I’ve tested all the leading headphones for cycling and running and, try as I might, I’ve been unable to find a rival that eclipses Shokz, whether for bone-conduction or open-ear designs.
The good news is the brand formerly known as AfterShokz, which claims to have more than 7 million customers, has launched a two-day autumn Prime Big Deal Day sale. It’s offering discounts of up to £40, or 32%, off its celebrated headphones today and tomorrow.
While I’d advocate approaching Prime Day with a healthy level of cynicism and supporting independent retailers where you can, there are deals to be had. Shokz has dropped the price of no fewer than nine of its sports headphones models – including the OpenFit 2+, which I rate as the best headphones for cycling, by £35 to £144.
I believe cycling or running with headphones can be done safely, but that doesn’t mean you should grab some in-ear buds, crank the latest Angine de Poitrine album up to 10 and jump on your bike feeling invincible.
I’d suggest reading our buyer’s guide to the best headphones for cycling, which explains the different types of headphone technology and rounds up the best options.
If you’ve already done your research and a pair of Shokz headphones are on your wishlist, read on for the best deals this Prime Big Deal Day.
Shokz OpenFit 2+ £179 £144 (save 20%)
The OpenFit 2+ wireless buds hold BikeRadar’s best overall award for cycling headphones, and I love their well-rounded sound and comfortable, confidence-inspiring open-ear design.
Most importantly, unlike in-ear buds, they leave your ear canals unobstructed, enabling you to pick up traffic and ambient noise, with the soft silicone-coated earhooks keeping them securely in place.
The OpenFit 2+ buds were my go-to choice for running and commuter cycling for over a year, and I trusted them throughout my training for half-marathons in Berlin and Valencia, as well as the Manchester Marathon. They’ve never once fallen off my ears.
I’m currently testing the latest OpenFit Pro buds (£219), which offer even greater sound quality and wireless charging, and these accompanied me for the Copenhagen Half Marathon last month.
However, the OpenFit 2+ offer most of that hi-fi performance and, at £144 from Amazon, they’re now £75 cheaper than the top-tier option. If I were spending my own money, that’s where it would go.
If audiophile quality is not your top priority, but you want the comfort and security offered by the much-imitated Shokz open-ear design, the OpenFit Air buds are down from £94 to £64 for Prime Day, representing a 31 per cent saving for a budget option I found very usable when I tried them out.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 £169 £134 (save 21%)
Despite the open-ear approach enabling you to maintain better road awareness than in-ear buds, many cyclists prefer bone-conduction designs for optimum safety. These transmit your favourite tunes via vibrations through your skull rather than directly into your ear canal.
The best bone-conduction headphones I’ve tested are the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, and you can save £35 on these, reduced for Prime Day to £134.
I had a great time testing the OpenRun Pro 2s, listening to John Martyn’s seminal Solid Air album while rolling along the towpath to work, finding the audio performance better than the also impressive Suunto Wing. The orange colourway is a stunner and the Ni-Ti memory alloy band is flexible, durable and comfortable to wear.
There’s also an Eliud Kipchoge co-branded version that appeals to my running obsession.
If you don’t mind an earlier version of this design, the biggest saving Shokz is offering for Autumn Prime Day is a hefty £40.95 off the original OpenRuns, which are now on sale for £89.
Shokz OpenDots One £149 £114.99
The third, and emerging, approach to road-safe headphones for cycling and running is clip-on buds. These work by gripping (gently) to your outer ear, with the driver resting behind your earlobe.
This design is claimed by Shokz to offer better comfort and hygiene than other types of ear bud, while enabling you to maintain situational awareness on the move.
I’m currently testing the Bose Ultra Open buds, alongside the OpenDots One. My early impressions of both have been very positive, and I’m a convert to this approach.
The OpenDots One buds are available for £114.99, down from £149, while there's also a Prime Big Deal Day saving on the new OpenDots Two, which are reduced from £179 to £152.
