Stay entertained and safe during outdoor workouts with the safest fitness headphones around: the AfterShokz Bluez 2 (and new Trekz Titanium model) – wireless open ear headphones with bone conduction technology that allow you to listen to your music while still being able to hear the world around you.
This post is sponsored by AfterShokz.
Welcome to another great Wild Workout Wednesday Link Up where Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama, Angelena Marie from Angelena Marie: Happy, Healthy & Balanced, Michelle at Fruition Fitness and I bring you workout ideas, motivation, inspiration and recipes to try. Join us each week by reading along, linking up and grab the button to proudly display on your blog/in your posts!
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A few weeks ago, I started commuting to work on my bike. I absolutely love getting in that extra activity each day as well as getting to ride through this great city I live in. The one complaint I have about it is I miss my music. Navigating the city via bike can be tough and I need to stay extra focused. You never know when a car is going to open it’s door right in your path or a pedestrian is going to step out into the bike lane or a pigeon is going to flap around right in front of your face (true story). I need to be able to hear what is going on around me, so for the past few weeks, I’ve been going headphoneless and thus… musicless. Until I discovered AfterShokz Bluez 2 Open Ear wireless headphones!
These headphones are the solution to my bored biking woes. Why? Because they use something called OpenFit, which means they are designed to leave your ears open (not blocked or covered like other headphones) so that you can continue to hear ambient sounds. Instead of sitting in your ear canal, they rest on your cheekbones just in front of your ears.
Well, Nicole… how the heck can I hear anything through the headphones if the headphones aren’t in my ears?
A fair question, young grasshopper.
AfterShokz headphones use something called Bone Conduction Audio. (Anyone else picture a T-Rex skeleton rocking headphone when you hear that? Just me? Ok… moving on!)
Bone Conduction sounds all techy but it’s actually a natural part of the hearing process, as sound already travels through our eardrums and bones simultaneously.
Headphones that have tried using Bone Conduction Audio in the past have suffered from sound leakage and weak bass. AfterShokz has solved that with something called PremiumPitch+ and LeakSlayer technology. More techy names, but I can tell you – these babies really work! I first tried them on in my living room. I put on some music and asked Will, who was sitting right next to me, if he could hear it. He couldn’t, even though it sounded nice and loud to me. I asked him to put them on, so I could hear, and he was right! When the headphones aren’t on your head, you really can’t hear what’s coming through them. It’s pretty cool.
The next day, I tested them out on a run through the city. It was weird at first because I could feel the sound vibrating through my bones, but it only took about 5 seconds and I was used to it. As I ran, I was able to hear my music/podcasts clearly, but I could also hear cars whizzing by and construction (boy, do I love me some jackhammers while I’m running) just fine. Safety, people!
You link up your phone using bluetooth and then you can stash it away – no need to take it out to change volume, pause music, or skip a track. You can even answer a phone call and use the headphones to chat using their dual noise canceling microphones. I admit it took a while to get used to where all the controls are, but the more I use them, the more I’ll get the hang of it, I’m sure. This video explains it all:
The true test was using these babies on my bike commute to work. They were great! I could hear everything going on around me and didn’t have to deal with the headphone cord getting all tangled. I was nervous using the bluetooth connection would drain my iPhone battery, but when I got to work, barely a dent had been made. Win!
I’m actually also excited to try these at the gym. I don’t wear headphones when I lift because the cord gets in the way, but because these are wireless…. well…. pump up jams, here I come!
I’ve been using the Bluez 2, but AfterShokz is currently working on an even better model: Trekz Titanium. These use the same bone conduction technology as the ones I have, but offer more flexibility, strength and durability. They are currently running a campaign on Indigogo, which you can check out here:
Soooo how would one of you like to WIN a pair of these babies?! That’s right! AfterShokz is going to give one of you a pair of the Bluez 2s! Enter below and don’t forget to join in on the link up!
Let’s Chat:
Have you ever tried wireless headphones?
What about headphones that use bone conduction?
How do you stay safe while working out outdoors?
This post is also linked up with the Wednesday Giveaway Roundup!
That is so cool! Even though I live in the burbs, I still need to hear the cars racing around me. Wireless is awesome too!
Michelle recently posted…Log Roll Plank/Core Work
Yes! The wireless is such a great part of it. I can put my phone away and not have to worry about getting tangled in the cord.
I have never tried bone conduction head phones but I totally want to. I honestly love my headphones but would love to check these out!!!
Annmarie recently posted…Dunkin’ Run ARC Half Marathon Race Recap
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Technology is just silly. Soon we are going to have cell phones implanted in our heads, I swear. These seem really cool!
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Get #BosuStrong with this Full Body Bosu Core Exercise!
Yea I don’t think we’re far off from implanting cell phone chips into newborn babies…
So cool and so much safer than traditional headphones.
Julie M recently posted…Stonebridge Ranch Half Marathon Recap
agreed!
I’ve never tried these types of headphones, but wow they sound awesome! I’m in desperate need of a good pair of wireless gym headphones, so these would be amazing!
Ellyn @ In Fitness and In Health recently posted…5-Minute Do Anywhere Ab Blaster Workout
Good luck!
These look really cool. I have never tried bone conduction head phones. I just got a pair of wireless headphones last month and they are great but I wouldnt mind trying these!
Kimberly recently posted…#FrugalFridays – Current Deals: Part 2
How do you like the wireless ones?
I have never tried wireless or bone conduction headphones. These look fantastic! I wish they were waterproof! I recently purchased a single ear sport headphone. It is nice since I already took one of the ear plugs out anyway.
Waterproof would be awesome for swimmers! I’ll suggest that to them 🙂
These look great! I’ve never seen anything like them. I cringe when I see people biking with noise cancelling headphones
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Are you too cautious?…Wednesday Word
Ugh yes! You need to hear, people!
Wow, very interesting! Technology is amazing! Thanks for hosting. 🙂
Nancy//Strong+Able recently posted…How Do You Measure Yourself?
I’ve never tried any wireless headphones, these look awesome!
Those look so cool and fancy!
Lauren recently posted…Charles Street 12 Miler 2015 Recap
These look awesome! I’ve been looking for a pair of wireless headphones!
Kate @KateMovingForward recently posted…No Bake Protein Cookies
These are really great! Good quality and battery life 🙂
I have yet to try wireless headphones, but I’d love to! I still use the old fashion ear buds. These headphones sound so much better for running!
Those head phones put my measly ear buds to shame! Thanks for the giveaway and I will keep my fingers crossed!
Christine recently posted…Dirty Damsel GIVEAWAY!
Good luck!
I have never of these before but they sound awesome for biking and what not!
Those look so cool! I’ve never tried that tech before.
Kristen recently posted…Monday Morning Coffee Break 9/14/15
Very cool headphones! 🙂
Kara @ The Daily Whisk recently posted…10 Tales From My First 10K
I’ve never heard of this type of headphone before, but they look so cool!
I’ve never tried these before, but they seem absolutely fascinating! I’d love to try them out!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…5 Ways to Rock Your Fall Race
I haven’t, but they look great! I would love to try them.
Good luck! Fingers crossed!
No – I’ve never heard of this, but it sounds pretty amazing! As a fellow bike commuter, this would make the morning ride go a lot faster!
I have never tried wireless headphones. Currently, I’m running with one headphone in and one out to help me hear cars as I run on gravel roads near my house. Ever since we relocated, I no longer have a running trail nearby and I’m super paranoid! I wonder if these would work with my audio books?
Megan recently posted…Do you suffer from long run anxiety?
The absolutely should! If you have the audio book saved on a phone with bluetooth capabilities, you should be able to listen to it 🙂
Those are so cool! I have wireless headphones, but I really like to hear what’s happening when I’m walking/running, so I love this!
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…Thinking Out Loud
Ooooh! These sound (pun intended!)wonderful. I too do outdoor exercise with one earbud out.
ha! Love the pun 🙂
These sound really cool. I’ve never heard of the technology but it’s genius. I always wear one earbud in and one out so I can hear things around me! Would love to try these out!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Stay Connected on your Run with the Timex Ironman One GPS +
I’ve never gotten to try headphones like these before, but they sound awesome! 😀 I’m on an ENT rotation right now, so my preceptor’s teaching all sorts of stuff about the ear! He broke out his bone box yesterday and everything! 😛
Farrah recently posted…Foodie Friday: Salmon Burgers
how neat!
Interesting because Panasonic has the same style earphones that actually play through your cheek.
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…How To Make Tea Infused Water
Oh neat! Have you tried them?
those look amazing…kinda mad scientist 😉
haha yes!