Welcome to Gigatop. I think I found the perfect pair of earbuds for my sports activities in 2026. I really appreciate this type of gear. We call these “open-ear” earbuds. However, we cannot summarize them simply for sports use. They do so much more than that on a daily basis. I will talk to you about the latest earbuds from the brand Shokz. These are the famous Shokz OpenFit Pro. I spent a lot of time with them. I tested them in every possible condition. I will now give you my complete and honest opinion.

Robust Design and Immediate Comfort

I start right away with the design. These earbuds truly exude quality. I tried twisting them in every direction. They do not break. Shokz uses very high-quality materials. The body of the earbud consists of an aluminum alloy.

Next, look at the ear hooks. They use an ultra-fine nickel-titanium alloy. This metal features a shape memory. It therefore adapts naturally to the contour of your ear. You might ask yourself a simple question. “I have weird ears, will this work?” The answer is yes. They adapt to all ear types. That is the main goal of this design.

Furthermore, the coating plays a crucial role. Shokz covered these earbuds with “Ultra Soft” silicone. This is the part that rests on your skin. Frankly, it does the job perfectly. I feel no pain. This is ideal if you have pain with classic earbuds. Installation remains very easy too. You take the earbud. You slide the back part behind your ear. They settle into place by themselves. It is intuitive and fast.

An Amazing Sound Experience for “Open-Ear”

I will now address the critical point: the sound. With earbuds that do not enter the ear, we often fear the worst. We expect mediocre quality. Surprisingly, the sound is really good on these Shokz OpenFit Pro. I was blown away.

The brand integrates several software technologies. They optimize the sound output. You have, for example, a proprietary algorithm for bass. It enriches the depth of the lows. Yes, you hear real bass with these earbuds. Then, there is DirectPitch 3.0. This technology controls the direction of the sound. It sends it directly toward your ear canal.

Concretely, in real life, what does this mean? The sound is clear. It is a very successful air conduction implementation. Voices are crystal clear. The music has body. It is even “too good” for this type of earbud. I wonder how Shokz achieved this feat. You do not isolate yourself from the world. You keep contact with your environment. Yet, you enjoy your music with beautiful quality. It is a perfect balance for sports.

Microphone Test: Wind, Noise, and Distance

Call quality matters a lot to me too. Shokz integrated sophisticated microphones. They are raised on the structure. A metal noise-canceling ring surrounds them. This optimizes voice capture. It also reduces wind interference.

I wanted to verify this for myself. I went out walking on grass in the snow. There was wind. There was also unpleasant background noise outside. I recorded my voice to listen to the result. You could hear me very well. My voice remained clear. Yet, I was speaking softly.

I pushed the test even further. I stood 100 meters from a church. The bell was ringing. With my own ears, I heard it less loudly. However, the microphones picked it up distinctly. This proves the sensitivity of the hardware. Your callers will therefore hear you without worry. You can make professional calls with these earbuds. It is a real versatile asset.

Total Control: Physical Buttons and App

I do not like touch controls on sports earbuds very much. With rain or sweat, it works poorly. Fortunately, the Shokz OpenFit Pro feature physical buttons. This is a detail that changes everything. You have better control over your actions.

You do not trigger actions by mistake. Each click is voluntary. You can manage your music and calls easily. To go further, you have the Shokz app. It is very complete. You find the exact battery level of each earbud. You also see the case battery.

The app also allows button customization. You decide the action for one click, two clicks, or a long press. You choose. You can also activate Dolby Atmos. There is also an equalizer. You can boost the bass if you like that. Another great function is head tracking. The sound adapts when you turn your head. It is very immersive. Finally, the app manages multipoint pairing. You can connect two devices at the same time. It is very fluid.

Battery Life and Daily Charging

Battery life is a decisive factor. Shokz announces up to 50 hours with the case. The earbuds alone last 12 hours without noise cancellation. With active noise cancellation, this drops to 6 hours. I verified these numbers.

Personally, I almost never use noise cancellation for sports. I want to hear cars or other skiers. I therefore get a real autonomy of 9 to 10 hours. This is excellent. I did a whole day of skiing with them. I had no battery issues.

The case allows for quick charging of the earbuds. A few minutes are enough to recover listening time. The case is a bit wide but flat. It fits in a jean pocket. It seems sturdy. It fell several times without breaking. The IP55 rating protects the set. Rain, sweat, and dust do not scare them. You can run in a downpour. They will continue to work.

Active Noise Cancellation on Open Ears?

This is the feature that intrigues the most. Noise cancellation on open earbuds? It seems impossible. We do not seal the ear canal. Yet, Shokz indeed offers this option. They call it “open-ear noise cancellation.”

I tested this function in several environments. At the gym, it erases ambient chatter. At the office, it reduces ventilation noise. You concentrate a bit better on your music. However, do not expect total silence.

You will still hear loud noises around you. It is not an airtight bubble. It is rather a comfort attenuation. It is surprising but pleasant. In a car or on the train, it creates a small bubble. It is nice for commutes. But for pure outdoor sports, I deactivate it. Safety requires listening to the environment. It is therefore a nice bonus, but not the main function.

Should You Buy the Shokz OpenFit Pro?

I finish this article with my final opinion. I plan to keep these earbuds for the entire year of 2026. They correspond exactly to my needs. I can run, bike, and work with them. They are ultra-comfortable. I often forget them on my ears.

The sound is the biggest surprise. It is rich and powerful. The connection is stable. The mics perform well in all circumstances. Admittedly, the price is a hurdle. They cost 249 euros. That is the price of high-end earbuds like AirPods.

However, they target a specific audience. If you look for sports earbuds without isolation, this is the best choice. Versatility is their major strength. They do not serve only for sports. They are excellent for the office too. The build quality justifies the price. It is a lasting investment. If you have the budget, you will not be disappointed.