Life In The Saddle

The OpenRock S2 is a set of open-ear headphones that delivers on all fronts. These open-ear, hook-clip earbuds are designed to give cyclists—and all active users—a high-quality sound experience without sacrificing awareness or comfort. After a few weeks of riding with them, I am convinced that they are one of the best open-ear headphones I have tested to date. Lightweight Design Weighing in at the lowest end of its class, the OpenRock S2 is a masterclass in minimalism. Thanks to an ultra-fine titanium wire construction and a smart 3-point ergonomic support system (ear rim, ear clip, and ear wheel), the S2 rests on your ears very naturally. The design is both firm and feather-light, staying securely in place during aggressive rides, sprints, and rapid head turns. A “20° golden angle” optimizes the tilt of the earbuds to match your ear canal's natural curve, making for a truly universal fit. Unlike traditional in-ears, these do not require frequent adjustments and never cause e...

Open ear headphones are a game-changer. Now you can listen to you favourite tunes and podcasts while you ride, run, walk or drive, without the loss of the all-important 'surrounding sounds' that can offer valuable warning signs of hazards in your vicinity. I have tested a few open ear headphone designs over the years, and the new OpenRock X from OneOdio are some of the most comfortable and best performing of the bunch. With impressive adjustability and sound quality, they provide everything you need from an everyday headphone. Straight out of the (impressive) packaging, the OpenRock X feels like a quality product. The charging case houses the two headphone units, and offers a total of 48 hours of playback when both the case and the units are charged together. The headphones will also 'fast-charge' to give an hour of playback with just five minutes in the charging case; handy for when you forget to put them on charge before your workout. Sound quality from the OpenRock X...

I have been using Shokz (previously Aftershokz) open ear headphones for almost a decade now, and their performance is second to none in terms of sound quality, build quality and design. The new OpenFit from Shokz offers an ultra-lightweight, open-ear construction without the band design used on the OpenRun Pro, making it more suitable for everyday wear as well as for active sports pursuits. The flexible ear hook design of the OpenFit headphones allows it to fit to any ear shape, and remain securely and comfortably in place for hour upon hour of listening. The DirectPitch™ technology produces an immersive audio experience with deep bass notes and fantastic clarity, whilst still allowing you to listen to the external environment and maintain your situational awareness. Battery life on the Shokz OpenFit is superb, with each charge offering 7 hours of listening, and each full charge of the case/unit offering 28 hours of listening. A useful fast-charge function also allows you to top u...

Bone conduction headphones are a game-changer for cyclists and runners; allowing you to listen to your tunes or podcast, while still being aware of your surroundings and ambient warning sounds. The technology also allows you to use the headphones for swimming; so you can listen to music underwater as you tackle your pool set or open water swim. I have used a variety of bone conduction headphones over the last ten years, but the Naenka Runner Diver2 offers a unique combination approach: with a Bluetooth connection to your phone and the ability to use the headphones as a standalone MP3 player with 32GB of storage; this is ideal for times when you don’t want to take your phone with you on a run, or when you are swimming and you cannot have your phone nearby. The build quality and presentation of the Naenka Runner Diver2 headphones is instantly impressive; with a soft silicone outer, three-layer waterproof construction, and a neat magnetic transfer/charging cable connection. Battery cre...

Listening to music, the radio, audiobooks or podcasts when you are cycling, running or hiking can be a great distraction; even allowing you to multi-task with some educational listening while you do your workout or adventure. Using traditional headphones or earbuds can pose a danger if you reduce your hearing of the ambient surroundings though – sounds that could help warn you of approaching hazards or collisions. Open ear headphones are the solution for safe listening when you are cycling, running or walking; they let you listen to your music, whilst also listening for warning signs. The OpenRock Pro Open Ear Headphones are a great example of open ear headphone technology. OpenRock is part of the OneOdio group – a professional audio brand with 10 years of experience; OpenRock is a sub-brand that focuses on open-ear style earbuds. The OpenRock Pro is an open-ear style earbud, with great sound quality, bass tones, and depth of acoustics. The units use a 16.2mm driver with Tube...

Open ear headphones are safer for cycling, running and other outdoor sports; as well as being better for your hearing, balance and comfort. I have been using open ear headphones from Shokz for many years, but was interested to try out this new release from Oladance – the ' Open Ear Stereo System '. Unlike traditional in-ear headphones, Oladance features a completely open-ear design that rests gently and securely on top of your ear and stays in place thanks to their weighted rear – the design of Oladance open earbuds received the Red Dot Award in 2022. There are no tips on this headphone design, so they will never go into your ear; providing a safer and more comfortable option than earbuds, for endless hours of wear. The Oladance open ear headphones uses a multi-point support system that spreads the weight of the earbuds evenly across your ear; they fit the natural curve of your ear to provide a comfortable and reassuringly secure fit, whether you are cycling, running or t...

I have been using a set of Aftershokz bone conduction headphones daily, ever since I reviewed the Bluez2 headphones back in 2015. The Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are the re-branded and most up to date model within the Shokz range. This latest model offers a few notable updates over its predecessor – the Aftershoz Aeropex. The updates include better sound quality, a better noise-cancelling microphone, quick-charge functionality, and an outstanding ten hours of runtime. In short, these new headphones take an already exceptional product and improve upon it. About Bone Conduction Headphones Bone conduction headphones allow for an open ear listening experience—where the headphones sit next to the ear, rather in the ear like an earbud. The result is that your ear canals are kept clear, so you keep your ambient sound listening capabilities—a vital safety consideration for cyclists and runners, as well as a necessity for optimum balance and stability. Back in 2015, with the Aftershokz Bluez2 ...

I have been using a set of Aftershokz bone conduction headphones daily, ever since I reviewed the Bluez2 headphones back in 2015. The Aftershokz Aeropex is the brand's latest release model and offers several notable upgrades: including IP67 waterproofing, a lighter and slimmer frame, and an outstanding improvement in clarity and unit functionality. Bone conduction headphones allow for open ear listening—where the headphone sits next to the ear rather than featuring an earbud that blocks the ear canal. The result is that you keep your ambient sound listening capabilities—a vital safety consideration for cyclists, as well as being necessary for optimum balance and stability. Even back in 2015, with the Aftershokz Bluez2 headphones, I was impressed by the Aftershokz bone conduction open-ear technology. I remember being sceptical whether the sound would be comparable to normal headphones, but I was amazed by the clarity of the audio. The small downfalls of the Bluez2 model were s...

Commuting by bicycle is a fantastic way to reduce stress, kick-start your metabolism, and counteract a day sat in an office. In 2017, I was labelled the 'UK's Super Commuter' ( article link in the Telegraph Newspaper ); it was testament to the number of hours and miles I clocked up each year riding to and from the office. With more than a decade of experience riding a bike to work at various locations around the UK, these are my ' 7 Tips ' for a bicycle commute. 1 – Daytime Running Lights Even in the middle of June there are shadows, morning mist, low sunlight and changing light conditions. All those things can make a cyclist hard to pick out on the road. Invest in some USB chargeable lights with an output that is strong enough to be seen even in bright daylight; your presence on the road will be increased significantly, and you will notice that you have fewer close calls and near passes. These are my Top 3 Daytime Running Light choices: Lezyne   ( Reviewed...

Whether or not you should listen to music when you ride a bike is a topic that sparks a great debate around safety. The new Momentum True Wireless earbuds from Sennheiser could well be the ultimate solution to the cycling headphones question though — thanks to some very clever adaptable technology. The Momentum True Wireless Earbuds are Sennheiser's range-topping offering, and quite frankly offer incredible sound quality and comfort. The clarity and stereo acoustics of the Momentum are unlike anything that I have used previously, and even outshine my Bose over-ear headphones that I previously used for travelling. Music takes on a whole new dimension; with a surround-sound feel and great balance. You can even adjust the equaliser settings to your personal preference using the Sennheiser App, so you can have a more bass focussed beat if you desire. The Momentum earbuds are also extraordinarily comfortable. They sit snugly inside the ear and come with a collection of four earp...

In May 2015, I posted my review of the Aftershokz Bluez 2 Headphones ; they proved to be an incredible product, which changed my daily commute significantly. The bone conduction technology used in the Aftershokz range, means that you can enjoy your favourite tunes whilst riding, but still hear the warning sounds of traffic and ambient noise around you. This new-found ability to listen to music whilst riding safely, meant that I've used the Bluez 2 on an almost daily basis since; they deservedly featured in my Fifteen Festive Stocking Fillers for Cyclists 2015  blog post. Last month, Aftershokz released the new Bluez 2S bone conduction headphones. I always thought that the original Bluez 2 were very good (clearly), but even the best products have a few niggles. Like any good R&D company though, Aftershokz took on-board user feedback, and the new Bluez 2S headphones promise to be the perfected product. Better Sound Quality and Reduced Leakage The first improvement,...

Wearing earbuds when riding is a no-no for me; it blocks out vital warning sounds and can affect your balance. There are some headphones, such as the Aftershokz Bluez 2 (recently reviewed on the blog), which do allow you to safely mix the noise of the outside world with your tunes, through clever bone conduction technology. In the main though, I wouldn't advocate using headphones whilst you ride. That said, there is one significant exception: indoor and static training. When you're riding on the rollers or turbo trainer, it's in your interest to block out the background whirr and ambient noise. A good set of earbuds, which stay in your ear and block out the majority of the noise, can let you get on with your session without any distractions. The DeciBullz brand was established with one objective: producing earbuds and earplugs that stay in your ear, and isolate your ear from outside noise. They do that, through custom mouldable plastic casings, which under high tempe...

Headphones and bikes don't traditionally mix well. When you're in traffic, you need all of your senses heightened; so placing plastic plugs in your ear canals doesn't really help. Luckily, Aftershokz have a solution... The Aftershokz headphones use a bone conductor technology, which channels noise through your cheek bones to your ear drums, rather than down your ear canals. The result, is that your ears are left open to vital warnings and ambient noise, whilst you can still enjoy your favourite tunes. The Bluez 2 headphones from Aftershokz are their latest release. As well as using the height of bone conduction technology, they also go one step further; pushing functionality in areas such as remote control and connectivity. The Bluez 2 use Bluetooth technology, which means no wires, no in-line remote controls, and no annoying moments when you pull the connector out of your iPod. Bluetooth technology also means that the Bluez 2 can control your device, all from butto...