that but I thought that the vibration is way less on the pro 2. Sorry to hear that dude 🫡
@@RodrigoDeJaneiro Music quality the AirPods are better with transparency mode, but for awareness the openrun pro 2 is better and gives you a better representation of the surroundings. The transparency mode in the AirPods is very artificial whereas more natural in the open run pro 2 and for me, much easier to perceive distance of sound.
I actually nearly got the Suunto before getting the Shokz. The Suunto are better than the open run pro but i think the open pro 2 with the addition of air conduction in my opinion delivers a better overall sound that the Suunto. I prefer the look of the Suunto but the sound is about 10% better (in my opinion) on the Open Pro 2
thanks a lot. Bought the openrun pro 2 last week (arrived a day after we drove on holiday) and have only seen the suunto after we went. So i wasnt sure if i fuc*ed up but in that case it should be ok
You nailed this review! You're exactly right, you just need ro manage your expectations when it comes to the Shokz Pro 2. I had the original ones and grew to love them for what they were. I can't run with airpods because I just cant ever get a secure enough fit and one always ends up slipping out. I recently upgraded to the Pro 2s and compared to the originals they are vastly improved in the sound quality department. But like you said just dont expect the sound quality or volume you get from an in-ear or over-ear. For running, the Shokz are by far my favorite headphones to use because of the combination of comfort, physical controls, environmental awareness, and now the better sound quality.
Thanks so much for taking the time to leave you thoughts and appreciate the kindness. I agree with everything you’ve said.. In fact I would say I like them more now as I’m running every day in the dark mornings and the awareness for hearing traffic is proving to be so helpful for safety. It’s a balance, and with the right expectations it difficult not to like these. Have a good week mate 🫡
What a great review! You are articulate and provide a genuine, comprehensive review. Thank you.
Really appreciate this feedback, means a lot that people can get value from my reviews. They are great headphones for keeping you aware, I use them every morning now on my runs 👍
Subscribed. Came here to decide whether I should get the OpenPro 2 and after watching your video, the answer is YES. I only run on the road, don't bike so the wind issue is not relevant to me.
That’s great to hear, I appreciate the positive feedback and glad it helped you decide. I think they are great for the job they do, I wear them every morning now for running over the EarPods pro because the comfort and awareness is far better. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do 🫡
Glad to hear you didnt have issues with garmin dropout. I just brought these for that issue specifically. Thanks for the review!
You’re welcome, appreciate you commenting and I hope you have a great experience with them 👍
Just subscribed, thanks mate great vid!
Yes! Great to have you as part of the channel, I appreciate it a lot. Have a great evening 🫡
I just subscribed... This review is awesome... You did a great job articulating all the features along with the pros and cons. As a former owner of the Open Run Pros, I'll give the 2nd generation a try based on your review.
Thanks so much, I appreciate your comment and feedback and appreciate you subscribing, it’s great to have you with the channel. Have a great day 👍
Great review, i was wondering about buying a set of these for running with. Im always frightened of losing my airpods, especially if its raining.
Youve convinced me to pull the trigger and give them a try.
Thanks again for sharing your honest thoughts with us.
Cheers
Col
You’ll enjoy them Colin. They aren’t as loud or as rich as the AirPods but they are comfortable and great for awareness for running. I wear them every time now, even when I could easily use the AirPod pros. 👍
I been using these for 2 weeks- I have never used open ear headphones before
I’m coming from Bose QC earbuds
I love these for running on the road and through the neighborhood- my traffic awareness is great with these
@@jhosoi808 couldn’t agree more. They will never have the same sound quality as the Bose or AirPod pro but the awareness is awesome and there’s something quite liberating about not having anything in your ears while running. Safety is fantastic and I find myself reaching for these even in the gym so it shows that they are even better than I imagined 👍
@@Runningonthemind yes correct not having the earbuds in my ear is liberating- now I use the Bose when I sit on the couch and watch you tube videos
I currently have both the OpenRun SE $100 (available at Costco) and the OpenRun Pro $160. The sound difference between the two is marginal at best, as with most songs it's difficult to tell the difference. I will give the OpenRun Pro 2 a shot. Thank you for your review!
You’re welcome. I had OR SE and tried the openrun pro and returned them as I thought they were terrible. The OR pro 2 is light years better, the air conduction makes a big difference compared to the old versions. Hope you find them way better if you get them 👍
Recently went and got these and I'm rather impressed with them. Definitely among the best sounding open ear headphones out there, but of course they can't compete with anything going directly in or over your ear. My Jabra Elite 8 active earbuds are going to sound much better than the Openruns do, but the Openrun is much safer to use when going out running, bike riding, or whenever you need to actively be aware of your surroundings.
Biggest improvement besides usb-c is they no longer vibrate at loud volumes. Even cranking the volume is no longer painful and that's legitimately impressive.
@@JustAFatGuyInTX totally agree. If you are realistic about what open ear headphones can do then it’s difficult not to be impressed with the improvements. And having that dreadful vibration and distortion gone is a huge improvement I agree 👍
Well written thanks for sharing
you are welcome, have a great weekend
Great review, they seem a lot better than the older version
Thanks mate, they are way better, but still not perfect. Thanks for the support 🫶🏻
Well presented and succinct review. Subscribed.
Thanks so much, appreciate the kind feedback. Great to have you as part of the channel 🫡
When I do want to listen to music while running I use Apple air pods, but with only one in, usually my left. I find it works ok but I still struggle with awareness around me, especially when cyclists come up from behind me, usually gives a bit of a startle. I tried on a coworkers pair of open run pro’s and wasn’t overly impressed, mind you we were in a very noisy environment. After your honest review, I will give the open run pro 2’s a go.
Thanks for the feedback, I’m glad to have given you some info to help with your decision. I use the AirPods a lot and they are great for different reasons. The open run pro 2 is so much better than the open run pro so I think you’ll be happily surprised there. 👍
They're great at what they do, of course the sound is not the main thing here but what did you expect with such a concept?
I use them everyday at work, at home, for sport and use others when I want a great sound. They're very good for calls also.
The multipoint bluetooth connection really needs to be improved though, it's far from other competitors.
I agree with everything you’ve said there. I personally haven’t experienced any issues with the Bluetooth but personally not used it as part of a multipoint set up. Thanks so much for you feedback, appreciate it 🫡
Thanks alot for the review 👍
@@burakbarlasatak6843 you’re welcome my friend, appreciate you taking the time 👍
I think they’ve come a long way. The sound quality is totally acceptable. However, compared to the competition of the open-ear earbuds of today (like the Bose Ultra Open) it’s hard to justify these for someone seeking the highest sound quality. These did show their colors in having nearly nothing in your ears. It was super transparent to hear what was going on around you, but even with that I found myself pausing the music to be able to do more in-depth tasks like talking to people.
@@NewbGamingNetworks absolutely agree with all you’ve said. They will never compare to the likes of Bose but they have a lot of great about them in their own way. The think the word used and what I emphasised was acceptable and I think you have that totally spot on. Acceptable sound and fantastic open ear experience is finally the right balance.
Thank you for a great review!
You are very welcome, thanks for the nice comment 🫶🏻
Subbed - great, informative review, thanks! 👍
Great to have you with the channel, appreciate it a lot. You’re very welcome, have a great day 🫡
thanks for review!
@@PietkaMarcinActive you’re very welcome 🫡
Just subscribed to you. Definitely love the feedback that you’ve given. What do you think about the noise cancellation? I am outside often but I’m also driving over the road quite a bit. Thank you for the feedback. You’ve provided already.
Thanks chad, appreciate that mate. There isn’t really any noise cancellation on them as such as they are more focused on keeping you aware of the surroundings. They give a great balance between sound and awareness 👍
Hi, Thank you for the review, may I ask you something? I want to know (if you know it) if the OPENRUN PRO 2, being also air conduction, give you the same ear massage feeling at higher volumes like the normal OpenRun (those at 130/140 €). Because I would like to have the same feeling I had with standard OpenRun I tried in store. If they dont have it I will go for the standard OpenRun and not the Pro2. Thanks
For ear massage I mean the vibrations
Hi Matt, thanks for the positive feedback. You can still feel the vibration yes, but I would say not quite as much at higher volumes as in the original. The air is taking care of some of the base giving a deeper and a little louder sound, but you can definitely still feel the vibration. Cheers 👍
Any opinion on using them for a treadmill in a gym? Guessing the environment will drown out all the sound from these headphones? Especially if the gym is playing some music in the background?
I use them to run on my treadmill at home, and you can hear your footfall but not so much that it overpowers your music. I expect of a gym had music on it would clash with what you are listening to, but I’ve heard several people saying they wear them at the gym and they are great. I think they are probably loud enough that you’d be ok. 👍
Not sure anyone has said they sound like high end earphones. But they have progressed hugely since bone conduction first came out. I love mine use them more than my Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
@@Fozzee.1970 agreed, they are so much better than any other bone conduction ear phones that have ever come out. I think the air conduction helps a lot with that though. I’ve been using mine for every run recently, even when there was no reason not to use the AirPods so they must be performing well. 👍
@@Runningonthemind have you tried the new openswim pros yet?
That's the most pertinent comment I've ever seen.
@@mokumoku-k8s thanks although I’m not totally sure what you mean? A comment I made or somebody else?
Shortly, later
@@diegosantos9752I know, so annoying that I said that but can’t be perfect 😂
They are not loud enough. It’s a dealbreaker for those like me who expect to get an extra motivational push from the volume and bass of the music.
That’s fair dude - I know those moments when you need to dig deep and a huge bass filled song comes on and you get that little extra kick. There is definitely a compromise to be had with open ear headphones generally. Sometimes they don’t get the job done but for those who need that awareness the open run 2 is a very good option to consider.
@@Runningonthemind True. I, however, listen to music to "detach" myself from my surrondings and my thoughts and immerse myself into a sonic world. This is what makes me forget about how tired I am and how many km I have yet to go. For that, I only run on nature tracks, beach promenades etc. void of any traffic so I do not need that awareness offered by these headphones. The only reason I bought them is that I feel uncomfortable with in-ear earbuds. Headband headphones are ok but in summer they make me sweat. I think I will go with Jabra Elite 8 Active, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Beats Powerbeats Pro. All four have the added advantage that they are small enough that one could stick them into a small waterproof pouch, together with the phone, keys and credit cards when going for a swim in between the running sessions. This way one does not risk them being stolen when deposited on the beach.
One big advantage I see with the OpenRun Pro (and also with Bose Ultra Open Earbuds) is the possibility to hit on chicks while running along the beach promenade))
what is that lamp in the background, cool video
Thanks man. It’s called a Govee lamp, you can find it on Amazon mate. It’s very cool, loads of different settings on it.
Thanks for the review. Much appreciate the honesty. I have old open run mini and looking to upgrade. 👍
@@The_G you’re very welcome. You’d notice a huge difference for sure, it’s so much better
Great review!
How do they fit (and sound) under a beanie or a tubular buff? Soon it’ll be winter and will be cold 🥶
@@tomasvujicschelin9659 thank you, appreciate it. I just tried it out after seeing your question. The sound actually seems better, fuller and more base. I guess it’s because the Beanie is pushing the speakers to the face more. It’s well over the top, didn’t seem uncomfortable at all, but only had it on for a short while. I guess it reduces the open ear awareness a little because it seems louder with the beanie on and ofcourse the beanie covers the ear. I see no problems.. if anything, they will better with a beanie on 👍
the silicone cover for the charging port is kindve a bummer.
I hear you, but it’s needed for waterproofing I guess. The old proprietary charging was better for waterproofing but the usb-c is less so, so they need it to be covered.
@@Runningonthemind the problem is that it doesn't seem like a really solid seal, and I could see it breaking off
@@distantyahoo yeah I would agree with you there actually, good call 👍
@@distantyahooexactly what I thought when I first tried closing it up. Guess time will tell.
@@RJB a little over a week later and i have decided to return them. super annoying as I really wanted to like these. guess I'll be sticking with the openrun.
Do you have any recommendation for earbuds with good mic if I do not have strong need to stay in touch with surrounding?
I get on well with the AirPod pro gen 2 but the sony WF-1000 is supposed to be very good at reasons price. The Bose quiet comfort are fantastic but expensive. 👍
I get on well with the AirPod pro gen 2 but the sony WF-1000 is supposed to be very good at reasons price. The Bose quiet comfort are fantastic but expensive. 👍
Thanks a million!
@@Runningonthemind thank you very much!
@@PietkaMarcinActive you are welcome my friend 🫡
Did you get the mini size?
No I got the normal size as I wear a hat a lot and it works well for me that way 👍
The vibration on my hearing aids is annoying and painful
You mean on the openrun 2 pro? I image that the open pro would do that but I thought that the vibration is way less on the pro 2. Sorry to hear that dude 🫡
Which is better? These openrun pro 2 or AirPods in transparency mode?
@@RodrigoDeJaneiro Music quality the AirPods are better with transparency mode, but for awareness the openrun pro 2 is better and gives you a better representation of the surroundings. The transparency mode in the AirPods is very artificial whereas more natural in the open run pro 2 and for me, much easier to perceive distance of sound.
Do you know how they compare to the new Suunto Wing?
I actually nearly got the Suunto before getting the Shokz. The Suunto are better than the open run pro but i think the open pro 2 with the addition of air conduction in my opinion delivers a better overall sound that the Suunto. I prefer the look of the Suunto but the sound is about 10% better (in my opinion) on the Open Pro 2
thanks a lot.
Bought the openrun pro 2 last week (arrived a day after we drove on holiday) and have only seen the suunto after we went. So i wasnt sure if i fuc*ed up but in that case it should be ok
They look much better
Definitely, but the benchmark was pretty low for the previous version
subcribe!
Thank you so much, great to have you. Hope you are having a great weekend 🫶🏻