AfterShokz Trekz Air Wireless Headphones Review

Bone-conduction headphones deliver sound via your cheekbone, directly bypassing the eardrum. This leaves your ear open to receive surrounding sounds.

They are the safest type of headsets in the market. The Aftershokz Trekz air is one of the best bone-conduction headphones available. In this article, we’ll tell you all about it.

Welcome to the AfterShokz Trekz Air Wireless Headphones Review. Here’s a breakdown of what we’ll cover in the subsequent sections:

Let’s dive in.

AfterShokz Trekz Air Review

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About the “AfterShokz” brand

Aftershokz is an American bone-conduction audio equipment manufacturer. The company was founded in 2011 in New York. They hold over 200 patents globally and are considered the pioneers of making consumer bone-conduction technologies. The Aftershokz Titanium, Air, and Aeropex are some of their most notable products.

Pros of the AfterShokz Trekz Air Wireless Headphones

Design

The Aftershokz Air is the successor to the Aftershokz Titanium. While this was a first-debuted bone-conduction headphone, it lacked in many ways, design is one of them. The transducer is now smaller and rounder-sitting more comfortably on the cheekbone. There is an updated, slimmer titanium frame and wraparound.

The overall form factor is sleeker and sportier. It only weighs a little over an ounce and 20% lighter than its predecessor. There are volume control and power buttons on the right and a mute button on the left. They have tactile feedback and function as designed. Everything feels solid and tightly in place.

Comfort and fit

The Aftershokz air stands out, not only for its proprietary technology but for its design too. It’s compact and neatly hides behind your neck. This design ensures that the headset doesn’t move around, however active you get. Speaking of which, Aftershokz holds over 300 patents, some for design and proportions.

I’ll tell you for free that in or over-the-ear headphones are not exactly ideal with regards to health. Therefore, without any specs, the Aftershokz air is way cozier. It not only does away with intrusive in-ear buds but also with noise cancellation. You got that right. While other companies are trying to isolate you, Aftershokz makes you more situationally aware.

The titanium used on the frame and wraparound is fully adjustable. This allows you to position it as you like. The distribution of components such as the battery and processor also adds to improved comfort.

Sound

If you buy headphones solely based on sound quality, then you are in the wrong place. Bone-conduction technology is very different from traditional speaker technologies. While the Aftershokz air sounds great, it’s not as good as “traditional” headphones. That said, it’s built for specific audiences. Who, you ask?

People who want to hear their surroundings while listening to audio. This could be outdoor cyclists and runners. It’s also ideal for gym, commute, and office use. Note that the Aftershokz Air is miles away from the Titanium in terms of sound quality. It has an excellent frequency response and can now output real bass!

You may not want to crack these boys up to full volume. This is because of the ear-tickling sensation you’re likely to experience. Other than that, the sensation of listening with the Aftershokz Air is like no other. It’s almost like the music is inside your head, but then again you can still hear people conversing and cars hooting…

Dual noise-canceling microphones promote call clarity. Thanks to their ability to drown ambient noise so that you can hear your calls better. This feature automatically engages when you receive a call. Overall, if safety is your priority, then Aftershokz air will give you that plus some decent sound!

Controls

The Aftershokz air can be controlled via buttons or using your phone’s voice assistant. Aftershokz also comes with an in-built voice assistant, dubbed Audrey! The unit has volume, mute and multifunctional buttons. With these, you can execute 15 commands as shown in the table below:

 

BUTTON	GESTURE	CONTROL
Power	Press and hold for 3-5 seconds   Press and hold for 3-5 seconds Continue holding for 2-3 seconds after power on	Power on- Audrey says” welcome Bluez 2s   Power off- you’ll hear a descending tone  Puts device in pairing mode and the LED flashes red and blue- Audrey says “pairing”
Multifunction	Press once while a file is playing   Press once while a file is paused Double-click while a file is playing Click once while a call is coming in Hold for 2 seconds while a call is coming in Press and hold for 2 seconds  Double-click	Pause- you’ll hear 1 beep   Resume-you’ll hear 1 beep Skip to the next file- you’ll hear 1 beep Answer call-you’ll hear 1 beep Reject call-you’ll hear 1 beep Activate your voice assistant-Siri, google assistant, etc.  Redial last phone number- Audrey says “Last number redial”
Volume +	Press as you wish	Increase volume
Volume –	Press as you wish	Reduce volume
Volume + & Volume –	Hold” both simultaneously while on call   Hold” both simultaneously while on call Hold” both simultaneously for 2-3 seconds while music is playing	Mute mic- Audrey says “Mute on”   Unmute mic- Audrey says “Mute off” Change EQ setting- Audrey says “Equalization changed”

Battery life

The average battery life for most Bluetooth earbuds is about 5 hours. Like in the Airpods pro. The Aftershokz air lasts 6 hours on a single charge. This is not the best battery life but is still decent. It’s more than enough for working out but not ideal for full-day use. Aftershokz promises an hour of listening tie from 15 minutes of charging.

Note that the headphones are extremely lightweight. This had to cost some battery life. Regardless, you get to charge it with a micro USB cable, which is easier to find than the proprietary charging cable that comes with the Aftershokz Aeropex.

Connectivity

The Aftershokz air uses Bluetooth 4.2 to pair with your phone. The process is easy, stable, and reliable. The two transducers also get and remain in sync throughout your listening. If you have a later Bluetooth version on your phone, it will still work since Bluetooth is downwards-compatible.

Cons of the AfterShokz Trekz Air Headphones

Sound Quality

In simple terms, the Aftershokz Trekz air’s bone-conduction technology doesn’t match up to ordinary, similarly-priced wireless earbuds. However, their ability to keep you aware of your immediate environment makes up for this difference.

AfterShokz Trekz Air Wireless headphones Buyers Guide

1. Price

Wireless headphones can cost a lot. This mostly goes into sound quality, durability, and reliability. Well, the same is the case for bone conduction headphones. Although this space is relatively short of brands, the companies that do participate tend to sell premium products. And for a reason.

You see, bone conduction technology, by default, lags in terms of sound quality. Lowering the price means further doubling down on this weakness. So for most people, and as I would also advise, if you are switching to bone-conduction, then get the best product. This ensures that you get an experience as near as the raw, traditional buds would give.

2. Comfort and fit

There’s no question that bone conduction headphones are comfortable. However, slight alterations in the size, shape, weight, and positioning of buds do improve comfort levels. For instance, the Aftershokz titanium is less comfortable than the new Air model due to it’s larger size.

To get the best deal, get a pair of bone-conduction headphones that have a flexible frame, or at least, some form of adjustability around your neck. The wraparound band should also remain tension-free around the neck to prevent blood constriction. This may lead to unexplained fatigue.

With time, it’s best to learn the ideal volume setting for daily use. This ensures that you stay comfortable and avoid exhausting your ear.

3. Connectivity

Some bone conduction headphones like the Aftershokz titanium only play stored files via a microSD card. These are nice for swimming and other activities where it’s impossible to carry your phone. Otherwise, for regular use, I’d recommend picking up a pair that’s compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 or higher.

This ensures that you can enjoy more functionality of the headphones when paired with your smartphone. The headphones should also deliver clear connections and have minimal drop-offs!

4. Battery life

The question of battery life is non-negotiable when it comes to wireless headphones. Good battery life would vary from person to person. I tell people to specify what they want to do with the headphones to help pick the ideal battery life. Note that more stamina comes at a price- money, comfort, and utility.

Anything from 5 hours on a single charge is my cut off.  Check that the charging cable used is easily available, in case you lose it. Lastly, a bone-conduction headphone should recharge as quickly as possible. 2 hours is decent.

5. Sound Quality

A high-quality bone-conduction headphone should deliver good sound. This means that you should be able to hear all frequencies loud enough. While bass won’t be as pronounced as in “ traditional” headphones, you should still get it to some level. The frequency response of 20hz-20Khz is great although you can have more.

The microphone should be audible for call purposes. Noise cancellation during calls is a plus. Avoid maximum volume on your bone-conduction buds as it may trigger a tickling sensation.

Benefits of using AfterShokz Trekz Air Headphones

1. Free gel carry bag
2. Has a decent battery life
3. Repels moisture, sweat, and dust
4. Super lightweight and comfortable
5. Great audio quality between 20hz-20Khz
6. Keeps you safe by allowing you to hear your surroundings
7. Fits snuggly and stays in place during high-intensity activities
8. Made of durable titanium that is also fully flexible and can be oriented in any direction

What others are saying about the AfterShokz Trekz Air Headphones

After scouring the internet for user feedback on the Aftershokz Trekz Air wireless bone-conduction headphones, I found the general response to be rather positive. Here’s a snip of what some verified buyers had to say about the headsets:

One customer said:

Another customer said:

Another customer said:

3 Alternatives to the AfterShokz Trekz Air Headphones

1. EKEN Bone Conduction Headphones: lighter altenative, 4.5/5

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The Eken bone conduction headphones only weigh 0.88oZ. They are compact and well-built. With Bluetooth 5.0 compatibility, they can maintain more stable connections than the Bluetooth V4.0. The headphones are IP55 water and dust resistant. They charge up in 2 hours and deliver up to 6 hours of music listening/ 8 hours of a call.

Key features of the Eken bone conduction headphones

• Stable connectivity
• Excellent battery life
• Quick recharge times
• Water and dust-resistant
• Lightweight and comfortable

Notable differences between the Eken and Aftershokz Air bone conduction wireless headphones

1. Lighter
2. Cheaper
3. Has no noise cancellation

2. VIDONN Bone Conduction Headphones: Heavier Alternative, 4.5/5

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The Vidonn bone conduction headphones are very similar to the Aftershokz Air for more than half the price. They have a flexible titanium frame that allows for a custom fit. All connections are powered by a 200mAH battery that delivers up to 6 hours of listening time on a single charge.

It’s IP55 sweat-proof and comes with a 12-month warranty. It’s available in 3 colors-grey, blue and yellow. At only 1.3 ounces, these headphones are lightweight and comfortable to rock.

Key features of the VIDONN bone conduction headphones

• Lightweight
• Fully-adjustable
• 1-year warranty
• Decent battery life
• Water and dust resistant

Notable differences between the VIDONN and Aftershokz air bone conduction headphonesHeavier

1. Cheaper

3. Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones; Cheaper Alternative, 4.5/5

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These are Bluetooth 5.0 wireless bone conduction headphones that sound great for the price. They are best for people who want to try out bone conduction technology for the first time. You get a decent 6-hour battery life per charge. They sound and look great. I like their grey finish. They also fit comfortably on the cheekbone.

Key features of the Tayogo Bone conduction headphones Warranty

• Decent pricing
• Long standby time
• Seamless connectivity
• Great sound quality for both calls and music

Notable differences between the Tayogo and Aftershokz air bone conduction headphonesLighter

1. Cheaper
2. Lacks noise cancelation

Final Thoughts

Bone conduction headphones allow us the safety of being aware of our immediate environment while enjoying our audio files. They are comfortable to wear and have a generally rugged form factor. The Aftershokz Trekz Air is a terrific bone conduction headphone.

It has a strong, fully-adjustable titanium shell that is comfortable and safe on the ear and around the neck. It sounds great and offers stable Bluetooth connectivity. With decent battery life, water and sweat-resistance, it’s hard no to pick these up. I vote for them anytime.

Thanks for visiting us today. If you like this article, feel free to check out more great tech and fitness content on the size. As always, stay safe!

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