Shokz OpenRun Pro 2: bone conduction and IP55 for €99

Bone conduction and an IP55 rating give the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 a 12-hour battery life while keeping your ears completely unobstructed as you listen.

Remarkably, the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 is available for €99 rather than €199 during AliExpress’s Back-to-School sale when you use code DSFR11 or PCFR11. Timing is not on your side with this product: the back-to-school period is when runners replace their kit, and a sports headset at half price never stays in stock for long. The retailer is not promising any replenishment before the promotion ends on 26 August.

Delivery from France is free and fast, while returns are accepted within 90 days, with a refund available if you are disappointed. The two-year manufacturer’s warranty is included. You can also spread the cost across four interest-free payments through PayPal, amounting to four instalments of around €20.

Shokz OpenRun Pro 2: nothing in the ear canal, no discomfort after an hour

The transducers rest against your cheekbones, transmitting audio through the bones of the skull without ever entering the ear. This design eliminates the two usual drawbacks of in-ear headphones on a long run: the feeling of pressure and sweat trapped inside the ear canal. It also leaves you fully aware of what is happening around you. That matters when a car approaches from behind or a cyclist overtakes without warning. You can hold a conversation without removing the headset. Its IP55 rating withstands sweat and light rain, but it is not suitable for swimming.

Sound quality is not on a par with in-ear headphones - and that is not the point

Bone conduction comes with physical limitations, so bass is less pronounced than with conventional earphones. Shokz offsets this with its DualPitch technology, while the mobile app’s equaliser lets you tailor the sound to your preferences. The result is perfectly suited to podcasts or a running playlist, but far less so for focused listening in a quiet setting. The noise-reducing microphones, however, perform genuinely well for calls by filtering out wind and traffic noise. Battery life reaches 12 hours, and five minutes of charging restores 2 h 30 of listening time before you set off.

AliExpress offer: €99 with code DSFR11 or PCFR11

At €99, this headset costs the same as far more ordinary sports earphones. Yet it delivers something no in-ear model can offer. The choice therefore comes down to one priority: pure audio quality or outdoor safety. Code DSFR11 or PCFR11 remains valid until 26 August at 23:59, provided stock is still available.