Best Headphones For Cycling
This article was originally published on Make the Sound Better. I have edited this content, updating the recommendations to be more relevant for 2023 and making the recommendations more suitable for outdoor cycling, where you need to have some environmental awareness.
There’s nothing quite like a long, focused bike ride. One of the best ways to enhance your cycling experience is through the power of music. However, not all headphones are well suited for the task.
For one thing, you have to be very vigilant to make sure that your headphone cord doesn’t accidentally get caught on your handlebars while riding.
While zooming across your local bike trail, you’re bound to be affected by wind and a variety of other factors that may affect the sound quality.
Below, we’ll dive into some of the best headphones for cycling available. We understand that serious biking comes with unique challenges, so we took those factors into consideration.
After all, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice listening to music while out on the trail. Here are some of the headphones for cycling outdoors or at the gym.
Best Headphones For Cycling Buying Guide
For this recommendation list, I have focussed on headphones that provide good environmental awareness. If you are not riding on roads, you may be fine with normal fitness earbuds, but I don’t want to recommend earbuds that could potentially put people at risk. Some (or all) of my recommendations below may still not be ideal for road cycling, and it is up to you to act responsibly.
1) Shokz OpenRun Pro: Check Price On Amazon
This recommendation list is going to have a few Shokz headphones. They are the market leader for bone conduction headphones, and this style of headphones is the best option there is for outdoor fitness and environmental awareness.
I have already recommended the Shokz OpenRun Pro as the best headphones for running. They are what I personally use, and these are the closest you will get to in-ear sound quality. I was particularly impressed with the amount of bass they were able to produce while also minimising the vibration sensation from the bone conduction.
These are also IP55 rated, which is significantly better than the IP54 on most earbuds, and the battery lasts up to 10 hours, which will see you through everything other than ultra marathons.
Pros:
- Bone conduction provides superior environmental awareness vs normal open-fit design
Cons:
- High price
![SHOKZ OpenRun Pro, [England Athletics Recommended] Bone Conduction Headphones, Open-Ear Sports Earphones with Mic, IP55 Waterproof Bluetooth Wireless Headset for Running Workout Driving(Swift Black)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21v8mOKlyGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Open-Ear Design for Comfort & Safety: Experience the superior fit of OpenRun Pro—say goodbye to in-ear discomfort with our bud-free design. The open-ear design allows users to remain connected to their surroundings for safety and ensure uninterrupted performance.
- Premium Sound Quality: Powered by 9th generation bone conduction technology, OpenRun Pro delivers an immersive stereo audio experience, letting you enjoy every note, beat, chorus, and booming bass. Experience the redefined era of open-ear listening for yourself.
- Secure Fit & IP55 Water-resistant: The ergonomic, lightweight design of OpenRun Pro ensures stability during intense activities. Its IP55 rating protects the Bluetooth headsets from sweat, splashes, and rain, making it an excellent choice for sports headphones.
- 10 Hours of Playtime & Quick Charge: Enjoy a seamless 10-hour experience of music, calls, and podcasts with OpenRun Pro. A quick 5-minute charge adds 1.5 hours of battery life for uninterrupted enjoyment. Ideal for running, cycling, remote work, gaming, and workouts.
- Noise-Cancelling Mic & APP Control: Never miss a call during your workout with OpenRun Pro. Featuring dual noise-Cancelling microphones, it ensure crystal-clear calls on both ends. Download the Shokz App for easy pairing, personalized listening, and EQ settings (Standard or Vocal Booster).
2) Shokz OpenMove: Check Price On Amazon
The Shokz OpenMove are half the price of the Shokz OpenRun Pro, and therefore, my recommendation if you want something more affordable.
I was impressed with the sound quality of these, the were still able to produce a good amount of bass. I found that these have a significantly greater vibration feeling than the OpenRun Pro, which feels quite unusual when you first wear them. I got used to it, but some people may not like it.
Pros:
- Bone conduction provides superior environmental awareness vs normal open-fit designs
- Affordable
Cons:
- Bone conduction produces quite a bit of vibration
![SHOKZ OpenMove Wireless Headphones, [England Athletics Recommended] Bluetooth Bone Conduction Sports Headset with Mic, 6 Hour Playtime & IP55 Waterproof for Running Workout Cycling (Grey)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31U8MJAdYHL._SL160_.jpg)
- PREMIUM SOUND & SITUATIONAL AWARENESS – Powered by patented 7th Gen bone conduction technology and PremiumPitch 2.0, these bone conduction headphones deliver rich stereo sound and deep bass. The open-ear design helps you stay aware of traffic and surroundings while running, jogging, or commuting. Featuring advanced Bluetooth 5.1 for a stable, seamless connection, ensuring an enjoyable music experience for all bone conduction users who prioritize safety and sound quality.
- ULTRA-LIGHT OPEN-EAR COMFORT – Designed for all-day wear, our open-ear headphones weigh only 29g, resting gently in front of your ears without pressure. lightweight design is perfect for glasses wearers, office workers, and telecommuters who need comfort during remote work, commuting, or intense workouts. Enjoy balanced audio with zero fatigue.
- Secure Fit & Safety for Active Users: Ergonomic open-ear design prevents slipping or falling off during running, cycling, hiking, or street workouts. Stay aware of traffic, pedestrians, and surroundings on busy roads or rugged trails while enjoying music. Perfect for runners and safety-conscious users.
- RELIABLE POWER & FAST CHARGE – Tailored for office workers and travelers, these headphones deliver 6 hours of playback to power through long web conferences, telework, or workouts. With 10-day standby, they stay ready for spontaneous commuting, dog walks, or business trips. Efficient charging ensures a quick top-up, keeping you connected from morning meetings to evening training with zero downtime.
- IP55 WATER & DUST RESISTANCE – Built for durability, these headphones feature an IP55 rating to withstand sweat, rain, and dust. Whether you're running in heavy rain or hiking rough terrain, they deliver consistent sound. Don't let weather stop you; our design protects against the elements for all outdoor activities.
3) Shokz OpenFit: Check Price On Amazon
I haven’t had a chance to test the new Shokz OpenFit, yet. They have only just launched, and they ditch bone conduction in favour of what Shokz calls DirectPitch Air Conduction Technology.
With this open-ear configuration, you stay aware of your surroundings, making them an ideal choice for office, home, or outdoor activities.
From my experience, open fit headphones get drowned out by wind noise much easier than bone conduction.
Thanks to the ear hooks and absence of in-ear pieces, these headphones remain comfortably in place on your ears without any concerns. The unique fit might require slight adjustments during activities, ensuring the main earpiece sits snugly inside your concha for optimal audio performance. While this might require minor tweaks mid-run, rest assured they won’t easily fall out, granting you peace of mind.
With a battery life of 7 hours per charge, they may not match the impressive longevity of OpenRun headphones. Additionally, the sweat resistance has been reduced from IP55 to IP54, meaning they still offer decent protection against moisture.
Overall, OpenFit earbuds offer an enhanced audio experience compared to bone conduction models, though they may not quite match the sound quality of traditional in-ear earbuds that utilize silicon tips to create a secure seal. Nevertheless, they strike a balance between awareness and audio performance, catering to those seeking an open-ear design with satisfactory sound capabilities.
Pros:
- Better sound quality than bone conduction, making them more usable for day-to-day use rather than just fitness
Cons:
- Air conduction gets drowned out by environmental noise easily
- Price
- 【Open-Ear Design for Comfort】OpenFit continues the Shokz open-ear concept with a compact earbud design. The ergonomic design with ultra-soft silicone cushion provides you with an incredibly comfortable experience. Weighing only 8.3g per earbud, you'll hardly notice they're there.
- 【Incredible Audio Experience】DirectPitchTM technology by Shokz provides you premium stereo audio quality that perfectly balances bold highs, clear mids, and surging bass while keeping your ears open.
- 【Situational Awareness】 With its open-ear design, OpenFit enables you to stay connected with the world while enjoying your playlists, making it ideal for use in the office, at home, or during outdoor activities.
- 【Secure Fit】The ergonomic, flexible ear hook molds comfortably to various ear shapes, ensuring a secure fit. The split design between the earbud and battery evenly distributes weight, ensuring comfort and stability. With OpenFit, feel confident to walk, run, or even jump.
- 【28 Hours of Playtime & Quick Charge】7 hours per charge and up to 28 hours of listening with the charging case. A 5-minute quick charge provides an hour of battery life. No more battery anxiety. Perfect for telework, web meetings, remote work, gaming, and workouts.
4) Sony LinkBuds: Check Price On Amazon
The open-ear design (or open-ring, as Sony calls it) of the Sony LinkBuds is ideal for outdoor activities like cycling. The ability to hear ambient sounds while still enjoying my favourite tunes ensures a safer and more enjoyable experience on the road. It’s reassuring to remain aware of approaching traffic or other potential hazards, making the LinkBuds an ideal companion for urban rides or scenic routes alike.
The fit is excellent; even during intense rides with bumps and vibrations, the LinkBuds stayed firmly in place without causing any discomfort. However, the true wireless design is not really ideal when cycling on the roads, if one falls out, then there is a good chance you will lose it.
The sound quality is impressive, albeit they lack the bass that normal in-ear earbuds provide. They have clear and balanced audio despite the open-ear design. While they may not match the audio immersion of high-end closed-ear headphones, the LinkBuds deliver enough clarity and bass to keep me motivated during my rides. I appreciate that they strike a fine balance between sound quality and situational awareness, which is essential when cycling in traffic or busy areas.
Battery life has been more than sufficient for my cycling needs. With approximately 7 hours of playback per charge, they easily last through extended rides, and the included charging case offers additional power on the go. I’ve never had any issues with battery depletion during my rides, which is crucial for long cycling sessions.
In terms of durability, the Sony LinkBuds have proven to be reliable companions. The sweat resistance, rated at IPX4, provides adequate protection against sweat and light rain, ensuring they remain functional in various weather conditions.
Pros:
- Good for daily use, not just fitness
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- Air conduction gets drowned out by environmental noise easily
- True wireless earbuds can fall out which would not be good while ccling
- Truly transparent ambient sound on these Bluetooth earphones, thanks to Sony's newly developed ring-type driver unit
- Hold conversations clearly while wearing LinkBuds, and safely listen to music while jogging or walking, by hearing the world around you
- All day wearing comfort thanks to ultra compact and light weight
- Hear clear phone call and music quality on your wireless earphones with microphone
- Smart listening features for everyday ease when using your in-ear wireless headphones
5) Creative Outlier Free Pro: Check Price On Amazon
I felt I had to at least offer one alternative option to the Shokz bone conduction headphones. I chose the Creative Outlier Free Pro because they have an MP3 player built in, and they are IPX8. These are designed so you can use them while swimming as well as in other sports. For cycling, you can still listen to audio without being connected to your phone.
These won’t sound quite as good as the OpenRun Pro, but they should be better than the OpenMove.
I have noticed that some people have criticised the fit of these. It seems that the titanium band doesn’t fit around some people’s heads very well, and they want clear audio from them, they have to press down on both sides lightly to make proper contact with skin, which you can’t really do when cycling.
The price is a bit steep on Amazon, but at the time of writing, if you buy them directly from Creative, they are just £90.
Pros:
- Bone conduction provide superior environmental awareness vs normal open fit designs
- IPX8 rated making them suitable for swimming as well
- MP3 player built in
Cons:
- Some people have issues with the fit of these
- Quality and precision at your fingertips
- Easy to use: Convenient and simple use
- Value for money
6) Oladance Open Ear Headphones: Check Price On Amazon
I haven’t used these, but they filled the void when Bose discontinued the Sport Open earbuds. They are incredibly well-reviewed on Amazon, which hopefully justifies the high price. The success of these is likely why Shokz launched their OpenFit headpones.
Similar to the OpenFit, these have an around-the-ear hook, so you should have to worry about them falling out, unlike the Sony earbuds.
These have a dual 16.5mm driver design which should be able to provide superb audio quality.
On Amazon, one reviewer stated:
I’m a cyclist and was looking for something wireless, light, with intuitive controls and decent sound quality. In all these regards, these headphones are superlative. Everything I was looking for is here, and I like the fact that because they’re open stereo – I can still hear the outside world as much as the music. I also use these for when I work from home, and they work brilliantly, with a decent mic and calls being clear.
It’s early days, and it’ll be good to see how they perform over time, but for now, they are 5 stars all the way. Simply brilliant!
The 16 hour battery life is something that caught my eye. Plenty of people will do a full day cycling and many headphones will struggle to do more than 8 or 10 hours at moderate volume.
These do not come supplied with a charging case, that’s an extra £50 which is a bit of a rip off
Pros:
- Best reviewed open fit / air conduction headphones I can find
- Outstanding battery
- Large dual drivers for superior audio quality
Cons:
- Air conduction gets drowned out by environmental noise easily
- Price
- Additional £50 for charging case
- Genuine Oladance open-ear headphones. Portable stereo with a full open ear design that feels comfortable and won't fall out. The Oladance Open Earbuds were awarded the Red Dot Design Award in 2022. Unlike in-ear headphones and wireless bone sound headphones, Oladance open ear headphones remain really for your ears. Oladance works to provide you with an extraordinary listening experience in a natural and pleasant way.
- Unparalleled comfort and 360 premium sound. With dual powerful dynamic 16.5 mm drivers, which are three times larger than the other earphones, the Oladance open-ear Bluetooth headphones create a listening experience that is more similar to an intimate concert environment. Our open headphones use top biomaphragm technology and provide a rich and consistent listening experience at any volume, from crisp and clear treble to exciting powerful deep b.
- Anti-hearing damage earplugs in full transparency mode Oladance open earphones focus on avoiding the most common health problems compared to conventional headphones. because Oladance earplugs never really get into your ears. There is no pinching of the ear cup, no blocking of the ear c, no pain or hearing damage. Enjoy the superior sound quality and extreme comfort of Oladance earphones.
- Sports headphones safety and comfort. Equipped with the multi-point support system that distributes the weight of the earplugs evenly over your ears, the Oladance open-ear headphones fit perfectly to the natural curvature of your ears and prevent them from falling off. The Oladance open-ear headphones ensure lasting comfort for the whole day long and remain super cool stability and safety, whether for travel, working, meeting or home office.
- 16-hour battery life. With the 160 mAh battery capacity and breakthrough low energy consumption algorithms technology patents, Oladance earphones provide up to 16 hours of continuous playback or up to 12 hours of continuous calls after just one charge, tested by the Oladance laboratory at 50% volume. With 100% volume, Oladance supports up to 10 hours of listening time and calls. Actual usage time may vary depending on usage behaviour and environment.
6) Mu6 Ring Open Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones: Check Price On Amazon
I reviewed the Mu6 Ring, and I really liked them at the time. The audio quality is much better than bone conduction headphones.
In my review, I said these were not great for cycling as don’t fit very well under cycling helmets, and wind noise will easily drown out the audio. However, I think they deserve a place on the list because they are so cheap at around £28.
I’d say that these are better for running and walking, and I wouldn’t buy them specifically for cycling, but they still useful for the occasional bike ride.
Pros:
- Price
Cons:
- Air conduction gets drowned out by environmental noise easily.
- Fit doesn’t work well with bike helmets.
- 【Comfort & Safe Design】Ring adopts an open-ear design, which doesn't go in or cover your ears, features comfortable wear, protects your hearing from long usage. This ergonomic design allows you to listen to the surrounding sounds while enjoying music, ensures the safety and normal conversations with others.
- 【Air Conduction】Ring is powered by air conduction, which will not cause any discomfort to the original sound compared with bone conduction headphones, helps normal individuals hear the tone better. If you have no hearing loss and seek open-ear comfort, Ring will be the best choice for you.
- 【Bluetooth 5.0 Connectivity】Ring comes with the advanced Bluetooth 5.0 chip, enhances the signal strength, and greatly improves transmission speed. Combined with the built-in microphone, providing you with a low-latency quality sound and clear call experience.
- 【Excellent Sports Headphones】Ring weighs 35 grams, lightweight, and no burden on your ears. IP55 waterproof ensures that you will not be affected by sweat during exercise. 9 hours of playtime allows you to get continuous use when you are outdoor, traveling, running, and gym.
- 【100% Satisfaction Guarantee】Your satisfaction is our top priority. We promise all of our products against defects. If you have any problems during your usage, please feel free to contact our 24 hours online support. We have a free return/replacement policy to guarantee you the BEST purchase experience.
Conclusion
My personal recommendation, as in the ones I use, is the Shokz OpenRun Pro. They are the best bone conduction headphones I have used so far as the sound quality is excellent and they don’t have too much vibration.
I am eager to try either, or both, the Oladance Open Ear and Shokz OpenFit to see what the sound quality is like and how well they handle wind noise. I expect the general sound quality will be much better but more prone to being drowned out.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
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