I could not tell you the number of bluetooth headphones I've purchased from Amazon. Honestly, if my wife knew she would question my every decision. However, this journey did not start at Amazon, but at Target. I was on a business trip and lost my Plantronics Voyager, which I loved. I visited a local target to see if they had a replacement, but they did not... instead the salesman introduced me to the Shokz product.
Purchase #1: OpenRun 2 headset- I was impressed by the sound, so I purchased my first SHOKZ headset. I was incredibly impressed by the technology, the quality of sound and the range of volume, but the wrap around design bugged me a bit. I found that the design was a bit intrusive with hoodies, caps etc... so I started looking around.
Purchase #2: OpenFit 2 - Please note that the '2' (vs just OpenFit) is important as it represents the introduction of AI to combat external noises (among other tasks), and from what I've experienced... it works!
I was incredibly impressed with the OpenFit 2. The over-ear silicon is extremely comfortable. So comfortable that I often have to touch my ear to ensure I'm wearing them. I believe the sound is a bit better than the OpenRun 2 and it does not appear to be bone conduction, but more just hangs over the ear (not IN the ear like standard earbuds).
I consider myself a bit of an audiofile, and I've been overall impressed by the sound quality of the OpenFit 2. The default bass, mid-range and high-range are acceptable, but the SHOKZ app comes with the ability to alter the equalizer.. so I have my own custom setting.
My job has me on the phone all day long and I've never had a person struggle to hear me. Feedback from callers has always been positive and reports are that I sound loud-and-clear! In addition, I wear the OpenFit 2 from my run at 6:45 AM through my work day until approx 7PM, and if they've had a full charge, I have no issues... great battery life.
Fair Warning: Because the OpenFit 2 are so comfortable, I've nearly lost them several times because I forget that they are on my ears and I do things that fling them across the room (like taking off a t-shirt or wetting my head with a hose... to name a couple). Due to the size, they are sometimes hard to find (once outside under a bush). Luckily the SHOKZ app comes with a 'find your earphone' function that pings a suprisingly loud tone to help you detect the sneaky buggers.
Purchase #3: OpenComm2 - So far so good...and as I mentioned, I'm on the phone all day and I did really like my Plantronics Legend so when I saw that SHOKZ had a headset with a boom, I had to try it. The reality is that I have not tested it very much because the OpenFit 2 has performed so well, but from what I've tested I can tell you that the audio is not as dynamic as either the OpenFit 2, nor the OpenRun 2... but it was not designed for that. This is a 'Comm' device and I can't speak to the quality of the microphone due to the lack of testing, but I will pick it up and give it a go.
Bottom-line: Are SHOKZ worth the ~$175? Yes, I believe they are. I've tried the more affordable and it has not worked out. OpenFit 2 (2nd purchase) is a no-brainer and I recommend it to everyone. Great sound quality, great battery life, fantastic comfort. My runner up is OpenRun 2 (1st purchase) which I keep in my to-go bag along with my laptop in case I need a backup. Finally OpenComm2 (3rd purchase) needs a bit more testing, but so far I believe it to be good quality for the purpose it was intended... answering calls.