The Shokz OpenFit 2 wireless earbuds were designed specifically for me. I don’t know how Shokz’s engineers managed to pander to my lifestyle so perfectly; I suspect they hired spies, or my fiancee is a sleeper agent.
Sunday Runday
In this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks about the world of wearables, apps, and fitness tech related to running and health, in his quest to get faster and more fit.
Ever since I reviewed the first-gen Shokz OpenFits in 2023, I’ve worn them for hundreds of runs, walks, and hikes, no exaggeration. My ear canals have had an unprecedented break from workout earbuds jammed into them, saving me from buds falling out during hard runs (which causes the sound to get worse), impacted ear wax, and the artificial hissing of transparency modes.
But using them for over a year made me well aware of the OpenFit’s many flaws, from an obnoxious charging issue to finicky touch controls and average sound quality. So, I’m thrilled that the Shokz OpenFit 2 immediately fixed or improved on almost all of my complaints.
Shokz is best known for its bone conduction headphones, and I’m no audiophile to judge how the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 sound quality compares to the OpenFit 2’s air conduction. All I know is that I prefer the latter’s “natural” sound while still giving me (mostly) unimpeded situational awareness during runs and races. And now, I’m much more likely to use the OpenFit 2’s multipoint pairing and wear them in non-fitness contexts.