I love running to music, but I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve jumped out of my skin when a cyclist or fellow runner has passed me by that I hadn’t heard approaching. Turns out I don’t need to ram earbuds deep into my ear canal to enjoy the added motivation that running to a good beat can bring. The Tozo from Openwear are open ear wireless headphones are designed for people who want to stay aware of the world around them, making them ideal for runners, cyclists and commuters.
Rather than sitting inside the ear canal, the OpenWear uses an ergonomic ear hook design that rests comfortably around the ear while directing sound towards it. Each earbud weighs just around 11g, making them comfortable enough for long sessions. The dual access structure allows for independent adjustment both horizontally and vertically.
Inside each earbud is a 16.2mm dynamic driver, delivering a surprisingly full sound considering the open design. Bass naturally can’t compete with in ear audio, but vocals remain clear doing justice for podcasts, pop and everyday playlists. Bluetooth 5.4 provides a reliable connection with support for dual device pairing, while low latency performance keeps video and audio well synchronised.
The battery life is good with the earbuds providing up to 8.5 hours of playback on a single charge, with the charging case extending total listening time to around 38 hours. A quick charge function provides approximately 2 hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging, making them particularly useful before heading out the door.
With an IPX6 water resistance rating, the OpenWear copes happily with sweat and light rain, while touch controls allow you to select playback, calls and voice assistants without reaching for your phone. AI enhanced microphones with environmental noise reduction also deliver clear voice quality during calls, even outdoors.
The open design means sound leakage is more noticeable at higher volumes, and if you’re looking for deep, room shaking bass or active noise cancellation, you’ll need to look elsewhere. However, for anyone after something that’s lightweight, practical and surprisingly enjoyable the TOZO OpenWear is well worth a look. RRP £68
- Comfortable lightweight open ear design
- Large 16.2mm dynamic drivers
- Up to 38 hours total battery life
- Bluetooth 5.3 with dual device pairing
- IPX5 water resistant with clear call quality
- Limited bass compared with sealed earbuds
- Sound leakage at higher volumes
- No active noise cancellation
- Less suitable for noisy environments
