There is always a moment in every athlete’s life when the universe nudges you in a direction you swore you were not ready to face again.

Mine arrived softly, almost shyly, in the form of a date circled on my calendar: Spartan Trail 50K. The last piece of my so-called “Trailfecta.” It stared back at me like an old friend I loved deeply and feared at the same time.

I had conquered the 10K and the 21K earlier in the year. They felt like small victories; reminders of who I used to be. Yet beneath them lingered a shadow from a different mountain range. A memory from the Cordilleras that still pricked at my ribs.

The kind of memory where you fight for your life. You survive, but a part of you walks away shaken. And for a long while, I thought that version of me was gone.

Then one day, on an ordinary afternoon, a package arrived at my doorstep: the Shokz OpenFit 2+. They rested inside the box like a whisper from the universe saying, “You want a comeback. Take the first step.” And so I did.

Resting gently on your ears

I grew up in the world of open-ear audio. Not literally, of course, but you know what I mean.

After four years of living an endurance athlete’s life, open-ear earbuds became less of a gadget and more of a ritual. They were the pre-run talisman I reached for before lacing my shoes. The companion waiting for me beside my hydration pack.

It’s the one constant that never complained whenever I trained in places that didn’t always feel safe.

Most tech journalists don’t understand these ear-shaped talismans. They look at the Shokz OpenFit 2+ and frown like it is abstract art they didn’t sign up to interpret.

“It’s strange,” they say. “It’s odd.” And maybe it is. But it only seems odd when you do not spend your hours running through cities and trails, weaving through traffic, or lifting in gyms where someone is always dropping a dumbbell somewhere near your foot.

For me, the OpenFit 2+ felt natural. Familiar. Like another part of my training routine that never asked for attention yet always showed up for the work.

They sit on your ears the same way confidence sits on you after a successful training block: quietly, but securely.

There was no pinching or awkward reshuffling mid-run. No pressing against your skin when sweat turns your face into a waterfall.

With open-ear earbuds, awareness becomes part of the soundtrack. You hear your playlist, and you hear the city. You hear your breath, and you hear the wind. In my experience, I have become more connected to my run, not less. That is why athletes like me gravitate toward them.

They do not isolate you from the world. They teach you how to move through it mindfully.

Weightless enough to forget

Compared to the other open-ear companions I have worn —  JBL Soundgear Sense and Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo — the OpenFit 2+ felt almost unreal. So light it made me question physics.

They disappeared on my ears in the same magical way race-day nerves disappear once your feet start moving. One step, two steps, breathe, and suddenly your mind remembers what your body is built for.

The comfort surprised me. When training gets intense, everything on your body begins to irritate you. Your shirt scratches. Your watch strap sticks to your skin.

Even your hydration vest becomes a test of patience. Yet the OpenFit 2+ stayed soft, even during the sweatiest sessions. Their ultra-soft silicone 2.0 material feels like it was designed by someone who has actually suffered through humid outdoor runs.

The nickel-titanium hooks mold themselves to your ears like muscle memory. They adapt to you without asking you to adapt to them.

During my long solo runs — and these truly are solo because I can’t stand running with a group — the OpenFit 2+ stayed with me. They stayed in place through deadlifts at Anytime Fitness during peak hours in the evening.

They stayed with me through slow, frustrating MotoTaxi rides, where your only job is to survive the traffic and not lose your patience. And then one day, they didn’t.

The heartbreak of losing one half of a perfect pair

I had finished a long ride on a MotoTaxi. I removed my helmet and felt a strange lightness on my right ear. Not the peaceful kind. The “something-is-missing” kind.

My right OpenFit 2+ had fallen somewhere along the way. I retraced my steps like a detective in running shorts. I scanned the pavement, checked the corners, and prayed it had simply slipped somewhere. But… nothing.

And to make things worse, the battery had already died. The app could not reconnect. My tracking option was gone. The trail had gone cold.

The loss felt strange. Not dramatic, but emotionally inconvenient. Like when you lose a water bottle on a long run and pretend you don’t care until you realize you’ll think about it for days.

I tried other earbuds the next morning. It felt wrong and empty, so I got a new pair. Sometimes, we do not choose our attachments. They choose us.

Long runs and long hours

People imagine endurance athletes as superhumans, but the truth is we spend half our lives managing energy. Training teaches you that effort is currency. You cannot spend it carelessly.

Which is why I appreciated the OpenFit 2+ battery life more than I expected. My usage pattern is predictable. I run, work out, commute, and move between meetings. And still, it takes me a full week before the earbuds reach zero and ask for mercy.

Each pair lasts up to 11 hours of playtime. With the case, you get around two days, sometimes more. It reminded me of how endurance athletes stretch every calorie on race day.

Efficiency becomes instinct. You learn to conserve and push only when needed. The OpenFit 2+ works the same way. They’re generous with energy when you ask for it, and thoughtful when you don’t.

My only real gripe is a funny one. When the earbuds are inside the closed case, my iPhone sometimes decides it is still connected.

Imagine scrolling through TikTok and hearing nothing, only to realize your earbuds are quietly vibing inside the case. Not ideal, but manageable.

But every morning, they connect quickly. I leave the house, play “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado, and let myself strut down the hallway like it’s a runway disguised as daily life.

A soundtrack that made the miles feel lighter

The best thing about the OpenFit 2+ is not the volume, or the clarity, or the surprisingly balanced bass. It is the feeling it gives you.

At moderate volume, the audio wraps itself around your day like a soundtrack in a coming-of-age movie about an endurance athlete with questionable life choices and a stubborn heart.

My Spotify algorithm is as messy as my mind. Show tunes. Rock. Lofi beats. Taylor Swift. Ariana Grande. Olivia Rodrigo. Olivia Dean. Sabrina Carpenter.

It is a circus, and yet the OpenFit 2+ handles everything like a concert.

Running with them feels like training inside a music video. The world stays audible, but your flow becomes heightened. You can hear the cars, the dogs, the wind, your breath, and still lose yourself in the melody because it frames the run without overwhelming it.

Turning the volume too high can sound cranky, but this is not the device for noise cancellation addicts. This is for runners. Lifters. Commuters. People who need to stay present.

And when it comes to calls, the OpenFit 2+ performs better than many in-ears. I once attended a meeting while running — yes, running — and no one noticed the traffic, the footsteps, or my heavy breathing.

My colleagues said the audio was clean. Maybe they were not paying attention. Maybe the noise-cancelling mics are that good. Either way, I survived both the meeting and the run.

Tools that stay out of your way

The Shokz app is simple enough to complement your routine without distracting you.

You can adjust EQ, customize button controls, switch between Bass Boost or Vocal mode, or toggle Dolby Audio when you want your life to feel cinematic.

Multipoint pairing is smooth, especially when switching between a smartphone and a smartwatch. But the true beauty of the app is that it never feels like homework.

With the OpenFit 2+, life always comes first, music second. It becomes the soundtrack of grocery runs, slow walks, errands, and morning routines.

You start to feel like the protagonist of a charming 90’s romcom wandering through cobblestone streets even when you are just crossing the street to buy electrolytes.

Is the Shokz OpenFit 2+ your GadgetMatch?

The Shokz OpenFit 2+ is not for everyone.

Open-ear earbuds require a lifestyle that benefits from awareness and movement. If you stay indoors or prefer complete isolation, you will not enjoy them. You may even find them strange, like many do at first glance.

If you want awareness but in a different form, the Shokz OpenDots One might suit you. It clips onto your ear like jewelry and offers a similar open-ear experience. If that is the vibe you are leaning toward, it is time to Swipe Left.

The OpenFit 2+ is for people like me. The ones who train and the ones who move. The ones who sweat through sessions and still have a full day ahead of them.

It is for people who want comfort, durability, awareness, and audio that levels up their way of life. Sounds like you? Then it’s a Swipe Right.

At PhP 11,990, it feels like a steal when you consider how much higher other open-ear wearables cost for similar quality. For me, it is a Super Swipe. It earns the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

More importantly, it has earned a place in my life longer than any other open-ear earbuds I have owned. Long enough that when I lost one pair, I got another. That alone tells the full story. You know it: This is my GadgetMatch of the year.

There are days when running feels like a routine and there are mornings when it feels like a gift.

The HUAWEI Active Rings Fun Run landed perfectly on one of those good mornings. I woke up before the sun, optimistically laced my shoes, and took my place at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, where a thousand runners gathered with the same intention.

Everyone wanted to move with purpose and enjoy a moment that centered on fitness and a little glow from our smartwatches.

Finding my rhythm with my Active Rings

HUAWEI partnered with RUNRIO and a full roster of lifestyle staples like GCash, Shopee, Nature’s Spring, and URC. It created a space that felt alive even before anyone started running.

There were giant inflatables, interactive photo walls, and booths with snacks and hydration that framed the Race Village.

When the run began, the energy pushed me forward. The seaside breeze reminded me why I loved running outside. HUAWEI designed this event for their community of users and I felt that intention with every step.

It felt easy to check my stats and stay on pace because the watch tracked everything that mattered without distracting me.

I was inspired when seasoned runners passed me by, whereas some of them would later claim the top spots. The runners around me boosted me with energy that I wanted to match. They were competitive in a way that felt inspiring.

The little moments that made the morning sweeter

After crossing the finish line, I wandered around the Race Village again. I watched runners take photos with their medals and chat with friends they made during the route.

The GCash Watch Pay booth became unexpectedly helpful for a lot of participants. It let everyone bind their GCash account to their HUAWEI smartwatch.

It made sense for runners who preferred to go cashless and travel light. Shopee was also present and reminded everyone how modern life blends with fitness.

Every corner of the event touched a part of our daily routines. It showed how technology can help simplify healthy habits.

Keeping the streak alive with Light Up Your Active Rings

The fun run wrapped up the physical celebration but HUAWEI kept the momentum alive through the Light Up Your Active Rings Online Challenge. It runs from November 8 to 30 inside the HUAWEI Health App.

Participants only need to burn 1500 kcal within the challenge period to unlock the exclusive Manila Medal, a new badge inside the app that feels like a digital pat on the back.

Sharing the medal on TikTok with the hashtags #LightUpYourActiveRingsPH and #EnjoyYourMoment also enters participants into a chance to win a HUAWEI Watch GT 6.

HUAWEI will announce the winner on December 15. It feels like an invitation to stay active long after the race banners are packed away.

The challenge is simple and the message is clear: movement matters even when it feels small. Running, walking, cycling, or making your day a little more intentional can change the way you show up for yourself.

A community that runs with you

That morning reminded me that fitness does not need to feel lonely. The run united beginners, athletes, and curious participants who wanted to experience something new.

It gave us a morning filled with movement and reminded us that wearable technology can help us stay accountable in a way that feels supportive.

HUAWEI continues to build a fitness community that encourages healthier habits and celebrates every active streak. The Active Rings Fun Run made that mission feel real on the ground. Meanwhile, the Light Up Your Active Rings challenge brings it online for anyone who wants to keep going.

I left the MOA Complex with tired legs and a full heart. My Active Rings glowed with pride and I promised myself that this would not be the last time I ran for the kind of joy that morning gave me.

There are days when the world gets a little too loud, like when every honk or notification feels like a personal attack. Even as an extrovert, I sometimes crave the quiet.

Sure, I love people and the chatter inside cafés, but there are moments when I want to turn the volume of life all the way down with a pair of headphones. Although, I’ve never really been a “headphones person.”

The last time I owned a pair was back in 2017-2018. A Sony H.Ear On 2 and an Mpow H5 that saw brief daylight before I decided I preferred the freedom of earbuds. Then came wireless earbuds, and eventually open-ear ones, which suited my lifestyle perfectly.

But maybe this is what growing older does to you. You start craving peace like it’s a luxury item. Because for the past three months, I’ve been living with the Dyson OnTrac.

And now that the honeymoon phase is over, I can say it plainly: I love everything about it, except a few things.

That Dyson DNA

The first time I saw the Dyson OnTrac, it didn’t even look like a gadget. It looked like something you’d wear with a crisp blazer or bring into an airport lounge. It’s unmistakably Dyson: minimal yet distinct.

Mine came in Copper, which felt like it was made for me. It matches my gold earrings and necklaces perfectly, as if it was designed to live in my wardrobe.

That’s the thing about Dyson. They make technology feel personal, like a statement piece that just happens to have a power button.

Even the small details feel intentional. The outer caps and ear cushions can be swapped for colors of your choice, and those cushions — soft and made from microfiber — hug your ears like velvet clouds.

The OnTrac is so comfortable that I’ve worn it through entire flights and long editing sessions without a single ache or hint of warmth. It never clamps too tightly, either.

My only complaint? It’s oddly designed when you want to rest it on your neck. You have to flip it so it lays flat against your collarbones. Otherwise, the ear cups sit awkwardly and press against your neck.

It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s… fussy. Beautiful, yes, but impractical in that “fashion before function” kind of way.

Still, that comfort kept me company from my flight to Hong Kong to my bus ride into Shenzhen. It was so light, I almost forgot I was wearing it. Almost.

And that battery life — 55 hours, give or take — held up. I didn’t even need to charge it while traveling from Hong Kong to Zhengzhou and back to the Philippines.

The silence I needed

Wearing the OnTrac, I couldn’t hear the hum of the plane’s engine, the crying baby, or the chatty group behind me on the bus. Its Active Noise Cancellation is easily one of the best I’ve tried.

It feels like being inside a bubble, a little world of your own. Only a few pairs of headphones can deliver this kind of isolation without feeling suffocating. You know that eerie stillness where you start hearing your own thoughts? It’s like that, but gentler.

Of course, there are better options for pure noise-cancelling performance, but none of them look this good doing it.

The OnTrac also automatically pauses when you take it off, which I love. It’s the closest thing to someone gently turning down the world for you.

Through the MyDyson app, you can tweak your experience. You can adjust isolation levels, switch between transparency modes, and decide how much of the outside world you want to let in. It’s thoughtful and seamless, exactly what you’d expect from Dyson.

The sound I didn’t want

There’s more to tweak in the MyDyson app, including a sound exposure monitor and an adjustable equalizer with four modes: Enhanced, Bass Boost, Neutral, and Custom. I tried them all. I really did. And yet, the sound never quite came alive.

Despite its brilliance in design and noise control, the OnTrac sounds… flat. It’s clean, but too clean that it’s lacking depth and warmth. The vocals don’t quite have texture, and the bass feels subdued. Even my colleagues noticed as we compared it to the more affordable Sony WH-1000XM6 and JBL Tour One M3.

Somehow, the OnTrac falls short. It’s not bad. It’s just not enough for the price Dyson asks. It’s like ordering a luxury dessert and realizing it looks exquisite, but doesn’t melt the way you hoped.

Price and availability

The Dyson OnTrac retails for US$ 499 / PhP 32,900 in the Philippines. It’s available in CNC Black Nickel and CNC Copper.

You can personalize it further with ear cushions (PhP 3,500) in colors like Oyster Pink, Khaki, Chrome Yellow, Prussian Blue, and Ultra Blue.

The outer caps (PhP 3,500) are also swappable, with options like Ceramic Blue, Coarse Titanium, and Ceramic Cinnabar.
Even the braided Aux cable with an in-flight adapter feels premium, though it’ll set you back PhP 2,000.

Is the Dyson OnTrac your GadgetMatch?

It’s rare to find a pair of headphones that feel as much like a fashion statement as a functional device. The Dyson OnTrac is exactly that — a piece of wearable art that lets you shut the world out in style.

If you see headphones as an extension of how you carry yourself and not just a tool for listening, then this could easily be a Swipe Right.

That is, if you have a little money to burn. Maybe the comfort, aesthetics, and excellent ANC are enough to make you splurge.

But if you’re after a rich, dynamic sound profile, looks alone won’t do. It’s automatically a Swipe Left, as there are better options out there. Both the JBL Tour One M3 and Sony WH-1000XM6 sound fuller and more balanced for less.

Maybe that’s the irony of the OnTrac. It perfects the art of silence but forgets the poetry of sound. Still, every time I slip it on, it feels like I’m putting the world on mute.

And for now, that’s the kind of peace I’m willing to pay for.