Our reviews are 100% organic. We do not accept payment for reviews or bundle with advertising budgets. In most cases, the brand is providing the product to our reviewers free of charge. Shokz headphones routinely sit atop our list of favorites for functionality and sound quality, and the original OpenRun Pro has been our longstanding go-to for training and racing in recent years. The updated OpenRun Pro 2 improves upon the original model in sound quality, functionality and battery life.
Sound quality is enhanced through Shokz 10th generation bone conduction technology, a level above the previous OpenRun Pro (9th generation) and regular OpenRun (8th generation) systems. The most noticeable improvement in sound quality is richer overall bass tones thanks to a new dual-speaker configuration that pushes sound toward your open ears while the bone configuration is positioned below your temples. DirectPitch uses reverse sound waves to optimize the distance and angle between the sound source and your ear canal, providing greater overall sound quality in addition to more prominent bass. In the Shokz app, you can personalize the sound by choosing from standard, bass boost or treble boost modes, as well as custom equalizer bars to create your own sound profile.
Customization in app
Along with significantly improving the overall sound quality, the dual speaker configuration virtually eliminates the vibrations of many bone conduction headphones, which come primarily from bass notes. On the OpenRun Pro 2, the bass speakers aren’t in direct contact with your temples and when combined with Shokz CoreCushion enhancements to offset vibration, there is almost no vibratory sensation against your skin, even with rock music cranked at top volume. We’ve tested the past four generations of bone conduction technology from this company and there is undoubtedly a tangible difference in better sound and less vibration from one to the next. Other advanced sound features on the OpenRun Pro 2 include AI noise-canceling and wind-resistant microphones, which utilize noise reduction algorithms to filter out more than 96% of background noise, and strategically placed voice capture microphones that provide speech clarity in windy conditions up to 15 mph.
Ease of operation has been a strength of Shokz models in the past, and the OpenRun Pro 2 does not deviate from that in any significant way. Power and volume are controlled on the right side, while a multi-function button on the left can pause, skip or repeat music and answer phone calls. There are mild adjustments to these from the previous OpenRun Pro—the power on/off indicators are simple audio tones and the multi-function button is horizontal instead of vertical—but all of the button functions remain very crisp and easy to operate, even with gloved fingers or under a hat when the weather is cold.
USB-C charging port, power and volume controls
Battery life has been improved from the previous version, with an official spec of 12 hours play time that we have stretched to 14 or 15 hours at moderate volume levels. A full charge is complete in just one hour and if you forget that the headphones are dead just as you’re heading out the door, a 5-minute charge provides 2.5 hours of life to get through a workout. A significant change to this model is the incorporation of USB-C charging instead of the proprietary cable found on previous Shokz bone conduction models. This is a huge convenience in your ability to charge the headphones with cables aside from the one that comes in the box, and this compatibility is especially helpful during an ultra race or overnight trek when you can recharge from any portable power bank.
One curious limitation of the OpenRun Pro 2 is that it carries over the IP55 water resistance from the previous version. This lands it in the “sweatproof” category rather than the more robust IP67 waterproof protection of the lower-tier OpenRun model. While this seems like a missed opportunity to upgrade weather resistance, we’ve also used the OpenRun Pro 2 during track workouts in rainstorms without any difficulty. A hydrophobic coating makes the overall system more resistant to external water intrusion.
What’s in the box
Impressively, given the increased complexity of the sound system hardware, the OpenRun Pro 2 only weighs 1g more than its previous version and rides almost imperceptibly on your head during long efforts. Their overall comfort is exceptional, and we often keep them on our head long after workouts just because they’re easier to transport that way. We tested the standard size headphones, but there is also a mini option available with a smaller back loop to accommodate smaller heads or to fit more snug under a helmet or hood. The mini is also an appealing option if you do frequent gym workouts that require lying on your back. The standard version comes in four color options, while the mini is offered in orange or black. All selections are available at www.shokz.com.
Features:
- Shokz 10th generation bone conduction technology
- DualPitch audio enhancement technology
- Frame: nickel-titanium alloy with silicone plastic coating, available in standard or mini sizing
- Battery life (single charge): 12 hours
- Recharge capacity: 1 hour to full charge, 5 minutes for 2.5-hour quick charge
- USB-C charging cable
- Water resistance: IP55
- Weight: 30g
- MSRP: $180