RW verdict: The OpenFit 2 and 2+ are a major step forward for Shokz in the open-ear headphones category, offering a more secure fit, upgraded sound quality and impressive 11-hour battery life. With physical controls, Dolby Audio (on the 2+), and a premium design, they’re well-suited for everything from long runs to daily commutes and a strong contender for runners who value comfort, clarity and situational awareness.
Pros
- Lighter, more natural and secure fit
- Clear, richer sound
- Sound leakage reduced from original OpenFit
- Outstanding battery life
Cons
- You want total noise cancelling
- Not many additional features
- Quite pricey
| Weight | 9.4g per bud (74g total with charging case) |
|---|---|
| Battery life | 11 hours (48 hours with charging case) |
| Water rating | IP55 |
| Noise cancelling | No |
| Accessories included | Charging case, USB-C cable |
It’s taken me a while to get on board with open-ear headphones. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve always appreciated their safety benefits, especially as someone who lives in a busy city and runs five times a week. But for a long time, I struggled to find a pair that actually fit well and stayed put. That all changed in March, when I tested the Soundcore Aeroclip: a cuff-style design that finally converted me to the open-ear life.
Now, I’m pleased to report that this perpetually fussy running editor has found another pair worthy of a spot in my kit rotation. The OpenFit 2 and OpenFit 2+ are the latest open-ear headphones from Shokz, building on the success of their predecessor with improved sound quality, a more secure fit and longer battery life. I’ve been wearing them throughout my 100km ultramarathon training block over the past month – here’s how they’ve held up.
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Design and fit
There are two models in the OpenFit 2 series: the standard OpenFit 2 (available in white or black) and the OpenFit 2+ (available in black or space grey). The latter features Dolby Audio (more on this later) and wireless charging.
Like their predecessors, the OpenFit 2 series utilises an ear hook design that moulds to the contours of your ear. According to Shokz, the design has been ‘optimised’ and is now built with a more flexible nickel-titanium wire and an upgraded silicone coating.
In practice, the fit certainly feels more precise and natural. It's hard to pinpoint what my exact problem was with the original OpenFit, but I was always slightly aware that I was wearing them and often had to re-adjust them on the run. They weren’t uncomfortable, but they never quite disappeared. And when you’ve got a drawer full of running headphones (one of the perks of this job), they weren’t a pair that I’d instinctively reach for after the review was done. The OpenFit 2+ are noticeably lighter and more secure, with a slightly thinner ear hook that means you can wear them with a pair of running sunglasses. I’ve genuinely enjoyed wearing these for long training runs, strength sessions in the gym, walking around on my lunch break and the daily commute. Plus, it’s worth calling out that the overall design has one of the most premium finishes on the market.
Pairing the OpenFit 2+ for the first time is quick and easy – all you need to do is open the charging case with the earbuds inside and the indicator light will begin flashing orange and green. You can then select the earbuds in your Bluetooth settings. If you want to pair a second device, like your laptop, place both buds into the charging case and press and hold the button inside for three seconds. Within the Shokz app, you can enable MultiPoint Pairing and seamlessly switch between the devices. It’s simple but valuable features like this that just elevate the OpenFit 2 series from its predecessor.
Controls
My main gripe with the original OpenFit was their fiddly touch controls – I could never seem to get the hang of them, especially mid-run, which meant that I’d resort to getting my phone out to pause or skip a track. For me, a physical button is always preferable on a pair of workout buds, especially when you’re jostling about or wearing gloves in the colder months.
Good news for me: the OpenFit2+ introduce an upgraded control system, consisting of a physical button (hoorah) on each bud, plus a touch control area for calls. The physical button works in the standard way: single-click to pause or play music, double-click to play the next track, or triple-click to go back to the previous track. You can also press and hold the buttons to turn the volume up or down. No more do I have to brave getting my phone out in central London (if you know, you know) to fiddle with my music controls.
Sound quality
It’s a given that open ear headphones, by their very nature, are never going to provide the same level of sound quality as in-ear buds. But technology has been advancing and there have been some impressive releases from the likes of Bose, JBL and Soundcore over the past 12 months which have raised the sound steaks. The Shokz OpenFit needed to catch up – and now they have, with all-new DualBoost technology. This consists of two individual speakers in each bud: an extra-large low-frequency unit for deep bass and a high-frequency unit for crisper highs. Technical jargon aside, the result is much richer, balanced sound, that you’re able to play louder. In fact, I’ve found that I rarely need to go above half volume.
Sound leakage is less of a problem compared with the original OpenFit, too, with ‘rear tuning holes’ helping to ensure that more of the sound reaches your ears, rather than the person sat next to you on the train. When you’re out running, you can hear a lot more of the audio as well, while still benefitting from the situational awareness. They still struggle a bit in very noisy environments, like running along a windy sea front – but the sound copes a lot more admirably than the Soundcore Aerofit.
If you want to fine-tune things, you can choose from four preset EQs or customise your own within the Shokz app. I like the ‘Bass Boost’ when I need a kick of motivation during a hard tempo or interval session. Or, on the OpenFit 2+, I can enable Dolby Audio, which enhances the clarity and consistency of the sound even further. Even then, though, the Default mode works just fine for me.
Features
There aren’t many smart features on the OpenFit 2 series, save for ‘one-click ring’, which locates your headphones. Phone calls have plenty of clarity, though, while the water rating has improved marginally from IP54 to IP55. This essentially means that the earbuds can withstand sweat and water jets, as well as being accidentally dropped in water (guilty: I actually dropped the left bud in a glass of water while clearing my desk and it survived to tell the tale).
Battery life
Listening time is far superior on the new OpenFit 2, rising from seven hours (28 hours with charging case) to 11 hours (48 hours with charging case). That’s more than marathon-worthy and it has meant that I can go around a week and a half to two weeks without needing to charge them.
It also has the best battery life of any pair of Shokz headphones so far – the OpenSwim Pro go for nine hours – and indeed any pair of open-ear headphones that I’ve tested. The best that I’ve experienced is the Soundcore Aerofit Pro, which last you 14 hours per bud (or 32 hours with the charging case).
Quick-charging has also been upgraded, with 10 minutes on the plug giving you two hours of listening time.
RW verdict
If you’re looking for a new pair of running headphones, the Shokz OpenFit 2 and 2+ are well worth considering – particularly if you’ve struggled with comfort or fit in the past. I always appreciate it when a brand clearly listens to user feedback and the updates here reflect that: the lighter, more natural design makes for a noticeably more secure and comfortable fit, the addition of physical buttons is a real win for mid-run usability and the battery life is now among the best that I’ve tested.
Sound quality has also had a meaningful upgrade, especially on the 2+, and I’ve genuinely enjoyed using them across long runs, strength sessions and daily life. That said, if you’re already happy with the original OpenFit, there’s no need to rush to upgrade – unless extended battery life or Dolby Audio feels like a must-have.
Alternatives
Not sold on an ear-hook design? The Bose Ultra Open are a cuff-shaped pair of earbuds, designed to wrap around your lower helix (the outer edge of your ear), with the speaker section nestling comfortably in the concha (the hollow part of your ear, close to the opening). Sound leakage is minimal, while sound quality is some of the best that we’ve tested. They’re not cheap, though, in which case the Soundcore Aerofit are a more wallet-friendly option.
Alternatively, the Soundcore AeroFit Pro have a very strong battery life and an optional neckband for additional security. Although they weigh in at 12g per earbud, they are slightly heavier than the OpenFit 2/2+.
