The Shokz Experience: 5 Hacks to Get the Most Out of Your Bone Conduction Headphones
If you've made the switch to bone conduction, you're probably familiar with Shokz. But once you've had your Shokz headphones for a few weeks, you start to wonder if you're really making the most of this technology. For one year now, I've been rocking with my OpenRun Pro 2s before every run and have discovered a number of hacks to make the Shokz experience better.
One of my favorite hacks is to wear earplugs with my Shokz. Yes, you read that right - blocking your ears when the whole point of bone conduction is to keep them open. But for some users, including Lifehacker's resident Shokz fan, this combination works really well. It's less sweaty and uncomfortable than over-ear headphones, and you can still play music while protecting your ears.
Another hack is to use glasses to find the perfect Shokz fit. If your Shokz feel like they're not quite locked in, your glasses can help, even if you don't actually need them for vision. Simply put your Shokz on first, making sure they sit flat against your skin in front of your ears, then put your glasses on over the top. The arms of the glasses gently press the transducers a little closer to your cheekbones, tightening the contact and naturally amplifying the sound.
To avoid the sticky feeling that can come with bone conduction headphones, try using deodorant or lightly dampening your skin at the contact points. This can help cut down on sweat buildup and improve grip. And if your Shokz are still sliding around, you can try the opposite approach: lightly dampen your skin to improve grip and help the headphones stay put.
If you find that your Shokz aren't loud enough, even with the volume turned up, try turning off your phone's volume limits. Most smartphones have a built-in volume limiter for hearing protection that can quietly cap how loud your Bluetooth audio gets. Turning this off can give you more headroom, especially outdoors, but be careful not to keep your headphones too loud for too long.
Finally, if you're really in a pinch or just feeling retro, some Shokz models support a 3.5mm aux connection, which means you're not totally dependent on Bluetooth. If your connection is acting up, or your battery's dead, you can plug in with a compatible aux adapter and keep going wired - a great backup option for travel or any time Bluetooth just isn't cooperating.
