Shokz RoadWave · 2026
Shokz RoadWave alternatives: keep it audio-only, or add a camera?
The Shokz RoadWave is a pair of sport audio sunglasses built for runners and cyclists: open-ear speakers in a wrap frame, two lenses in the box, no camera. If audio is all you want, it may well be the better buy. This guide compares it honestly with the OXIVUE M14, a wrap shield that adds a camera, and says where each one falls short.
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1. What the Shokz RoadWave is (and is not)
The RoadWave is open-ear audio sunglasses, not bone conduction. B&H lists the RoadWave’s earpiece design as open-ear, and the Red Dot entry (Product Design 2023) describes it as sports audio sunglasses with integrated open-ear audio that keeps outside noise audible.
On the retailer spec sheets we checked on October 19, 2026 (B&H and Fleet Feet), the RoadWave weighs about 42 g, is rated IP54 for dust and splashing water, plays for up to 6 hours, and gets about an hour of playback from a 10-minute charge on a magnetic cable. It uses Bluetooth 5.2 and two noise-cancelling microphones for calls. B&H lists no companion app and no multipoint pairing. The box includes a dark polarized lens and a transparent lens, and B&H lists a limited 2-year manufacturer warranty.
What it does not have is a camera, a voice assistant built around one, or translation. It is a pair of sunglasses that is also a pair of headphones, and it does that one job.
2. Can you still buy the RoadWave?
Yes, from retailers, but Shokz’s own US store did not list itwhen we checked on October 19, 2026. The RoadWave product page on shokz.com returned “Page Not Found”, and a search for “roadwave” on the store returned only RoadWave replacement lenses, priced $55–$75 and marked unavailable. Shokz has not said the sunglasses are discontinued on any page we saw, so we do not claim that.
The same day, Fleet Feet listed the RoadWave at $200, and Google’s shopping panel showed typical prices of $179–$200 across sellers. If you buy one, keep in mind that the spare-lens supply from Shokz looked thin, and ask the seller who handles warranty claims.
3. Shokz RoadWave vs OXIVUE M14 side by side
Both are wrap-style sport sunglasses with open-ear speakers. The differences are the camera, the lens system, the weight and how long the music lasts.
| Shokz RoadWave | OXIVUE M14 | |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Open-ear speakers (not bone conduction) | Open-ear speakers |
| Camera | None | 8 MP Sony IMX219, started with a touch on the temple |
| Weight | About 42 g | 52 g |
| Water rating | IP54 | IPX4 (splash, spray and rain only) |
| Battery | Up to 6 h playback | 4 h listening · 7 h calls |
| Lenses | Interchangeable; dark polarized + transparent in the box | Fixed one-piece shield, 4 colourways; no clear option |
| Microphones | 2 noise-cancelling mics | Dual noise-cancelling mics + bone-conduction mic |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| App / translation | No app listed | HeyCyan app: 139-language translation, assistant, files |
| Price | $200 at Fleet Feet (typical $179–$200) | $149 at checkout ($199 listed) |
RoadWave figures from B&H and Fleet Feet listings, checked October 19, 2026. OXIVUE prices checked 2026-10-19; checkout price may change.
Read the table as one question: do you want a camera?If the answer is no, most rows favour the RoadWave: it is about 10 g lighter, it plays about 2 hours longer, its IP54 rating adds dust protection to the splash protection both pairs have, and it ships with a second, transparent lens. If the answer is yes, the RoadWave drops out, because it has no camera at all, and the comparison becomes whether the M14’s weight, shorter music time and fixed tinted shield are a fair trade for photos, video and translation on the ride.
One row is easy to misread. Both pairs list two noise-cancelling microphones, but the M14 adds a bone-conduction mic that picks up your voice through vibration rather than air, which is aimed at calls in wind. Neither changes the physics of what you hear: on any open-ear pair, inbound audio fades as wind noise rises.
4. When the RoadWave is the better buy
If you only want audio, the RoadWave has three real advantages. We would rather say so than pretend otherwise.
- It is lighter.About 42 g against the M14’s 52 g. On a long ride or a run, 10 g on your nose is noticeable.
- It plays longer. Up to 6 hours of playback, against 4 hours of listening on the M14. If you ride all morning with music on, that gap matters.
- It has a clear lens.The transparent lens in the box covers dawn, dusk and overcast rides. The M14’s shield is a single fixed piece in smoke or mirror tints and cannot be swapped for clear or photochromic.
It is also simpler: no app to install, nothing to manage. If a camera on your face is something you would never use, the M14 asks you to carry weight and a shorter battery for a feature you do not want.
5. When the M14 is the better buy
The M14 is $149 at checkout and is the RoadWave idea plus a camera. It is a wrap shield built for cycling and skiing, with an 8 MP Sony IMX219 camera, open-ear speakers and two noise-cancelling microphones backed by a bone-conduction mic for calls. It uses Bluetooth 5.4, weighs 52 g and is rated IPX4 for splash, spray and rain.
- Photos without stopping.A touch on the temple captures what you are looking at: the view from the top of a climb, the group at the café stop. Files go to the HeyCyan app on your phone; there is no display.
- Translation on tour. Through the free HeyCyan app the M14 translates 139 languages. Only you hear the translated audio; the other person reads the reply on your phone, and it pauses after each sentence. See how translation works.
- Calls. The M14 is rated 7 hours of calls, longer than its 4 hours of music, which suits riders who mostly take calls rather than play playlists.
- Price.At $149 at checkout it costs less than the RoadWave’s $200 listing at Fleet Feet on October 19, 2026. Two or more pairs in one order are 50% off all eyewear.
Pick the colourway for the light you ride in: Nero (smoke shield), Azzurro (blue mirror), Ghiaccio (ice-blue mirror) or Tramonto (sunset-red mirror). Full details are on the M14 page, and our smart glasses for cycling guide covers wind noise and helmet fit.
6. Other alternatives to the RoadWave
There are three other routes to sport audio with sunglasses, and each fits a different rider.
- Bone conduction headphones plus ordinary sunglasses. If you specifically want bone conduction, the RoadWave is not it. A separate headset with your favourite sunglasses gets you there; our bone conduction vs open-ear sunglasses guide explains the trade-offs in sound leak, bass and wind.
- Other audio-only sunglasses. Lifestyle audio frames exist too. If you are coming from that kind of pair, read our Bose Frames alternatives guide.
- Everyday camera sunglasses.If you want a camera but not a wrap shield, the OXIVUE M08 family has swappable sun, photochromic and clear lenses at 41–42 g. Compare every model on the comparison page.
7. Riding with a camera: safety and consent
Open-ear audio keeps traffic audible, but wind still wins at speed. Above moderate speeds, wind noise around the ear rises and inbound audio gets harder to hear on any open-ear pair. Keep the volume low enough to hear what is around you, and check your local rules on headphones while cycling.
Use the camera when it is safe to take a hand off the bars, or when you have stopped. A capture starts only with a visible touch on the temple. If you photograph or film other people, especially with audio, consent and local law apply; our smart glasses recording laws by state guide has the US detail. This is general information, not legal advice.
Like every OXIVUE frame, the M14 has no display and does not take prescription lenses, and translation, music and calls need your phone nearby and connected.
Shipping, refunds and warranty. Free shipping from $99. US orders typically arrive in 5–9 business days; international orders take 9–14 business days after shipment, and import VAT and duties outside the US are paid by the recipient. No refunds except transit damage (replaced or refunded); faults are repaired or replaced under the 2-year warranty; change of mind and unmet expectations are not refundable. See the shipping policy and warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Are Shokz RoadWave sunglasses discontinued?
Not confirmed. Shokz has not said so on any page we checked. On October 19, 2026, the RoadWave product page on shokz.com returned Page Not Found, and the US store's search showed only RoadWave replacement lenses, marked unavailable. Retailers such as Fleet Feet still listed the sunglasses at $200 the same day. If long-term support matters to you, ask Shokz customer service before you buy.
Is the Shokz RoadWave bone conduction?
No. Shokz is best known for bone conduction headphones, but the RoadWave uses open-ear speakers in the temple arms. B&H lists its earpiece design as open-ear, and the Red Dot design award entry describes it as sports audio sunglasses with integrated open-ear audio. Sound travels through the air to your ear, which is the same approach OXIVUE frames use.
Are Shokz worth the money?
Yes, if audio is all you want from your sunglasses. The RoadWave was listed at $200 at Fleet Feet on October 19, 2026, and for that you get about 6 hours of playback, an IP54 rating and both a dark polarized and a transparent lens. It has no camera and no companion app. If you want photos of the ride or translation, a camera pair such as the OXIVUE M14 at $149 at checkout does more, with shorter playback.
Can you wear sunglasses with Shokz headphones?
Yes. The headphone hook and the sunglass temple arm share the space over your ear, so try the two together with your helmet on before a long ride. Audio sunglasses such as the RoadWave or the OXIVUE M14 remove that stack by putting the speakers in the frame itself, which leaves one thing over each ear instead of two.
What are the best Bluetooth audio sunglasses?
No single pair suits everyone; it comes down to whether you want a camera. Audio-only pairs such as the Shokz RoadWave are lighter and play longer. Camera pairs such as the OXIVUE M14 (8 MP Sony IMX219, $149 at checkout) add photos, video and 139-language translation through the HeyCyan app. Check water rating, weight and whether a clear lens is available for low light.
Can the M14 record a whole ride like a bike camera?
No. On the M14 a photo or clip starts only when you touch the temple, and nothing records unless you start it. That suits a quick shot of a view or a moment on the road. If you want continuous footage of every ride, a helmet or handlebar action camera is the right tool, and the M14 can sit alongside it for audio and calls.
How fast does the M14 ship?
US orders typically arrive in 5 to 9 business days, and international orders in 9 to 14 business days after shipment. Shipping is free from $99, so a single M14 at $149 qualifies. We ship to 39 countries, including Canada, the UK, all 27 EU states, Australia and Japan. Outside the US, import VAT and duties are paid by the recipient on delivery.
What these frames won’t do
- No prescription lenses yet, on any model. If you need vision correction all day, these can't replace your glasses.
- No display. Nothing appears in your view; you hear answers and capture photos and video.
- Open-ear speakers leak some sound at high volume and won't block out a loud train or a windy road the way sealed earbuds do.
- Translation, music, calls and the assistant need your phone nearby and connected. Translation pauses after each sentence, and only you hear the translated audio; the other person reads the reply on your phone.
- M14: one-piece shield, so the lens can't be swapped for clear or photochromic.
- M14: IPX4 covers splash, spray and rain only, and at 52 g it is heavier than the 41–42 g frames.
Check these before you order: see the warranty and refund policy.