Best bone conduction headphones

The best bone conduction headphones have far superior sound quality to the worst, our testing revealed.

They're excellent for runners, walkers and cyclists who want to be able to hear the world around them as well as their favourite tracks - even though they're not as good for sound quality as the best in-ear or over-ear headphones.

We tested the most popular bone conduction headphones from Shokz, Philips, Lenovo and more. A couple can even be used underwater. One pair were so good that they're Best Buys.

The best bone conduction headphones

Only logged-in Which? members can view the bone conduction headphone test results below. 

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The bone conduction headphones we tested

All those we tested are listed in alphabetical order below. 

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best bone conduction headphones from our tests.

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August Bone Conduction Headphones

Cheapest price: £41.99 at Robert Dyas also available at Amazon

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Need to know: Integrated microphone for calls, 16gb mp3 storage, Bluetooth connectivity, IP68: fully waterproof for long-term immersion

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Haylou PurFree Bone Conduction Headphones

Only available at Amazon: £99.99

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Need to know: Bluetooth connectivity, IP67: waterproof up to 15cm depth, integrated multi-function button and volume controls

Lenovo X4 Bone Conduction Headphones

Only available at Light in the box: £21

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Need to know: Bluetooth connectivity, integrated volume controls, IP56: splashproof

Lite Bone Conduction Headphones

Only available at Amazon: £40 (out of stock)

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Need to know: Bluetooth connectivity, integrated multi-function button and volume controls, IP54: splashproof

Philips TAA6606BK Bone Conduction Headphones

Only available at Amazon: £79.92

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Need to know: Bluetooth connectivity, integrated multi-function button and volume control, IP67 waterproof up to 15cm depth

Shokz Open Swim

Cheapest price: £118.95 at Winstanley Bikes Amazon

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Need to know: 4gb memory, nose plug included, integrated multi-function button and volume controls, no Bluetooth connectivity, IP68: Completely waterproof for long-term immersion

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Shokz OpenMove

Cheapest price: £54.95 available at Winstanley Bikes Amazon also available at Argos Halfords

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Need to know: Integrated microphone for calls, 16gb mp3 storage, Bluetooth connectivity, IP55: splashproof

Shokz OpenRun 

Cheapest price: £89.95 at Winstanley Bikes Amazon also available at Halfords

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Need to know: Two-year warranty, carry case, integrated multi-function button and volume controls, IP67: waterproof up to 15cm depth

Shokz OpenRun Pro

Cheapest price: £109.95 at Winstanley Bikes John Lewis also available at Argos Halfords

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Need to know: Two-year warranty, carry case, integrated multi-function button and volume controls, IP55: splashproof

How we tested bone conduction headphones

We bought the most popular pairs available from UK retailers and from leading brand, Shokz. We bought every pair we tested, so you can be sure our opinion isn't biased by us receiving freebies. 

We tested and rated each pair for the following:

• Durability: Headphones in general aren't the most long-lasting devices, so we gave each pair tested rough treatment by dropping them onto a hard surface from head height 10 times. This spelled the end for two pairs. 
• Battery life: We tested the battery life claims and found it ranged from eight hours up to an impressive 16. 

Then our testers rated each pair for: 

• Sound quality: Each tester rated this after listening to a piece of music and a podcast on each pair of headphones. Bone conduction headphones don't have as good sound quality as the best in-ear headphones, but you can still find some that deliver deep bass and intricate treble. 
• Ease of use: Each pair was rated for how easy they are to pair with a Bluetooth device and how simple it is to perform basic functions, such as adjusting the volume, pausing or skipping a track. 
• Comfort: Each set of bone conduction headphones were taken on a short jog to assess how comfortable they are and how well they fit. It's possible to forget you're wearing the best bone conduction headphones, whereas others can apply too much pressure to your temples or slip around while jogging.
• Sound leakage: It's embarrassing to realise that a whole train carriage has been listening to your music on their morning commute. We tested each pair of headphones for how much audio they leak to their surroundings on their highest volume. Some bone conduction headphones are terrible for this, but the best keep any noise spill to acceptable levels.

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7 things we learned testing bone conduction headphones

1. Sound quality isn't as good as the very best in-ear or over-ear headphones. But the best are still perfectly good enough to enjoy your favourite tunes or podcasts.
2. There's a big difference in sound quality between different models. With some it's tinny and scratchy, with others there's deep bass, clear audio and crisp vocals.
3. Sound spill is quite bad on most bone conduction headphones, so they're not a great choice for commuters. The best will keep it to a minimum.
4. Battery life is very good, and often longer than advertised, particularly if you don't always have them on maximum volume. 
5. Your awareness of people or cars approaching will still be restricted, particularly if you have the headphones at high volume.
6. If it's windy, or you're whizzing downhill on your bike, you probably won't be able to hear the sound from your headphones until the wind drops down. 
7. If you have long hair, you might find them uncomfortable to wear.

Are bone conduction headphones safe?

Bone conduction headphones bypass your ear canal, but they can still damage your hearing if used improperly. 

They still send sound to your cochlea (inner ear) so listen to your music and podcasts at an appropriate sound level so as not to damage your hearing. 

The other safety question is how aware you are of your surroundings when wearing these. Most ads for bone conduction headphones paint a picture that you'll be completely aware of noises around you and even be able to have a conversation while using them. This isn't true. 

You're more likely to be able to hear a car or another runner coming up behind you if you're wearing these types of headphones, but your hearing and senses will still be restricted, so don't rely on them keeping you safe on the road or trails.  

How do bone conduction headphones work?

Bone conduction headphones bypass the ear canal and transmit sound waves through your cheekbone directly to your inner ear. 

This leaves your ear canal and ear drum open to detect other ambient noises.

According to the National Deaf Children's Society, bone conduction headphones can be a good choice for people with some rare hearing conditions that affect either the ear drum or ear canal. For more, visit the National Deaf Children's Society.