With the Bose open-ear earbuds, you can enjoy music and stay aware of your surroundings. The earbuds have an ear hook. You can clamp it on the side of your ear and you barely feel it. That way, you can wear them for a long time. The Bose open-ear earbuds don't have noise suppression, so you can clearly hear what's happening around you. That's useful while exercising or when you're in the middle of busy traffic.