Why I Run With These Bone-conduction Headphones Instead Of Shokz (especially At Its New Price)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Mojawa's Run Plus are bone-conduction headphones that waste for $159 a brace connected Amazon.
• They're overmuch much comfortable to deterioration during runs, and controlling audio playback is overmuch easier.
• However, you will person to get utilized to nan unsocial shape facet and travel to position pinch nan truth that they won't wholly artifact retired surrounding noise.

At Amazon, nan Mojawa Run Plus is connected sale, going from $160 to $130.

I've been utilizing Shokz bony conduction headphones for astir 10 years now. I started utilizing them aft going done countless pairs of traditional headphones that simply could not return nan sweat aliases nan changeless movement, ruining nan ligament connections. 

Also: I swapped my Shokz pinch these bass-heavy bony conduction headphones

On apical of each that, earbuds seldom enactment successful my ears erstwhile I'm running. The past point I request is to suffer an costly brace of earbuds erstwhile physics gets nan champion of nan mini exertion and gravity takes nan earbud for a clang landing connected nan pavement. 

I precocious started testing a Mojawa brace that resembles my Shokz Open Run Pros. Since then, it's safe to opportunity the Mojawa Run Plus has go my caller go-to bony conduction headphones. Here's why.

Obviously, immoderate of nan features (such arsenic EQ and MP3 Storage) require a third-party app. I mostly don't instal specified apps (because I for illustration information and privateness complete added features), truthful I haven't bothered pinch nan EQ aliases nan MP3 storage. That's fine, arsenic I don't request those options. Why? Bone-conducting headphones tin only sound truthful good, and I ever tally connected my phone.

The first run

I'm not going to lie. The first tally wasn't precisely a spectacular outing. However, nan first belief of nan hardware itself was impressive. One title I've had (for nan longest time) astir nan Shokz headphones is that nan fastener to region and skip songs is tiny. Even worse, getting nan double-click correct to skip a opus tin beryllium challenging. Double-click excessively quickly, and it registers arsenic a azygous click. I've ever had problems pinch that Open Run Pro button.

The Mojawa Run Plus solves that problem completely. With a overmuch bigger fastener connected nan near broadside of nan headphones, pausing (one click), skipping (two clicks), aliases replaying (three clicks) a opus is effortless. 

Also: I urge these fund earbuds complete pricier Bose and Sony models - here's why

The Mojawa takes nan UX moreover further by adding a touch "slider" connected nan correct broadside of nan headphones. Swipe up to summation nan volume, and swipe down to alteration it. Unlike nan Shokz, which uses 2 mini beingness buttons connected nan underside of nan correct broadside of nan instrumentality to alteration volume, nan Mojawa makes increasing/decreasing nan sound very easy.

The first tally outing was little than spectacular because I had problem pinch nan sound. The sound was acold excessively soft, and nary matter really galore times I swiped up connected nan touchpad, it wouldn't increase. That's problematic for bone-conducting headphones because your ears are wide open, and nan ambient sound tin easy drown retired nan music.

Also: These $60 wireless earbuds made maine mobility my audio spending habits

Fortunately, nan ensuing runs didn't suffer from that issue. I'm not judge if it was a Spotify aliases Android issue, but they sounded considerably louder nan adjacent clip I went to trial nan Mojawa Run Plus. In fact, I would easy spot them connected par pinch nan Shokz Open Run Pro (which are nan champion bone-conducting headphones I've tried).

Should you bargain AirPods instead?

Now, you whitethorn beryllium wondering: should you get nan Run Plus aliases a brace of AirPods for nan gym? Well, nan AirPods 4 are available, and they travel pinch powerful Active Noise Cancellation. If you're going to beryllium doing a batch of cardio, get nan Mojawa headphones. Their creation ensures nan brace grips your ears pinch nary chance of ever falling off. Plus, nan unfastened creation of Run Plus allows you to clasp conversations pinch your gym buddies, and you don't person to return them off.

AirPods present awesome audio output but aren't really meant for exercise. Apple's brace has a h2o guidance standing of IP54, allowing them to past splashes of h2o aliases sweat. Mojawa's brace has a higher standing of IP68, meaning you tin return them successful nan excavation pinch you and they'll beryllium fine.

Also: I urge these fund earbuds complete pricier Bose and Sony models - here's why

These headphones person supplanted my Shokz Open Run Pros for nan clip being. We'll spot if longevity is connected nan broadside of nan Run Plus (as Shokz headphones thin to spell nan distance). If so, these headphones will travel pinch my highest proposal for progressive group looking for headphones that tin tolerate sweat, water, and nan emblematic beating that workout inflicts connected specified technology.

ZDNET's buying advice

Not everyone tin get accustomed to bone-conducting headphones. I've had friends and family who tried them (on my recommendation), and a fistful of group person travel backmost to opportunity they didn't for illustration really they felt connected their heads. Everyone other loved them.

Who benefits from nan Mojawa Run Plus bone-conducting headphones? These are for you if you regularly workout and nutrient sizeable sweat (and aren't concerned astir nan champion sound possible). Also, if you find nan Shokz Open Run Pro headphones to beryllium challenging to control, nan Mojawa will make you very happy.

How it compares

Latest updates

July 31, 2025: Added a caller comparison floor plan comparing nan Mojawa Run Plus to nan Mojawa Purra Run. The newer exemplary shares respective similarities while improving connected nan artillery life, sound cancellation, and wireless connectivity. Outdated links were besides replaced.