Bone conduction headphones, opinions please?

[confusedcyclist]

I'm interested to hear what you guys think of riding with these headphones. I have never come across these type of headphones before, basic premise is that these work by stimulating the bones in your ears, while not drowning out the sounds of your surroundings as you don't have in-ear buds, or cups over your ears. In theory it should sound like the music is all around you, almost like it's part of the environment, but enables you to still hear what's going on (traffic, pedestrians, even still able to hold conversation with ease while your music is on).

I still can't shake the feeling that these would be really dangerous when riding in traffic as music can after all be a distraction if you let it be. I sit firmly in the no headphones while commuting camp, but really do miss listening to the radio on the way to work.

Thoughts?

 

[Cycleops]

Depends if you believe their advertising hype. I am a bit dubious. "Stimulating the bones in your ears" ? Bit difficult to see how they can do that when they are outside your ears. I can see them working with regards to not blocking surrounding sounds but by the same token I imagine they might sound a bit "tinny". Maybe if you can find someone else with them.

 

[welsh dragon]

I think they use vibration, a bit like the bones in your ears hence the name. @Saluki has just bought a pair and seems to like them quite a lot.

 

[confusedcyclist]

I have read a couple of reviews, and they generally applaud the sound quality, but acknowledge that the bass leaves something to be desired, which probably puts them in line with most budget headphones. I'm not after high fidelity, rather, safety!

 

[Tim Hall]

@benb did a review of them. Here.

 

[marzjennings]

Can't see the point, normal headphones work just fine.

 

[marzjennings]

[QUOTE 3231422, member: 45"]2nd groundhog day of the day?[/QUOTE]
Couldn't stop myself, sorry.

(edit)

 

[benb]

They work really well.
You can hear the music, and the external noise.

 

[Saluki]

I love mine. I can hear the traffic and when it's really busy traffic I just press the 'pause' button on the right hand side of the head/ear bit. You can see on the picture posted by the OP the phone button. You can sync it with your phone and answer calls while out cycling if you feel that you must. I take my phone but it's not synched with my headset.
I love it, the sound is great, not tinny at all. The volume control is in easy reach and you use the volume button to change track too. Much more efficient that fishing your MP3 player out of your pocket and poking the next track button. Hubster is threatening to get a pair too. Not sure why though as I'm not sure that his bike would recognise him any more.

 

[Tynan]

I find riding in London quite stimulating enough, the distraction of music/radio alone detracts from the attention called for

imho

 

[Saluki]

I find riding in London quite stimulating enough, the distraction of music/radio alone detracts from the attention called for

imho

London, I would think, is slightly different riding territory to inner city Wymondham. Sometimes we can have 3 cars, a tractor, a horse and a bike all on the same road at the same time. London is a bit busier.

 

[ColinJ]

I find riding in London quite stimulating enough, the distraction of music/radio alone detracts from the attention called for

I find riding anywhere quite stimulating enough. Listening to music/radio would distract me and detract from my enjoyment of the cycling.

 

[Scotchlovingcylist]

Commuting in winter I find I sometimes need a little motivation and music helps. Summer I just enjoy the birds, sun etc.
To answer the OP's question though, personally I use standard in ear headphones but my sister uses the bone conducting ones and loves them, a little strange getting used to them and bass not fantastic apparently which I think has been mentioned but well worth the money she reckons

 

[confusedcyclist]

Thanks for the opinions guys, if I can find a pair to try for myself on the high street I might get a pair. Not a fan of battery powered/Bluetooth headphones though as I already have enough stuff to remember to charge!

 

[Douggie954]

I have a pair of these and find them great. I like listening to music as I ride and these allow me to hear the noise around as well. I do not connect my phone to them.