Reviews and Highlights
View allHeadphone manufacturers have spent copious amounts of time and money developing technology that isolates you from the outside world, but what if you want to stay aware of your surroundings? Whether you're a seasoned road runner listening for oncoming traffic or a hiker who wants to listen to both a podcast and rustling leaves, bone conduction and open-ear headphones let you enjoy your audio while maintaining some situational awareness.
Although bone conduction and open-ear headphones are distinct headphone types, they share key similarities. They leave your ears unsealed, allowing for more situational awareness and avoiding the 'plunger'-like sensation you get with in-ear models. Their open designs share similar sound characteristics, too: they both tend to lack bass, and some designs also roll off the treble. However, note that bone conduction models may not be for everyone, as their use of vibrations to produce sound can often be uncomfortable or jarring, especially at higher volumes. You can read more in our Bone Conduction article.
We've tested over 860 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best open-ear and best bone conduction headphones. Given that most people prefer to use these for running, cycling, and other exercise, you can also see our recommendations for the best over-ear headphones for working out and the best wireless earbuds for more options.