I have been a big fan of Aftershokz open ear Bluetooth headphones for a long time, and now they are even better than before. AfterShokz Trekz Air Bluetooth open ear bone conduction headphones are perfect for cyclists who want to listen to music or podcasts, while still being able to hear the traffic around them. And with the new colors and design, they look better than ever.
Aftershokz has introduced its Trekz Air headphones, which are lighter than the AfterShokz Trekz Titanium that I reviewed here. Aftershokz has improved the design, and used titanium everywhere possible to ensure better fit and better sound. And just to make a great product even better, they are now available in Forest Green and Midnight Blue. Which makes me happy, as I am not a big fan of grey – even if you call it Slate Grey, it’s still grey!
Related Post: The Best Headphones for Cycling Safety
Related Post: Shokz OpenRun Pro vs. Shokz OpenRun Bone Conduction Headphones: What’s the Difference?
This video shows off the new colors:
These innovative headphones are cordless (Bluetooth) headphones that conduct sound to you via vibrations on your cheekbones, instead of by plugging up your ears. This makes these headphones well suited to people listening to music while in traffic, such as cyclists or runners. They are ideal for headphone safety, and are very well designed, using the latest bone conduction technology.
AfterShokz Trekz Air Headphones Leave Your Ears Completely Open
The key thing about the AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones is that they leave your ears completely open – they are open-ear earphones. Perhaps they should really be called cheekphones, not earphones, as they don’t go in your ears at all. They work by conducting sound waves through your cheek bones, with nothing plugging up your ears. Your inner ears then process the sound, while your outer ears can remain tuned into traffic. Bone conduction headphones are my personal choice, satisfying my desire to stave off boredom by listening to podcasts on my long commute – without compromising my ability to hear what is going on around me.
My AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones have turned out to be my ultimate cycling headphones. This is because they are completely safe for cycling in the traffic, as they are both open ear and Bluetooth. I am just not safe with corded headphones, as I am incredibly clumsy. Using corded headphones on my bike has resulted in disasters, including smashing my iPhone 4 into four pieces after my headphone cable snagged on my brake levers – and two cars ran over my phone before I could retrieve it. That leaves Bluetooth as my only option for headphones while active (I only use corded headphones in the relative safety of my bed now). For me, Trekz Air are the ultimate cycling headphones. They rest against my skin, just in front of my ears. At first the vibration felt slightly ticklish, but I soon got used to it. They are comfortable to wear.
The other major design aspect of AfterShokz Trekz Air earphones is that they are made of mostly titanium. AfterShokz chose titanium for strength, durability, and flexibility. It took me a little while to get used to them, because the titanium is stiffer than rubber. However, I find I can drape them down towards my neck, so they don’t have to be under my bike helmet, and they work just fine. What I like about them is that they are very lightweight, so I hardly notice them when I am wearing them.
Of course, the sound is slightly different from the sound you get with in-ear headphones. It is not as loud, and frankly, the sound is not quite as good. But for me, the safety aspect is vital, so I am prepared to compromise a bit on the sound. I can enjoy premium sound from my Bose SoundSport headphones when I am in the safety of my own home.
If you are looking for headphones that enable you to listen to music or podcasts while still being able to hear the traffic around you, I highly recommend that you give Trekz Air a try. They are my go-to headphones for all cycling.
You can buy Trekz headphones direct from Aftershokz, or pick up a set from Amazon. Aftershokz has a better range of colors and styles of open ear headphones.
Trekz Air are an Upgrade on Aftershokz’s Best-selling Trekz Titanium
Note that the Trekz Air headphones are an upgrade on the Trekz Titanium, which have been Aftershokz’s best selling headphones since they were launched. These are available in a really nice turquoise blue color, and also red and yellow – and even in pink! They are a little heavier than the Trekz Air, but on the other hand, they are also quite a bit cheaper (see comparison video at the bottom of this post). I used them for years before upgrading to the Trekz Air, and they are great headphones. Which reminds me – one of the things I really appreciate with Trekz products is that they are rugged and long lasting. I find that most headphones do not survive my somewhat rough treatment for more than a year, but my Trekz headphones last for years.
Here is a video showing the Aftershokz motto: Be Open!
Video Comparing Aftershokz Trekz Titanium with Aftershokz Trekz Air
Also, in case you are wondering whether to save money by going with the Trekz Titanium, this video from the always useful YouTube channel Super Review compares the new Trekz Air to the previous generation Trekz Titanium.
Whichever headphones you choose, have fun, and cycle safe!
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