Special Ops Technology Headphones

"Powered by patent pending military special ops bone conduction technology"

You sir, have my attention.

I first heard about "bone conduction" headphones online and had never heard or seen them before. I was quite intrigued and very grateful to receive some at Christmas (thanks Dad!)

So what are they?

To keep it simple, they are headphones that do not plug in to your ears. They sit between your temple and earlobe. The use of bone conduction technology enables you to hear music with nothing in, on or covering your ears!

Features:

- Unblock hearing for safer outdoor sports

- Sweat proof and splash resistant

- For iphone, ipod, ipad, smarts phone and mp3 players

Aftershokz Bone Conduction Headphones

Cost: £35 - £75 depending on model

Brand: Aftershokz

ITG Rating: 4/5

Are they any good?

From a runners perspective, I think they are great and will cover running related points below. For general use, the sound quality is not revolutionary, but is perfectly acceptable. I must admit I have a big head, and they fit fine. They cannot be adjusted, so they may not suit everybody. They are a comfortable fit and you may be glad to know that they don't look like a prop from a sci-fi film or Call of Duty mission. It's a strange experience at first to be able to listen to music, but also hear your surroundings and even hold conversations mid One Direction - I joke! Or do I??

I've passed them around and other people have been fairly impressed. It is difficult to tell what volume level you should use on the mp3 device, so that you can listen to music clearly - whilst not disturbing anyone around you. There are different models of the Aftershokz. The model I use includes mobile phone compatibility, with an in line mic.   

The main benefit is safety, especially if you are travelling or exercising whilst listening to music, podcasts or chatting via the hands free. They enable you to listen out for dangers or hazards around you, which can only be a good thing.

The headphones are recharged via USB. I've not tested the battery life to the limit yet, but it has lasted a few hours so far.

The only downside is protecting them whilst not in use. They come with a cloth bag, which helps keep them clean. However, I'd prefer a hard case so that I can throw them in a bag and not have to worry about them being damaged.

For runners:

As a runner - having the wrong headphones that fall out your ears every 5 minutes can be extremely irritating. Due to the Aftershokz headband design, which hooks over your ears - you can now focus on your run. I've recently covered 13km with them on and found them comfortable and no hassle at all. I'm still getting used to the volume setting that I should use on my mp3 player, but I'm glad I can now hear my favourite songs and also the traffic around me. If you do like to listen to music whilst exercising, this is a safer option, but probably more hygienic as well. No more re-use of waxy or sweaty ear phones! 

I am genuinly impressed. Hopefully I will be able to find, craft or 3D print a hardcase. I will also keep an eye out for the latest models to see how this technology develops. If you are interested, see the link below for further details and the latest price. If enough people click through the link and buy a pair, I may just be able to buy myself a coffee!