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For classic AfterShokz-style headphones, wear the band behind your neck, lift the hooks over your ears, and rest the transducers lightly on the bones just in front of and slightly above your ears. They should make even contact without pressing into your ears or causing pain. “AfterShokz” is the former brand name; current products are sold as Shokz. These steps apply to wraparound bone-conduction models such as Aeropex and OpenRun—not OpenFit or OpenFit Air, which are open-ear earbuds worn differently.
Quick fit check: The band sits behind your neck, the buttons face down on standard wraparound models, the hooks rest around your ears, and both transducers touch the temple area lightly. The headset should stay put when you move without feeling clamped.
First, identify your headphone style
“AfterShokz” is a legacy name still used in searches and older manuals. The company now uses the Shokz name. The term commonly refers to wraparound bone-conduction headsets such as Aeropex, OpenMove, OpenRun, and older Titanium models. Their transducers sit outside the ear and transmit vibrations through bone toward the inner ear. Shokz’s FAQ explains its open-ear design.
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#1 Best Overall
- Unparalleled Audio and Premium sound - Dual drivers combine the clear highs of Bone Conduction Tech with the deep bass of Air Conduction Tech for 12 hours of powerful, 3D audio.Perfect for musical motivation during workouts and runs.
- Open-Ear Awareness - SHOKZ's signature open-ear design helps you power through your workouts while keeping you safely aware of your surroundings. Leak-free listening ensures your audio remains for your ears only
- Secure Stable, Lightweight Fit - The weight-optimized design of this unibody frame integrates a Ni-Ti alloy memory wire and ergonomic ear hooks. The result is a secure, comfortable fit that defies slips and shift even during gym sessions or cycling.
- Dedicated EQ Modes - Customize your audio experience with our dedicated EQ modes on the Shokz App. Enjoy pure bone conduction sound with the newly launched Classic Mode, or boost your audio in noisy environments with Volume Boost Mode.
- Crystal-Clear Calls - Strategically positioned dual wind-resistant microphones and an AI noise reduction algorithm filter out 96.5% of background noise, including wind at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
How to put on a wraparound AfterShokz headset
- Orient the headset. Hold it so the band can go behind your neck and the two transducers point forward. On standard wraparound models, keep the buttons facing downward.
- Bring the band behind your neck. Set it at the base of your neck, like a lanyard. Don’t start by pulling the hooks over your ears from the front.
- Lift the hooks over your ears. Put the left and right hooks around their corresponding ears. They should rest without pinching the outer ear.
- Place the transducers. Set each pad on the bony area just in front of and slightly above the ear, near the temple. The pads should lie flat against the skin, not inside the ear canal, on the soft center of the ear flap, or floating away from your head.
- Check the fit. Turn your head, then walk or jog lightly. The headset should remain stable, with light, even contact on both sides and no painful pressure.
This is the core sequence in Shokz’s legacy AfterShokz wearing guide. The precise best position varies with head shape and model; there is no single universal measurement.
Find the clearest transducer position
If speech sounds muffled, thin, or unusually quiet, improve placement before turning the volume up. Play speech or a familiar song at a moderate level. Move one transducer a few millimeters forward or back, then slightly up or down, and pause to listen. Repeat on the other side, aiming for comparable placement. Stop when voices and midrange sound clear and contact is comfortable.
Hair, a glasses arm, a hat, or a loose fit can interrupt contact. Clear anything between the pads and skin, and check that the headset has not rotated. Bone-conduction audio also sounds different from sealed earbuds: it does not provide the same in-ear isolation, and you may notice less bass.
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Rank #2
- Open-Ear Headphones - Experience unmatched comfort with our lightweight, secure fit, featuring an earbud-free design for all-day listening without ear fatigue.(Rebranded version of AfterShokz OpenMove)
- Safety & Connection - Stay motivated with your favorite audio without compromising on safety. Unlike over-ear and in-ear headphones, OpenMove keeps you connected and aware of your surroundings.
- Secure Fit - From light jogs to everyday commutes, a wraparound titanium frame keeps your bone conduction headphones in place during a range of low impact activities.A rugged, sweat-resistant design built to withstand your most intense workouts.
- 6 Hours of Music & Calls - Enjoy six continuous hours of music, calls, and podcasts on a single charge with our bluetooth headphones. Universal compatibility: Seamlessly pairs with Android, iOS, Windows, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.Includes a USB-C cable.
- High Sound Quality- Enjoy balanced audio, optimal volume and rich bass delivered through your cheekbone, anytime, anywhere with this premium OpenMove headset.Ensures excellent call quality for clear conversations.
How tight should they feel?
A good fit is secure, not clamped. The headset should stay in place during normal movement and make consistent contact at both transducers, but it should not cause temple pain, numbness, headaches, or lingering soreness. Some vibration is expected; strong or uncomfortable vibration is a reason to lower the volume, ease pressure, and adjust placement.
If the band feels tight, check that it is not being pulled forward and that the hooks and pads are correctly positioned. Don’t aggressively bend the band unless the instructions for your model say adjustment is allowed. If the headset feels loose or the pads lose contact, check sizing. Current OpenRun listings offer Standard and Mini sizes; Mini may suit a smaller head or a wearer who finds Standard loose, while Standard may provide more room. Use the current sizing guide rather than an old measurement from a different model.
Fitting them with glasses, masks, hair, and headwear
Glasses or sunglasses
Glasses and a wraparound headset can often be worn together, but their arms may compete for space around your ears. Put on your glasses first, then position the headset hooks around the glasses arms rather than forcing both into the same narrow gap. Test with the actual frames you plan to wear. Thick or wraparound frames may press against your head; adjust the layers or choose a better-fitting combination instead of tightening the headset. Shokz describes its products as compatible with glasses, but individual frame shapes affect comfort (Shokz support).
Rank #3
- Open-Ear Comfort - OpenRun’s innovative design features a featherweight, wraparound frame and wireless, open-ear fit for comfortable, earbud-free listening. Includes Shokz headband.
- Safety & Connection - Stay aware and motivated through any workout with our 8th generation bone conduction technology. OpenRun delivers quality audio while leaving your eardrums open to surroundings for ultimate safety.
- IP67 Waterproof Rated - A rugged, sweat-resistant design built to withstand your most intense workouts.Completely sweat and waterproof for workouts, fitness and running. Moisture detection alert included for safe charging. (Not suitable for swimming.)
- 8 Hours Paytime - Enjoy eight continuous hours of music, calls and podcasts with our Bluetooth headphones. OpenRun also features a 10-minute quick charge for up to 1.5 hours of battery life. (Quick Charge Version of Aftershokz Aeropex).Universal compatibility: Seamlessly pairs with Android, iOS, Windows, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Includes Magnetic Induction.
- Outstanding Sound Quality & Clear Calls - Bone conduction technology uses vibrations to transmit sound through your cheekbone directly to your inner ear for a premium audio experience.Ensures excellent call quality for clear conversations.
Face masks
Put on the mask first and route its loops around your ears. Then place the headset hooks so they don’t pull the mask loops forward or trap them under pressure. If the loops compete for space, try a mask extender or a different mask style. This is a mechanical fit issue, not an audio setting; the legacy wearing guide also addresses mask placement.
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Long or thick hair
Hair between a transducer and your skin can affect contact, and loose strands may catch on a hook or shift the headset during exercise. Pull hair away from the temple contact points, secure loose hair, and position the rear band above or below a ponytail or bun rather than directly across it. Recheck both sides after putting on other gear.
Hats, headbands, and helmets
A thin hat or beanie may work if it doesn’t push the transducers away from your skin. Thick fabric can interfere with contact and make sound seem weaker. A headband can shift the pads upward, so check their position afterward.
Rank #4
- Open-Ear Headphones - Experience unmatched comfort with our lightweight, secure fit, featuring an earbud-free design for all-day listening without ear fatigue.(Rebranded version of AfterShokz OpenMove)
- Safety & Connection - Stay motivated with your favorite audio without compromising on safety. Unlike over-ear and in-ear headphones, OpenMove keeps you connected and aware of your surroundings.
- Secure Fit - From light jogs to everyday commutes, a wraparound titanium frame keeps your bone conduction headphones in place during a range of low impact activities.A rugged, sweat-resistant design built to withstand your most intense workouts.
- 6 Hours of Music & Calls - Enjoy six continuous hours of music, calls, and podcasts on a single charge with our bluetooth headphones. Universal compatibility: Seamlessly pairs with Android, iOS, Windows, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.Includes a USB-C cable.
- High Sound Quality- Enjoy balanced audio, optimal volume and rich bass delivered through your cheekbone, anytime, anywhere with this premium OpenMove headset.Ensures excellent call quality for clear conversations.
For a helmet, fit the helmet first and use the headset only if it fits without compromising the helmet’s intended position, straps, or safety. Straps can dislodge the hooks, and a rigid helmet should not press the headset into painful pressure points. Don’t force the combination. OpenFit and OpenFit Air have different ear-hook designs and their own headwear guidance (OpenFit; OpenFit Air).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix common sound and fit problems
| What you notice | Possible cause | Try this first |
|---|---|---|
| Weak, thin, or muffled sound | Transducers aren’t making good skin contact; hair or fabric is in the way; fit is loose | Clear the contact points and reposition both pads before raising volume. |
| Too much tickling or vibration | Volume is high, pressure is excessive, or pads sit on a sensitive spot | Lower volume, reduce clamping pressure, and move the pads slightly. |
| One side sounds louder | Uneven contact, a rotated headset, obstruction, audio balance setting, or a device issue | Reposition symmetrically; test a mono voice recording; check left/right balance. |
| Headset slips during exercise | Size, sweat, hair, or hook placement | Clear hair from the hooks and contact points, reseat the headset, and check sizing. |
| Glasses pinch | Frames and hooks compete for space | Reorder the layers and test the combination; don’t solve pinching by clamping harder. |
If sound remains weak after correcting contact, work through the source device: confirm the headset is on and connected to the intended Shokz Bluetooth output, raise volume gradually, then try another audio source. Disconnect and reconnect Bluetooth if needed. For a one-sided problem, check the device’s accessibility balance control and try a second phone or computer. If one side stays silent or the imbalance persists across devices, consult the model’s manual and contact Shokz support. A single listening test cannot diagnose a hearing difference.
Exercise, water, and situational awareness
Open-ear headphones leave the ear canals open, which may help you hear nearby sound, but they do not guarantee awareness or make traffic, work sites, or machinery safe. Keep volume low enough to hear relevant warnings, stay visually alert, follow local laws and workplace rules, and use required hearing protection. An open-ear headset is not a substitute for certified protection or workplace guidance.
Best Value
- Advanced All-Day Comfort - This portable open-ear headset weighs only 35g, and is engineered with a flexible frame and IP55 water-resistant soft silicone finish for comfortable, mobile workwear day after day.
- Crystal-Clear Calls - Feel like you are conversing in person with Shokz 7th generation Bone Conduction Technology, powerful PremiumPitch 2.0 audio, and a noise-canceling microphone with DSP technology.
- Multipoint Pairing - Reliable Bluetooth connectivity allows you to easily pair your headset with two devices simultaneously and seamlessly toggle between them with the included Shokz App.
- Intuitive Integrated Controls - Precisely adjust your volume, mute and unmute calls, play or pause audio, and more with a simple press of the headphone's physical control buttons.
- Effortless USB-C Charging - Stay connected and collaborative with up to 16h of talk time and 8h of listening time per charge, and benefit from a 5-minute quick charge that provides 2h of talk time.
Specifications differ by model. As one current, model-specific example, Shokz lists OpenRun at 26 g, up to eight hours of battery life, and IP67; the product page says it is not intended for underwater swimming. Those details do not automatically apply to Aeropex, OpenMove, OpenRun Pro, OpenFit, or older AfterShokz models. Check the OpenRun product page or the relevant model guide for current details.
Cleaning and model-specific help
Wipe sweat and dirt from the transducers and hooks with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Keep charging contacts clean and dry, and don’t charge a wet headset. An IP rating is not a reason to submerge a product or ignore its care instructions. Consult the Shokz user-guide portal for the exact model; controls, charging methods, fit, and water limits vary.
If an older headset no longer works well, first distinguish a fit issue from a device issue: check placement, connection, audio balance, and another source. Persistent battery, charging, or sound faults may warrant support. Whether to replace it depends on its condition and needs—not simply its age. A current OpenRun retains the wraparound bone-conduction format; OpenFit and OpenFit Air remove the rear band but use a different open-ear design.
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