Shokz OpenFit: New, roadworthy headphones

Wearing headphones or headsets in road traffic is not generally prohibited in Germany. However, according to Section 23 (1) of the Road Traffic Act, the user is responsible for ensuring that their hearing is not impaired. This means that if headphones or headsets impair hearing, they are not permitted because the horns of other road users or the siren of the police or fire brigade are no longer perceived and thus hinder them. This applies equally to all vehicles, including cyclists.

If you listen to music too loudly, you create artificial hearing loss and block out ambient noise. If you are caught doing this, you could be fined up to 20 euros. It can be really expensive if you are involved in an accident with the disco on your head. In this case, you may be partly at fault, even if your own behaviour was not at fault. This should be borne in mind by anyone who doesn't want to give up listening to music on their racer.

Shokz OpenFit: headphones paired via app

For our practical test, several testers used the OpenFit from Shokz were tested. The Shokz were paired with the smartphone via the companion app. This worked without any problems straight away for both Apple and Google models. Even before the launch, all testers praised the small, practical transport box, which also serves as a mobile charging station for travelling and, according to the manufacturer, should provide battery power for up to 28 hours.

Wearing comfort: The first wearing test was already positive. Weighing just eight and a half grams each, the speakers with their rubberised rechargeable battery clips (10 millimetres in diameter) nestled around the ear and offered a good hold even when moving, without pinching. The speaker itself rests on the ear with only slight pressure and is hardly noticeable. Some testers stated that they felt the Shokz earphones noticeably after wearing them for around two hours.

Operating the bike headphones is usually a game of chance

Operation: Although the direct operation of the headphones using the touch function is easy to understand, it is more than demanding in terms of haptics. The audio source or the phone can be controlled by tapping on an area of a few square millimetres. We didn't always hit the area marked with two raised dots straight away, and almost never at first. With more and more practice, we became more confident when standing still, but when moving it was mostly a game of chance.

Audio sample: In a quiet environment, the Shokz offers good music and voice quality, as you would expect from other high-quality competitor models. When travelling, wind noise is slightly more perceptible than with in-ear headphones with silicone adapters, which almost block the ear canal. In road traffic, all noises from cars, sirens or horns can be heard and even a brief conversation at traffic lights or a chat with a fellow cyclist works almost without interference while the music is playing. The battery performance of around seven hours on a full charge is good and intermediate charging with the charging box works practically and quickly.

Conclusion

What remains as a conclusion: The OpenFit from Shokz is a headphone model that combines the two contradictory characteristics of enjoying music without blocking out the environment. The Shokz OpenFit can therefore be declared suitable for the street. They are comfortable to wear, but after a certain amount of time the battery clip presses between the auricle and the skull.

Shokz OpenFit - the most important information

• Price 200 Euro >> available here
• Weight 17 grams, 75 grams (including charging box)
• Bluetooth 5.2 wireless standard
• Companion app compatible with iOs and Android
• Battery life/charging time (manufacturer's specifications) 7 to 28 hours
• Features Noice cancelling microphone, black and beige, charging box