Women's Health October 13, 2025 0 Comments

Why These Bose Open Ultra Earbuds Might Just Change Every Distance Runner’s Game—And Not Always for the Better

Ever had that moment mid-run when one AirPod decides to escape into the wild, leaving you scrambling like a ninja chasing shadows? Yeah, I’ve been there — music blasting, pace speeding up, and then boom, wireless chaos. As a runner who lives and breathes to the rhythm, losing your earbuds isn’t just an annoyance; it’s a workflow killer. But what if I told you there’s a game-changing pair of earbuds out there that not only stay put no matter how intense your workout gets but also keep your ears tuned to the world around you? Enter the Bose Open Ultra Earbuds — designed with an open-ear clip-on style that’s as much about safety as it is sound quality. I’ve clocked over 200 miles rocking these babies—from power runs to strength training—and I’m here to spill the beans on whether these $299 earbuds can really back up the hype. Ready to discover if they’re worth every penny and every stride? Let’s dive in.

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Like many runners, music is a big motivator that helps me push my speed and mileage. While earbuds are my workout headphones style of choice, I’ve scrambled to find a rogue AirPod one too many times mid-run. And I don’t trust wearing over-ear headphones during my early morning runs due to safety concerns, so I had resorted to listening through my phone speaker. That is, until I found a new pair of earbuds that solves both those issues: the Bose Open Ultra Earbuds.

Compared to typical earbuds, these have an open-ear design that clips onto the side of your ears. This helps them stay firmly in place and allows me to still hear my surroundings.

I’ve logged more than 200 miles while wearing these earbuds during runs, and also put them to the test while strength training, trail biking, rowing, and doing a slew of other workouts. I have a lot of thoughts on the fit, feel, ease of use, safety, battery life, and performance, so here’s my honest take and whether the $299 price tag is worth it.

SHOP THE BOSE OPEN ULTRA EARBUDS

My Experience: Set-up is simple, but there’s a learning curve.

It couldn’t have been easier to get the Open Ultra Earbuds up and running. I just clicked on a QR code, downloaded the Bose app, and connected them. I was listening to music within five minutes.

It took a few tries to figure out how the earbuds hook to my ears, but I quickly got the hang of it after reminding myself that the buttons go in the back. Essentially, the speaker sits in the base of your ear, and a weighted clip sits on the outside, a little above your earlobe. Bose also has labels “R” and “L” on each earbud to help guide you. The button controls are also simple to use. It’s mostly a series of long and short presses to adjust the sound, skip or pause songs, or flip audio modes, but it takes a little time to memorize the commands (there are eight total). After struggling to figure out the volume on my first run, I took a few minutes to study the directions and was fine after that.

The earbuds come fully charged and ready to go. They also juice up fast once placed in the included charging case. You get two hours of playback time after 10 minutes, and up to seven hours after a one-hour charge. I’ve never had an issue with these dying on me, but I always store the earbuds in the case when I’m done.

SHOP THE BOSE OPEN ULTRA EARBUDS

Feel: My ears were sore at first, but were more comfortable over time.

Open-earbuds can be tricky to wear. They have to be snug to stay put but not so tight that they’re uncomfortable. These are lightweight and more comfy than other pairs I’ve tried, but my ears still needed a little time to adjust. My ears felt a little sore after the first 30 minutes of wearing, but were more comfortable over time. These lock into place surprisingly well and don’t slide around when you sweat, which is a major win for a sweaty exerciser like me. They’re also IPX4 rated for water resistance, which means they can handle light splashes or rain—just make sure you don’t wear these to swim laps.

Just a heads up: If you’ve never used open-ear earbuds before, you may end up fiddling with these at first. Having these hug your lower ears feels a little like wearing clip-on earrings. = But, again, you get used to the feeling quickly, and I’ve found it to be very comfortable and non-distracting during workouts. Bose also makes these earbuds adjustable enough that you can wear them higher or lower on your ears, allowing you to tweak the fit to find what feels the most natural.

SHOP THE BOSE OPEN ULTRA EARBUDS

Sound: You can hear your surroundings without sacrificing sound quality.

I cross streets on my usual running routes, so I want to hear oncoming traffic when it gets close. I’m impressed at how well these allow you to hear noise around you without disrupting audio quality. I heard sprinklers coming on and birds chirping without it distracting from my music, which made me feel safe on my runs.

You get that signature high-end Bose sound, and can flip between immersive and stereo sound with a tap. Everything is crisp and clear, and I have no issue making out everything from song lyrics to podcast episodes, even when running next to traffic.

SHOP THE BOSE OPEN ULTRA EARBUDS

Alternatives: Budget options will be heavier and lack top-tier sound quality.

There are budget open-ear headphones on the market, but they don’t have the same level of audio quality. A close second is the $199 Shokz OpenDots ONE Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds. The JLab Flex Open Earbuds are an even more affordable option at only $50, but they don’t have the same level of sound quality. Still, if you’re looking for more affordable open-ear earbuds, these are worth considering.

SHOKZ OpenDots ONE Open-Ear Headphones

JLab Flex Open Earbuds

Final Verdict: Should you buy the Bose Open Ultra Earbuds?

If you’ve struggled with earbuds falling out mid-workout like me and want to stay aware, the Bose Open Ultra Earbuds are a great choice. I’ve never once had one fall out or even shift while exercising, which is impressive. I also really appreciate that they’re small and subtle enough to keep me from being an obvious target during outdoor workouts.

After using these for months, I have no major complaints, other than the price. But if audio quality and safety are important to you, these are definitely worth investing in.

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Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.