AfterShokz Trekz Titanium Review

Disclaimer - I use Amazon affiliate links in this Aftershokz review so I do earn commission on any purchases using the links listed below.

To give you a little backstory of how I found the headphones, I’d always run with earbuds but had a really hard time finding a pair that fit well. Usually, the bounce of the wire as I ran was enough to knock the earbuds loose.

I knew I wanted a pair of Bluetooth headphones but was also having a hard time finding a pair that matched my price range. The other issue was most Bluetooth headphones I found were wireless earbuds so I was still worried about the fit.

I heard about AfterShokz through the weekly live #BibChat on Twitter, and luckily even got a bit of a discount through the chat. I was still a little nervous about the fit but after chatting with a representative on the site, they confirmed the 45-day return policy for a full refund if the headphones just weren’t for me.

UPDATE: I'm actually on my 3rd pair of AfterShokz as they've continued to upgrade their tech. You can see some of my more recent review of the AfterShokz Airs and the AfterShokz Aeropex headphones.

First Glance

I went for the AfterShokz Trekz Titanium, the model “designed with athletes in mind.” The Trekz Titaniums are sweatproof and lightweight with a flexible band that’s perfect for the more active user. What you’ll immediately notice about AfterShokz headphones is that they do not go into your ear.

AfterShokz uses advanced bone conduction technology so the headphones actually rest outside your ears. This was one of the biggest draws for me because I’m often running on the sides of roads so it’s nice to be able to hear what’s going on around me.

Looking at the headphones, they’re incredibly simple, sporting just three buttons; a volume up/power button, volume down, and a multipurpose button (pause, play, answer calls, etc.). Aside from the buttons, the headphones also have a microphone so you can answer calls, a micro-USB port for charging, and an LED indicator to let you know when the headphones are fully charged.

AfterShokz Setup

The setup was incredibly simple, just charge the headphones using the USB cable provided, then hold the volume/power button. You’ll hear a chime as the headphones turn on and if you continue to hold down the button, you’ll hear the headphones go into “pairing mode.” After that, you just have to search for the headphones in the Bluetooth settings of your phone and connect.

Audio Quality

I was amazed by how clear the audio was. I wasn’t sure what to expect but everything I’ve listened to comes through perfectly clear. The first thing I did was plug my ears to test the bone conduction and the audio still came through with no problem.

I’ll admit it was definitely a weird sensation at first but the strangeness wears off pretty quickly. I’ve had the headphones for almost a year and I’ve listened to music, podcasts, audiobooks, and taken calls on them, everything comes through clear, and from the people I’ve talked to, the microphone works great too.

AfterShokz Battery

I was also worried about the battery life when I got them but it’s been incredible. I go weeks without charging them and the headphones let you know when the battery is getting low. I usually charge them preemptively to be safe before races but they’ve never died on a run.

You can check the battery using the volume buttons but the automated voice will also let you know when the battery is getting low. So those are the basics, now let me break down the pros and cons from my experience. I’ll start with the pros.

Pros

• The headphones are incredibly easy to use and easy to set up.
• They fit great, very light and comfortable even with my running cap and sunglasses.
• There’s no bounce like I remember with my earbuds, they fit snug but not tight.
• I’ve taken phone calls while running and just around the house, it’s great to be hands-free! Especially when I’m cooking dinner or getting ready in the morning.
• Great for overall awareness on a run, you can hear everything around you. My wife also appreciates that I can still hear her while listening to podcasts around our apartment.
• Great sound quality, audio comes through very clearly.
• Incredible battery life and a helpful notification when the battery is low.
• The company has great customer service. They’re very responsive on their website and on social media.

Cons

• Although the headphones fit great with my typical ball cap, it took some finagling to find a comfortable way to wear them with a beanie.
• The downside of being able to hear everything around you is that on busier streets, the sound of traffic can drown out the audio.
• If you turn them up too loud you can feel the headphones vibrate against your jaw. As long as you’re listening at a reasonable volume though, it shouldn’t be an issue.
• Another note with volume, I don’t have the best hearing so I tend to have my headphones up somewhat high and you can faintly hear the audio even while holding the headphones away from your head. Because of this, I’d be worried about wearing them in tight quarters (i.e. on planes) for fear of disturbing the person next to me