I’ve tested cycling headphones from most of the major brands – Sennheiser, Sony, Beats, Google, Suunto, Huawei… but one stands out from the pack – Shokz.
Formerly known as AfterShokz, in my opinion Shokz consistently eclipses its rivals, successfully balancing the two most important qualities for cyclists and runners – road safety and sound quality.
Shokz has cut the price of a range of its best headphones for cycling and running in the Amazon Prime Day sale, with prices starting from as little as £64 and savings of up to 46%.
The best headphones for cycling generally fall into two categories – bone-conduction and open-ear air-conduction designs. Shokz makes some of the best headphones in both camps and I’ve tested many of them over hundreds of miles of commuting, longer road rides and when pounding the pavements training for marathons and half-marathons.
Perhaps surprisingly, given the quality of Shokz' headphones, four of the best options your money can buy are included in the Amazon Prime Day sale.
Read on to secure a scorching summer bargain and start soundtracking your rides.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 £169 £135 (save 20%)
I’ve been testing the OpenRun Pro 2 bone-conduction headphones for two months now, using them as one of my main sets of headphones for running and commuting. I can safely say they’re the best bone-conduction headphones I’ve tested.
I’ve found the sound quality more rounded than other bone-conduction options, such as the also very good Suunto Wing, while the design leaves your ears unrestricted.
I found I was able to comfortably pick up approaching traffic, my noisy freehub and even birdsong while I listened to the new Matt Berninger album on a recent commute to BikeRadar HQ.
The OpenRun Pro 2s are also comfortable, highly durable, come in three colours, and offer 12 hours of playback from a charge.
You will, of course, find better sound quality from in-ear and some open-ear headphones.
However, If road safety is your top priority when shopping for cycling and running headphones, I can’t recommend the OpenRun Pro 2 highly enough, and with a 20 per cent discount for Prime Day, I’d be tempted to take the plunge.
Shokz OpenFit 2 £199 £135 (save 35%)
After two years of testing cycling and running headphones, I’ve reached the conclusion that my favourite type is the hybrid open-ear design employed by the Shokz OpenFit series – and a host of imitators.
I tested the original OpenFits in 2023 and concluded: “They deliver performance to keep even the fussiest audiophile cork sniffer happy, providing powerful, nuanced and immersive sound without disconnecting you from the world outside.”
Shokz has since improved the design, introducing its new DualBoost technology, said to offer a richer, more immersive listening experience.
Meanwhile, battery life has been increased, and the buds are claimed to be softer and more comfortable on the ears, too.
I’ve been testing the OpenFit 2s alongside the OpenRun Pro 2 this summer, and so far I’m hugely impressed.
Amazon is offering a hefty 35% discount on their full price, and I’d have no hesitation in paying £135 for a set of market-leading sports earbuds such as these.
Shokz OpenFit Air £119 £64 (save 46%)
The OpenFit Air is the wallet-friendly version of the new OpenFit 2, offering a similarly lightweight, comfortable fit and open-ear approach.
You don’t get the DualBoost technology and battery life is six hours, compared to the 11 hours offered by the OpenFit 2, but otherwise you're getting essentially the same earbuds for less than half the price.
Six hours was just about long enough for me to complete the Manchester Marathon wearing the OpenFit Air buds and they were a more than capable companion, dragging me through some apocalyptically dark moments.
With nearly half their retail price knocked off for Prime Day, these would make a great option for commuters and half-marathon runners.
Shokz OpenFit £129 £89 (save 31%)
While the OpenFit Pro 2s top the range, the original OpenFits are still available, with a handsome 31% Prime Day discount bringing them down to £89.
These are the headphones I turn to most often for running and commuting, and they’re still going strong two years since I first took them for a spin.
They've stood up to all weather and accompanied me on Parkruns, half-marathons and countless commutes.
The Open Fit Pros were brilliant open-ear sports headphones when I tested them at £179 and they look even more tempting with nearly £100 off their price.
Amazon Prime Day deals
In case you've missed the details, Prime Day deals are exclusively for Prime members. However, the good news is you can get a 30-day free trial to access all the offers.
- US users: Start your 30-day free trial at Amazon Prime and enjoy benefits such as fast shipping, streaming, and Prime Day access, before auto-renewal at $14.99/month: Start your trial
- UK users: New customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial, then continue Prime at £8.99 a month or £95 a year to enjoy Amazon Prime Day deals: Start your trial
Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to be charged.
