Quick Links
Bored with your earbuds and regular headphones? It’s time to give some bone-conduction headphones a try instead.
Bone conduction headphones are comfortable, help you stay aware of your surroundings, protect your ears from damage, and more, and there are heaps of reasons why it’s time for you to make the switch.
Why You Should Consider Using Bone Conduction Headphones
Bone-conduction headphoneshave several advantages, such as cleanliness and better awareness of one’s surroundings, but there are other reasons why you should consider switching.
Better for Listening to Your Surroundings
How often do you listen to music with ordinary headphones in busy areas? I recall a specific moment when walking to my old job when I wasn’t paying any attention to my surroundings, had my music at full volume, and narrowly averted a big accident.
Needless to say, blocking out all surrounding sounds can be incredibly dangerous. Many modern headphones haveaudio transparency modesthat let you hear what’s happening around you, having your ears free to listen is a much better option.
Whereas normal headphones use air conduction and rely on sound traveling through your ears, bone conduction headphones leave your ears completely free. As a result, you may clearly hear everything that’s going on around you and keep yourself out of potential danger.
Some Users Might Find Them More Comfortable
Even though you can use different earbud sizes for air-conduction headphones, some people don’t like any of them. For example, my girlfriend often complains about her headphones not staying in her ears when she’s out and about. Similarly, I’ve had multiple annoying scenarios when previous headphones won’t stay where they should be.
Because bone-conduction headphones don’t require you to put anything in your ears, you might find them more comfortable. And at the very least, you don’t need to think about changing your earbuds—or them accidentally falling off—whenever you buy a new pair.
If you still want to use air-conduction headphones, you can, but it’s worth consideringthe difference between over-ear and on-ear headphones. Learning about how they differ will help you pick the most comfortable option.
Fewer Worries About Sweat Getting Into Your Device
Many people use their headphones to get through their workouts, and those who’ve regularly used their headphones for workouts will have experienced that dreaded crackling sound when too much sweat gets into their device. Alternatively, one of your headphones might even have stopped working altogether. I’ve experienced both, and neither is fun.
If you’re fed up with your headphones breaking due to sweat, you may want to think about using bone-conduction headphones. Because they don’t have the same in-ear features as ordinary headphones, you’ll need to worry less about sweat disrupting the essential functions. You also don’t need to deal with the annoyance of sweat causing your headphones to fall out.
In addition to people who frequently work out, users who live in hot and humid climates can also benefit from bone-conduction headphones. If you’re looking for a specific pair,consider our Suunto Wing review. They’re bone-conduction headphones that feature aptX Adaptive, dual-connectivity, IP67 water resistance, and decent battery life.
Many Bone Conduction Headphones Are Reasonably Priced
If you’re worried that buying a pair of bone-conduction headphones will cost you a fortune, don’t worry. Just like you can find in-ear headphones for all budgets, the same is true for bone-conduction versions.
Some bone-conduction headphones cost around $60 and are good value for money. SANOTO’s headphones are one such example. Of course, you’ll need to read reviews and consider potential trade-offs for cheaper headsets—such as battery life—but they’ll often be good enough for most people.
If you don’t know where to start, consider reading all aboutthe best bone-conduction headphones. you may also discoverthe best budget headphonesif you don’t mind whether you use bone or air conduction.
Cleanliness
Another common annoyance of in-ear headphones, that you’re able to probably relate to, is the need to clean them regularly. When you put your headphones in your ears, they can gather all kinds of debris, regardless of whether you put them back in their cases afterward. You’ll often need to take off the ear tips to clean the inside of them, too.
The counterargument could be not to clean them regularly, but that’s quite unhygienic. So, the solution is to use bone-conduction headphones. You still need to clean these, but there’s much less to keep in check compared to in-ear headphones that you’re probably used to. It’s worth remembering when cleaning bone-conduction headphones that many aren’t waterproof (they’re water resistant instead), so you’ll need to be careful.
While many people don’t think too much about how to clean their headphones, you cansafely clean your earbuds and ear tipswith just a few things. For example, you may use canned air and a microfiber cloth.
The Pros and Cons of Bone Conduction Headphones
Now that you know some of the reasons to consider using bone-conduction headphones, you’re ready to look at the overall pros and cons of using them.
Pros of Using Bone-Conduction Headphones
Cons of Using Bone-Conduction Headphones
Better awareness of your surroundings, allowing you to hear ambient noise and stay alert to your environment
Design and style may be less visually appealing to some folks
Less likely to become displaced than regular earbuds or headphones
Battery life isn’t always the best
Ideal for workouts and other physical activities
Some may struggle with the difference in audio quality and feeling of audio leakage versus regular headphones and earbuds
Bone conduction headphones might take some time to get used to if you’ve only ever used in-ear headphones. But for some people, making the switch is a game changer. You’ll have a better understanding of your surroundings and be able to clean your devices with minimal fuss. Consider purchasing a pair when you’re ready to upgrade how you listen to music and podcasts.
