Best Budget Bone Conduction Headphones From OPN Sound and Shokz

The best budget bone conduction headphones for most buyers are the OPN Sound Mezzo+, listed at $69.95 at OPN Sound's store (opnsound.com) on October 24, 2026. OPN lists an IPX6 water rating, a 7-hour battery claim and a 26 g weight. If you want the budget pick with the most independent lab data, buy the Shokz OpenRun, ideally as the certified refurbished unit that Shokz's US store (shokz.com) listed at $97.50 on October 24, 2026.

ArmorSound has not tested any of these headphones. This guide combines maker specs and store prices with findings that RTINGS, SoundGuys, What Hi-Fi?, Wirecutter and Letem světem Applem published, and it credits each finding to the outlet that reported it. ArmorSound checked every price on October 24, 2026, and prices can change at any time.

Quick verdictOur pick

OPN Sound Mezzo+ is the budget bone conduction pick for most buyers

The Mezzo+ is the cheapest in-stock bone conduction pick here, with an IPX6 rating, a 7-hour battery claim and a lifetime warranty from OPN. Buy the refurbished Shokz OpenRun instead if you want more independent test data.

Buy it if

• Runners on a tight budget
• Sweaty or rainy workouts
• Buyers who want a lifetime warranty

Skip it if

• You want lots of independent test data
• You need a swim-ready headset
• You want strong bass

Check the OPN Sound Mezzo+ on OPN Sound →

Code HEAR10 took 10% off at OPN Sound at the time of writing.

Our picks at a glance

Best budget pick

OPN Sound Mezzo+

Best for: Runners on a tight budget

Price

$69.95 at opnsound.com (Oct 24, 2026)

Battery claim

7 hours

Water rating

IPX6

Weight

26 g

• Lowest price of the in-stock bone conduction picks
• Lifetime warranty and 30-day returns from OPN
• Letem světem Applem found it comfortable and secure on runs

• Only one independent review in our sources
• The reviewer called the sound acceptable, with little bass

Watch for: OPN's page gives two quick-charge figures that do not agree, so rely on the 7-hour claim only.

Check price on OPN Sound →

Code HEAR10 took 10% off at OPN Sound at the time of writing.

Cheapest Shokz

Shokz OpenMove

Best for: Climbing and casual workouts

Price

$79.95 at shokz.com (Oct 24, 2026)

Battery claim

6 hours

Water rating

IP55

Weight

29 g

• SoundGuys and What Hi-Fi? both note multipoint pairing
• What Hi-Fi? found little sound leakage
• SoundGuys notes USB-C charging and glove-friendly buttons

• Its SoundGuys battery score beats 0% of bone conduction headphones
• No fast charging and no app

Watch for: SoundGuys found glasses and chewing shift it out of place.

Check price on Amazon →

Best value refurbished

Shokz OpenRun

Best for: Running and outdoor training

Price

$97.50 refurbished, $129.95 new at shokz.com (Oct 24, 2026)

Battery claim

8 hours

Water rating

IP67

Weight

26 g (SoundGuys)

• RTINGS recorded 13 hours of continuous battery life
• IP67, the highest water rating of the four picks
• SoundGuys called it one of the best sounding bone conduction headsets

• SoundGuys found it supports only the SBC codec
• RTINGS and SoundGuys found the mic struggles with background noise

Watch for: Shokz's refurbished page marks it not suitable for swimming, so treat IP67 as rain and sweat protection.

Check price on Amazon →

Step-up pick

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2

Best for: Long sessions and calls

Price

$179.95 at shokz.com (Oct 24, 2026)

Battery claim

Up to 12 hours

Water rating

IP55 (RTINGS)

Design

Bone conduction plus bass drivers

• RTINGS names it the best bone conduction headphones it has tested
• Wirecutter found calls clear even in breezy conditions
• RTINGS notes USB-C charging and an app with a five-band EQ

• Lower IP55 rating than the OpenRun
• RTINGS still found little bass

Watch for: Wirecutter found water on the bass drivers can temporarily cut their sound.

Check price on Amazon →

Key takeaways

• The OPN Sound Mezzo+ is the cheapest in-stock bone conduction pick here, and only one independent review in our sources covers it.
• A refurbished Shokz OpenRun has the most lab data and the highest water rating (IP67) of the four picks.
• Reviewers found weak bass on all four picks, including the $179.95 OpenRun Pro 2.
• Shokz says the OpenRun is not suitable for swimming, and SoundGuys points swimmers to the Shokz OpenSwim.
• Open ears do not protect your hearing, so keep the volume moderate.

What are the best bone conduction headphones under $100?

Three of the four picks came in under $100 on October 24, 2026. The Mezzo+ cost $69.95 at opnsound.com. The Shokz OpenMove cost $79.95 at Shokz's US store, with grey and blue in stock and white and pink showing unavailable. The refurbished OpenRun cost $97.50 at the same store. A new OpenRun listed at $129.95, and the step-up Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 listed at $179.95, both at Shokz's US store on October 24, 2026.

The Mezzo+ wins on price and on paper specs. The OpenRun wins on evidence, since RTINGS and SoundGuys both published long reviews of it. The OpenMove sits between them on price. Its SoundGuys rating beats 13% of bone conduction headphones, against 38% for the OpenRun. Buy the OpenRun Pro 2 if your budget stretches and you want the model RTINGS rates as the best bone conduction headphones it has tested.

Prices and battery claims come from OPN Sound's and Shokz's US stores. Weights come from OPN's Mezzo+ spec sheet, Shokz's OpenMove page and SoundGuys (OpenRun). The OpenRun Pro 2's IP55 rating comes from RTINGS, and the mic notes come from OPN, What Hi-Fi? and RTINGS.

Why is the OPN Sound Mezzo+ the top budget pick?

It costs the least of the in-stock bone conduction models here, and its spec sheet holds up against Shokz models that cost more. OPN lists Bluetooth 5.3, IPX6 water resistance, a 7-hour battery, 288 hours of standby, a 26 g weight and a built-in microphone with ENC noise reduction for calls. ENC cleans up your voice for the person you are calling. It does nothing to block outside noise for you. OPN's product page lists a USB-C cable and earplugs in the box.

OPN's store adds a lifetime warranty, free shipping, a 30-day risk-free trial and 30-day returns. OPN says orders arrive within 5 to 7 days. OPN Sound's affiliate program advertises the code HEAR10 for 10% off at opnsound.com, and the code took 10% off at the time of writing.

What the independent review found

Letem světem Applem published its Mezzo+ review on May 18, 2025, and recommended the headset for athletes. The reviewer found the 26 g headset light and comfortable and wrote that after a while you stop noticing it. They reported that it did not slip the way in-ear headphones tend to on a run, and that the other party on a call heard them clearly on a busy street. The sound verdict was blunt. The reviewer called it acceptable and told readers who want dense, bass-heavy sound to look elsewhere. The review lists AAC and SBC codec support and a 15 mm driver, and it says you can reach slightly beyond OPN's stated 10 m range in open areas.

What to watch

One review is thin evidence. OPN's own store showed a 5.00 out of 5 rating from just 2 customer reviews. OPN's product page gives two quick-charge figures that do not agree. The marketing copy says 10 minutes of charging gives 5 hours of listening, and the spec table says a 10-minute quick charge reaches 80%. Treat the quick-charge claim as unconfirmed, and plan around the 7-hour battery claim, which no independent outlet in our sources has tested. For more on the brand's lineup and store policies, read our full OPN Sound review.

Is OPN Sound (Conduction Labs) as good as Shokz?

Conduction Labs and OPN Sound are the same brand. The old conductionlabs.com address now redirects to opnsound.com, and many retail listings, Amazon included, still use the Conduction Labs name. A Conduction Labs listing points to the same company that sells the Mezzo+ on opnsound.com.

On paper, the Mezzo+ compares well with the OpenMove, its closest Shokz rival on price. OPN lists Bluetooth 5.3, and SoundGuys lists Bluetooth 5.1 for the OpenMove. OPN rates the Mezzo+ IPX6 against the OpenMove's IP55, claims 7 hours of battery against Shokz's 6 hours, and lists 26 g against the OpenMove's 29 g. Letem světem Applem lists AAC support for the Mezzo+, and SoundGuys found the OpenRun supports only the SBC codec.

On evidence, Shokz is ahead. The OpenMove and OpenRun have lab scores, battery results and repeated sound impressions from several outlets. The Mezzo+ has one published review and two store ratings. OPN counters with a lifetime warranty, and Shokz's refurbished OpenRun carries a 1-year warranty. If price and warranty matter most, buy the Mezzo+. If you want more independent reporting before you pay, buy a Shokz.

Should you buy the Shokz OpenMove or the OpenRun?

Buy the OpenRun if you can find a refurbished unit in your size and color. SoundGuys argues the OpenMove makes more sense for most people and reserves the OpenRun for buyers who need its extra durability and battery life. At the refurbished price of $97.50, the OpenRun sits much closer to the OpenMove's $79.95 than its $129.95 new price does.

Shokz OpenMove

SoundGuys gave the OpenMove a rating of 6.8 in its OpenMove review, a score that beats 13% of the bone conduction headphones it has rated. Its battery score was 6.2 out of 10, which beats 0% of bone conduction models. Shokz claims 6 hours of battery and a 2-hour recharge, and SoundGuys notes there is no fast charging. The headset charges over USB-C instead of a proprietary cable. SoundGuys liked the multipoint connection, the IP55 build and the clearly separated volume buttons, which are easier to press with gloves on. It found little bass, no bass-boost EQ setting, a loud button beep with no app to turn it off, and a mic that blocked steady A/C noise and light wind but passed along incidental sounds like jangling keys.

What Hi-Fi? reviewed it on July 2, 2021, under the old AfterShokz name, and called it a solid option for bone conduction on a budget. It praised the rock-solid build, multipoint pairing and little sound leakage. Its testers found the sound lacked clarity, with bass that could be deeper and punchier, and said buyers who prioritize sound can get better value elsewhere. They reported clear calls through dual noise-cancelling mics, and the headset stayed put through their fastest sprints.

Shokz OpenRun

RTINGS lists a comfortable, stable fit as a pro and a real lack of bass as a con. It found smooth, accurate mids with clear vocals and bright but not piercing treble, and it recorded 13 hours of continuous battery life against Shokz's 8-hour claim. RTINGS found low latency on iOS and Android, fine for video, and latency too high for PC gaming. It reported that the mic records a clear, natural voice that can get drowned out on a busy street.

SoundGuys found the 8-hour claim held up in its use and gave the OpenRun a battery score of 7.0 out of 10. Its overall rating beats 38% of bone conduction headphones, and SoundGuys called the OpenRun one of the best sounding bone conduction headsets available. SoundGuys reports that a 10-minute charge gives 90 minutes of playback and a full charge takes 90 minutes. The catches it found are SBC-only Bluetooth, small buttons that are hard to tell apart and a mic that transmits a lot of background noise. Its review unit came with a magnetic two-pin charging cable, and Shokz's store now lists the OpenRun in both magnetic and USB-C charging versions.

A few related models are worth knowing. SoundGuys says the older AfterShokz Aeropex is almost the same as the OpenRun, with Bluetooth 5.0 instead of 5.1, and recommends whichever one is on sale. RTINGS notes older OpenRun units may carry AfterShokz branding, and that Costco sells a variant under the OpenRun SE name. Shokz's newer OpenRun Air 2 listed at $129.95 on October 24, 2026, and RTINGS reports it adds USB-C charging and companion app support.

Battery claims and charging versions come from OPN Sound's Mezzo+ page and Shokz's US product pages. Independent figures come from RTINGS, SoundGuys and Wirecutter, linked in the text. SoundGuys scores compare each model with other bone conduction headphones SoundGuys has rated.

Is the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 worth the extra money?

Yes, if you can stretch to $179.95 and comfort and calls matter more than price. RTINGS names the OpenRun Pro 2 the best bone conduction headphones it has tested in its bone conduction rankings. It uses a hybrid design, and Wirecutter explains that bone conduction handles the higher frequencies and mini drivers send bass toward your ears. RTINGS says that mix reduces reliance on the vibrations pure bone conduction needs for louder volume. Shokz advertises reduced vibrations, its DualPitch technology and up to 12 hours of battery.

RTINGS found the Pro 2 comfortable for long sessions and very stable for runners and hikers, with 9 hours of battery, multipoint pairing and a decent mic. Wirecutter found calls clear even in breezy conditions, and it notes Shokz's two-year warranty. Shokz's store lists a 45-day risk-free trial and free shipping. RTINGS reports USB-C charging in place of the OpenRun's proprietary charger.

Skip it if bass is the reason you want to spend more. RTINGS found the Pro 2 still has little bass, and its app's five-band EQ won't fix that. Wirecutter warns you may hear some distortion on bass-forward songs at maximum volume, and it found water on the bass drivers can temporarily cut their sound. RTINGS points out the cheaper OpenRun carries the higher IP67 rating against the Pro 2's IP55.

What do you give up with cheap bone conduction headphones?

You give up bass first, and the step-up model still falls short. RTINGS found the OpenRun struggles to reproduce thumpy low bass, SoundGuys heard virtually no sub-bass from it, and What Hi-Fi? found the OpenMove's lows a little on the light side. Wirecutter says none of the unsealed designs in its guide can compete with sealed earbuds on bass. RTINGS found the same weakness on the pricier OpenRun Pro 2.

Sound leakage

Leakage varies by model and volume. What Hi-Fi? found far less audible leakage from the OpenMove than from many traditional headphones. RTINGS found the OpenRun leaks audio at high volumes. ArmorSound's earlier guide made the same point. Some sound can escape as vibration or airborne sound, most noticeably in quiet rooms.

Isolation

Bone conduction headphones don't block outside noise, and that cuts both ways. RTINGS notes the OpenRun lets ambient sound in, which makes calls in noisy places harder to hear. SoundGuys does not recommend the OpenMove for daily commutes or work flights and points those buyers to noise cancelling earbuds. RTINGS found earplugs greatly improve the OpenRun's sound and cut your awareness, and What Hi-Fi? found the OpenMove's earplug mode sounded woolly and echoey.

Vibration and fit sensitivity

RTINGS warns that bone conduction transducers can produce vibrations that feel uncomfortable, most of all at higher volumes. Wirecutter found the Suunto Wing buzzes and vibrates at outdoor listening volumes, tickling your face. Fit changes the sound too. RTINGS found the OpenRun's bass and treble vary with positioning, and SoundGuys found that talking or chewing shifted the OpenRun out of place and that chewing shifted the OpenMove.

Are cheap bone conduction headphones worth it?

Yes, if hearing traffic, coworkers or trail noise matters more to you than sound quality. Letem světem Applem describes bone conduction headphones as aimed at a special segment, and SoundGuys calls the category a niche market. They are a poor buy if you want the best sound for the money. What Hi-Fi? says you can get greater sound-per-pound value elsewhere, and SoundGuys says sound quality isn't the OpenMove's strong suit.

The cheapest models carry trade-offs beyond sound. SoundGuys found the OpenMove lacks fast charging and an app. The Mezzo+ has little independent coverage. RTINGS' own budget pick, the Creative Outlier Free, has a lower IPX5 rating than RTINGS' other picks, and this guide leaves it out since none of our sources list a current price for it.

If you are still deciding between formats, our headphones vs earbuds vs bone conduction guide lays out the trade-offs. Our open-ear headphones guide and our best open-ear earbuds roundup cover open-ear models that aim sound at the ear without vibration. Wirecutter's main concern with the Shokz OpenFit 2 is its price, which sits well above that of the EarFun OpenJump, a pair Wirecutter says performs much the same. Our Shokz OpenFit 2 review covers that open-ear model in detail.

Which budget bone conduction headphones are best for running?

The refurbished OpenRun is the best budget running pick. RTINGS lists a comfortable, stable fit and an IP67 rating that makes it fully dust, sweat and waterproof, and SoundGuys found it stayed in place during indoor bouldering, falls included. Shokz sells it in a Mini size, which RTINGS says has a neckband about one inch smaller than the standard model. The refurbished listing showed Mini versions in stock on October 24, 2026, apart from the black USB-C Mini.

The Mezzo+ is the cheaper running choice. Letem světem Applem found it did not slip out on runs, and OPN rates it IPX6 against sweat and heavy weather. The OpenMove stayed put through What Hi-Fi?'s fastest sprints, though testers with less hair, or no ponytail to hold the band up, found it dipped at the back. RTINGS found the OpenRun Pro 2 very stable for runners and hikers, if your budget reaches that far.

Gym and bike use is weaker across the board. SoundGuys found both the OpenMove and the OpenRun slide forward when you lie on your back for a bench press. SoundGuys found the OpenMove's headband hard to fit with a bike helmet, and it said the OpenMove performs best for rock climbing.

Can you swim with bone conduction headphones?

Only with a model built for it, and none of the four picks lists swimming as a use. SoundGuys notes the OpenRun's IP67 rating means you can submerge it for up to 30 minutes, yet Shokz's own refurbished OpenRun page marks it not suitable for swimming, and SoundGuys points swimmers to the Shokz OpenSwim. Wirecutter found water on the OpenRun Pro 2's bass drivers can temporarily cut their sound. ArmorSound's long-standing advice holds. An ordinary IP rating does not make Bluetooth work underwater, so require a model designed for immersion.

Shokz's OpenSwim Pro cost $229.95 at Shokz's US store on October 24, 2026, with IP68, Bluetooth 5.4, MP3 storage and an up to 9-hour battery claim. Wirecutter found its playback isn't gapless, with a pause and a boop sound after every song. OPN's Swym+ ($129.95) lists bone conduction, IP68 waterproofing to 1.5 m, 32 GB of MP3 storage and up to 7 hours of play, and opnsound.com showed it sold out on October 24, 2026. Wirecutter's guide includes the H2O Audio Tri 2 for underwater use, rated IPX8 to 12 feet for unlimited time, and notes it won't let you save songs from streaming services to its storage.

Which OPN Sound models are worth watching?

OPN's store showed two of its bone conduction models sold out on October 24, 2026. Two other OPN models sit at similar prices and use a different technology, so check the type before you buy.

Prices, stock status and claims come from OPN Sound's product pages, checked on October 24, 2026. None of these four models has an independent review in our sources.

The Osso is the one to watch on a tight budget. At $34.95 it costs well under the Mezzo+ and claims a 9-hour battery, but it was out of stock on the check date. The Aperto and Aria Pro are open-ear air-conduction designs. OPN says the Aria Pro aims directional audio at the ear canal with no vibration, and its page showed no customer reviews yet. Buy one of those two if you want vibration-free open-ear sound, and skip them if you want bone conduction. Our OPN Sound brand review has more on both.

Are bone conduction headphones safe for your hearing?

They are as safe as the volume you choose, and no safer. Bone conduction headsets vibrate against the skull near the ear and leave the ear canal open, yet the inner ear still receives sound energy. Unsafe volume and long sessions can still damage hearing, and the World Health Organization's safe listening guidance applies whatever the transducer style.

Open ears keep traffic and warning sounds audible at moderate levels, and loud playback can still mask them. Don't treat an open ear as permission to turn up the volume in traffic. Placement changes sensitivity. A peer-reviewed study, Hearing Through Bone Conduction Headsets, found that placing the transducer near the ear-canal opening could improve sensitivity by roughly 20 dB, and by up to 40 dB at some frequencies. RTINGS adds that bone conduction vibrations can feel uncomfortable at higher volumes. That gives you one more reason to keep the level down.

A simple check helps. Compare speech and music at a moderate level indoors, then repeat in the outdoor noise where you plan to use the headset. If you need a large volume jump to follow speech, the setting may be too loud for an open design.

How should budget bone conduction headphones fit?

Aim for stable contact at the temple and cheek with no painful clamping. What Hi-Fi? found the OpenMove's grip relatively strong yet not painful after a few hours, and the SoundGuys reviewer could wear it for a couple of hours before giving their skull a break. Shokz sells the OpenRun and OpenRun Pro 2 in standard and Mini sizes, and Wirecutter says people with hat sizes 7½ or smaller may prefer the Pro 2 Mini.

Check what else sits on your head. Helmet straps and glasses can compete for the same space. SoundGuys found glasses arms displaced the OpenMove and made the OpenRun trickier to wear, and RTINGS warns that pure bone conduction drivers can vibrate glasses, earrings and other headgear. If calls matter, judge wind noise and mic placement separately from music. Check whether a model streams over Bluetooth only or stores music on board for phone-free use. The OpenSwim Pro and Swym+ list MP3 storage, and RTINGS notes the OpenRun is Bluetooth-only with no wired option.

Use the return windows. OPN lists a 30-day risk-free trial and 30-day returns, Shokz lists 45-day free returns on the refurbished OpenRun, and the OpenRun Pro 2 page lists a 45-day risk-free trial. Run the indoor and outdoor volume check above inside that window, and send the pair back if it shifts, buzzes or needs too much volume to follow speech.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• OPN Sound: Mezzo+ product page
• OPN Sound: Osso product page
• OPN Sound: Swym+ product page
• OPN Sound: Aperto product page
• OPN Sound: Aria Pro product page
• Letem světem Applem: OPN Sound Mezzo+ review
• Shokz: OpenMove product page
• Shokz: OpenRun product page
• Shokz: OpenRun (Refurbished) product page
• Shokz: OpenRun Pro 2 product page
• Shokz: OpenRun Air 2 product page
• Shokz: OpenSwim Pro product page
• SoundGuys: Shokz OpenMove review
• What Hi-Fi?: AfterShokz OpenMove review
• RTINGS: Shokz OpenRun review
• SoundGuys: Shokz OpenRun review
• RTINGS: Best bone conduction and open-ear headphones
• Wirecutter: The best bone-conduction and open-ear headphones
• PMC: Hearing Through Bone Conduction Headsets
• WHO: Making listening safe