All categories/Audio & Home Theater/Fitness Headphones/Shokz/Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

Scored on 380 verified owner verdicts, from 952 comments read across 5 communities
TL;DR
Owners praise the Pro 2's noticeably better sound, comfort, and awareness for cycling and running, but many are frustrated that the default mode leans on tiny speakers rather than real bone conduction and that overall volume is low, especially against wind.

58% of 380 verified owners recommend the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.

See the problems 110 owners report →

What 380 owners say
952 comments reviewed · scored on the 380 clearest verdicts
58%
Recommend
221 owners
13%
Neutral
49 owners
29%
Don't recommend
110 owners
Last 6 months:23% recommend(13 recent verdicts)↓ trending down 41pts vs older reviews
Source
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
60%
139
YouTubeiowner comments
57%
236
Other forums
33%
3
Independent blogsino affiliate links
100%
2
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
Affiliate blogsipaid commission
0%
1
No clear verdictiSetup, tips & quirks
—
10

Affiliate blogs here say 0% recommend, while the owner-based score is 58%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.

The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. Affiliate blogs is shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.

What owners like
  • Big sound and bass upgrade over predecessor · 40 · 11%
  • Comfortable, forget you're wearing them · 28 · 7%
  • Keep full awareness of surroundings · 22 · 6%
  • Great for cycling and running · 20 · 5%
  • USB-C charging and long battery life · 16 · 4%
What owners flag
  • Too quiet, low maximum volume · 24 · 6%
  • Default mode barely uses bone conduction · 22 · 6%
  • Wind noise drowns them out at speed · 14 · 4%
  • Connection drops and durability complaints · 8 · 2%
  • USB-C flap breaks water resistance · 5 · 1%
Who it's for
A great fit if
  • Cyclists and runners who need to hear traffic
  • People on calls wanting all-day comfort and clear mic
  • Podcast and audiobook listeners staying situationally aware
  • Anyone who dislikes in-ear buds
Look elsewhere if
  • Audiophiles wanting rich bass and loud volume
  • Fast riders in strong wind above ~30 km/h
  • Buyers expecting true classic bone conduction by default

Synthesized from what Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 owners say — not a spec sheet.

Common questions

Are the OpenRun Pro 2 really bone conduction headphones?

Partly, and the gap between the label and the hardware drives the complaints here. Shokz calls the system DualPitch: a bone conduction driver paired with an air conduction unit for bass. The manual lists Classic Mode as using only the bone conduction driver, and says Classic and Volume Boost must be activated through the Shokz app before the headphone buttons can reach them. Buyers coming from the earlier models describe the default sound as little speakers near the ear rather than bone conduction.

Can you swim or shower in a pair?

No, and Shokz is explicit about it. The rating is IP55, and the manual says the headphones suit non-water sports and exercise, are not fully waterproof, and must not be placed in water. Shokz's own line-up comparison puts the plain OpenRun at IP67 while both Pro models sit at IP55, and the brand sells separate swim-rated headphones. One owner points out that the flap over the USB-C port is what carries that IP55 rating, so losing it costs the water resistance.

Will they cut through wind noise on a bike?

Up to a point, and riders split on where that point is. Cyclists report them fine at moderate pace and swamped by wind somewhere around 30 to 35 km/h, with maximum volume making little difference. Shokz puts a Volume Boost mode in its app for noisy outdoor use, which the manual says can only be switched from the app. 58% of 380 owners recommend the Pro 2, and 29% say skip it.

How do they charge, and how long does a charge last?

Over USB-C, with the cable in the box, replacing the magnetic charging cable the first OpenRun Pro used. Shokz rates the Pro 2 at 12 hours of playtime and says five minutes on the cable returns about two and a half hours. Owner figures run below that rating, with one who has owned both the Pro and the Pro 2 reporting five to six hours from a charge.

How does the microphone hold up on calls?

Shokz fits noise-cancelling mics and sells call clarity as a feature, and indoors that holds. One owner takes 3 to 4 hours of calls a day on them, and another tested a call from a crowded bar with no complaint from the other end. Wind is the weak spot: a reviewer found voice quality falls apart in a windy environment, and one owner rates call handling below the original Pro.

What changed from the original OpenRun Pro?

Shokz's comparison gives the Pro 2 12 hours of playtime against 10, USB-C in place of magnetic charging, and the same IP55 rating. The audio hardware is the real change, since the Pro 2 adds the air conduction bass unit. Owners split hard on whether that counts as an upgrade: several hear a clear jump in body and bass over the first Pro, while others call it a sidegrade that trades away the bone conduction they came for.

How buyers rate it elsewhere

Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.

Top quotes, sourced

952 reviewed · 310 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube▲ recommend

“These are perfect for work. I have mine on all day at work and get to enjoy my music or podcasts while still hearing what's going on around me in my office.”

YouTube— neutral

“I really don't like the whole flap thing to reveal a USB charge port.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“Shocks used misleading advertisement.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“It's awesome to be able to hear your environment while wearing them.”

YouTube— neutral

“I loved my openrun pro's but moved over to the oladance air conduction headphones and never looked back.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“I'm returning mine because Shokz isn't being honest about product design.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“I'm still using my first generation Aftershokz on a daily basis and I love them.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“Cmon shoks....do better...wasted money”

YouTube— neutral

“Kinda bummed about the proprietary charger though, that magnet was incredibly handy.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“Thanks for the review, I love this product.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“The USB C charging is a deal breaker for me, the magnetic charger was the best.”

YouTube— neutral

“They sound great but not as loud or as much bass as the open fit.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“I know these because I have been all of the above and I love these headphones.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“Well time to go exchange my 5 day old pro's”

YouTube— neutral

“the 1st gens are better. the pro 2 have almost no bone conduction… almost all air conduction!”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“IP-55 is a hard pass compared to the OpenRun version.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“I've had 3 different sets of shokz over the last 6 years. Definitely sticking with them for the new generation they're amazing.”

YouTube— neutral

“wow what an upgrade in sound quality in the Bass Mids & Highs Over the Pro”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“It's a shame the pro 2 are still IP55 like the pro. I'll stick w8th my openrun mini, as I've heard horror stories of openrun pro dying”

YouTube— neutral

“That's why I stopped using my openruns on the bike.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“Pro 2 are a significant upgrade from the pros in sound quality. As someone who wore pros every day for over 3 years, the pro 2 is a major upgrade.”

YouTube▼ don’t recommend

“And still no Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 codec. What a shame, Bluetooth Classic Audio really is obsolete.”

YouTube▲ recommend

“one word to describe the NEW OpenRun Pro 2 is AWESOME!”

YouTube— neutral

“They stay in place well, but do put pressure down on the back of my ears after a few hours of wearing helmet and glasses.”

Showing 1–24 of 310

Common problems & things to know

Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.

Redditⓘ good to know

“When I do that with the ORP I hear nothing. Set to classic it behaves like my old pair.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“I tried it and it works- sounds exactly like the Shokz Openswim (i.e. the transducer unit vibrates a lot more). Just like the Openswim, the sound quality in this mode is a lot lower though.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“I just did and they sound almost the same whether worn normal or flipped around so the band is forward - and noticeably decreases when flexed outwards away from my face. This is in "standard" eq mode.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“I just got mine in Singapore, had to tap on the EQ title in setting FIVE TIMES to unlock the option, and when I did, the option is called 'Vibration" mode. Can't figure out why they would hide this feature”

Redditⓘ good to know

“I currently have the OpenRun 2, OpenRun, and AfterShokz Aeropex. I use them interchangeably for Zoom calls and YouTube videos (not for music) and can barely notice any difference. Honestly, I can’t even tell which one I’m wearing unless I touch them.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“I mean the classic mode gets pretty loud honestly, but I don’t listen to these very loud anyway.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“I have the "mini" and they fit fine and I don't have a particularly small head.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“I have issues hearing mine at relative wind speeds greater than ~23 mph.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“the audio from the bone conduction speakers is definitely better than the others, but you have to turn them up quite a bit (80%ish) to be able to really clearly hear it. I was surprised how loud I had them when I pulled the earplugs out, I could hear the music from them when I pulled them off my head.”

Redditⓘ good to know

“The pure bone conduction is a bit worse, yes”