The Shokz OpenRun Pro are TechRadar’s new top-rated running headphones

The Shokz OpenRun Pro have just taken the number one spot in our roundup of the best running headphones, and for good reason. These are headphones that prove you don't have to choose between sound quality and safety when you're hitting the trail or the pavement with your favorite tunes or podcasts – you can enjoy the best of both.

We love running here at TechRadar, and we're always excited to put a new set of headphones to the test. While some team members prefer running with noise-cancelling headphones that allow them to block out distractions and get into the zone, others prefer the spatial awareness you get with a bone conduction headset.

In the gym, you might want to totally muffle the club's choice of music and the sound of people dropping weights, but when you're running outdoors it's wise to stay aware of potential hazards like cyclists, cars, animals, and other pedestrians. Most noise-cancelling headphones has a ‘transparency' mode that picks up these ambient noises and mixes it in with your music, which is great, but means it's not possible to tell exactly where the sound is coming from. You may be able to tell whether a siren is coming from the left or right, but is in in front of you, or behind?

Bone conduction headphones transmit sound to your auditory nerve by sending vibrations through your cheekbones, leaving your ear canals open. Cranking the volume right up will obscure your hearing, but if you keep your soundtrack at a reasonable level, you'll still be able to hear exactly what's happening around you and, importantly, where.

Move to the beat