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If you want to restore the seal, comfort and low-end punch on a pair of Bose QuietComfort over-ears you already own, choose SOULWIT Earpads; if you need an open-ear headphone that keeps you aware of traffic and your surroundings while you run, ride or commute, choose KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones.
• SOULWIT Earpads — biggest strength: high-density foam plus softer protein leather, with stitched and glued inner seams, so the pads seal around your ears instead of collapsing flat over time.
• SOULWIT Earpads — biggest trade-off: they are replacement pads, not headphones. They only fit specific Bose QuietComfort models, and they do nothing for you if you don't already own one of those.
• KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest strength: open-ear bone conduction design that leaves your ear canals completely open, so outside sound — traffic, voices, ambient noise — comes in freely while your audio plays.
• KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest trade-off: open-ear sound is inherently less isolating and less bass-heavy than a sealed over-ear cup, and the fit depends entirely on the adjustable back strap sitting right on your head.
• Who each pick is for: SOULWIT Earpads for existing Bose QC45 / QC SE / QuietComfort Wireless owners with worn-out pads; KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones for runners, cyclists and gym-goers who want music without shutting the world out.
This is a maintenance part, and I think that's the right way to judge it. SOULWIT makes replacement earpads for the Bose QuietComfort 45 (QC45), QuietComfort SC (QC SC), QuietComfort SE (QC SE) and QuietComfort Wireless over-ear headphones. The listing is explicit that you should confirm your headset model before buying, and I'd take that seriously — these are cut for a specific family of Bose cans, not a universal fit.
What they do best is restore what worn pads take away. The construction is high-density foam wrapped in a softer protein leather, and the spec sheet calls out stitching and extra glue along the inside seams specifically to stop the pads from splitting. That matters more than it sounds. When pads go flat, the cup stops sealing around your ear, and the seal is what holds the low end together. SOULWIT's own framing is that old earpads drag down sound quality while a well-made pad seals brilliantly — as a description of how sealed over-ears work, that's accurate.
Installation is pitched as a five-minute job, and the box includes a pair of scrims, a plastic stick and a user guide to help you pry the old pads off and seat the new ones. There's a one-year manufacturer warranty, and the color here is burgundy, so it's a small cosmetic change as well as a functional one.
Buy these if you own one of the compatible Bose models and your current pads are flattened, flaking or no longer sealing. Skip them if you don't own those headphones — or if what you actually want is a new headphone rather than a repair.
The KLKE set is built around one idea: stay aware while you listen. Bone conduction drivers sit outside the ear canal and send sound through the cheekbone, so your ears stay open. Traffic, voices, ambient noise — it all comes through while music, calls and podcasts play. That's the exact opposite of noise cancelling, and it's the reason this category exists for runners and cyclists.
KLKE leans into that with a built-in rear safety light for night runs, evening walks and low-light riding. There's also a mode switch: Indoor Mode for calls, podcasts and gym sessions, Outdoor Mode for fuller sound when you're running or riding. I read that as a tuning preset rather than a second driver — the spec sheet lists a single bone conduction driver type and no noise control at all.
The rest of the spec sheet is sensible for sport. IP66 sweatproof protection, a clear-call microphone, USB-C charging, up to 10 hours of playtime and a 3-hour charge time. Weight is 32 g, which is light enough that the open-ear frame shouldn't press on your ears during long sessions. The adjustable silicone back strap is there to tune the fit across head sizes, and that fit is not a minor detail — bone conduction lives or dies on the driver sitting correctly against your cheekbone. Bluetooth range is listed at 10 meters, controls are push-button, and the color is an orange finish.
Buy these if you run, cycle, hike or commute and want your ears open to the world. Skip them if you want isolation, deep bass or a sealed, immersive listen — this design deliberately gives those up.
• Best for replacing worn-out pads → SOULWIT Earpads. That's the entire job, and the stitched, glued seams are aimed at making the replacement last.
• Best for staying aware of traffic and surroundings → KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones. Open-ear bone conduction with a rear safety light is built for exactly that.
• Best for night visibility → KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones. SOULWIT has no electronics at all; the KLKE's rear safety light is a real differentiator after dark.
• Best for sweat and bad weather → KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones. IP66 sweatproofing versus a faux-leather pad that you'd want to keep away from heavy moisture.
• Best for call clarity on the move → KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones. A clear-call microphone and up to 10 hours of playtime, charged over USB-C in about 3 hours.
• Best for sound isolation → SOULWIT Earpads. Sealed over-ear cups with a proper pad seal block far more noise than any open-ear design can.
• Best for bass and immersion → SOULWIT Earpads. A sealed cup simply moves more air; open-ear bone conduction trades that away on purpose.
• Best if you already own Bose QC45 / QC SE / QuietComfort Wireless → SOULWIT Earpads. Best if you own no compatible headphone and want something to run with → KLKE.
These two barely compete, so my pick depends on what you already have. If you own one of the compatible Bose QuietComfort models and the pads are shot, I'd buy the SOULWIT Earpads — sealing the cups again is the cheapest way back to the sound you liked, and the reinforced seams suggest they'll hold up. If you're shopping for headphones to run, ride or commute with, I'd buy the KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones; the open-ear design, safety light and IP66 rating are all pointed at the same goal. In my opinion, awareness-first listeners should go KLKE, and Bose owners repairing what they have should go SOULWIT.
It's a feature that pipes outside sound into your ears on purpose so you can hear traffic, announcements or someone talking without taking your headphones off. The KLKE set achieves this passively — its open-ear bone conduction design never blocks your ear canal in the first place, so there's no mode to switch on or off.
How to turn off aware mode on Bose headphones?
Bose QuietComfort models typically cycle between quiet and aware modes using a button or the companion app, and you'd switch back to the quiet setting to shut awareness off. Worth noting: the SOULWIT Earpads are replacement pads for those Bose headphones and don't add or control any aware mode themselves — they only restore the seal.
The KLKE Bone Conduction Headphones, in my opinion. The rear safety light, IP66 sweatproofing, up to 10 hours of playtime and open-ear design are all aimed at outdoor training, while the SOULWIT Earpads are a repair part for indoor-friendly Bose over-ears. Do check the current price on Amazon and confirm your headphone model before ordering either one.
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