There are many truly wireless headphones on the market, but few can claim to be as unique as the new Bose Sport Open headphones. They’re IPX4 rated, can last 8 hours of battery life on a single charge – and have virtually no skin contact while sitting above ear and allowing listeners to remain aware of their surroundings in a way that virtually no other listener can.

According to Bose, the buds gently grip the outer ridge of the ear in order to stay locked in place without the need for an in-ear tip. There is also no compression or vibration, as they do not use the same audio delivery methods as bone conduction headphones. Instead, each bud uses “a small dipole transducer placed and positioned for a loud, clear personal sound that stays in the ear.” This should make them perfect for listening to music, podcasts, and more while staying alert during daily activities and workouts. This idea of ​​channeling audio a short distance from your ear is also something we’ve seen in Bose Frames.

The open button design reminds me of an old-fashioned bluetooth earphone.

The Bose Sport open ear headphones have simple control buttons that allow quick access to common tasks like skipping songs or calling your voice assistant. With an IPX4 water resistance rating, these should be prepared to handle sweaty workouts and jogging sessions in the rain. And thanks to an etched antenna and Bluetooth 5.1, the connection looks like it should be strong and reliable as well. The headphones are compatible with Android and iOS, with an app to control and customize sound settings.

Bose’s new buds are available for pre-order today from the manufacturer’s website and Best Buy for around $ 200. They are expected to start shipping to consumers later this month.