If you want better Charging
Choose H2O Audio TRI 2 PRO Headphones. It scores 4.2 vs 2.0 for Charging, with a 3.6 overall score.
H2O Audio Tri Run Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for secure, featherlight open-ear fit, excellent rain and sweat protection, and simple controls. Skip it if you want strong bass, reliable outdoor call quality, long battery life, USB-C charging, or the best performance near $100.
Best for
Runners and cyclists who prioritize awareness, a secure featherlight fit, strong rain and sweat protection, and simple physical controls. It is especially suitable for podcasts and spoken audio when $99 is a firm ceiling.
Not for
Bass-focused listeners, frequent outdoor callers, swimmers, and athletes who need phone-free playback or more than about six hours per charge should look elsewhere. It also lacks USB-C, app controls, and EQ adjustment.
Verdict
The Tri Run gets the athletic fundamentals right: it is exceptionally light, usually comfortable, secure during running and cycling, easy to control, and protected well against sweat and rain. Its open-ear design also preserves the environmental awareness many outdoor athletes want. The compromise is performance. Most reviewers found the sound merely acceptable, with weak or muddy bass, reduced audibility in wind and traffic, and noticeable cheek vibration near maximum volume. Call quality also drew sharp criticism outdoors. Battery life lands around five to six hours, and the proprietary USB-A charging cable feels dated without quick charging. At a strict $99 ceiling, the simple design can make sense, especially for podcasts and spoken audio. Several reviewers, however, felt a modest extra spend buys substantially better sound, battery life, fit options, and overall value.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
37 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.012 (32%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.47 (19%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.46 (16%)
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Negative 1.5-2.48 (22%)
-
Very negative below 1.54 (11%)
Pros
-
Open-ear awareness is a standout strength. Traffic, other people, and surrounding activity remain audible, making the headset especially suitable for outdoor running and cycling.
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IPX8 protection is one of the strongest features, giving broad confidence against heavy sweat, rain, and rinsing. The rating does not make Bluetooth playback usable underwater.
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The low weight is a major advantage, with several wearers barely noticing the headset once it was on. Evenly distributed weight helps it stay comfortable during extended exercise.
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Stability is excellent for most runners and cyclists, including uneven trails and intense sessions. Head shape and high collars can still affect how securely the neckband sits.
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Most wearers found the headset extremely light and comfortable for long runs, rides, and hour-plus sessions. The neckband and cheek transducers remain subjective, especially with certain head shapes, hair, collars, or piercings.
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The flexible silicone and rubberized construction feels light yet sturdy rather than cheap. Coatings held up during testing, and the frame was repeatedly described as dependable for active use.
Cons
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Standard USB-C charging is missing. The proprietary cable and USB-A end feel dated and add another accessory to keep track of.
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Low-end performance is the clearest audio weakness: bass is usually described as light, muddy, or missing impact. A few tracks retained audible bass lines, but dense music and windy conditions exposed the limitation.
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There is no onboard storage, so playback depends on a phone or connected watch. That prevents underwater listening and true phone-free use, though it matters less for athletes who already carry a connected device.
-
The sound is fixed out of the box because no EQ tools are provided. Listeners who dislike the stock tuning have no way to correct the weak bass or grainy treble.
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Charging works, but the proprietary four-pin cable, USB-A connection, and lack of quick charging are frequent frustrations. Losing the cable can create an inconvenient replacement problem.
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Call performance is inconsistent and often poor outdoors. Two callers heard fuzzy, distant, or underwater-sounding speech, although another listener considered the headset suitable for calls and spoken voices.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Open-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Firmware/audio stability, Water/sweat resistance rating, Clamping force comfort, near average in Button control usability, Android compatibility, below average in USB-C, Microphone noise reduction, Equalizer customization.
Comparison summary
34 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher11 (32%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts8 (24%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower15 (44%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-C | 1.2 | 4.4 | -3.2 |
| Microphone noise reduction | 1.0 | 4.1 | -3.1 |
| Equalizer customization | 1.0 | 3.8 | -2.8 |
| Firmware/audio stability | 5.0 | 2.4 | +2.6 |
| Customer support | 1.0 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
| Charging | 2.0 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| Multipoint connectivity reliability | 2.3 | 4.3 | -2.1 |
| Microphone quality for calls | 2.0 | 3.9 | -1.9 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Customer support
Choose EarFun Clip 2. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for Customer support, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better Equalizer customization
Choose Shokz OpenFit Pro. It scores 4.7 vs 1.0 for Equalizer customization, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Microphone noise reduction
Choose Cleer ARC 5. It scores 4.6 vs 1.0 for Microphone noise reduction, with a 4.5 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: swimming playback The Tri 2 Pro is the recommended same-brand option for swimming.
- More expensive: onboard playback Spending more adds onboard Bluetooth memory for phone-free use.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
- Better: overall running experience The reviewer considers the pricier Pro model worth the extra spend for serious runners.
- Compared: weight The Tri Run is only slightly heavier, which the reviewer still considers a good result.
- Better: sound and battery life The Shokz option reaches a higher level of sound and battery performance.
Shokz OpenRun
- Compared: battery life and water resistance Shokz runs longer, while the Tri Run carries the stronger waterproof rating.
- Better: fit, sound, and battery life A modestly higher price buys a more complete fit, sound, and battery experience.
- Better: battery life The Shokz model adds two hours of rated runtime.
FAQ
Can I swim with the H2O Audio Tri Run?
No. IPX8 protection handles sweat, rain, and water exposure, but Bluetooth does not work underwater and the headset has no onboard storage.
Is the fit secure and comfortable for running?
Usually yes. Most testers found it light, comfortable, and stable even on uneven trails, though head shape, hair, high collars, and the neckband style can affect fit.
How does the sound quality compare with other workout headphones?
Voices, podcasts, and lighter pop are generally clear, but bass is weak and layered music can sound muddy. Wind and traffic also make the limited output more noticeable.
Is it good for phone calls?
Call quality is inconsistent. Two outdoor tests produced fuzzy, distant, or underwater-sounding speech with poor wind handling, while one reviewer found calls acceptable.
How long does the battery last?
Expect roughly five to six hours in typical use, especially when volume is high. Charging uses a proprietary four-pin cable with USB-A, and there is no quick-charge mode.
Does it have an app, EQ, storage, or multipoint?
It has no companion app, EQ adjustment, or onboard storage. Multipoint pairing was unavailable or could not be established in testing.
Is it worth $99?
It can be a sensible choice when $99 is a hard limit and weather protection matters most. Several testers felt that spending a little more brings noticeably better sound, battery life, and overall refinement.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
road.cc
The H2O Audio TRI Run open-ear bone conduction headphones are the entry point in the American headphone manufacturer’s bone conduction line...
- Review score
- 2.2
tomsguide.com
H2O Audio TRI Run are secure, lightweight, and comfortable bone conduction headphones, perfect for those who take exercise more seriously...
- Review score
- 3.3
wired.com
H2O Audio’s stab at a sub-$100 pair of bone conduction workout headphones just misses the mark.
- Review score
- 3.5
active.com
Discover the features, benefits, and safety of the H2O Audio Tri Run headphones. Learn how they compare to the TRI Pro 2 for runners and...
- Review score
- 4.8
theruntesters.com
Disclaimer: The Run Testers sometimes use affiliate links. This means that we may receive payment if you buy products on our website or...
- Review score
- 4.0
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