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The best bone conduction headphones in 2024 help keep you aware of your surroundings
Amazon
Need some new headphones? Sure, you could go for a bulky over-the-ear pair; or earbuds that can fall out of your ears after you place them. But bone conduction headphones are a great option that you may not have considered. They transmit sound through your cheekbones instead of sitting on or inside of your ears. By sending vibrations to your inner ear through your facial bones, they let you to listen to music and take calls while still being able to hear ambient noises around you. They also look pretty cool, which means you’ll get lots of questions about what you’re wearing.
If you want headphones that won’t block out the world entirely, bone conduction models are a great hands-free option, whether you’re commuting, exercising, or just tuning in to your favorite playlist. Like ambient mode on noise-canceling headphones, they’re great for helping you stay aware of your surroundings for safety. Of course, they sound great and you can have crystal clear mobile conversations with them by connecting them to your smartphone.
Want to try a pair of bone conduction headphones, but aren’t quite sure where to start? We’ve curated some of our favorite picks for you. Below, find some of the best bone conduction headphone picks across various price points with features like Bluetooth connectivity, battery life, sound quality and more.
The best bone conduction headphones in 2024
Shokz OpenRun Bluetooth bone conduction headphones: $125
Amazon
These bone conduction headphones are our favorite pick, and they’ll work best for most users. With a lightweight, wraparound headband, they offer a a snug and comfortable fit so they stay put, no matter what you’re doing. Though they’re definitely noticeable, they’re some of the most low-key headphones you’ll find in terms of bone conduction models, and they feel like they were made to sit atop your head.
They offer satisfying bass and great treble, with higher clarity when compared to several other headphones in this class. They also offer eight hours of batter, which means you can get a full workday out of them if you need them to last. Plus, a 10-minute quick charge will give you another 1.5 hours of use, so you have plenty of juice to play with.
If you’re used to the type of awareness that traditional noise-canceling cans can give you, you’ll enjoy wearing these. Whether you want to stay alert on neighborhood runs or want something lightweight that won’t get ruined during long workouts, this model is an excellent choice.
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport Waterproof bone conduction headphones: $100
Amazon
These headphones are designed for listening to music during any activity, from running to swimming, but they particularly shine when it comes to water sports or active types who sweat a lot. That’s their best feature, actually – you won’t have to worry about water creeping in, as they’re waterproof and sweatproof with an IPX8 rating.
That means they can withstand submersion up to 12 feet underwater. If you have challenging workouts, sweat a lot, or spend a lot of time in the water, these are a great choice for you.
With 8GB of onboard storage, you can also load hundreds of songs andd listen without a phone using the built-in MP3 player. You’ll get up to 6 hours of battery life per charge, which is great for long training sessions.
Looking for musical motivation in the pool? These headphones deliver with crystal clear sound that works as hard as you do.
Mojawa Run Plus bone conduction headphones: $160
Amazon
These bone conduction headphones are a premium option that include use a proprietary Maglev-Bass actuator and special anchor system to deliver high audio quality with rich bass and bright treble. They’re waterproof, lightweight, and packed with a wide variety of features you’ll come back to again and again.
You can connect these headphones to your favorite device or phone via Bluetooth 5.2 or use the MP3 storage mode to directly load music and audio. And though they offer up to 8 hours of power on a single charge, you ca get another hour and a half of playtime with just five minutes of charge time.
These headphones feel great to wear; their frames feel hardy and long-lasting; and there’s a lot to love about this particular pair. If you’re wanting to get the Cadillac of bone conduction headphones, these stand as one of the best you can get as they tick all the major boxes you could need.
Vidonn bone conduction headphones: $46
Amazon
You can get an affordable pair of bone conduction headphones, and they’ll sound great, at least in the case of this model from Vidonn. They’re stylish and budget-friendly, and you’ll love tossing them on for daily use.
Built with sweat-proof materials, these lightweight open ear headphones have an IP55 water resistance rating to withstand sweat and light rain during workouts. Plus, their durable ABS plastic titanium frame provide a secure fit that won’t budge or fall out as you exercise. It also looks pretty luxe, too, so others will think you spent more money on them than you did.
You’ll get approximately 6 hours of continuous music playback out of a single charge with these headphones and a standby time of 10 days. Their fun pop of blue make them a standout among some of their peers’ designs, and these headphones just sound nice for half the price of the others, if a little tinny. Still an excellent buy for the entry fee.
Shokz OpenComm UC wireless bone conduction headphones: $140
Amazon
If you do more chatting on your headphones or earbuds than you do listening, you need a pair of bone conduction headphones that can help make it easier. This pair of bone conduction headphones blocks out external sounds during calls, so your voice can come through clearer.
With this pair’s multipoint Bluetooth feature, you can pair two devices simultaneously and seamlessly switch between them, too. If you have to take a work call and then hop on your smartphone for something personal, that’s certainly possible.
They’ll last a long while so you can take all the calls you need to, too. A single charge will get you a whopping 16 hours of talk time or 8 hours of listening. You can get an additional 2 hours of talk time from just 5 minutes of charging if you’re on an important call.
All this, and these headphones still shine when it comes to listening to music and other media, too – they just shine particularly brightest when you’re talking with them.
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“Sleepmaxxing” trend has young adults optimizing their sleep. Experts share some do’s and don’ts.
How to get an ideal night of sleep has been trending on social media. It’s called sleep optimization, or “sleepmaxxing,” and it’s particularly popular among younger Americans.
From using sleep trackers to sleeping with mouth tape, social media users are sharing tips online for what they do to catch more Z’s — and millions of people are paying attention.
Kamila Charles, a college senior in Florida, is among the many young adults who are now prioritizing their sleep routine.
“Magnesium, I do my skin care, I put my hair in rollers,” she said of her nightly rituals. “I’m trying to figure out what works for me because it is hard.”
Another student, Craig James, told CBS News he makes sure his room is dark, quiet and cold for optimal sleep. “No television on, no nothing,” he said. Many sleep experts echo that advice.
One recent analysis found members of Gen-Z spend more time sleeping than any other generation. That same survey showed they also spent more time exercising and prioritizing self-care than others.
“They just want to make the quality better, which is a good thing,” Dr. Rafael Pelayo, a clinical professor at Stanford University’s Sleep Medicine division, told CBS News. “Even though they may be considered good sleepers overall, they want to make their sleep even better.”
A recent Gallup survey found a majority of Americans — 57% — said they would feel better if they got more sleep.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, though it depends on age and other factors.
Middle schoolers should get about 9 to 12 hours a night, high schoolers about 8 to 10 hours, and adults more than 7 hours, Dr. Nidhi Kumar recently told CBS News New York.
“How many high schoolers are really sleeping that much?” Kumar said. “We are a country that is chronically sleep deprived.”
Sleep scientist Vanessa Hill recently told CBS News the sleepmaxxing trend may be beneficial because it gets people thinking about their sleep.
“So I think overall, it’s good,” she said, but warned, “sometimes when people can be too perfectionistic about their sleep, it can backfire.”
Risks of the sleepmaxxing trend
Despite the wellness intentions, experts say some aspects of this trend could do more harm than good.
“A lot of the things people do are not necessarily evidence-based,” Pelayo said. He also warns against obsessing over smartphone sleep trackers.
Kumar agrees, saying the problem with tracking your sleep is it can become obsessive.
“People can actually start dealing with an anxiety about trying to get to sleep,” she said.
She also says people should avoid mouth taping, a practice many have seen on social media.
“I’m going to say a hard no to mouth taping. It can actually be quite dangerous. It can increase snoring. It can cause anxiety, suffocation. It can cause a reduction in oxygen levels in certain susceptible individuals,” she said.
Kumar advises against the many pills and potions being promoted online, but says two supplements can be useful.
“Certain forms of magnesium, magnesium threonate, crosses the blood brain barrier (and) can help with sleep,” she said. “And if you’re dealing with jet lag, melatonin can be helpful. Other than these two supplements, nothing else has really been shown to work.”
Benefits of better sleep
Sleepmaxxing is helping to repopularize certain aspects of good sleep hygiene that everyone should try to embrace, Hill said.
“Things like try not to use your devices for half an hour or so before bed. Try to stick to a consistent bedtime. Try to have a relaxing wind-down routine. All of these things can set us up for a good night’s sleep,” she said.
Improving sleep is a positive step for overall health.
Kumar said quality sleep can lead to fewer sick days because it boosts your immune system. It can also help you maintain better weight control and reduce your risk of other serious conditions.
“Lower rates of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure; better mood, better attention, less stress, less anxiety,” she said.
If you are having trouble with your sleep, it’s best to consult your doctor.
“TikTok is not the answer when you really do have a problem, and there are a lot of sleep problems out there,” Hill said.
Video shows freight train derailing after crashing into tractor-trailer in Texas
CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione arrives in New York after waiving extradition in Pennsylvania
“Sleepmaxxing” trend has young adults optimizing their sleep. Experts share some do’s and don’ts.
Video shows freight train derailing after crashing into tractor-trailer in Texas
CEO shooting suspect Luigi Mangione arrives in New York after waiving extradition in Pennsylvania