AfterShokz Trekz Air
Immersive sound without intrusive earbuds
$179.95 From AfterShokz, trekzair.aftershokz.com Features Bluetooth 4.2, IP55 water resistance, LeakSlayer™ technology Blocking out ambient noise is fine in the gym, but not ideal if you’re out running and really need to hear traffic coming to stay safe. Wireless open-ear headphones such as the AfterShokz Trekz Air work by bone conduction, which means you can still hear what’s going on around you (and there’s also a mute button just in case).
With a titanium wraparound band covered in soft silicone, the Trekz Air are light (just 1.06 ounces), strong, and very flexible, and stayed in place whatever we did. Although intended for sports, they’re fine for general use, and include noise canceling microphones for clear voice calling. Bluetooth pairing with our phone was easy and the signal reliable. Sound leakage isn’t a big problem; people close by can hear your music at full volume, but only in a very quiet environment.
The sound? Good enough for the gym or office, much fuller than cheaper open-ear headphones, but not as good as a pair of regular ’phones. In a busy city center or in blustery wind, we found that volume and bass levels really weren’t high enough — and at full volume you start to feel the vibrations in your jawbone, with the odd sensation of a slight tickle in your ears.
More of an issue is the short battery life, just six hours. However, a quickcharge mode gives you enough charge in 15 minutes for an hour in the gym — and besides, middling battery life is the tradeoff for the clever lightweight design.
The bottom line. So comfortable and secure, you forget you’re wearing them, but battery life is short and sound quality not as good as from regular headphones.