Taking a walk or run outdoors as a woman in a city as unyielding as New York City requires a bit of distrust and attention to detail. Does your cell phone have more than half a charge left? How much daylight do I have? Do I know which way to look at every intersection I pass? Do these pants have pockets for pepper spray?

I've heard enough stories to know that paying attention to my surroundings is not an option. So I don't use headphones unless I'm going to a park or a dedicated running route by the water for a workout. And even then, the best noise-canceling headphones are usually no good unless they offer a solid clarity mode.

The first time I tried bone-conduction headphones was when I replaced my AirPods Pro for running. At the time, the Shokz OpenRun (formerly AfterShokz Aeropex) headphones were impressive thanks to their secure fit. Running on the track in my parents' quiet suburban neighborhood, I couldn't shake off or loosen the OpenRun headphones.

My only complaint was sound quality. The bone-conduction headphones didn't sound as good as the best wireless earbuds in my collection, because they play music by vibrating the cheekbones rather than the ear canals. So, as I traversed my own street in New York City, I found OpenRun to be an unworthy accompaniment to my hot-girl walking (see: definition).

Later, after a close friend called to tell me that a stranger had chased her while running not far from her apartment, but luckily she was safe in a clothing store with security, I left my headphones at home altogether. She was listening to loud music through her earphones and did not notice the bad guy who followed her for several blocks.

In a survey conducted by Runner's World, 60% of women said they had been harassed while running. I have not had the same horrific experience as my friend, but I have heard some creepy comments while out there trying out exercises.

I don't think I feel an abundant sense of safety when I am exercising outside alone in the city. Of course, the solution would be for men to stop harassing women. But in the meantime, my health still depends on my attention span, and I have finally found headphones that sound great and do not interfere with my awareness of my surroundings. [It's a step up from the OpenRun headset called the Shokz OpenRun Pro. This pair has noticeably better bass and microphone quality, so my tunes sound powerful and I can actually make phone calls; for the Shokz OpenRun Pro review, I wore this headset on a walk to Central Park, listening to traffic and other ambient sounds while I wanted to see if I could workout while listening to music. I could.

I'm not saying that the open-ear design of bone-conduction headphones makes women feel less threatened when running outside, but I now believe that some of the best sports headphones are better suited for women than others. with the OpenRun Pro, I can listen to soundtracks I can enjoy exercising in the fresh air while listening to a soundtrack, and I can be sure I'll hear what I need to hear. Sure, they may not look as sleek as AirPods, but aesthetics don't matter when my safety is a concern. That said, it doesn't stop me from carrying around a pepper spray in a sparkly case.