How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want to hear traffic, your bike computer, and the world around you while you ride, choose PROHEAR GEP02; if you need to keep your music, calls, and podcasts going hands-free on the bike, choose HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear. That one line is the whole comparison in a nutshell — one of these is a hearing-protection accessory that happens to be excellent for loud environments, and the other is an open-ear audio device built for movement. Neither is a gimmick, but they solve completely different problems, and I'll walk you through which one actually belongs in your bag for cycling, commuting, and yes, even a flight where you want to block engine drone or, alternatively, keep one ear open for announcements.
• PROHEAR GEP02 — biggest strength: gel ear cushions with a groove design that spreads pressure away from the ear, so long wear stays comfortable, and a snap-in fit that makes swapping pads quick and tool-free.
• PROHEAR GEP02 — biggest trade-off: it is not a standalone headphone. It's a replacement pad set, so it only helps you if you already own a compatible earmuff such as a Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport, Pro, Sync, or Leightning model, a ZOHAN EM054, a PROHEAR 030/036/066/016, or an awesafe electronic shooting earmuff.
• HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear — biggest strength: air conduction open-ear design that sits near the ear instead of inside the canal, so you stay aware of surrounding sound while you run, cycle, or walk, plus Bluetooth and a built-in mic for calls.
• HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear — biggest trade-off: open-ear means it deliberately does not seal or isolate. If you want to shut out engine noise or crowd roar, this is the wrong tool.
• Who PROHEAR GEP02 is for: riders and shooters who already run passive or electronic earmuffs and want a softer, sweat-resistant, longer-lasting cushion.
• Who HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear is for: cyclists, runners, and commuters who want music and calls without plugging their ears.
The GEP02 is a gel ear pad set, and the design story is simple: a groove that reduces pressure between the muff and your ear, an ultra-thin polyurethane outer skin that stays supple, and a material that resists the cracking and flaking you eventually get from faux leather or vinyl. If you've ever pulled off a pair of muffs after two hours and felt that hot, pinched ache, that's exactly the problem this pad is engineered around. PROHEAR also notes the pads are anti-sweat and wipe clean with soapy water — just don't submerge them, because there's a pinhole-sized air vent on the side that needs to stay functional.
Installation is the other practical win. It's a snap-in design rather than glue, so you pop the old cushions out and press the new ones in. No adhesive residue, no wrestling. Compatibility is broad within the earmuff world: Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Sport, Pro, Sync, Leightning and Professional models, ZOHAN EM054, PROHEAR's own 030, 036, 066 and 016, and awesafe electronic shooting earmuffs. The pads measure roughly 4.02 x 2.95 x 0.59 inches and ship as a single pack.
For cycling specifically, I'd frame it honestly: the GEP02 doesn't play music and doesn't help you hear traffic any better than your muffs already do. What it does is make long, sweaty, noisy sessions tolerable. If your riding involves a loud indoor trainer setup, a moto helmet with muffs underneath, or you simply want your ear protection to stop hurting, this is the upgrade. If you want to hear something through it, look at the other product.
HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear: Who It's For
This is the opposite philosophy. The HZMFNWX sits near your ears rather than inside them, using air conduction to deliver sound while leaving your ear canals open. The whole point is situational awareness: you hear your music, your podcast, your call — and you also hear the car behind you, the bell of the rider overtaking, the shouted warning at the intersection. For road cycling, that's the single most important feature on the spec sheet, and it's baked into the design rather than bolted on afterward.
The fit is a lightweight wraparound that the manufacturer says reduces ear pressure compared with traditional in-ear buds, and it's meant to stay put through running, gym work, cycling, hiking, walking, and driving. Sweat resistance is called out explicitly, which matters because the failure point on most sports headphones is moisture, not the driver. Bluetooth pairing covers phones, tablets, and laptops, and there's a built-in microphone so you can take calls or join meetings without digging your phone out of a jersey pocket. One headset for music, calls, and daily listening.
Who should buy it? Cyclists and runners who refuse to ride with sealed ears. Commuters who want a podcast on the walk to the train but still need to hear the platform announcement. Office and home users who dislike the plugged-up feeling of regular earbuds. The open, breathable fit is genuinely pleasant over long stretches, and hands-free calling is a real convenience on the bike.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for hearing traffic while cycling → HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear. Open-ear design keeps you aware of surrounding sound.
• Best for blocking loud environments → PROHEAR GEP02. Sound isolation is the entire purpose of an earmuff pad.
• Best for music and calls on the move → HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear. Bluetooth plus a built-in mic.
• Best for extending the life of earmuffs you already own → PROHEAR GEP02. Snap-in replacement pads, no glue, wipe-clean surface.
• Best for long-wear comfort in heat → both, for different reasons. PROHEAR's gel and groove reduce pressure and sweat; HZMFNWX's lightweight open structure avoids canal pressure entirely.
• Best for a flight where you want engine noise gone → PROHEAR GEP02 (on compatible muffs). For a flight where you want to hear the gate announcement, the open-ear set is the better fit.
• Best for a foldable kids headset for airplane use → neither is marketed that way. The GEP02 is an adult ear pad set; the HZMFNWX is a single open-ear sports unit. If a foldable kids set is the goal, this pair isn't the answer.
• Best for a transparency-mode-style experience → HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear. It's not electronic transparency; the open design simply never blocks the outside world in the first place.
For cycling, I'd buy the HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear. The reason is narrow and specific: on a bike, awareness beats isolation, and an open-ear design that lets you hear traffic while still delivering music and calls is the safer, more useful choice. The PROHEAR GEP02 is a genuinely good product — I'd recommend it without hesitation to anyone whose earmuffs have gone stiff and sweaty, and it's the one I'd grab for a flight where I want engine drone gone. But it's a pad, not a headphone, and it can't do the job a rider actually needs. If you're torn, decide by one question: do you want to hear the road, or hear less of the world? Road noise → HZMFNWX. World noise → PROHEAR GEP02. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, and confirm your specific earmuff model is on the compatibility list if you go the PROHEAR route.
FAQ
how to bike with headphones
can you bike with headphones
Yes, but awareness is the deciding factor. Open-ear models are built so surrounding sound still reaches you, which suits cycling well. Fully sealed in-ear or over-ear headphones block traffic noise and are a riskier choice on roads. Legality varies by location, so verify your local rules before you ride.
what are the best cycling headphones
In my opinion, the best cycling headphones are open-ear ones, because they deliver audio without sealing your ears. The HZMFNWX Air Conduction Open-Ear fits that mold: lightweight wraparound fit, sweat resistant, Bluetooth, and a built-in mic for calls. There's no single answer, but awareness should be your first filter.
can cyclists wear headphones
They can, and many do. The practical guidance is to choose a design that doesn't isolate you from traffic — open-ear air conduction being the obvious example — and to keep volume low enough that horns and bells still register. Rules differ by country and state, so check before relying on it.
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