"With 21 total improvements over the first generation, AfterShokz Sportz M2 open ear headphones are designed to safely keep joggers, bike riders, skateboarders, hikers and other athletes connected to their music and social life while remaining active. Featuring military special ops bone conduction technology, AfterShokz Mobile headphones sit comfortably in front of the ear, keeping your ears open, while delivering stereophonic sound through the listener’s cheekbones to the inner ear, permitting users to hear ambient noises such as oncoming traffic, car horns, ambulances or other warning noises."
I have to start this review by saying that I took on this testing with the firm view that headphones should NEVER be worn while riding your bike. UK roads are a dangerous place and deriving yourself of one of your key senses is asking for trouble.
I first became fully aware of Aftershokz at the London Bike Show when their stand was across the corridor from our Nrg4 stand.We got chatting and they explained the benefits of the product with the main one being that they allow you to hear exterior ambient noise while listening to your music essentially through your cheekbones. I was skeptical to say the least but was more than happy to do a review at their request.
Getting Started
Upon getting home I opened the very nice packaging to be greeted by a sweet storage case. I unzipped it and inside were my headphones,USB charging cable, instructions and adapter cable. The 1st thing you need to remember with these headphones is that the technology requires you to charge them before use. Aftershokz claim you get 12hours playing time from a full charge so no problem for today's 50 mile cafe run.
The morning of the 1st test ride arrived and after getting kitted up I unplugged them from the charger to get them set up.
Upon getting home I opened the very nice packaging to be greeted by a sweet storage case. I unzipped it and inside were my headphones,USB charging cable, instructions and adapter cable. The 1st thing you need to remember with these headphones is that the technology requires you to charge them before use. Aftershokz claim you get 12hours playing time from a full charge so no problem for today's 50 mile cafe run.
The morning of the 1st test ride arrived and after getting kitted up I unplugged them from the charger to get them set up.
This is extremely simple with the headphone plug going into your phone or MP3 player, the controller box where the mic and controls are situated clips onto the collar of my jersey and the headphones fit nicely around your ears.The 1st ride was a very cold brisk affair so my winter gloves were required which was to prove a little bit of a problem later on in the ride.
The first pleasing
thing was that they did not interfere with my Kali Phenom helmet
whatsoever, in fact if it wasnt for the music I wouldnt be very aware I
had them on at all.
First Ride
So as I started off rolling along with music clearly ringing in my ears I was more than a little nervous as I waited for the first vehicle to brush me with its wing mirrors.Much to my surprise I clearly heard the first car approach from behind well before it was on me. This increased my confidence massively and I reached straight for the volume control on the control box. It quickly became apparent that my thick winter gloves and the little buttons on the control box were not going to be good bedfellows. The control box has a number of key controls at your finger tips so you dont have to remove your phone from your back pocket.
Obviously the control box has to be compact and small but it does mean that locating the little buttons with thick gloves on is impossible so I pulled over, removed my gloves and upped the volume to max.On later rides where I used fingerless gloves this was not a problem whatsoever.
As I now entered the busy roads of Preston I was astonished to how aware I was of all the noises around me even though I could clearly hear my music pumping away. The bone conduction technology really works in transferring the music so that you can hear it. The headphones don't sit anywhere near your ears as you can clearly see from the picture I took below when I eventually arrived at my cafe stop.Your ears are completely left free to hear all ambient noise around you.
I was wearing the Aftershokz headphones on the video below on one of the test rides and you can clearly see that they don't have any issues with my road helmet and sit nicely around my ears.
Even when I was riding along a quiet country lane in my own little world completely lost in my music I could still hear a car approaching from behind well in advance of it arriving.
In an ideal world I prefer to ride with a group of friends and enjoy the social side of my cycling. Sometimes that isn't always possible and you have to train alone or as in my case at the moment im riding alone while I try to get my fitness back so I can slot back into a group and not be a liability. Having some music to listen to when riding solo on a long ride can be a real help in enjoying the ride and I believe with the right music can actually improve your performance.
Music Quality
Trust me when I say that you will be very surprised at how well you can hear music through your cheekbones. Is it as crystal clear as having conventional headphones stuck in your ears.... NO.. Is it clear enough to really enjoy the music as you ride along...absolutely YES.
In Closing
Having used the product for 2 months now I highly recommend the Aftershokz headphones if you want to enjoy listening to music while out on your bike and stay safe around traffic.With them being sweat and waterproof they are perfect for all outdoor activity's as well as cycling.
Also as a side issue and worth noting is that I have found these make a fantastic hands free kit for your car or for using on skype calls.
The M2s that I used have an RRP of £69.99 and are available from multiple online and high street stockists
Aftershokz have a brand new bluetooth version coming very soon which have multiple improvements and I am looking forward to testing those for another review in the coming months.
Pros
Cons
- On / off Switch
- Added volume control
- Answer Calls button
- Microphone
- Built-in micro USB charging port
- Play / pause / advance / rewind music
- Smaller lithium ion battery with 12 hours playtime
Obviously the control box has to be compact and small but it does mean that locating the little buttons with thick gloves on is impossible so I pulled over, removed my gloves and upped the volume to max.On later rides where I used fingerless gloves this was not a problem whatsoever.
As I now entered the busy roads of Preston I was astonished to how aware I was of all the noises around me even though I could clearly hear my music pumping away. The bone conduction technology really works in transferring the music so that you can hear it. The headphones don't sit anywhere near your ears as you can clearly see from the picture I took below when I eventually arrived at my cafe stop.Your ears are completely left free to hear all ambient noise around you.
Even when I was riding along a quiet country lane in my own little world completely lost in my music I could still hear a car approaching from behind well in advance of it arriving.
In an ideal world I prefer to ride with a group of friends and enjoy the social side of my cycling. Sometimes that isn't always possible and you have to train alone or as in my case at the moment im riding alone while I try to get my fitness back so I can slot back into a group and not be a liability. Having some music to listen to when riding solo on a long ride can be a real help in enjoying the ride and I believe with the right music can actually improve your performance.
Music Quality
Trust me when I say that you will be very surprised at how well you can hear music through your cheekbones. Is it as crystal clear as having conventional headphones stuck in your ears.... NO.. Is it clear enough to really enjoy the music as you ride along...absolutely YES.
In Closing
Having used the product for 2 months now I highly recommend the Aftershokz headphones if you want to enjoy listening to music while out on your bike and stay safe around traffic.With them being sweat and waterproof they are perfect for all outdoor activity's as well as cycling.
Also as a side issue and worth noting is that I have found these make a fantastic hands free kit for your car or for using on skype calls.
The M2s that I used have an RRP of £69.99 and are available from multiple online and high street stockists
Aftershokz have a brand new bluetooth version coming very soon which have multiple improvements and I am looking forward to testing those for another review in the coming months.
Pros
- Enjoy Music while riding your bike
- Still be able to hear ambient sounds like traffic and feel safe
- No fit problems in your ears or earphones continually falling out of your ears
- No lasting damage to your eardrum through listening to loud music
- A healthier way of hearing
Cons
- You do have to remember to charge them up
- Control box buttons are too small for thick winter gloves.
OVERALL RATING
9/10
