The gold standard in bone conduction sport headphones
Visit Shokz →The Shokz Aeropex (formerly Aftershokz Aeropex) is the gold standard in bone conduction headphones, delivering proven performance for athletes who want to keep their ears open during workouts. Bone conduction technology transmits sound through your cheekbones, leaving your ear canals completely open — perfect for situational awareness during running, cycling, and other outdoor activities. The Aeropex is Shokz's flagship model, with improved sound quality, lighter weight, and better battery life compared to previous generations. The IP67 water resistance rating means they can handle sweat, rain, and even brief submersion. With 8 hours of battery life, premium titanium build quality, and a comfortable wraparound design, the Aeropex has been the go-to choice for endurance athletes for years. While newer open-ear designs have emerged, the Aeropex remains a benchmark for reliability and comfort in bone conduction audio.
Transmits sound through your cheekbones via bone conduction, leaving your ear canals completely open. Hear your music and your surroundings simultaneously — essential for safe outdoor running and cycling.
Fully dustproof and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Handles sweat, rain, and even accidental dunks without issue. Great for all-weather training.
Premium titanium wraparound frame is lightweight, flexible, and incredibly durable. Weighs just 26 grams total — you'll barely notice you're wearing them during long runs or rides.
8 hours of continuous music and calls on a single charge. Quick charge gives 2 hours of playback from just 15 minutes of charging. USB-C charging for convenience.
Built-in malware blocker, ad blocker, and tracker protection that operates even when the VPN is disconnected. Automatically scans downloaded files for threats before they can execute.
Proprietary protocol based on WireGuard that delivers exceptional speed without compromising security. Up to 2x faster than OpenVPN in our standardized speed tests.
Create encrypted private tunnels between up to 60 devices for secure file sharing, remote access, and virtual LAN parties regardless of where the devices are physically located.
Get a personal static IP address that only you use. Ideal for accessing IP-restricted corporate networks, online banking, and avoiding constant CAPTCHA prompts.
| Battery Life | 8 hours continuous use |
|---|---|
| Water Resistance | IP67 (1m, 30min) |
| Technology | Bone conduction (7th gen) |
| Frame Material | Titanium |
| Weight | 26g total |
| Microphones | Dual noise-canceling mics |
| Charging | Magnetic USB-C, 2hr full charge |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Feature | Aftershokz Aeropex | Sony Float Run | Soundcore Aerofit Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $159 | $149 | $129 |
| Battery Life | 8 hours | 10 hours | 16h / 46h total |
| Water Resistance | IP67 | IPX4 | IPX5 |
| Technology | Bone conduction | Open-ear speaker | Open-ear hook |
| Sound Quality | Good (for bone conduction) | Excellent | Good |
| Fit Type | Wraparound headband | Neckband | Ear hooks |
| Best For | Running, cycling, multisport | Running | All-day wear |
| Call Quality | Very Good | Very Good | Good |
Bone conduction headphones (like Shokz) transmit sound through vibrations that travel through your cheekbone to your inner ear, completely bypassing your ear canal. Regular open-ear headphones (like Sony Float Run or Soundcore Aerofit Pro) use conventional speakers that sit near your ear and direct sound through the air into your ear canal — just without sealing it off. Bone conduction tends to have thinner sound quality but works better with glasses, hats, and in windy conditions. Open-ear speakers usually sound better but have more sound leakage.
Yes! One of the advantages of Shokz bone conduction headphones is that they work great with glasses. The wraparound frame sits behind your head and the transducers rest on your cheekbones in front of your ears — not on top of your ears. This means there's no interference with glasses arms. Many runners and cyclists who wear glasses prefer bone conduction for this reason.
The Aeropex has an IP67 rating, which means it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. It will survive swimming, but it's not specifically designed for it. The Shokz OpenSwim model is better for swimming as it has onboard MP3 storage (since Bluetooth doesn't work underwater). For casual swimming, the Aeropex is fine, but for regular swim training, we'd recommend the OpenSwim model.
Bone conduction sound quality is different from conventional earbuds — it's thinner, with less bass and less overall richness. It's perfectly fine for podcasts, audiobooks, and casual music listening during workouts, but it won't give you the immersive, bass-heavy experience of sealed in-ear earbuds. The tradeoff is that your ears stay open for situational awareness. Many athletes consider this a worthwhile tradeoff for safety.
The Shokz Aeropex remains the gold standard for bone conduction sport headphones, offering proven performance, comfortable all-day wear, and reliable build quality. While newer open-ear designs with conventional speakers often sound better, bone conduction has unique advantages — it works great with glasses, performs well in wind, and the wraparound design is incredibly secure for sports. If you want tried-and-true bone conduction headphones for running and cycling, the Aeropex is still our top pick.
Get Shokz Aeropex →