GoKawiilI do wish these headphones were a little cheaper. I'm currently testing the recently released, more affordable Shokz OpenRun Air 2, and hopeful they can be a budget-friendly alternative.
Honorable Mentions
Nothing Ear (Open) for $99: Former WIRED editor Adrienne So loves these earbuds and uses them for almost all her outdoor activities. They are very slim (19-mm wide) and lightweight. They fit slightly inside your ear and, like most Nothing headphones, have a distinct transparent design. The case doesn't clamp shut very firmly, so be careful, but at this price, that's forgivable.
JLab Epic Open Sport for $100: JLab’s Epic Open Sport stands out for its controls: the JLab emblem is a touch sensor, and each earbud also has physical buttons on top, making it a breeze to control. What holds the Epic Open Sport back is audio quality—the sound isn't very detailed, and it's generally boring to listen to.
Other Open Earbuds I’ve Tested
EarFun Clip for $70: For around $70, these are a solid pick for anyone on a budget. Waniata found the overall package punching above its price point, with a snappy, compact case, comfortable fit, push-button controls, and reliable multiple Bluetooth connections. The problem is our budget pick, the Soundpeats PearlClip Pro, is often on sale for less and offers a similar overall experience. Don't dismiss these earbuds if you find them heavily discounted.
Shokz OpenFit Pro for $250: The Shokz OpenFit Pro has a great premise: open earbuds with noise canceling. Hear the world around you as you would without headphones, and turn on noise-canceling when you don't, just like regular earbuds. And while they do cancel some noise, it's not much. The bigger issue is price: for $250, you could get open earbuds and great noise-canceling earbuds that do a better job for each task.
Suunto Wing 2 for $179: These open-ear headphones are designed for endurance athletes—they have a long 12-hour battery life but also come with a wireless power bank you can take on the go. Dock the headphones in the power bank for up to 36 hours of battery life total. There's nothing inherently wrong with these headphones, but I don't see a world where I would recommend them over the Shokz Openrun Pro 2, which retail for the same amount and offer more comfort, a sleeker design, better sound, and a more robust app.
Suunto Spark for $179: The Suunto Spark has a similar story to the Suunto Wing 2: with athletes in mind, it has features that sync with Suunto fitness watches, but it is outclassed in the areas that matter (comfort, sound quality, battery) by the similarly priced Shokz Openfit 2.