Love jamming out on the trails? We do too. Shokz have been delivering the party to outdoor enthusiasts and active individuals since 2011. They are well-known for their bone conduction headphones, and 2023 saw the introduction of the open ear range, including the OpenFit.
The idea behind all Shokz headphones is to allow you to listen to music or a podcast without compromising your awareness and still being able to hear what’s going on around you.
Earlier this year, Shokz launched a revised OpenFit model, alongside an all-new offering dubbed OpenDots ONE. We’ve been boogying down on the trails for the past few months to see what they are like from a mountain biker’s perspective.
Shokz OpenFit 2+ Earbuds
The OpenFit 2+ is the brand’s updated open-ear offering, expanding on the original OpenFit model, utilising a flexible ear-hook design.
To produce a wide range of sound frequencies, it uses two individual speakers. A large, low-frequency speaker drops the bass, while an independent high-frequency speaker takes care of the elevated tones. They are left and right specific, and it’s relatively intuitive as to which one goes where.
While they are ear buds of a sort, given that you’re ear canal remains unobstructed, you can still hear the ambient noises around you while you make your way through Taylor Swift’s back catalogue, or Dr Karl drops some science knowledge as you ride.
To control the audio, both the left and right earbuds have a physical button, which comes preconfigured with easy-to-remember controls. A single press pauses music; a double press skips to the next track. If you have an incoming call, a single press answers the call.
Each earbud also has a ‘touch area’ button, which is configured to do nothing by default. In the Shokz app, these can be set to control the voice assistant on your phone. Need to ask Siri what time your favourite Ramen restaurant closes quickly? A long press on the side of the bud and Siri kicks into gear with the answer.
The aesthetic of flexible ear-hook design is somewhat akin to something a secret agent would wear, with a sprinkle of modern style. It’s a little fiddly to get on in the right spot, but once in place, it sits very securely with minimal movement or need for adjustment.
Both OpenFit 2+ earbuds fit neatly within the supplied case, which doubles as a battery bank for charging. The 56mAh batteries in the earbuds can deliver up to 11 hours of listening, and the 600mAh battery in the case zaps charge into the earbuds, delivering up to 48 hours of playtime. They are IP55 water-resistant too, meaning sweat and rain won’t ruin the tunes.
Key Details
- Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, 10m range
- Waterproofing | IP55
- Battery | Li-ion, 48hrs playtime
- Weight | 9g per earbud, 56g case
- Price | $339 AUD
Shokz OpenDots ONE Earbuds
New in the brand’s lineup is the OneDots ONE, a fresh take on open ear headphones. They sit in the same ‘True Wireless’ range as the OneFit 2+, but with a completely new light clip design.
The OneDots ONE are lightweight and compact, with a minimalistic design that softly clips onto the lower part of your ear. They definitely aren’t as secure as the flexible ear-hook design, and in a decent crash, we can envisage them being a part of the yard sale.
That being said, whether you’re riding, running, or at the gym, the OneDots One buds sit firmly in place with no unwanted jiggle. The earbuds have no specific side, so you can just throw them on, without having to think about which one goes where.
There are two touch control options for the OneDots One buds. A single tap of either the ‘JointArc’ or battery compartment, or a gentle two-finger pinch of either end of the battery compartment, plays or pauses music and answers incoming phone calls. In the default configuration, you can not skip or replay songs, so you’re going to want to make sure you’ve got a full playlist of bangers lined up. This is all customisable through the Shokz app, however, so you can add music control with a triple-tap of the ‘JointArc’.
The audio isn’t quite as ‘full’ as the OpenFit 2+; there’s a little less bass, but overall, the sound quality is still impressive. We found the audio quality and volume to be quite sensitive to the positioning on the ear. If they shake or knock out of place, or aren’t quite in the right spot, the quality drops drastically.
And similar to the OpenFit 2+ and all of Shokz other headphones, you’re not blocked off from the world and can hear what’s going on around you.
The case of the OpenDots ONE is slightly more compact, doubling as a battery bank for charging. The 60mAh batteries in the earbuds can deliver up to 10 hours of listening, and the 590mAh battery in the case zaps charge into the earbuds, delivering up to 40 hours of total runtime. Similar to OneFit, they are also IP55 water-resistant, meaning sweat and rain won’t spoil the party.
Key Details
- Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4, 10m range
- Waterproofing | IP55
- Battery | Li-ion, 40hrs playtime
- Weight | 7g per earbud, 39g case
- Price | $339 AUD
Shokz App
Shokz have developed a specific app to control both the OpenFit and OpenDot earbuds. Users can choose from different sound modes, including ‘Bass Boost’, ‘Vocal’, ‘Treble Boost’ or ‘Standard’, or even customise their own sound mode.
There is also the ability to enable the ‘Dolby Audio’ setting, which creates a more vivid, realistic and immersive sound from each of the buds. It seems a little odd that this is off by default, as it makes a significant improvement to the overall sound quality and experience.
Both OpenFit and OpenDots earbuds can be paired with multiple devices simultaneously through the app, making it easy to switch between your phone and laptop.
You can even customise the buttons, tailoring the single, double or triple clicks to the user’s preferences. Overall, the app is easy and intuitive to use, offering excellent control over the earbuds. We can’t imagine that folks will use it every time they throw on the earbuds, but it adds value to the overall package.
Flow’s Take
Both the OpenFit 2+ and OpenDots ONE provide outstanding audio clarity and a unique fit that feels weightless when wearing. They provide superior spatial awareness compared to traditional in-ear earbuds, and the brand’s claim as to their ‘True Wireless’ functionality is certainly true. In our experience, both options fit well with riding helmets and sunglasses, making them an attractive choice for riders who love jamming out to music on the trails.
We really liked the minimalistic design of the OpenDots ONE, and the simple light clip was easy to use and comfortable to wear. The flexible hook design of the OpenFit 2+ provides a more secure fit, however, and might be a better choice for those who frequent rougher trails.