Review of the Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones

This is our review of the Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones – which are ideal for safe cycling, running, hiking – and also for swimming.

I am excited about these headphones because they are both multi-functional and high-quality. When I first got them, I was under the impression that they were just another pair of bone conduction headphones. Ever since Shokz blazed the trail with cycling-safe bone-conduction headphones, a lot of other companies have got in on the act. Some are incredibly good, others not so much.

So, I initially thought these were just a minor upgrade to the Mojawa MoJo 1 and MoJo 2. Those are both excellent bone conduction headphones, but the happy surprise is that the Mojawa Run Plus are even better. This is because they have a new and extremely useful twist.

Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones are Actually Multi-Functional Headphones

The box just says Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones. But it turns out that they could just as easily be labelled Mojawa Run Bike Swim Plus. I was NOT expecting these headphones to be this multi-functional. What Mojawa has done is combined two concepts.

First, they are excellent Bluetooth bone conduction headphones, which are ideal for cycling, running, hiking and working out.

Plus, they are also waterproof bone conduction MP3 headphones, which are ideal for swimming.

So of course, I was excited, seeing that two of my favorite things in the world are cycling and swimming, and I can use these for both activities. Usually I take along separate headphones for cycling and swimming. But now, I can use the same headphones to get to the pool and swim in the pool.

Safe Headphones for Cycling

As anyone who reads this blog already knows, we are strong advocates of open ear headphones so that cyclists can be aware of their surroundings. These headphones of course check that box.

Also, the fit is engineered so that you can easily wear these headphones while you are also wearing cycling sunglasses and a helmet.

Basically, the Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones work exactly the same as any other premium safe headphones. They leave your ears open and convey sound to your ears via vibrations on your cheeks. And that sound is delivered from your phone, via Bluetooth.

So, you can enjoy music or podcasts on your long bike rides, while still being alert to the sounds in your environment.

Related Post: Best Headphones for Safe Cycling

How to Convert the Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones into MP3 Headphones for Swimming

The difference is that if you suddenly decide to get into a pool, you can press the button on the side of the headphones twice (one short press, one long press), and a voice will tell you that you are now in MP3 mode. The headphones will then start playing any MP3 files that you have copied onto the hard drive of the headphones.

Then once you are done and are ready to walk or bike home, you can switch back to Bluetooth mode so that you can instantly get back in touch with your phone. Or you can do what I do – I swim laps using the MP3 setting to hear MP3 files. Then I switch to Bluetooth mode simply to relax and float around the pool while I listen to podcasts from my phone, which is safely in my bag on the side of the pool.

Of course, the headphones are completely waterproof, with an IP68 rating. The 6 means these headphones are dust proof. The 8 means they are fully waterproof for all moisture exposures, including extended swims and submersion in 2 meters (6 feet) of water for up to 2 hours.

How to Use the Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones

Using these headphones is easy and intuitive, as with all premium Bluetooth headphones. The first time you power them up, simply give the ON button (on the left) a long press, and the headphones will start searching for a phone. In the meantime, select Settings/Bluetooth/Add a device on your phone, find Run Plus, and select it. The pairing takes place immediately, and after that is completely automatic every time you turn on the headphones.

If you want to use them in the water, you simply switch to MP3 mode. This requires pressing the On button twice – one short press and one long press. Of course, you first have to copy some files to the hard drive of the headphones.

You just plug in the charging cord to your computer, and your Finder or Explorer will open a window saying Run Plus. Then, you simply drag and drop whatever files you want to listen to.

Battery Life of the Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones

You can play these headphones at 75% volume for up to 8 hours. There is also a fast charge option, in which 5 minutes of charging will give you 80 hours of listening.

You charge these headphones using a proprietary magnetic connector. I used to get annoyed by proprietary chargers, but now I really appreciate them. With a micro USB charger, I have to turn on a spot light and find a magnifying glass to figure out which way up to plug it in. With this proprietary magnetic charger, I just have to get the charger close to the charging spot on the headphones and they lock in. Maggie likes them too, because of the absence of fuming and cursing.

Comfort for Wearing

I find the Mojawa Run Plus Bone Conduction Headphones extremely comfortable, both in the water, on my bike, and just walking around. Sometimes I search for them for a while, and then realize that I am already wearing them.

Performance and Quality of the Mojawa RUN PLUS Bone Conduction Headphones

The sound quality and performance on these headphones is premium quality. Bone conduction technology has come a long way in recent years, and now you don’t have to compromise on sound quality to be safe. Mojawa have gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of the sound, and it shows. Their efforts included having their headphones finetuned and approved by five Grammy-winning audio producers. And the sound is just as good in the water as out of the water.

These headphones are different from others I have tested, in that there is just one button, on the left. You can do a lot of different things with this button. And to adjust volume, you slide up and down on a small touch pad on the right, as in the photo below.

A Bit Understated?

I think that Mojawa undersells these headphones a little. From the packaging, you would think that these are just regular Bluetooth bone conduction headphones for use on dry land. You have to look really hard at the front of the packaging to notice that is says “IP68: Suitable For Swimming” in small grey print.

The other mention is on the back of the package, where it says “IP68 Swimming Waterproof.” When I first saw this, I thought, “Well, who cares? Bluetooth doesn’t work in water anyway.” It was only when I read the instructions that I realized I had the option of moving MP3 files onto the hard drive of the headphones.

If I could change anything about these headphones, I would advise the Mojawa marketing team to put something like “RUN, BIKE and SWIM!” in big black letters on the front of the box. I think they might be missing a big market segment. That is, people like me who would jump at the chance to use Bluetooth headphones on the way to the pool on their bike, and then just switch modes to continue using the same headphones in the pool. Based on the packaging, I would not have realized this was a possibility.

This probably only impacts shopping in brick and mortar stores, because Mojawa’s online product descriptions make it crystal clear that these headphones are intended for swimming.

Bottom Line

For the price, quality and multi-functionality, you cannot go wrong with these headphones. They will make your cycling safer and more fun, and your swimming a whole lot more entertaining. These are the only headphones we have found that incorporate both Bluetooth bone conduction and MP3 waterproof bone conduction technology.