Shokz OpenFit Air Review: Open-Ear Buds Built for Running

Introduction

Open-ear earbuds have quietly become a serious option for runners who want music without losing awareness of traffic, race crowds, or training partners. The Shokz OpenFit Air is the brand’s second pair of true wireless open-air earbuds using air conduction rather than the bone conduction of the OpenRun series, and it joins rather than replaces the original OpenFit.

Priced at £119 in the UK and $119.95 in the US, they land well below the original OpenFit and undercut several rival open-ear models. The question is simple: does the lower price cost you anything that matters on the run?

Design and Build

The OpenFit Air adopts the same air hook design as the OpenFit, but Shokz has reshaped it to sit more ergonomically and added a new cutout design intended to fit a wider range of ear sizes. They come in three colours and carry the same IP54 water resistance rating as the OpenFit. The soft silicone coating feels pleasant to the touch and helps with comfort, and the charging case is not the most compact but is light enough to slip into a running belt, which matters for ultra-distance use.

Fit and Comfort on the Run

Fit is where the OpenFit Air makes its strongest case. Testers found them comfortable for long periods with no pressure points from the hook or the speaker, and they stayed in place reliably across trail runs, bounding down hills, yoga, and strength sessions. They also coexist reasonably with hats and glasses, though not perfectly: with both a cap and sunglasses on, the hooks can still be interfered with, and one tester with asymmetrical ears found them slightly loose and flappy on one side.

Compared with the original OpenFit, several testers felt the reshaped hook design sits more securely, particularly at faster paces where the OpenFit could feel less planted. A structural upside of the ear hook format is that fumbling with the controls mid-run will not send the buds flying to the ground.

Controls: Fiddly but Forgivable

Touch controls remain the weakest part of the package. The touch-sensitive panel was reluctant to register taps during runs, often needing several attempts to skip a track or pause music, and press-and-hold volume adjustments respond slowly. On the plus side, the buds can be brushed accidentally while adjusting a hat without falling off, and double-tap and press actions are customizable for play, skip, and voice assistant functions. You cannot switch EQ modes on the move, however, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Sound Quality for Runners

The OpenFit Air uses the same custom dynamic drivers and DirectPitch technology as the OpenFit, with an open bass algorithm to bolster bass performance. The result is a fuller, richer sound than you get from regular bone conduction headphones, with clear vocals and enough clarity to pick out instruments even on busy pop tracks. Four EQ modes in the companion app help tailor the sound, though the custom EQ mode from the OpenFit is missing here.

The trade-off is inevitable: in genuinely loud environments like the London Underground or a busy cafe, the music gets drowned out, sometimes completely. For running, though, the balance works well. You get loud, clear audio while still hearing traffic approaching from behind, which is exactly the awareness benefit you want for urban runs and noisy races. Four microphones handle calls adequately, and multi-point pairing works well once toggled on in the app, letting you move between two devices seamlessly.

Battery Life

Shokz quotes up to 6 hours per charge with the case topping up to 28 hours total, an hour less than the OpenFit’s official figure. Real-world results landed slightly shy of the claim at high volumes, closer to 5 hours with bass boost EQ engaged, though a one-hour run typically burned around 10 to 20 percent depending on volume. Quick charging adds 2 hours of playtime from a 10-minute charge, which is enough to cover a full week of running without thinking about it. Notably, there is no wireless charging.

Buying Advice

If you want big, cocooning, top-tier sound, these are not your headphones. But if you want open-ear awareness with better sound quality than bone conduction, plus the convenience of a rechargeable case, the OpenFit Air is an easy recommendation, particularly for ultras where the case makes topping up mid-race practical.

Alternatives are worth a glance. The Civa S1 and S2 offer reliable ear hook designs and strong battery life at roughly £50 to £60, though with less customization. The JBL Soundgear Sense adds a neckband option for those who like that style. Shokz’s own OpenRun bone conduction series remains lighter and less noticeable on the ears and can be hung around the neck mid-run.

Conclusion

The Shokz OpenFit Air delivers most of the OpenFit experience for a lot less money, with a more secure fit for running, comparable sound, and competitive battery life. Fiddly touch controls and imperfect compatibility with hats and glasses are the main compromises, but for runners seeking an open-ear option that balances awareness with genuinely good sound, they are a strong pick.