When I first began running during my freshman year of high school, my coach decided my every move. My mom would drop me off for 7am practice on an already warm summer day in Southern California, and I would follow my coach’s instructions as his bellowing voice dictated the where, when and who of that day’s regimen. My chatter with my teammates would die down as we awaited instruction. Our coach would share the workout, explain the route, announce paces and assign groups. I loved running then, yet, amidst these constraints, I yearned for something more: an experience beyond the confines of a structured routine.

Music has always been my sanctuary, a refuge from the chaos of everyday life. Some of my earliest memories are sitting with my father, shuffling through his cherished jazz cassettes or riding in the car with my mother, blasting Motown. My parents not only introduced me to their favorite artists, but taught me how to truly listen and embrace what I heard.

As we listened to the radio, my father would ask me, “What tempo is this song? What instruments do you hear? What type of saxophone are they playing?” From my mother, I learned to let the music fill my soul as we sang off-key and danced off-beat. These moments have shaped me into the listener I am today, and have led me to invest in speakers and a growing record collection perfect for dancing in the kitchen with my husband. However, despite my love of melodies and miles, the notion of merging music with running had previously felt alien. As a woman navigating the streets alone, safety concerns have always loomed large. Wearing earbuds could reduce my awareness; with a song or podcast blaring, I might miss a threat.

Over the years, as I transitioned from a team environment to logging solo miles, my practice changed. No longer were my runs scored by the chitchat of teammates. Instead, I found myself accompanied by silence. While this has been helpful for race day efforts where I truly needed to focus, or moments when I paused to appreciate the sounds of coursing water as I navigated across a stream, I often felt that something was missing. My bread-and-butter runs of easy miles or long slow distance efforts felt a bit too quiet—lonely even—and I longed for something to help pass the time. To fill this gap, I cautiously ventured into the realm of running with music.

Navigating the delicate balance between pace and playlist proved to be a learning curve. The tempo of each track subtly influenced my stride, while the volume dictated the ambiance. A new album offered an alternative to the noises of a bustling street, while quieter melodies became my companions on deserted trails. Running, for me, was not just about chasing miles and hitting splits. It became about creating an environment all of my own, as I was no longer following as a set of directions but dictating as a way of life.

The devices I initially used to run with music weren’t the most user-friendly. I could never quite figure out how many twists of my wired headphones would keep them from smacking my chest or restricting my stride. My phone seemed too bulky, even in the sleekest pocket or armband. While wireless earbuds saved me from entanglement, the constant worry they would pop out of my ears distracted me from the serenity of my miles. Ultimately, I knew that as much as I loved the feeling of blasting my favorite song for my final rep, it could also be unsafe to block out the world. In a recent study conducted by adidas, 92% of participating women reported feeling concerned for their safety while running, and 69% said they take specific safety measure. For many years I too settled on a precaution, choosing to run with one wired earbud in my ear and one tucked away—until I was gifted a piece of gear that changed it all.

In 2021, I was on an episode of Ali Feller’s podcast, Ali on the Run Show, focused on runners and their reasons for running. Not long after the recording, I received a package from Feller thanking me for my time. Inside was a pair of Shokz OpenRun Headphones—an innovative piece of sports audio equipment that would revolutionize my own running journey.

These headphones, matte black and flexible with a smooth rubber feel, not only provide the musical backdrop I crave on my runs, but also address the safety concerns that had previously plagued me. Their open-ear design uses bone-conduction technology to transmit sound to the wearer without obstructing one’s ability to hear street noise, allowing me to remain aware of my surroundings while enjoying my favorite tracks, offering a sense of security and peace of mind during solo runs. No longer do I need to compromise between music and safety; Shokz headphones strike the perfect balance.

The comfort and durability of the Shokz OpenRun make them especially suited to long-distance runs. The headphones slip behind my head and over my ears and stay put until I remove them. They are so comfortable that often I forget I am still wearing them. Gone are the days of adjusting earbuds midrun or accidentally swiping my wired headphones off with a wave of the arm. With OpenRun, I can focus solely on my stride and the rhythm of the music, free from distractions or discomfort. According to Shokz chief marketing officer Kim Fassetta, this ease of use is by design: “Our headphones serve a purpose in the problem they solve—allowing users to tune in without tuning out. In a world with an increasing number of distractions, this focus on awareness provides for a safer listening experience.”

With the click of a button, I can pause my track while I soak in the sights atop a scenic vista. I can even sync my Shokz directly with my Garmin fenix 7S Multisport GPS watch to run phone-free, liberated from the bulk of an extra device. It has been in these moments, running freely and unencumbered with my bone-conduction headphones, that I have finally felt able to fuse my love of music with my passion for running and able to curate an experience that transcends the confines of conventional training.

In terms of sound quality, the Shokz OpenRun exceed my expectations. The bone-conduction technology delivers crisp and clear audio that feels like it’s going directly into my ears even though the speakers sit just outside of them. Shokz also offers other versions of their bone-conduction headphones to suit different activity needs: the OpenRun Mini, for those with smaller heads who need a closer fit; the OpenSwim, which comes with a built-in MP3 player for swimmers or anyone who really wants to pair down their devices; the OpenMove, a more-affordable version of the OpenRun designed for a range of fitness activities; and the OpenFit, which don’t wrap around the back of the head like other models but instead hug each ear separately, offering a bone-conducting alternative to the typical wireless buds for explosive workouts and work calls alike. There’s also the RoadWave, a pair of sport sunglasses with headphones built in. If you’re looking for an upgrade from the OpenRun, the OpenRun Pro Headphones offer even higher sound quality for just a bit more money.

In the end, running with Shokz OpenRun headphones hasn’t only been about chasing miles or even distracting myself from the difficult ones—it’s about reclaiming the joy of running, one song at a time. It’s about breaking free from the constraints of stoic silence and embracing the sometimes calming, sometimes chaotic symphony of life that echoes with every step. In that blend of music and motion, I have found not only a renewed passion, but a sense of liberation.

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The post Gear I Hold Dear: My Shokz OpenRun Headphones appeared first on Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication.