Updated for 2026 — This article has been reviewed and updated with the latest recommendations.
Riding with headphones is a contentious topic, and for good reason. You need to stay aware of traffic, other riders, and trail hazards. But there are situations where music, podcasts, or navigation cues make a long ride more enjoyable without compromising safety. The key is choosing headphones designed for cyclists that keep your ears open to the world around you. Here are the best options for 2026.
Best Headphones for Cycling
1.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Shokz continues to dominate the bone conduction headphone market, and the OpenRun Pro 2 is their best cycling headphone yet. Bone conduction technology sends sound through your cheekbones, leaving your ears completely open to ambient noise. The sound quality has improved significantly over previous generations with deeper bass and clearer mids. They are IP55 rated for sweat and light rain, weigh just 29 grams, and the battery lasts about 10 hours.
The titanium wraparound band stays secure even on rough terrain. At around $180, they are not cheap, but for serious cyclists who ride daily, the investment makes sense.
2. Shokz OpenSwim Pro
If you are a cyclist who also swims or gets caught in heavy rain regularly, the OpenSwim Pro offers IP68 waterproofing along with Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and 32GB of onboard storage.
You can load music directly onto the headphones and ride without a phone. Sound quality is solid for bone conduction, and the fit is secure enough for mountain biking. Battery life sits around 9 hours. At about $180, it matches the OpenRun Pro 2 in price but adds the waterproof advantage. The onboard storage is genuinely useful for long rides where you want to leave your phone behind.
3.
JLab JBuds Lava ANC
JLab offers a budget-friendly open-ear option with their JBuds Lava. These use directional audio rather than bone conduction, sitting just outside your ear canal and projecting sound toward your ear while minimizing leakage to people nearby. They have customizable EQ, multipoint Bluetooth for switching between phone and cycling computer, and about 10 hours of battery life.
At around $80, they cost less than half of the Shokz premium options. Sound quality is surprisingly good for the price, with decent bass response. The silicone ear hooks keep them secure during rides.
4. Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Bose entered the open-ear market with their Ultra Open Earbuds, and the audio quality is noticeably better than most bone conduction options. They clip onto the outside of your ear with a unique barrel-and-cuff design and use OpenAudio technology to direct sound into your ear canal while keeping it open. The spatial audio feature is impressive for music. Battery life is about 7.5 hours, and the case adds another 19.5 hours. At around $250, they are the most expensive option here, but if audio quality is your top priority and you can tolerate the premium price, the Bose sound signature is hard to beat.
Safety Considerations
Regardless of which headphones you choose, keep the volume at a level where you can still hear cars, horns, and other riders. Open-ear and bone conduction designs make this easier than traditional earbuds, but blasting music at full volume defeats the purpose. Some jurisdictions have laws about wearing headphones while cycling, so check your local regulations before riding. And on busy roads or high-traffic areas, consider riding without audio altogether. No playlist is worth missing the sound of an approaching vehicle.
