- Rebranding Update - Aftershokz has been renamed as Shokz. Welcome to SHOKZ!
- Open-Ear Design - Patented bone conduction technology delivers audio through the cheekbone, keeping you connected and aware of your surroundings.
- Comfortable & Durable - Experience comfort with our wraparound titanium frame for a light and flexible design.
- Multifunction Button - Easy controls to play, pause, skip, activate voice assistant, and answer calls
- Sweatproof - IP55 certified to repel sweat, dust, and moisture. Perfect for withstanding even the rainiest runs.
Looking for headphones that let you stay aware of your surroundings while you listen to music or podcasts? The Aftershokz Trekz Air uses bone conduction technology to deliver sound through your cheekbones, leaving your ears open to ambient noise. This makes them ideal for runners, cyclists, and anyone who needs to hear what’s going on around them for safety reasons.
Let’s take a deep dive
Aftershokz Trekz Air is not your typical pair of headphones. It does not have earbuds going directly into your ear. Instead, a semi-rigid band connects around the back of your head and suspends the speakers directly over your cheekbones. The sound waves do not go straight into your eardrums as the music plays. Instead, it diverts through your bones.
Innovative Bone Conduction Technology
At the heart of the Aftershokz Trekz Air’s allure is its bone conduction technology. Unlike traditional headphones that deliver sound through the air into your ear canals, the Trekz Air rests on your cheekbones and transmits sound vibrations directly to your inner ear. The open-ear design of these headphones allows you to stay aware of your surroundings, making them perfect for outdoor activities where being aware of your surroundings is important.
Air conduction is the transmission of sound from the outer ear to the inner ear through the airwaves. Bone conduction sends sound vibrations through the bones of your face to your inner ear, where hearing and balance organs are located. The sound waves bypass the middle – eardrum and outer ear and directly stimulate the inner ear.
How does it work?
You should compare how your voice sounds when you speak versus when it’s recorded. Your recorded voice sounds different. Usually, it does sound thinner because the recording is only picking up your air-conducted voice. You naturally hear your voice through air conduction and bone conduction. However, if you ask others, they say it sounds like you.
This technology has been around for several years as a helping tool for those with hearing loss. You can even trace it back to Beethoven. He used his adaptation of bone conduction by biting down the composer’s wand that was touching the piano.
However, there’s a trade-off here. The quality and the richness of the sound won’t reach your favorite pair of Bose or Jaybird.
Design and Comfort: A Leap Forward
The Trekz Air represents a significant evolution from its predecessor, the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium. Weighing in at a mere 29.5 grams, these headphones are 20% lighter, attributing to their barely-there feel during extended use. Titanium is used in the frame and band for durability and flexibility, providing a snug and comfortable fit for intense workouts or daily use.
Key features of Aftershokz Trekz Air
| Feature | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| OpenFit Design | Bone conduction technology leaves your ears open for situational awareness. | Hear traffic, cars, and other important sounds while enjoying your music or calls. |
| Lightweight & Comfortable | Titanium frame and wraparound band ensure a secure and comfortable fit, even during long workouts. | No more bulky headphones that weigh you down or cause discomfort. |
| Sweatproof & Durable | IP55 rating protects against sweat, dust, rain, and even splashes. | Perfect for active lifestyles and any weather condition. |
| 6 Hours Battery Life | Enjoy music or calls for hours on a single charge. | No more worrying about your headphones dying mid-workout. |
| Dual Noise-Canceling Mics | Clear calls even in noisy environments. | Be heard loud and clear, even in windy or crowded areas. |
| Multiple Colors | Choose from four stylish colors (Black, Blue, Camo, Aqua) to match your personality. | Express yourself with a color that reflects your unique style. |
| LeakSlayer Technology | Minimizes sound leakage to prevent disturbing others. | Enjoy your music without bothering those around you. |
| PremiumPitch+ Technology | Optimizes sound quality for a richer listening experience. | Hear your music with more clarity and depth. |
| Voice Prompts | Guide you through pairing, power, play, and more. | Easy to use and control, even on the go. |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | Seamlessly connect to your smartphone, tablet, or other Bluetooth devices. | Hassle-free listening experience without wires getting in your way. |
Design
AfterShokz’s designs and technology have come a long way since the introduction of Trekz Titanium. The Trekz Air wireless sports headphone is undeniably compelling. It has a richer sound, with deeper bass and more volume overall. The size is also greatly improved, as it’s much slimmer and 20% lighter than Trekz Titanium, weighing 29.5 grams. It’s much more comfortable to wear, especially over the ears. This way, in case of warm weather, you can wear them on with your sunglasses.
They can be referred to as head-back-buds and not neck-buds. The Trekz Air is solid. Still, they are flexible. Their titanium built allows them to be twisted and bendy. They can be worn around the neck or even shoved into a pocket.
The soft silicone cover and the cautious positioning of the electronics indicate that the Trekz Air can withstand heavy use. They combine very durable materials with excellent positioning of the various components. The Trekz Air sits comfortably at the top of the jawbone within a small dimple area. They deliver a superb, delicate, yet careful and clever design. They are also waterproof, and IP55-rated.
Buttons
The key design feature that makes Trekz Air stand out is that they’re not earphones but speakers, allowing you to hear what’s happening around you. AfterShokz calls this ‘OpenFit.’ It also offers a mute button as a further safety option to cut out the music in an emergency.
The buttons on the right side let you control playback and volume. However, they are pretty small and hard to operate by feel, but they do their work.
Hands-free calls are also available on Trekz Air. Speakers are equipped with noise-canceling microphones to minimize noise interference to improve voice quality.
The headphones come with a set of foam earplugs that you put into your ears. Surprisingly enough, if you bother jamming your ears with them, it improves the sound quality. It becomes louder and boosts the bass.
Performance
A female voice called Audrey, guides you quickly over the set-up.
The controls are relatively simple. On the right-hand side are volume buttons. Every press sends a tone to the speakers to notify you that action is taken to increase or decrease volume. When you reach maximum volume, a higher-pitch tone is sent.
There’s a small fingertip-sized housing on each side, keeping the Trekz Air firm on the back of the head. They also include batteries and controls.
People nearby can hear what you’re listening to if your music is at a high-volume level in a quiet environment.
Sound Quality and Features
Despite the unconventional method of sound delivery, the Trekz Air does not falter in providing an enriching audio experience. Equipped with PremiumPitch+ technology, these headphones offer a dynamic range and bass that is surprisingly robust for bone conduction headphones. Additionally, features like LeakSlayer technology work to minimize sound leakage, ensuring your music remains your personal soundtrack.
The Trekz Air also boasts dual noise-canceling microphones, enhancing call clarity by reducing ambient noise. This, coupled with a six-hour battery life and a quick-charge feature, ensures you stay connected and entertained without frequent interruptions.
Safety and Awareness
One of the most significant advantages of the Trekz Air is the safety it affords its users. By listening to your surroundings, you can enjoy music or podcasts while still being aware of traffic, conversations, and other important sounds. This feature is invaluable for runners, cyclists, and anyone active in urban or outdoor settings.
Battery life
The slim size and the lightweight design are probably the cause of the short battery life. Both wireless models, Trekz Air and Trekz Titanium offer at least six hours of continuous music and calls on a single full charge.
If you exercise regularly, such as going to the gym or running, you will likely need to charge your devices overnight every 2 or 3 days. Factor in occasional phone calls and some YouTube videos, then charging frequency increases.
However, the quick-charge mode saves you precious time. It lets you charge the Trekz Air for just 15 minutes for an hour of battery life. It’s quite helpful if you charge them while you’re getting ready for a run or a workout.
You also must consider that keeping the volume at a high level directly impacts battery life.
If you want headphones to last multiple uses with a single charge, you’ll probably be disappointed. Still, the battery can easily last a marathon for nearly every type of runner.
Pros:
- Open-ear design for situational awareness
- Lightweight and comfortable fit
- Sweatproof and durable
- Good sound quality for podcasts and audiobooks
- Quick-charge feature
Cons:
- Limited bass response
- Sound leakage at high volumes
- Short battery life for heavy users
Conclusion:
The Aftershokz Trekz Air are a great option for runners, cyclists, and anyone who needs to stay aware of their surroundings while listening to music or podcasts. They offer a comfortable and secure fit, good sound quality, and a unique open-ear design. However, bass lovers and those who need headphones for quiet environments may want to look elsewhere.
As a veteran fitness technology innovator and the founder of GearUpToFit.com, Alex Papaioannou stands at the intersection of health science and artificial intelligence. With over a decade of specialized experience in digital wellness solutions, he’s transforming how people approach their fitness journey through data-driven methodologies.