Embrace the Outdoor Adventures with Ultra-Open Bone conduction earbuds
Both ears open. Audio playing. The forest sounds clearly. The road hears you coming. The open-ear design that changes outdoor audio forever.
Embrace outdoor adventures with Ultra Open bone conduction earbuds
Bone conduction audio leaves both ears completely open. For runners, hikers, cyclists, and anyone training outdoors, this single design choice changes what wireless earbuds can do safely.
In-ear earbuds seal the ear canal and isolate the wearer from environmental sound. For outdoor activities, that isolation is a safety risk. Bone conduction earbuds solve this by transmitting audio through the cheekbones with the ear canal completely open. The Gibutech Ultra Open earbuds combine this design with IP55 weatherproofing and dual ENC mics for the full outdoor use case.
- Bone conduction audio: sound transmitted as vibrations through the cheekbones, leaving the ear canal completely open. You hear both your audio and your surroundings simultaneously.
- 16.2mm bio-cellulose drivers + Bluetooth 5.3: Hi-Fi stereo audio with virtually zero latency across a 10-metre range.
- IP55 weatherproof: rated against dust and water jets from any direction. Suitable for heavy rain, sweat-intensive workouts, and outdoor commutes.
- Dual ENC mics: environmental noise cancellation on the call microphone — crystal-clear voice quality during outdoor calls regardless of background noise.
There is a specific moment every outdoor runner knows. A car approaches from behind, the music is loud enough to carry, and you turn at the last second only because you happened to glance over your shoulder. In-ear earbuds make that moment more dangerous than it has to be. They seal the ear canal and isolate you from the sounds that matter for safety. Bone conduction earbuds rebuild outdoor audio from the opposite principle. The ear canal stays completely open. You hear your music and the world around you, simultaneously, at the same time, both fully audible. This is not a compromise. This is what outdoor audio should have always been.
Why are bone conduction earbuds safer for outdoor activities?
Ear canal blocked
Audio plays inside a sealed acoustic chamber. Environmental sounds are passively reduced by 15 to 30 dB depending on tip seal. Traffic, cyclists, runners behind you, and verbal warnings all attenuate significantly.
Ear canal open
Audio transmitted through cheekbone vibration. Environmental sounds reach the ear at full volume. You hear traffic, cyclists, verbal warnings, and trail sounds at the same time as your audio.
The Highway Code does not prohibit headphones while running, cycling, or walking on roads, but it specifies that pedestrians and cyclists should be aware of approaching vehicles. Open-ear bone conduction earbuds satisfy this requirement in a way that in-ear earbuds physically cannot, regardless of volume level or transparency mode settings.
What is bone conduction audio?
Conventional in-ear earbuds use a tiny driver to push air against the ear drum, which transmits vibration to the cochlea (inner ear). Bone conduction earbuds bypass the air-conduction pathway entirely. A transducer sits against the cheekbone in front of the ear and vibrates the bone directly. The vibration travels through the skull to the cochlea, which interprets it as sound. The ear drum and ear canal play no role in the process.
The practical consequences are three:
- The ear canal stays completely open. Air-conducted environmental sound reaches the cochlea normally, alongside the bone-conducted audio from the earbuds. The two are processed simultaneously.
- No ear fatigue from sealing pressure. Hours of in-ear use can cause ear canal soreness, pressure buildup, and listening fatigue. Bone conduction avoids the canal entirely, allowing all-day comfort.
- No risk of earwax buildup or hygiene issues. In-ear tips push earwax deeper and accumulate sweat and bacteria. Bone conduction transducers sit on the bone surface and clean with a wipe.
What are the specifications of the Gibutech Ultra Open earbuds?
Gibutech Ultra Open bone conduction earbuds
16.2mm bio-cellulose drivers · Bluetooth 5.3 · Dual ENC mics · IP55 weatherproof · 10m range · Open-ear bone conduction · Advanced polymer lithium-ion battery · £32.49
View product →Which outdoor activities benefit most from open-ear earbuds?
Road running
Hear approaching traffic from any direction. IP55 covers rain and sweat. Secure ear-hook fit stays in place at all paces, including downhills and surges. The 10-metre Bluetooth 5.3 range keeps audio stable with the phone in a running belt.
Trail and forest hiking
Hear wildlife, other hikers, and trail conditions. IP55 handles forest moisture and river crossings. Comfortable for full-day hikes without ear canal fatigue. Useful for navigation prompts while staying aware of surroundings.
Cycling and commuting
Critical for safety. Hear approaching vehicles, junctions, other cyclists, and verbal warnings. Helmet-compatible — the bone conduction transducer sits below typical helmet straps. UK Highway Code-compliant for audio while cycling.
Outdoor gym and HIIT
Hear instructor cues during group sessions. Comfortable across long workout sets. Dual ENC mics allow clear calls during cooldown without removing the earbuds. IP55 handles sweat-intensive training without compromise.
Dog walking and parks
Hear your dog, other walkers, and park sounds while enjoying audio. Open-ear design means you remain socially aware without constantly removing earbuds for interactions. All-day comfortable wear.
Outdoor work and gardening
Hear tools, machinery, and people calling. Useful for landscapers, gardeners, and anyone working outdoors who needs awareness of their environment while listening to audio or taking calls.
Ultra Open or AuraliX Sports — which Gibutech earbud is right?
Both are bone conduction earbuds. The right choice depends on the primary activity:
| Specification | Ultra Open (this article) | AuraliX Sports |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Land-based outdoor activities | Water sports and swimming |
| Weather rating | IP55 (rain, sweat, dust) | IPX7 (1m submersion 30 min) |
| Driver | 16.2mm bio-cellulose | Bone conduction Hi-Fi |
| Charging case | Standard charging case | 1,800 mAh power bank case |
| Total playtime | Full day + case top-ups | 80+ hours combined |
| UK price | £32.49 | See product page |
The Ultra Open is the everyday outdoor companion: running, hiking, cycling, gym, commuting. It is the earbud most outdoor users actually need at most times. The AuraliX Sports is the specialised tool for swimmers, watersports enthusiasts, and anyone who needs submersion-grade waterproofing. Both share the bone conduction design philosophy. Choose by the wettest activity in your routine.
The best outdoor earbud is the one that lets the outdoors in.
Audio that does not lock you out of where you are
Outdoor activities are valuable precisely because they are outdoor. The wind, the road, the trail, the conversations, the wildlife, the weather — these are not noise to be cancelled. They are the experience. The Gibutech Ultra Open bone conduction earbuds add audio to that experience without removing any part of the environment. At £32.49 with free UK delivery and IP55 weatherproofing, they are the everyday companion for everyone who runs, hikes, cycles, walks, or trains outdoors.
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SubscribeFrequently asked questions
Are bone conduction earbuds safe for outdoor running?
Yes, and they are widely recommended for it. Both ears remain open, allowing the runner to hear traffic, other runners, and environmental sounds. The Gibutech Ultra Open earbuds (£32.49) → add a secure ear-hook fit and IP55 rating for rain and sweat.
What is the difference between Ultra Open and AuraliX Sports earbuds?
The Ultra Open earbuds → are IP55 for land-based outdoor activities (running, hiking, cycling, gym). The AuraliX Sports earbuds → are IPX7 for swimming and water sports, with a 1,800 mAh power bank case and 80+ hour total playtime.
How does bone conduction audio work?
A transducer against the cheekbone vibrates the bone directly, transmitting sound to the cochlea without using the ear canal. Both ears remain open, so air-conducted environmental sound reaches the cochlea simultaneously. The user hears audio and surroundings at the same time.
Can I wear Ultra Open earbuds in the rain?
Yes. IP55 covers rain, heavy showers, sweat, and dust. For swimming or full submersion, choose the IPX7 AuraliX Sports →. For land-based outdoor use including wet weather, IP55 is the appropriate rating.
How long does the Ultra Open battery last?
A full day of use on a single charge with rapid recharging between sessions. The charging case extends playtime to multiple days of outdoor use. Bluetooth 5.3 low-energy operation contributes to the extended runtime.
- UK Highway Code, Rule 64 and Rule 134. Pedestrians and cyclists should be aware of vehicles and traffic at all times when using public roads.
- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60529, 2013. IP Code: degrees of protection provided by enclosures. IP55: dust-protected, water jets from any direction.
- Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Bluetooth Core Specification v5.3, 2021. Enhanced range, reduced latency, low-energy operation versus earlier versions.
- Audio Engineering Society (AES). "Bone conduction audio: physiological principles and audio quality." AES Technical Review, 2024.
- Product specifications sourced from Gibutech product pages at gibutech.co.uk as of June 2026.