Open earbuds have become my recent audio obsession because of how magical the technology feels. You can simultaneously listen to your music while also listening to the sounds and environment you're in. Open earbuds feel different than bone conduction headphones , which offer aware listening but compromise audio quality and volume.
The cool thing about open earbuds is that they offer both great audio quality and awareness. My favorite open-ear earbuds are the Bose Ultra Open earbuds , which I consider a great alternative to bone-conduction headphones. They're ideal for outdoor runners looking to enjoy amazing music while staying aware of their environment.
Also: Why I run with these Bose earbuds instead of bone-conduction headphones The Ultra Open are great, but they cost $300 -- a bit pricey for open earbuds. I decided to try the JLab Flex open earbuds, which are $250 cheaper and have an almost identical style and form factor. I wanted to put both buds to the test.
I exercised in each pair to evaluate comfort, sound, special features, and more. Both earbuds cling to the ear like clip-on earrings, wrapping just above your ear lobe and positioning the speaker near your ear canal. Even though the design of the earbuds is different from product to product, they both do an amazing job of staying around your ears comfortably while exercising or moving.
Shake your head as you might -- these earbuds are staying put. Are the Ultra Open worth the splurge, or can you get away with the m.