I Tested Shokz OpenDots 2 For My "Me-Time" Routine

Me time looks different for all. For some it could be a walk alone, watching your favourite TV series uninterrupted or if you have little ones, even a shower in solitude. For me, there are two versions of “me-time” in my week and neither of them feel necessarily convenient or the ideal time— like most of us, they’re enmeshed in my weekly routine, that doesn’t leave much spare time.

There’s the dawn dog walk, two leads in one hand, the streets still dark most mornings, my brain not yet required to be anywhere and then there’s the evening run or gym session, squeezed in around 7 or 8pm once I’m finally off a train after a long day. And somewhere in the middle of the week, there’s also a group Pilates class, where the whole point isn’t disappearing at all — it’s staying present with the room, the instructor’s count, the person next to me.

For a long time, I treated these moments as needing completely separate needs and dressed my ears accordingly. Something big and bulky to block everything out during a commute, a more subtle option to stay aware for the dawn walk and something more performance-based for an evening run with a high BPM playlist blaring. And, if I’m honest, usually nothing at all for a group class, because the idea of wearing earbuds somewhere so social felt slightly rude.

It wasn’t until I started paying attention to my “me-time” routine that I realised I was juggling three types of earwear and that it was never really about the activity. It was about how much of the world I wanted let in — fully tuned out on a morning walk, half-there on the run, fully switched on in the room. Three different volumes of the same question: how present do I want to be right now?

This is where Shokz’s new OpenDots 2 came at the perfect time for me. The open-ear, clip-on earbud have just launched their next generation with richer bass, upgraded Dolby Audio, improved call quality and enhanced all-day comfort and I trialled them for my “me-time”.

Alone Mode

My morning walk with the dogs is fiercely protected. It’s the only 30 minutes of my day nobody needs me and I can listen or not listen to whatever I like. It’s where I want to fully immerse myself into a playlist or send voice note to my bestie with life’s updates. But “disconnecting” and “walking alone in the dark” don’t naturally go together, and I’ve often avoided plugging in at all for safety reasons, until now. OpenDots 2’s open-ear construction means you can hear your surroundings while still enjoying rich, detailed audio with its Bassphere 2.0 technology while MirrorPitch technology directs sound towards the ear for greater clarity, richer audio and a more immersive listening experience across music, podcasts and calls.

For those more ‘social moments’ whether it be at the gym, in a group class or even a run with a friend, wearing headphones of some sort felt rude until now. The OpenDots 2 allows me to stay switched on, in tune with instructors and people around me and the lightweight, clip-on style is discreet and comfortable for the sweatiest of work outs. If you want something even lighter for this exact scenario, it’s worth knowing Shokz has just launched OpenDots Air alongside OpenDots 2. At 6.3g a bud it’s their most lightweight clip-on yet, with up to 36 hours of battery with the case and in a Daybreak Purple colourway, they feel more like an accessory than gym kit.

*Shokz Ambassador and hybrid athlete, Veronica Shenton wears both the Shokz OpenDots Air in Daybreak Purple.*

They’re also, genuinely, the first earbuds I’ve forgotten I’m wearing. No cord to catch on equipment, nothing sitting inside my ear to fidget with — they clip on, sit close, and disappear visually too. Somewhere along the way I stopped thinking of these as “tech” at all. OpenDots 2 comes in Pearl White, Grey and Black are low-key enough for a work outfit but polished enough to pass as an ear cuff. Same pair, no swapping between “gym version” and “everyday wear version.”

In-Between Mode

My morning and evening commutes are long, so this tiny tech isn’t just for my weekly exercise routine. This is where I truly put them to the test, making sure they can help soften the morning train chatter and help me unwind in the evening. The best difference with the OpenDots 2 is the new and improved bone and air-conduction microphones, adaptive beamforming and AI-powered noise reduction which means I can be heard clearer, even in busy environments. Plus, the 10 hours of battery life (or 40 with case) and the reduced sound leakage, means no one can hear my bestie’s hours of dating stories.

They’re also my focus companion, allowing me to do deep work in the office or a café but still being able to catch a conversation quickly. OpenDots 2 also introduces new force sensor controls, allowing me to quickly adjust my music or take a quick call with simple pinch and hold gestures.

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What surprised me most after weeks of wearing OpenDots 2 wasn’t just the sound quality for such discreet buds. It was realising I didn’t need to choose between switching off and staying switched on. They allow my mornings to be peaceful, my group workouts effective and alert and my commutes the ultimate wind down—I can switch off without switching off.

Purchase now on the official Shokz website and receive a limited-edition ear accessory or earbuds case as a gift with purchase.

Use code [MARIECLAIRE] to purchase OpenDots 2 or OpenDots Air before Sep 23 2026 and one winner will have the chance to get one pair for free. The winner will be notified by email by 1st Oct. 2026. Follow @shokzaunz on IG&FB for more music and lifestyle inspirations.