Most earbuds try to shove sound straight into your ear canal. The Shokz OpenFit 2 takes a different approach with an open-ear design, which means they sit just outside your ear and let air flow. That might not sound exciting, but if you’ve ever had sweaty ears and ended up with an ear infection from closed earbuds (looking at you, AirPods Pro), this air conduction speaker design is a lifesaver.
I found them super comfortable. At just 9.4 grams each, with flexible Ni-Ti alloy ear hooks coated in Shokz Ultra-Soft Silicone 2.0, they never felt fatiguing, even after hours. I could pop one on just to listen to a podcast while doing chores, or wear both while mowing the lawn—they even fit under ear protection.
The sound quality is better than I expected from an open-ear style. The 17.3mm low-frequency driver plus a separate high-frequency unit deliver decent bass (thanks to their new OpenBass 2.0 / DirectPitch 2.0 tech) while keeping mids and highs crisp. It’s not bass with noise-cancelling, but that’s kind of the point—you can still hear the world around you. Perfect if you’re running, commuting, or just want to stay situationally aware.
As someone who logs plenty of miles and sneaks in a fartlek or two each week, the OpenFit 2 kept me aware of traffic without sacrificing sound. And the best part is they didn’t fall out of my ears like AirPods.
When it comes to calls, these impressed me. Each earbud packs two microphones and AI noise reduction, which kept my voice clear even while walking near traffic or taking a call in a busy kitchen. I could talk hands-free without worrying about background noise bleeding through — people on the other end never asked me to repeat myself.
Specs-wise, you get:
In everyday use, the OpenFit 2 fits into spots where in-ear buds can’t. Cooking and moving around the house while listening to a podcast, walking the dog while still hearing cars and cyclists, or running errands in the rain (they’re IP55 water-resistant)—they just felt practical. They also paired seamlessly across multiple devices, so I could jump between my iPhone for calls, my iPad for YouTube, and my MacBook for music.
The carrying case is compact, easy to pocket, and feels durable. Pairing was seamless across all my devices—honestly smoother than some premium buds.
Currently on sale for 20% off at $199 CAD, they’re pricier than entry-level buds, but if you value comfort, awareness, and ear health, the Shokz OpenFit 2 earns its place as a daily driver.
Bottom line: the Shokz OpenFit 2 isn’t for people chasing isolation or booming ANC. But if you want comfort, awareness, and freedom from sweaty-ear misery, these are a fantastic alternative to AirPods. Great sound, all-day wearability, and no more gross ear infections—I’ll take that trade any day. For wraparound earphones, check out our recent hands-on with the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2.
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