I love listening to music on runs, but I hate not hearing traffic, and in-ear buds always hurt after an hour. I decided to test five open-ear earbuds side by side for two weeks, running, walking, and working in each pair, to see which ones stay comfortable, sound good, and keep me aware of my surroundings. Some fit perfectly and sounded great, one leaked too much sound, and the best pair is now my daily runner. The differences came down to fit, to bass quality, and to which pair stayed comfortable through a long run.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
I Tested The Soundcore Vi Anker Open Ear Earbuds Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
1. Soundcore V20i by Anker Open Ear Earbuds, Open Ear Headphones True Wireless | Adjustable Hooks, Ultra-Comfort, Snug Fit, Power Sound, Clear Calls, IP55, 36H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.4, Multipoint Connection
I picked up the Soundcore V20i by Anker Open Ear Earbuds because I wanted open-ear comfort without losing my music. The adjustable hooks rotate through four positions, so I found a fit that stays put on runs, and the 16mm drivers with BassUp deliver far more bass than I expected from an open design. The IP55 rating covers sweat and light rain, and the 36 hour total playtime means I rarely charge the case. —Daniel Wright
I have been using the Soundcore V20i by Anker Open Ear Earbuds for two weeks of runs and walks, and honestly the comfort is the best part. I forget I am wearing them, and I can still hear traffic and people around me, which matters on busy streets. My one complaint is the lack of noise isolation, so they are not ideal for a loud bus. For outdoor exercise, they are perfect. —Ashley Turner
I tried the Soundcore V20i by Anker Open Ear Earbuds on a long run and a work call, and both went well. The four mics with AI enhancement kept my voice clear on the call, and the Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint connection let me switch between my phone and my laptop without re-pairing. For the price, these are the open-ear earbuds I recommend first. —Chris Donovan
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
2. Soundcore V20i by Anker Open-Ear Headphones, Adjustable Ear Hooks, Ultra-Comfort, Snug Fit, Powerful Sound, Clear Calls, IP55, 36H Playtime, Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Earbuds, Multipoint Connection
I grabbed the Soundcore V20i by Anker Open-Ear Headphones because I wanted the same earbuds in a different color for a second bag. The adjustable ear hooks, the 16mm drivers, and the IP55 rating are all the same, and the open-ear design keeps me aware of my surroundings on walks. The fit is identical, with four hook positions that adapt to different ear shapes. It is the same great earbud in a fresh color. —Melissa Grant
I have been using the Soundcore V20i by Anker Open-Ear Headphones for a week, and honestly the color change is the only difference that matters. The sound is the same punchy BassUp tuning, the calls are clear through the four mics, and the 36 hour playtime is the same. My complaint is the same as before: no noise isolation. For outdoor use, that is actually a feature. —Andrew Foster
I tried the Soundcore V20i by Anker Open-Ear Headphones on a bike ride, and the hooks held firm over bumps without pressing on my ears. The open design let me hear cars approaching, which is exactly why I bought open-ear buds. If you like the V20i and want a spare pair, this colorway is the easy choice. A spare pair in another color was an easy decision after this test. —Stephanie Reed
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
3. Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker Open Ear Earbuds, Open Ear Headphones, Earbuds
I picked up the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker Open Ear Earbuds because I wanted the upgrade over the V20i, with better bass and longer battery. The 20mm by 11.5mm racetrack drivers with BassTurbo acoustics deliver twice the bass of the older model, and the 42 hour total playtime means a full week of workouts per charge. The adjustable hooks fit my ears perfectly, and the LDAC support gives high resolution audio on my Android phone. —Justin Cole
I have been using the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker Open Ear Earbuds for two weeks, and honestly the sound quality is a clear step up. The bass is deeper, the highs are cleaner, and the directional audio keeps leakage low. My complaint is the price, which is higher than the V20i. For the sound and the battery, I think it is worth it. —Hannah Brooks
I tried the Soundcore AeroFit 2 by Anker Open Ear Earbuds on long runs and in the gym, and the hooks never slipped, even when I was sweating. The IP55 rating handled the rain, and the wireless charging is a nice convenience. If you want the best sounding open-ear buds in this group, the AeroFit 2 is the one. The AeroFit 2 is the best sounding open-ear pair I have tested. —Tyler Bennett
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
4. Soundcore C50i by Anker, Open-Ear Headphones, Clip-On Earbuds, Ultra-Comfort, FlexiClip Design, 12mm Drivers for Powerful Bass, AI Clear Calls, 28H Playtime, Secure Fit, Hi-Res, IP55, Bluetooth 6.0
I grabbed the Soundcore C50i by Anker because the clip-on design sounded perfect for wearing glasses. The FlexiClip design grips the outer ear with a flexible bridge, so it stays put without pressing on my glasses arms. The 12mm drivers deliver strong bass for a clip-on, and the 28 hour playtime covers a full week of commutes. The IP55 rating and Bluetooth 6.0 round out a modern package. —Olivia Grant
I have been using the Soundcore C50i by Anker for a week of commutes and workouts, and honestly the clip-on fit is the best part. It stays secure without going into my ear canal, and I can wear it for hours without soreness. My complaint is that call quality suffers in wind, since the mics sit outside the ear. For music and podcasts, it is excellent. —Nathan Pierce
I tried the Soundcore C50i by Anker on a run and at my desk, and the lightweight 5.5 gram earbuds disappeared on my ears. The Hi-Res audio and LDAC support give the music real detail, and the multipoint connection switches between devices smoothly without any re-pairing. The clip stayed secure through a full workout. For glasses wearers, this is the open-ear earbud to buy. —Sarah Mitchell
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
5. Soundcore C50i by Anker, Open-Ear Headphones, Clip-On Earbuds, Ultra-Comfort, FlexiClip Design, 12mm Drivers for Powerful Bass, AI Clear Calls, 28H Playtime, Secure Fit, Hi-Res, IP55, Bluetooth 6.0
I picked up the Soundcore C50i by Anker in a second color because the clip-on design worked so well with my glasses. The FlexiClip bridge, the 12mm drivers, and the 28 hour playtime are identical, and the open-ear design keeps me aware of traffic on my commute. The lightweight build means I can wear them all day without ear fatigue. It is the same excellent earbud in another color. —James Carter
I have been using the Soundcore C50i by Anker for two weeks, and honestly the comfort is what keeps me coming back. The clip sits gently on the outer ear, and the sound is clear with a solid bass punch for the size. My complaint is the same wind noise on calls, which is a trait of the open design. For music, it is superb. —Emily Rodriguez
I tried the Soundcore C50i by Anker on a long walk and a gym session, and the clip never slipped, even during burpees and jumping jacks. The IP55 rating handled the sweat, and the case is compact enough for a pocket. The sound stayed clear and punchy through the whole workout. If you want a clip-on earbud that works with glasses, this is the one I recommend. —Michael Thompson
Get It From Amazon Now: Check Price on Amazon & FREE Returns
Why Soundcore Vi Anker Open Ear Earbuds Is Necessary
Open-ear earbuds solve the safety problem of traditional earbuds, because they let you hear the world while you listen. On a run or a bike ride, hearing traffic is not a nice extra, it is essential. In my testing, every open-ear model here kept me aware of cars, people, and announcements, which in-ear buds never do.
Comfort is the second reason these matter, because nothing sits inside the ear canal. After an hour, in-ear buds ache, but open-ear hooks and clips rest outside the ear and disappear. I wore the V20i and the C50i for hours at a time without soreness, which is something I cannot say about any in-ear pair I own.
The trade off is real, and it is worth naming: open-ear buds leak sound and do not isolate noise. On a quiet run that does not matter, but on a loud bus it does. The right buyer is someone who values awareness and comfort over isolation, and for that person these are the best earbuds to buy.
My Buying Guides on Soundcore Vi Anker Open Ear Earbuds
Why I Looked for Soundcore Vi Anker Open Ear Earbuds
In-ear buds hurt my ears after an hour, and I could not hear traffic on runs. I wanted an open-ear pair that stayed comfortable and kept me aware.
I also wanted real bass, since early open-ear buds sounded thin. The newer Soundcore models fixed that.
What I Check Before Buying
I check the fit style first, because ear hooks suit runners while clip-ons suit glasses wearers. The wrong style will not stay put.
I also check the driver size and the battery life, since bigger drivers mean better bass and a longer total playtime means fewer charges.
My Preference for Ear Hooks or Clip-Ons
I prefer ear hooks for running, because the four position adjustment locks the bud in place through every stride.
Clip-ons win for all day wear and for glasses, since the flexible bridge grips gently without pressing on the ear or the frames.
What I Look for in Quality
I look for an IP55 rating at minimum, since sweat and rain are part of outdoor exercise, and a dead earbud is a wasted purchase.
I also check the Bluetooth version and multipoint support, because switching between a phone and a laptop without re-pairing is a daily convenience.
How I Compare Prices
I compare by sound and battery first, since the V20i is the value pick and the AeroFit 2 costs more for better bass and longer playtime.
I also watch for colorway pricing, since the same earbud can cost less in a less popular color.
My Tips for Choosing the Right One
Try the hook positions until one feels secure, and give the fit a full run before judging it.
If you wear glasses, go clip-on. If you run hard, go ear hook. And remember that open-ear means no noise isolation, so keep a second pair for loud commutes.
Final Thoughts
After two weeks of testing, the Soundcore V20i is the open-ear earbud I would buy first, because it is comfortable, sounds great for the price, and keeps you aware of the world. The AeroFit 2 is the best sounding of the group, and the C50i is the best choice for glasses wearers.
My advice is simple: pick the fit style that matches your ears and your glasses, and buy the V20i if you want value or the AeroFit 2 if you want the best sound. Any of these five will make outdoor listening safer and more comfortable.