The Shokz OpenFit spent most of their time on my ears at work. I ran and cycled with them and listened to audiobooks, but hours of Teams calls revealed their strengths most clearly. They are comfortable, have no neckband and let me hear people nearby. That openness can also be their biggest limitation.
This review covers the first-generation OpenFit and draws on the experiences recorded in my Polish article, originally published on 15 November 2023. Editing and translating it does not constitute a new test or a measurement of battery ageing.
How do OpenFit differ from bone-conduction headphones?
OpenFit are two separate earbuds with ear hooks. Unlike Shokz bone-conduction models, they transmit sound through the air. They sit outside the ear canal, giving you an open-ear design without a band behind your head.
For me, removing the band made them more comfortable with a hat or headband. They offer a different experience from the bone-conduction models I had used before. I would still hesitate to call them one pair for every situation.
What is in the box, and how do they charge?
My set included two earbuds, a charging case and a USB-C cable. The case stores and recharges the earbuds. It does not support wireless charging, which was one of the drawbacks I noted during the test.
Office work, Teams calls and everyday battery use
During the test, OpenFit became my main work headphones. I wore them for several hours a day at home, in meeting rooms and in an open-plan office. I could take a call or listen to music while still hearing someone speak to me nearby.
With my usage pattern, the battery usually covered a day or two of work. There is an important detail: I put the earbuds back in the case during breaks, so they received top-ups. This describes my working routine, not continuous playback on a single charge.
The open design has a downside. When I needed to concentrate on a presentation or think through a task, nearby conversations could distract me. In those situations, I would prefer headphones that isolate me from noise.
Multipoint: keeping a phone and laptop connected
Initially, the lack of a connection to two devices at once was my main complaint. An update added multipoint while I was using them. Keeping my phone and laptop connected made my working day much easier.
The Shokz app lets you manage the feature. Connecting two devices does not mean mixing audio from both at the same time; the benefit is switching between them.
Cycling with OpenFit: helmet, glasses and wind
The hooks fitted comfortably with my glasses and helmet. The earbuds stayed in place and did not get in the way. On easy rides, I enjoyed music and audiobooks and could also take a call.
Wind noise increased with speed. In my riding conditions, conversations became less comfortable above roughly 30 km/h. That is an observation from my rides, not a universal limit for every user.
The open design let me hear my surroundings, but it did not guarantee that I would hear every vehicle. Road noise or a passing train could overpower the audio. I do not consider an open-ear design a guarantee of road safety.
In the car: moving between places
Sometimes I got into the car during a call or continued an audiobook after getting out. OpenFit saved me from repeatedly switching audio between the earbuds and the car system. I appreciated that convenience.
Leaving the ear canal open does not, however, make calls or listening while driving safe. That limitation matters more than convenient device switching.
Running with OpenFit: fit and comfort
They felt comfortable on my ears and stayed in place even on faster runs. I could operate basic functions with touch gestures without taking out my phone. I also appreciated the lack of a band when wearing a hat.
I like to listen quietly, so louder surroundings sometimes drowned out the music. That is a compromise of the design. For harder sessions, I personally tended to choose bone-conduction headphones. OpenFit appealed to me most as a combination of everyday activity and work headphones.
If you are choosing equipment before a race, try the fit during training. Stability was a strength in my test; your ears, glasses and headwear may produce a different result.
Sound, microphones and the Shokz app
The sound met my expectations for music, audiobooks and everyday listening. I did not make acoustic measurements; this is my subjective impression. I used the sound presets and equalizer in the app.
I was also pleased with calls, particularly at work. I wanted the microphones to pick up my voice while reducing surrounding sounds. The manufacturer describes noise reduction for calls. This should not be confused with cancelling the noise heard by the person wearing the earbuds: OpenFit remain open.
Touch controls: my main compromise
There are no physical buttons. Controls use double taps and press-and-hold gestures, with assignments adjustable in the app. I found the range of gestures fairly limited.
For example, assigning volume up and down to different earbuds made control awkward when I wore only one. If you often use a single earbud, check whether the available control arrangement suits you.
IP54 and the main limitations
The earbuds have an IP54 rating; the manual states that it does not cover the case. They are intended for sweat and splashes, not swimming or immersion. The earbuds should be dry before going back in the case.
For me, the main compromises were the limited gestures, the lack of wireless case charging and the absence of noise isolation. The strengths were long-wear comfort, no neckband, stability in my workouts, calls and multipoint.
Swimming requires a different type of equipment. I covered that category in a separate Shokz OpenSwim Pro review (in Polish).
Verdict: who are the original OpenFit for?
I liked them most for work, calls and everyday activity. They suited me when I wanted to hear people nearby, avoid a neckband and move easily between a laptop and phone.
If your priority is quiet in a noisy office or isolation while travelling, the open design will be a limitation. I personally reached for a bone-conduction model more often for harder workouts. OpenFit became my everyday pair, and I really enjoyed them in that role.
Swimming requires a different type of equipment. I covered that category in a separate Shokz OpenSwim Pro review.
FAQ — Shokz OpenFit
Do OpenFit use bone conduction?
No. The original OpenFit transmit sound through the air and leave the ear canal open.
Can I connect a phone and laptop?
Yes. They support multipoint for two devices. The feature arrived through an update during my test and is managed in the Shokz app.
Can I swim with them?
No. IP54 does not mean protection against immersion, and the rating does not cover the charging case.
Does a day or two at work mean uninterrupted playback?
No. I put the earbuds back in the case during breaks for top-ups. This was not a single-charge battery test.
Sources and scope of this update
Usage impressions come from my original test. Feature details were checked against the Shokz OpenFit information, and protection and charging guidance against the OpenFit T910 manual.
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