AfterShokz Trekz Air Review

7.9
7.9 score
[Editors rating (7.9)] = (WalkJogRun) score (7.9)/10


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Editor rating: 7.9 / 10
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The way you listen to music just might never be the same again! Meet the latest innovation, the AfterShokz Trekz Air. These headphones aren't like any other pair on the market today! AfterShokz is an industry leader when it comes to bone conduction technology. In case you're wondering, bone conduction headphones deliver music through your cheekbones rather than your ears. While this might sound a little strange, it's actually an effective way to listen. It's also a lot safer because your ears are completely open so you are more aware of your surroundings while you exercise.

The AfterShokz Trekz Air is lighter and fits more securely than any other pair on the market. It's made mostly from titanium which cuts the bulk and even makes it sound better too. This brand draws inspiration from the needs of elite and aspiring athletes who are motivated by the music in their ears.

If you live an active lifestyle then these headphones are a great choice to consider! They offer something different than your average pair and are a safer option overall. They do take some getting used to, but once you adjust you'll find they're quite enjoyable.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Bone Conduction Technology
  • Increased Awareness
  • Lightweight Titanium
  • Reduced Sound Leakage
  • 6-Hour Battery Life
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Adjustment Period

Design

The AfterShokz Trekz Air isn’t like your average pair of headphones. This option is a whole other breed of listening device that utilizes bone conduction technology. If you’ve never heard of this before it’s a new take on the way you experience audio and it’s hitting mainstream technology in a big way.

Bone conduction technology works differently than traditional earphones because it doesn’t deliver sound through your eardrums. This means that AfterShokz Trekz headphones don’t sit in, or even over the top of your ears. Instead, it delivers sound through transducers that send vibrations through your cheekbones until they reach your cochleas. The idea behind the design is that your ears are free to listen to your surroundings which, in turn, means that you’ll be safer while you exercise.

While the thought of listening to music through your cheekbones might sound a little offputting, it’s really not all that bad. In fact, you already listen through your bones every day. Have you ever wondered why your voice sounds strange when you hear it on a recording? That’s because we don’t usually hear voices through air conduction alone but through a combination of air and bone conduction.

The first time you try listening through these headphones is going to be a bit strange! Being able to listen to tunes while still hearing all of the other sounds around you will be an odd feeling at first. But, it’s one that you can quickly adjust too and you will be safer, in the long run, being able to hear what’s going on around you.

Weight

You can forget about bulky headphones while wearing a pair of AfterShokz Trekz Air! This pair is 20% lighter than its counterpart and delivers a feather-like feel while you wear it. Having lighter headphones is a must while you exercise, otherwise, you will tire more easily and have higher body temperature becuase of the added weight. You will also sweat more than you would while wearing a lighter design.

Every athlete knows the importance of weightless gear and your headphones are no exception. If you wear a pair with an uncomfortably heavy band you will end up with a sore neck, or even a pounding headache once your workout ends. The savings in weight comes from the use of titanium everywhere possible. Titanium is one of the most lightweight materials out there and it makes a big difference when used for this kind of gear.


Sound

While the sound is definitely different then what you have worn before, that doesn’t mean it’s not pretty darn impressive. Considering that you listen through your bones rather than your ears the AfterShokz Trekz Air delivers nice sound quality. It has PremiumPitch+™ technology that guarantees the best audio experience that gives it a more dynamic range and rich bass. This makes for a better experience and really does make the sound much better.

Built-in LeakSlayer™ technologies limit the amount of sound leakage so you get clearer audio that isn’t drowned out by background noise. With that being said, the design of the AfterShokz Trekz Air does leave your ears open so you won’t be able to tune out any outside noise while listening to your music. Some people have difficulties adjusting to this and find that they don’t like being able to hear both their music and the sounds of the world around them at the same time.


Hands-Free

Hands-free operation is a must while you exercise and the AfterShokz Trekz Air offers an innovative new tool to guide you every step of the way. AudreySays™ is a unique design feature that guides users through power, pair, play, and even talk. This makes it seem super easy to adjust to the hands-free operation and really makes a big difference in your overall experience. This pair comes with a dual noise-canceling microphone that blocks out surrounding noise for crystal clear conversations. It enhances the sound of your voice so there won’t be any miscommunications because of poor sound quality.

Having a quality microphone makes the world of difference when it comes to hands-free calling! If you have a low-quality mic it will be hard for the person you're talking with to hear you and there will be miscommunications because of it. The AfterShokz Trekz Air is a great choice for both athletic and professional occasions thanks to it's crisp, clear, noise-canceling microphone.

Battery

The AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones give you up to six hours of playtime off a single charge. While there are some options that offer better battery life, this still isn’t too bad for this style of listening device. Whenever you have something that’s wireless you are going to have to deal with battery charging, it’s just a fact of life. While some earphones offer as little as three hours playtime off one charge, the AfterShokz Trekz Air is pretty impressive with its six-hour battery life.

If you're looking for a pair of earphones with an excellent battery life try the Beats PowerBeats3 or even the Apple AirPods. Both of these options deliver longer lasting battery life along with a crisp, clear sound that's perfect for wearing while you power through any routine.

Comfort

The AfterShokz Trekz Air is all about making things more comfortable for you! That’s why the design includes all sorts of comfort-enhancing technologies. Take the OpenFit™ feature, for example. It guarantees maximum situational awareness while at the same time makes it more comfortable to wear even for long periods of time. The wraparound titanium structure offers a lightweight and flexible feel that’s ideal for athletic activities.

Overall, considering the awkward appearance, this pair of headphones end up being quite comfortable to wear and is a good choice for working out. If you enjoy engaging in outdoor activities or other physically challenging sports, these headphones provide an enjoyable style that won’t hurt your ears or head.


Sweat/Water-Resistant

The AfterShokz Trekz Air is ideal for exercising in all sorts of weather conditions. It is IP55 certified to repel moisture, sweat, and even dust. This means you can easily run rain or shine without having to worry about your gear. The IP55 certification makes these headphones water-resistant, but not waterproof. It’s not a good idea to totally submerge your AfterShokz headphones underwater. IP stands for International Protection or Ingress Protection. These codes give more specific information about a product. These codes are more descriptive than the vague terms we often see I

The AfterShokz Trekz Air has a 5 rating which means that they’re not fully closed off to dust, but that enough dust won’t get inside to ruin the functionality. This rating also indicates that while they’re not fully waterproof, they will hold up well during one of your sweatiest workouts.

Sizing

Unfortunately, these headphones only come in one size which can be problematic for certain people. If you have a smaller structure you might find that they fit a little large, whereas people with large structures will have trouble fitting in them at all. However, if you’re more average sized you will find that the AfterShokz Trekz Air is a comfortable choice to wear. It is always a problem when any product is one-size-fits-all. This is obviously not the best way to design something because everyone has a different structure and it's bound to end up too big or too small for some people.

Price

Innovative technologies tend to cost more and the AfterShokz Trekz headphones are the perfect example. This pair is relatively expensive especially considering the adjustment period just feel at ease with the bone conduction technology. Though, if you prefer to be safer while you exercise this is the perfect option.

The Aftershokz Trekz keep your ears completely open so you’re fully aware of your surroundings. This is much safer than having your ears blocked off with thumping music. If you can’t hear it puts you at risk of injuries by traffic and other passersby who might not be aware of you. But, if you can hear your surroundings then you’ll be safer.

Adjustment Period

With any new technology, the Aftershokz Trekz headphones will take some time to get used to it. Bone conduction headphones are different than any other style of a listening device because the sound doesn’t travel through the ear canal but through the cheekbones. This is a big change and will definitely take some time to familiarize with! If you don’t like to hear the world around you while you train then this isn’t the best choice for you. These headphones won’t block out any noise around you, instead, they deliver the sound through the bones of the cheek and leave your ears completely open.

For some people, this design just doesn't work. While others find that it doesn’t take long to adjust. If safety is a concern for you then go ahead and reach for a pair of AfterShokz Trekz Air headphones! There are a bunch of situations that you should be more aware while you’re in like; ladies running alone at night, or anyone who trains in a secluded place. These are times when you should always be able to hear what’s going on around you.

If you live in the city it’s extra important that you be aware of your surroundings. With all of the traffic and other passersby, it’s all too easy to get into an accident. But, with these headphones you’re not isolated, instead, you will be aware of both your music and your surroundings.

Bottom Line

Overall, the AfterShokz Trekz Air is a great way to bump your tunes while you workout. Made with innovative bone conduction technology, these headphones aren’t like anything you’ve tried before. Rather than blocking off your ears, this pair sits over the cheekbones leaving you more aware of your surroundings. This is a much safer option and once you adjust to the different style, it is actually quite enjoyable to use.

The sound quality is quite impressive and the built-in EQ settings help to add more bass to every note. If you like lightweight gear than the AfterShokz Trekz Air’s titanium frame will feel perfect while you train. The nice thing is that the weather won’t affect these headphones because they are IP55 certified to repel moisture, sweat, and even dust.

Six-hours of continuous playtime is quite impressive, especially with a wireless pair. Having this length of battery life lets you workout most days in a week off a single charge and saves you tons of time on charging. The wireless connectivity is a must for active lifestyles because it saves you dealing with tangled wires while you train.