Should you buy a pair of Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones? Check out our review.
They’re on the shelves at Best Buy and at sporting goods stores. They’re on the countertop display at the Fleet Feet runner’s store. They’re on the guy working out next to you at Planet Fitness.
What are those odd, brightly colored headsets that don’t even touch the ears themselves? Could this emergent technology benefit you? We gave bone conduction headphones a try, and here’s why we think you should, too.
What Is Bone Conduction?
While it may at first sound like something out of science fiction, the term “bone conduction headphone” is actually pretty self-explanatory. Vibrations from the headphones are conducted through the bones of the skull to produce sound. How?
How It Works
Normally, we detect sounds due to vibrations or sound waves that are carried through the air. The sound waves enter the ear, are funneled down the ear canal, and through the eardrum. The waves then cause tiny bones called ossicles to vibrate, stimulating tiny hair cells inside a region of the ear called the cochlea. Nerve impulses are then sent to the brain, and these are interpreted as sound.
Bone conduction, however, bypasses much of this system. The vibrations travel through the bones of the skull directly to the cochlea.
What Are the Benefits?
According to Dr. Clifford Olson, Doctor of Audiology, bone conduction poses less chance of damaging hearing than standard headphones. Why? Sound is amplified by air conduction as it passes through the outer and middle ear. This means that when you turn up the volume on your earbuds, your ear turns it up even more. However, when you turn up a bone conduction headset, excess vibrations are lost to the environment rather than being forced into the ear.
Sound awareness is another benefit. Users can still hear the doorbell ring, the fire alarm sound, the co-worker calling out across the office, or the conversation across the table, despite the music playing in their heads.
For whom are these headphones especially beneficial? See if you fall into any of the following categories.
Athletes
The greatest boon to athletes is the safety of sound awareness. When jogging or biking on the street, for example, the user can hear both their music and the sounds of oncoming traffic. Most are moisture-resistant to withstand sweaty workouts, and they are more breathable than headphones with over-the-ear cushions.
Heavy Equipment Operators
Some operators of loud equipment use headphones at work, turning up the volume until the ambient din is drowned out by the music. Or, they use earplugs but turn up the volume so that the music can still be heard.
Either of these situations presents a problem, however. Headphones alone scarcely muffle high-decibel noise, and music that is loud enough to be heard through OSHA-approved earplugs is also loud enough to damage hearing.
Bone conduction, however, allows the user to employ proper hearing protection. Volume can be kept at a normal level, bypassing the very channel of hearing that needs protection.
Individuals With Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is something wrong with the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from reaching the cochlea. Infection, excess wax, a hole in the eardrum, fluid in the ears, or dislodgement of the ossicles can cause permanent or temporary hearing loss.
Since bone conduction bypasses the outer and middle ear to reach the cochlea directly, these headphones can actually restore the ability to listen to music or talk on the telephone. In fact, some hearing aids are now employing similar technology.
Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Review
In early 2019, we at Anatomy of Adventure bought our first Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones. Six months later, we bought our second pair.
What We Love
First and foremost, these headphones are great for running. They allow for workout jams without the danger of not hearing that car coming. They also remove the need to yell at your running buddy to get his or her attention.
They’re also great for the office. We take all of our business calls on Aftershokz, allowing our hands to be free for typing or taking notes. The call quality is superior to other (inexpensive) Bluetooth or wired headphones that we’ve acquired for this purpose.
They’re good for any application in which you might use headphones, as well – listening to audio when you don’t want to disturb others, switching quickly from entertainment to calls and back again, road trips, the gym, anywhere, really.
We also love the choices of color. We got one in blue and one in pink so we’ll never abscond one another’s tech.
Finally, we had a really good customer service experience. The plastic at the base of the speak split open after three months of use, revealing wires.
We contacted the manufacturer and explained the dilemma. We weren’t sure that the warranty would be honored since we’d purchased them on eBay (a new, sealed package). We had no trouble, however. They sent a shipping label and in a few weeks, we had a brand new pair.
Are There Any Drawbacks?
Out of necessity, bone conduction headphones such as the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium hug the sides of your head more tightly than traditional headphones. This keeps the headphones in place and funnels vibrations to the appropriate region, just in front of your ears. Depending on your unique physiology, this may become uncomfortable during extended use. However, if you don’t like the heat or pressure of headphones that cover your ears or the intrusion of earbuds, bone conduction headphones may come as a welcome relief.
In terms of sound quality, most bone conduction headphones are on par with other types of mid-range headphones. They won’t match your Bose noise-canceling over-the-ear headphones or even a good set of Beats, but they’ll outperform many headsets in a similar price range.
You may also find that loud noises drown out your headphones – but that’s the point, isn’t it?
You can also use bone conduction headphones to receive telephone calls. However, the headset we tested was prone to picking up ambient noise. Call reception was great for the wearer, but distracting to the other party.
Whether you’re cranking up the lawnmower, heading out for a jog, or simply looking to sport the next big thing, consider giving bone conduction headphones a try.
Check out our other tech, outdoor gear, and apparel reviews.
One part Lois Lane, one part Jimmy Olsen, one part Johnboy Walton, and a bit of that Clark Kent secret identity thing thrown in for good measure.
Cara Siera is a freelance writer and photographer with a passion for travel and exotic cuisine. Join Cara, her husband Marc, and one very spoiled German Shepherd on their next great adventure.