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Table of Contents:
1. How Do Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones Work?
2. Advantages of Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones
3. How to Choose Bone Conduction Headphones for Cycling?
4. Detailed Comparison of 7 Bone Conduction Headphones for Cycling
5. Top 5 Bone Conduction Headphones for Cycling Recommended
During cycling, many people might feel a sense of dullness and lack of energy. Therefore, we need a suitable pair of headphones to counteract the monotony by listening to wonderful music with rhythmic beats. But what type of headphones should we choose for cycling?
I recommend using bone conduction headphones, which most people have heard of. Bone conduction headphones have many advantages during sports activities like running, cycling, and climbing. If, like me, you enjoy listening to music while cycling, then bone conduction headphones are an excellent choice for you.
How Do Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones Work?
Unlike regular headphones, bone conduction headphones allow you to enjoy music without blocking your ear canals. But how do they transmit sound?
Bone conduction headphones use a mechanism where the brain recognizes sound through bone vibration and transfers it to the organ called the cochlea in our ears. The cochlea is connected to our auditory nerve, which sends the sound to our brain, bypassing the eardrums. This mechanism is why we can hear our own voices or the chewing sounds when we eat. Bone conduction headphones ingeniously utilize this principle.
Advantages of Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones:
Bone conduction headphones allow users to listen to music without blocking their ears, offering two main advantages:
1. Safety: These headphones don't block your ears, allowing you to hear surrounding sounds and making it easier for others to talk to you. When used outdoors, you can still be aware of your surroundings while enjoying your favorite music, reducing the risk of accidents, especially during cycling.
2. Comfort and hygiene: The open-ear design of bone conduction headphones makes them more comfortable and hygienic. They don't need to be inserted into your ears and often come with ear hooks for secure wear, ensuring better comfort during long cycling sessions. They also help maintain a clean and less humid environment inside the ears, reducing the chances of bacterial growth.
How to Choose Bone Conduction Headphones for Cycling?
With the continuous development of bone conduction headphone technology, there are now many excellent products available in the market. So, how should we choose bone conduction headphones for cycling? Pay attention to the following three aspects:
1. If you want an immersive music experience during cycling, choose a high-quality model.
Bone conduction headphones are mainly used as hearing devices for outdoor sports or at work, and they are constructed differently than regular headphones, and sound quality can vary. We evaluated the sound quality of different brands of bone conduction headphones by inviting audio experts and general monitors. The results show that sound quality varies greatly from product to product. Models with low sound quality ratings sound like cheap radios and lack sound realism.
On the other hand, many headphone models offer high sound quality and can deliver excellent music enjoyment during cycling, especially with strong bass and a sense of presence and liveliness, as if the music is sounding right outside the ear.
If you want to enjoy music while cycling, we recommend the Wissonly Hi Runner bone conduction headphones, which received the highest rating in our audibility test. With these headphones, you can enjoy your music to the fullest without being disturbed by outside noise while cycling.
2. Choose a well-fitting and easy-to-wear type.
One conduction headphones for cycling come in three main types: wired, fully wireless, and neck-strap style. Each type has its own connection and wearing characteristics, so it's essential to understand them before making a choice.
a. Wired headphones don't require batteries but might be less convenient during cycling due to tangled cables and noise.
b. Fully wireless headphones have a lower risk of falling off during cycling and are more comfortable to wear, especially the ones that hang over the earlobe.
c. Neck strap style headphones hang around your neck and have a unified structure, offering secure and comfortable wear even during prolonged cycling.
3. It is recommended to purchase headphones with a waterproof rating of at least IPX4 or higher for cycling.
As bone conduction headphones are worn around the ear area, they are more exposed to external factors like rain and sweat, increasing the risk of malfunction. Many bone conduction headphones designed for cycling have higher waterproof ratings to address this issue.
The waterproof performance is indicated by an IP (Ingress Protection) code, which uses symbols and numbers to represent dust and waterproof performance. For example, the standard "IP55" indicates a level 5 standard for both dust and water resistance. For bone conduction headphones used for cycling, water resistance is what matters.
If you want to avoid the risk of malfunction due to water ingress, choose IPX4 or higher. IPX4 is the rating that can withstand splashes of water from all directions. If it rains while cycling outdoors or working in a sweaty environment, you can use the product with confidence. If you plan to use them during swimming, look for IPX6 or higher.
If you still have doubts about choosing bone conduction headphones for cycling, here's a detailed comparison of 7 models for you to consider!
Detailed Comparison of 7 Bone Conduction Headphones for Cycling
1. Wissonly Hi Runner Bone Conduction Headphones
Wissonly Hi Runner are wireless bone conduction headphones for cycling that support both Bluetooth and MP3 dual playback modes. They offer excellent audio clarity, allowing you to enjoy music with every detail, and have good waterproof and functional performance. With 32GB of built-in memory, they can store 5000 songs, and their IPX8 waterproof rating makes them suitable for use in rainy or sweaty conditions during outdoor activities, including cycling. Plus, the strong battery life of 8 to 10 hours ensures prolonged usage during cycling. Ideal for long-distance cyclists.
The Hi Runner headphones have an adjustable aerospace-grade titanium steel frame, providing a stable and secure fit during cycling and easy cooperating with helmets for cycling. Weighing only 28g, they are lightweight and comfortable to wear. The soft and skin-friendly silicone surface ensures safety and comfort. In the audio clarity test, these headphones have attractive bass playback. The open-ear design lets you hear surrounding sounds, enhancing safety and hygiene. The only downside is the wind noise during cycling, but for cyclists, safety is the priority.
2. Shokz OpenRun S810 Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones
The Shokz OpenRun Pro S810 is a bone conduction headphone designed by a pioneering bone conduction technology manufacturer from the United States. In the audio clarity test, some testers found the bass to be moderate and were bothered by the crowded voices and instruments, making it challenging to hear accurately in noisy environments. However, in the audio clarity test using regular listeners, these headphones were capable of reproducing sound sources with high fidelity and clarity, meeting the needs of cyclists for bone conduction headphones.
In terms of functionality, they have basic features, and the battery life is strong, lasting up to 10 hours of continuous playback. Their IP55 waterproof rating allows them to withstand sweat during workouts and light rain during cycling. The smooth and washable surface material ensures easy maintenance, and they weigh only 29g, offering a low-pressure fit during cycling.
3. Boco Peace SS-1 Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones
The Peace SS-1 is a fully wireless bone conduction headphone designed for cycling, launched by the Japanese company BoCo. Experts tested the sound quality and found that they have strong bass, and you can even feel the vibration of the sound. However, when regular listeners tested these headphones' sound quality, some people reported being troubled by noisy vocals and instruments, and the sound was generally overshadowed by noise, making it difficult to hear accurately.
Regarding functionality, these headphones can stop playback and control the volume by themselves, making them convenient to use, although they do not support a multi-point connection. The bone conduction headphones have a waterproof rating of IPX7, allowing them to be used even when cycling in the rain, with a waterproof performance rating of 4.50. Also, they have strong battery life, lasting up to 8 hours, and weigh only 15g, ensuring a lightweight feel when worn. This product is recommended for cycling enthusiasts interested in fully wireless bone conduction headphones.
4. AVIOT Openpiece Elite WB-E1M Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones
The AVIOT Openpiece Elite WB-E1M arebone conduction headphones from the Japanese audio brand AVIOT. Experts' sound quality tests showed that these headphones have high sound resolution and captivating sound details. However, some testers felt that the bass was light, the vocals were unstable, and there was a lack of power, making it challenging to use in noisy environments. In the audio clarity test, the sound of the headphones were overshadowed by noise, making it difficult to hear songs and broadcast audio. Therefore, cycling enthusiasts considering these headphones should think twice.
In terms of functionality, they support basic functions and have moderate battery performance, allowing continuous playback of up to 10 hours. They are compatible with multi-point connection. The waterproof performance is rated IPX5, which allows the headphones to withstand sweat during cycling and be washed in water, but they should not be submerged in water as it may damage the headphone's functionality. They weigh 35.5g, which is relatively heavier compared to other cycling bone conduction headphones.
5. Philips TAA6606 BK cycling Bone Conduction Headphones
Philips, a Dutch electronics manufacturer, offers the TAA6606BK model headphones, which use a lightweight titanium frame for comfortable and stable wearing that doesn't easily fall off. Experts tested the sound quality and found that although they have a sense of presence and spatial extension, the music sounds muffled and lacks complete sound authenticity, making it not ideal for a satisfying music experience during cycling. In the audio clarity test, the low frequencies and vocals of the music are easily heard, even in noisy environments, making it possible to hear dialogues in broadcast programs during cycling.
As for functionality, these headphones have basic features, and their battery performance is not high, but they can last up to 8 hours of continuous playback. Their waterproof performance is rated IPX7, allowing the headphones to withstand heavy rain without damage, making them suitable for cycling without any problem. They have good balance, weigh 35g, and fit securely without being too tight, but some users mentioned that the headband part of the headphones is a bit loose and can move during movement.
6. Shokz OpenMove AS660 Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones
OpenMove is an entry-level model of bone conduction headphones from the American pioneer bone conduction technology manufacturer, Shokz. In the audio clarity test, the sound is relatively natural, but lacks clarity and details, with vocals being more prominent, which is just enough to meet the needs of bone conduction headphones for cycling.
Regarding functionality, they have a play/stop button on the body and support a multi-point connection. The waterproof rating is IP55, making them usable in rainy weather and outdoor activities. The headphones weigh only 29g, but they exert strong lateral pressure and may feel uncomfortable when worn for extended periods. Their battery performance is not strong, offering a relatively short continuous playback time of 6 hours, which may not be sufficient for long cycling sessions.
7. Haylou PurFree BC01 Cycling Bone Conduction Headphones
The PurFree BC01 bone conduction headphones are from Haylou, a Chinese startup audio manufacturer. In sound quality tests, experts found that they can capture detailed sound of music but are not outstanding in sound extension and instrument resonance performance. In the sound quality verification with regular listeners, their sound lacks authenticity but is relatively clear. In the audio clarity test, the sound from radio is difficult to hear, but the vocal contours can be heard clearly even in a noisy environment.
Regarding comfort, these headphones weigh only 28g and have minimal lateral pressure, providing a proper fit, although some users mentioned that they tend to shift during cycling. In terms of functionality, they can stop playback and adjust the volume themselves, supporting a multi-point connection. Their waterproof performance reaches IP67, allowing them to withstand heavy rain and be used for both work and sports on rainy days. As for battery performance, these headphones can provide a continuous playback time of 10 hours, making them a well-rounded product.
Top 5 Bone Conduction Headphones for Cycling Recommended
No. 1: Wissonly | Hi Runner
No. 2: Shokz | OpenRun S810
No. 3: Haylou | PurFree BC01 28g
No. 4: Boco | Peace SS-1
No. 5: AVIOT | Openpiece Elite WB-E1M
Bone conduction headphones are a convenient way to enjoy background music without blocking your ears. If you plan to use them for cycling, choose models with strong waterproof performance. Wireless models are recommended for comfort. Among the seven headphones compared, Wissonly Hi Runner stands out in terms of comfort, waterproof rating, features, battery life, and audio clarity. If you need a reliable pair of outdoor cycling headphones, give them a try!
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