If you’ve never worn bone conduction headphones, it’s a pretty interesting experience. Instead of traditional speakers, bone conduction uses methodically placed nodes that sit along your jaw and facial bones. The nodes pulsate and the vibrations travel back to your ears in the form of sound waves. Honestly, it seems to work like magic, and while there are several bone conduction brands to choose from today, a company called Shokz (formerly AfterShokz) has been perfecting bone conduction technology for some time.
Shokz is owned by Shenzhen Voxtech Co., Ltd., a Chinese acoustic technology company. Most of the brand’s headset production takes place in Shenzhen, China, with a few select products in Vietnam (confirmed on Reddit). Larger parent company Voxtech, founded in 2001, originally produced two-way radio headsets for the military, law enforcement and sports broadcasters. It was only in 2012 that Voxtech, under its AfterShokz label, launched its first consumer product: the Shokz Bluez.
The Shokz headphones are actually housed under a separate Voxtech sub-label: Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd. To make things even more confusing, the AfterShokz consumer brand didn’t surface until 2011, and in Syracuse, New York, of all places. This is where Shokz’s headquarters were located until moving to Austin, Texas in 2020.
Shokz’s humble beginnings led to industry influence
As of 2026, Shokz is still commanded by its founders: Ken Chen, Chen Hao and Qi Xin. Over the past few years, Shokz has become almost synonymous with bone conduction technology and other open-ear audio devices. Some of the company’s most popular products include OpenFit Pro, OpenFit 2, and OpenRun Pro 2, none of which involve any type of in-ear fitting.
One of the main benefits of bone conduction headphones is that they allow you to hear ambient noise because there is literally nothing to seal or cover your ears. This makes it a great choice for outdoor workouts, and models like the OpenRun Pro 2 even include dust and water resistance (they’re IP55 certified). Many Shokz products also have built-in microphones for taking calls, which use wind reduction and other noise-isolating technologies to keep your voice crisp and clear.
Voxtech has definitely started a movement. These days, everyone from Bose and Raycon to Walmart’s house brand Onn makes one or more bone conduction, open-ear products. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for a great pair of clip-on earbuds (meaning they literally clip onto the cartilage in your ear), look no further than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.
