Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Wireless Headphones - Ocean Blue

They don't have my exact model on here, but holy moly. I will never go back to regular earbuds or airpods, headphones, you name it. I'm done with them! I have small ear holes and most of them hurt, get lost, broken, sound like crap. Aftershoks tell you how much battery is left when you turn them on, you can't lose just one, AND they don't go in your ear at all! They sit in front of your ear kind of against your cheekbone. It sounds just like they're in your ear though! It's not disorienting at all. I can listen to a podcast and still hear my kids cuz there's nothing in my ears. I can go for a run and still hear cars or people approaching. If you can't tell I seriously love these things. Everyone should try them.

A safer solution to regular headsets for outdoor activities.

I've been looking for some "open back" headphones for a while. I prefer not having my ears covered and I really can't stand the earplug type headphones. These "bone conduction" type headphones allow you to listen to audio without blocking your ears - with some caveats. First of all (hopefully obvious) if you turn them up loudly you'll be covering up any other softer sounds. But secondly, the sound quality is very dependent on where exactly these sit on your head. They need to be very close to your ear or they lose bass very quickly. For me, this means they have to sit almost right on my tragus (that weird part of your ear that sticks out in the front of your ear). That would be fine, except they have a tendency to pull backwards and end up covering my ears anyway. ... MoreI've been looking for some "open back" headphones for a while. I prefer not having my ears covered and I really can't stand the earplug type headphones. These "bone conduction" type headphones allow you to listen to audio without blocking your ears - with some caveats. First of all (hopefully obvious) if you turn them up loudly you'll be covering up any other softer sounds. But secondly, the sound quality is very dependent on where exactly these sit on your head. They need to be very close to your ear or they lose bass very quickly. For me, this means they have to sit almost right on my tragus (that weird part of your ear that sticks out in the front of your ear). That would be fine, except they have a tendency to pull backwards and end up covering my ears anyway. If I fidget with them I can find a spot where the sound is acceptable and they don't cover my ears so it's not a deal killer for me, but it is an annoyance. The sound quality is acceptable, but not great. I'd say it's in the range of mid-priced earbuds. Also, there's a point in volume where you start to feel them vibrate against your head. It's not painful, but if you're ticklish like I am it can be very difficult to ignore. Finally, they can get a little painful to wear. They've received the most use connected to my computer where I use them to answer phone calls with a voip app. I also use them connected to my phone to listen to podcasts and music while walking my dog. When used answering the phone I'm typically only wearing them for a few minutes so they're perfectly comfortable. However, when wearing them for an extended period like when I'm walking my dog, they dig into the top of my ears (probably because I'm wearing glasses and a hat), and they begin to hurt where they're pushing into my temple. This is similar to what you might experience if someone were pushing their fingers lightly on your head in the same spot for a while. I've been able to manage that minor pain by just adjusting them to sit in a slightly different spot from time-to-time and accepting the audio quality change that occurs when you move them. Also, when answering the phone regardless of whether I'm using my cellphone or voip app - the delay becomes very noticable, and I have had several complaints about low mic volume and background noise since switching to these.Overall, while they do have some annoyances and don't sound as good as my Sennheiser's, I think they are a good value. They sound "good enough" for music and podcasts and the BlueTooth connection has been solid for me. I've been able to walk my dog without fearing that someone will shoot by me on a bicycle and run us over without me hearing them, which is what I really wanted, and as a bonus I no longer have to struggle with wires running everywhere - or look like a crazy old fool with my giant over-the-ear Sennheiser's on.

Awesome headphones for running

I have NEVER been able to find headphones that the buds will stay in my ears when running. I've tried all the different sizes and as soon as I start sweating they keep popping out and it is SO frustrating and annoying.Also, I wanted some earphones that don't 100% block out other sounds because if I'm running on the road I like to be able to hear cars coming.I decided to give these a shot and I cannot recommend them highly enough! They are bone conduction but I can't tell the difference in sound quality from the bluetooth headphones I usually wear that insert into my ears. Occasionally if a song has really strong base, I can actually feel the bones vibrating next to my ear which is a little weird.The process to connect the headphones to my running watch was ... MoreI have NEVER been able to find headphones that the buds will stay in my ears when running. I've tried all the different sizes and as soon as I start sweating they keep popping out and it is SO frustrating and annoying.Also, I wanted some earphones that don't 100% block out other sounds because if I'm running on the road I like to be able to hear cars coming.I decided to give these a shot and I cannot recommend them highly enough! They are bone conduction but I can't tell the difference in sound quality from the bluetooth headphones I usually wear that insert into my ears. Occasionally if a song has really strong base, I can actually feel the bones vibrating next to my ear which is a little weird.The process to connect the headphones to my running watch was incredibly easy. The earphones stay completely solidly in place for however long I want to run. And they are completely comfortable and I wear them with sunglasses with no issue.Sound quality is very good as noted but if you are someone who likes the most magnificent sound, you won't get it from these - that's not what they are made for. Also, while you can hear other sounds, I would not recommend for activities where it would be dangerous to not hear outside noises clearly - I won't wear when biking.Finally the only real negative for me is that I wish the battery lasted a little longer, but all in all I am extremely happy with these headphones.

Definitely not worth buying

While the concept of having the ability to listen to what you like while keeping the ability to hear the outside world is nice, these headphones have too many shortcomings.They don't fit very well on the head and even worse if you have long hair that isn't tied up. If the headphones are even slightly off, the audio quality drops off dramatically. Those two issues combined are more than enough reason to not pick these up if you have longer hair.Even when they aren't being pulled down by hair or just plain old gravity, the audio quality in these is very sub par. I would stick them in the same category as a $20 pair of regular, in-ear headphones.I originally purchased this product because I was lead to believe that they didn't have any leaking sound, that way I ... MoreWhile the concept of having the ability to listen to what you like while keeping the ability to hear the outside world is nice, these headphones have too many shortcomings.They don't fit very well on the head and even worse if you have long hair that isn't tied up. If the headphones are even slightly off, the audio quality drops off dramatically. Those two issues combined are more than enough reason to not pick these up if you have longer hair.Even when they aren't being pulled down by hair or just plain old gravity, the audio quality in these is very sub par. I would stick them in the same category as a $20 pair of regular, in-ear headphones.I originally purchased this product because I was lead to believe that they didn't have any leaking sound, that way I could use them and nobody else would be bothered by my music. Unfortunately, they leak quite a bit of sound and are relatively loud when compared to other headphones at a decent volume for myself (only about 1/3 - 1/2 of the volume slider on my phone.)On the upside, they are very easy to pair to your device and the buttons on the headphones seem to be responsive enough, though that's not a very hard thing to achieve.

Great headphones for activities where you need to hear your surroundings

I have used an older pair of Aftershokz headsets for about 5 years now. I primarily use them when running outdoors, so I can be aware of the surroundings (cars, dogs, etc.). They have held up extremely well during that time, but I was excited to try out the new Trekz.The design is now much more modern and streamlined than the old. Whereas the band was previously a think, hard plastic band, it's now a thin, flexible band with a nice soft-touch feel. I found that the band provided enough flex to my head in various positions, but was strong enough that it didn't jostle around or move when in motion. It was comfortable enough that I could wear it for hours with little discomfort.I did find a few occasions where the band hit up against the collar of my shirt, which ... MoreI have used an older pair of Aftershokz headsets for about 5 years now. I primarily use them when running outdoors, so I can be aware of the surroundings (cars, dogs, etc.). They have held up extremely well during that time, but I was excited to try out the new Trekz.The design is now much more modern and streamlined than the old. Whereas the band was previously a think, hard plastic band, it's now a thin, flexible band with a nice soft-touch feel. I found that the band provided enough flex to my head in various positions, but was strong enough that it didn't jostle around or move when in motion. It was comfortable enough that I could wear it for hours with little discomfort.I did find a few occasions where the band hit up against the collar of my shirt, which would require me to adjust the position (which sometimes affected the sound quality). I also found them basically unusable when wearing glasses or sunglasses, but that is the same as with similar type headsets.Audio quality is, as with the prior model, surprisingly good, particularly for music and podcasts. Phone calls I did find that the volume was lower, but that issue was helped by wearing the included ear plugs to drown out the surrounding noise (don't recall having those with the prior model but they really make quite a difference).Battery life was very good; I could get through at least a full work day of usage (not continuous but on/connected during non meeting/call times). Have never run out of battery while in use.The short cuts (e.g. press/hold both volume keys on a call to mute) are very handy and truly make this 'hands free' - no more need to fumble with your phone to mute/unmute on a call.All in all these are a great option for people looking to safely listen to music and other audio while not losing a sense of what's going on around them.

Had Potential but Disappointed

I was really excited to get these headphones. While I thought the sound quality of the bone conduction was very good, to get a fuller sound you need to use the included foam earplugs. But the real disappointment with this device was the microphone quality. Absolutely terrible. Every time I would make or receive a phone call, people would tell me I was either breaking up, transmitting heavy static or producing a echo sound. I would always need to disconnect and go to a normal phone call. Very frustrating as I casually bought these for work. If it was just for listening to music or podcasts, they would have been fine. But the fact that the mic was so bad was a deal breaker and I ended up returning them to the store. I was able to get a normal Bluetooth headset ... MoreI was really excited to get these headphones. While I thought the sound quality of the bone conduction was very good, to get a fuller sound you need to use the included foam earplugs. But the real disappointment with this device was the microphone quality. Absolutely terrible. Every time I would make or receive a phone call, people would tell me I was either breaking up, transmitting heavy static or producing a echo sound. I would always need to disconnect and go to a normal phone call. Very frustrating as I casually bought these for work. If it was just for listening to music or podcasts, they would have been fine. But the fact that the mic was so bad was a deal breaker and I ended up returning them to the store. I was able to get a normal Bluetooth headset (neckband style) that are working much better. Also, these can be be a bit tight on the head after a while. And when you need to take them off of your head, the natural tendency is to put them around your neck, which also feels kind of tight, especially on the blood flow through the neck. So to recap, these are great if you just want to listen but terrible on phone calls. They may become uncomfortable over an extended period of time. But maybe I just had a defective pair.

So-So Product

The headphones are a bit big on me as the bar sits at the nape of my neck and does not allow me to comfortably turn my head. It also catches on the collar of my running jacket. To solve this, I wear my hair in a pony tail and rest the back bar of the headphones on the top of the pony tail. This keeps the headphones in place and I can move and twist freely.These headphones are comfortable and the sound quality is fine, but they work best when my cell phone with my music playlist is stationary, like resting on the top of a treadmill while I run, or on a desk in front of me. When I go for a run, I place my phone in a waist pouch, and sometimes the sound cuts in and out and skips a bit when the cell phone is in motion. It must have something to do with the bluetooth ... MoreThe headphones are a bit big on me as the bar sits at the nape of my neck and does not allow me to comfortably turn my head. It also catches on the collar of my running jacket. To solve this, I wear my hair in a pony tail and rest the back bar of the headphones on the top of the pony tail. This keeps the headphones in place and I can move and twist freely.These headphones are comfortable and the sound quality is fine, but they work best when my cell phone with my music playlist is stationary, like resting on the top of a treadmill while I run, or on a desk in front of me. When I go for a run, I place my phone in a waist pouch, and sometimes the sound cuts in and out and skips a bit when the cell phone is in motion. It must have something to do with the bluetooth connection. I hear from friends with other products that bluetooth connectivity commonly disrupts sound play, but this is the first bluetooth device I've ever run with, so I have nothing to compare it to. I bought the wireless headphones specifically so I could run without a cord connected to my phone, so I wish the sound did not skip from time to time. I bought these headphones on a Black Friday sale, so I saved $30 off the purchase price, but still, with taxes I paid around $85 for this device. For this price, I expected more consistent sound play.

Tempered Expectations

(I would like to start this review by pointing out that, as of the time of purchase and this writing, I am a salesman for Best Buy. I am not a Portable Audio expert. This review is not a professional endorsement. This review is based on my personal experience as a consumer, and the views and opinions expressed within are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Best Buy or it's affiliates.)I've owned a pair of these for a few months and I have overall enjoyed them. Wanted to rate them 9/10 but rating system doesn't cover half stars. They sit comfortably on the temples, pair very easily to up to two devices simultaneously, and are very well made. They are not, however, adjustable.The sound quality for music is better than I had initially expected. They are ... More(I would like to start this review by pointing out that, as of the time of purchase and this writing, I am a salesman for Best Buy. I am not a Portable Audio expert. This review is not a professional endorsement. This review is based on my personal experience as a consumer, and the views and opinions expressed within are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Best Buy or it's affiliates.)I've owned a pair of these for a few months and I have overall enjoyed them. Wanted to rate them 9/10 but rating system doesn't cover half stars. They sit comfortably on the temples, pair very easily to up to two devices simultaneously, and are very well made. They are not, however, adjustable.The sound quality for music is better than I had initially expected. They are a tad lacking in bass, which I did expect by nature of their design. For pure music enjoyment, you can probably find better sound quality in this price range, but the purpose of the headphones is not sound immersion; it's the sound passthrough. I can clean my kitchen and listen to heavy metal at 50% volume and hear my children yell for me two rooms away. If you want a deeper immersion, they do come with a pair of ear plugs, and it's like wearing a whole different pair of headphones when you use them.I've had absolutely no issue with sound quality for calls. Hearing the other line is crisp. I have had people I've called complain that I was hard to hear, as if the microphone was picking up too much ambient noise, but that issue was inconsistent across paired devices. Still notable.My major complaint with these headphones would probably be vibration. I'm already migraine prone, and I have been unable to determine if these headphones make them more frequent, make them worse, or don't really affect them at all. Again, your mileage may vary, but I thought it was notable.Are they the best headphones money can buy? No. Are they the best headphones you can buy under $100? Probably not.These are a niche product for a particular demographic: People that want to privately hear content, but need to hear their surroundings. Joggers, parents, the worksite. If you are that demographic, you will be hard pressed to find a better solution. Especially under $100.

Unusual but interesting alternative to headphones

The Aftershokz are a very unusual alternative to more standard headphones or earbuds.I purchased these to use during my work day while operating power tools and yet still needing to be very aware of my surroundings to frequently interact with clients and coworkers.Although good price-point, the length of charge, and ease of use are very good, the low (experienced) volume listening is the inherent drawback in the design. Since the sound is outside the ear, it will never sound the same quality/volume as in-ear or over-the-ear headphones.When ambient background noise is low, they sound pretty good and do a very effective job of having music without anyone else hearing it. However, any increase in the background noise and the experienced sound reduces quickly. For ... MoreThe Aftershokz are a very unusual alternative to more standard headphones or earbuds.I purchased these to use during my work day while operating power tools and yet still needing to be very aware of my surroundings to frequently interact with clients and coworkers.Although good price-point, the length of charge, and ease of use are very good, the low (experienced) volume listening is the inherent drawback in the design. Since the sound is outside the ear, it will never sound the same quality/volume as in-ear or over-the-ear headphones.When ambient background noise is low, they sound pretty good and do a very effective job of having music without anyone else hearing it. However, any increase in the background noise and the experienced sound reduces quickly. For example, while walking through a supermarket these produce a good level of volume for the user. While using a vacuum cleaner, I cannot discern any aspect of the music being played other than vibrations of the headphones in front of my ears.These are probably very effective for workouts, jogging, bicycling, or rowing. I would not recommend these for motorcycles, construction work, or anywhere where the user will experience anything ambient noise levels above low levels as they will be fairly ineffective.I think they are a cost-effective quality-built product, and I do believe they are a good alternative to the more standard options for headphones and ear buds, however they do have some lackluster results which are simply the crux of the design.

Works well so far for phone calls and podcasts, but listening to music? Nope. TMJ trouble? Maybe.

I bought these about 6 weeks ago. They work well so far... charge easily, paired easily with my iPhone, easy to control while wearing it. They don't fare so well when listening to music - they just don't compare to a good set of in or on-ear phones.My concern is the vibration that is felt with certain frequencies and at higher volumes. The vibrating part of the device sits really close to, if not directly on, the joint that opens and closes the jaw (temporomandibular joint or TMJ). There is a decent amount of research showing that prolonged exposure to vibration can cause various joint and/or soft tissue problems. That said, I've found no research looking specifically at this kind of headphone and it's potential impact on TMJ function. However, as an orthopaedic ... MoreI bought these about 6 weeks ago. They work well so far... charge easily, paired easily with my iPhone, easy to control while wearing it. They don't fare so well when listening to music - they just don't compare to a good set of in or on-ear phones.My concern is the vibration that is felt with certain frequencies and at higher volumes. The vibrating part of the device sits really close to, if not directly on, the joint that opens and closes the jaw (temporomandibular joint or TMJ). There is a decent amount of research showing that prolonged exposure to vibration can cause various joint and/or soft tissue problems. That said, I've found no research looking specifically at this kind of headphone and it's potential impact on TMJ function. However, as an orthopaedic clinician, I'm familiar with the seriousness of TMJ dysfunction and would suggest that people use these headphones cautiously until more is known about their possible impacts on the TMJ. TMJ pathology is tremendously debilitating and very difficult to resolve; it would be awful to have developed such problems simply because we chose to use a device like this.Again, I don't believe there is any existing research showing a link between bone conduction headphones and TMJ pathology. This concern is based solely on my understanding of TMJ pathology, and the fact that in other joints of the body, prolonged exposure to vibration frequently causes important problems.