I’ve spent three years testing the best headphones for cycling and running – and while the Shokz OpenFit 2+ won the overall award, Huawei’s FreeArcs ran them very close. Now that Huawei's buds are reduced to a mere £49 – £120 less than the Shokz RRP – they’re the ones I’d buy.
The design of the FreeArcs is almost identical to the OpenFit 2+, with both sets of buds featuring supple nickel-titanium ear hooks coated in soft silicone to ensure they stay put and remain comfortable when you’re on the bike.
The Huawei buds have an IP57 waterproof rating, which is superior to the IP55 of the OpenFits, although battery life is seven hours compared to the 10 offered by Shokz.
Widescreen presentation and clarity
Having tested most of the leading headphones and buds designed for running and cycling, I'm now rotating between the Shokz and Huawei designs while training for my next half-marathon.
I tested the FreeArcs on a variety of outdoor runs, treadmill sessions and while commuting to work, and the sound quality was balanced, engaging and detailed, standing up well to wind noise.
I found the “widescreen presentation and clarity“ and separation of instruments to be right up there with the best headphones for cycling. The OpenFits offer a slightly more powerful bass response, but with the price difference now up to £130 if you buy direct from Huawei, I’d be more likely to opt for the FreeArcs.
Most importantly, like the highly similar OpenFits, Huawei’s buds are an open-ear design, ensuring your ear canals are not obstructed and you can maintain awareness of traffic and other ambient noise while you're cycling.
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