The OpenFit’s sound quality is surprisingly good. Because it’s air conduction, it doesn’t suffer too much from the issues that plague bone conduction headphones. The earphones have excellent bass response thanks to Shokz’s proprietary OpenBass technology, though it’s not entirely on par with other premium earphones like the AirPods Pro.

Those changes and promised audio improvements make the OpenFit the priciest pair of headphones in the Shokz collection. So do they justify the bigger spend and do deliver that solid Shokz performance? Here’s my take. Availability OpenFit comes with an IP54 rating, which is much lower than most other Shokz products. It means that even a bit too much sweat can damage the earphones, so it’s best not to use them for any exercise that’s too strenuous. Jogging should be safe for the most part, but when you notice that you’re starting to sweat too much, it’s best to take the earphones off. Sound QualityThe OpenFit are the first Shokz headphones to use its proprietary “DirectPitch” technology, which channels the audio from 18 x 11mm dynamic drivers directly into your ear canals. The idea is that this enhances audio quality while minimising sound leakage. The latter proved hit and miss during testing but the technology delivers when it comes to audio performance.

According to the results of simulation experiments conducted by Shokz Lab for the intersection scene, AI noise cancellation can provide a maximum of 50dB signal-to-noise ratio improvement, which is equivalent to a 99.7% reduction of ambient noise, when the sound pressure level at the artificial head is 65-72dB(A). The result is that you are able to hear sound clearly. This, combined with the 18 X 11mm dynamic drivers means these earbuds deliver quality, crisp sound, even when they’re near your ear and not inside it. Having cornered the bone-conduction headphones market, Shokz is trying something new with the Shokz OpenFit. These open-ear headphones leave your bones well alone and your ear canals unobstructed to provide environmental awareness while you enjoy whatever it is you’re listening to. I had mixed feelings about the fit and comfort levels of the Shokz OpenFit. I spent a lot of time adjusting them at first and had similar niggles every time I reached for them over the fortnight of testing. I had to rotate them and tinker with them to get the fit right and at first didn’t realize that because I wear glasses they needed a bit of extra adjustment – there’s just not that much space behind my ears to play with.There are a couple of standard true wireless earbuds features you won’t find here. There’s no multi-point pairing mode and no ear detection either, so remove one and your music will keep playing. Although you can just listen with one bud, which is handy. Comfort is paramount when it comes to headphones, especially for extended use. The Shokz OpenFit prioritizes comfort in three ways: While they're not likely to win any awards for audio quality, for open-ear headphones the sound is great. Aside from the aforementioned limitations, the quality remained consistent, loud and smooth during our tests thanks to the brand’s ‘Direct Pitch’ technology, which is said to help deliver ‘bold highs, clear mids, and surging bass’. Whether it was during runs, cycles, or workouts, the audio for both music and podcasts was of great quality throughout. Stay engaged on calls or video conferences while being aware of your surroundings. You can hear your partner, kids, or pets when they need you, and achieve work-life balance and effective communication from home.

Pairing was super easy, and there’s no buttons to press to activate the headphones, you just open the case, put them on, and hit the play button. Battery life appears to be good – I ran for 3 hours at the weekend with no issues, the case re-charges them between use.

A respected colleague who reviewed the OpenFit for another magazine recently raved about them: The most comfortable earpieces he knows. That’s why he uses it every day when he’s on foot. However, I also find the wearing comfort of the new JBL Soundgear Sense very good, although the first open-ears of the Americans turn out to be a lot more bulky. For this, they have an adjustment around two axes, which makes positioning much easier compared to the rigid Shokz. The Shokz OpenFit sees Shokz ditch its bone conduction approach for an air conduction setup to deliver bigger open-ear sound by planting speakers in close proximity to your ears to deliver that sound. They sit securely outside the ear canal, with the soft plastic band wrapping over and behind the ear lobe. This makes them very secure as well. I wore them running, and they don’t budge. They are IP54 water-resistant, so sweat or light rain should be no problem.