The Best Waterproof Earbuds for Swimming Let You Enjoy Your Music Underwater
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Watery environments and Bluetooth headphones traditionally don’t mix well. Most modern wireless earbuds and headphones do offer some level of water and sweat resistance, but what if you want to get more than just a little wet? Listening to music while swimming requires both a device that’s fully waterproof, and capable of playing your music underwater. Water disrupts Bluetooth signals, so even the best wireless earbuds won’t be very useful in the pool — no matter how waterproof they are.
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To solve the Bluetooth problem, the best waterproof earbuds for swimming come in two main types:
Bone conduction headphones or earbuds with an onboard MP3 player
Headphones and earbuds that come with a radio transmitter for aquatic environments
Swimmers aren’t the only athletes looking for the best waterproof headphones. Even terrestrial athletes may encounter water while they work out. For example, getting drenched in an unforeseen downpour while out for a run, or being covered in three hours worth of sweat on a long-distance bike ride can also ruin unprotected electronics. An easy fix to this problem is to ensure your devices are fully capable of handling water-filled environments.
Thankfully, there are plenty of waterproof headphones and earbuds, designed specifically for athletes, that will suit your aquatic needs. Keep scrolling to explore our selection of the best waterproof earbuds for swimming.
The Best Underwater Earbuds for Swimming
Below, you’ll find our recommendations for not only swimmers, but for all athletes who push their workouts to the next level. Trust us, these headphones can handle more than just sweat. If you get caught in a rainstorm while you’re on your morning run, or if you prefer to work out in the pool, these waterproof headphones won’t mind getting wet with you.
In our experience, the best waterproof earbuds for swimming cost between $60-$300. You can find cheaper options for sale, but they’re not always worth your time or money. You can find lots of cheap wireless earbuds that work perfectly well on dry land, but if you’re headed into the pool, then expect to pay a premium for the features described above.
BEST OVERALL
Zygo Solo Waterproof Headphones
$300 at zygo
Why We Chose It: We like that it can stream music and audio from your phone, has a live coaching feature, and premium sound.
Review: Putting the Zygo Solo Underwater Headphones to the test
Key Specs:
3 hours of battery life with the headset/8-hour transmitter
Waterproof design ready for every type of water
One-way communication with built-in transmitter
Rather than using an onboard MP3 player or an unreliable Bluetooth connection, Zygo took a totally different approach with its waterproof headphones. After testing them out in the pool, we can verify that they’re the best underwater headphones, full stop. These headphones utilize bone-conduction technology and a wireless radio transmitter for clear sound underwater. You can wear the headphones comfortably over swim caps without loss of audio quality. Best of all, you can stream music, podcasts and workout routines from your device to the headphones while you get your laps in.
We also love Zygo Solo’s unique walkie-talkie feature that allows coaches to give instructions to swimmers in real-time. For anyone who’s keen on bringing some music to their workouts while also improving their overall technique, we think you’ll love Zygo’s underwater headphones. We found they offered great sound, were easy to set up, and had reliable connectivity underwater.
Why They’re the Best: As we said in our review, we’ve never tested anything Zygo Solo, which offer clear sound, best-in-class waterproofing, and a unique radio transmitter for a fully wireless setup. You’ll pay a premium for these features, but for serious athletes, these are the best waterproof earbuds for swimmers without question.
Pros
Great audio quality
Reliable waterproofing
Live communication
Cons
Bulky fit
RUNNNER-UP
Swimbuds Sport Premium Waterproof Headphones
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Why We Chose It: We think these are a great wired option for swimmers.
Key Specs:
Wired earbuds
IPX8 waterproof rating
Comes with multiple eartips for different activities
Swimbuds is the most well-known brand in the underwater audio category, and the Swimbuds Sport wired earbuds are the follow-up to the brand’s popular classic headphones. These new Swimbuds were designed to offer less drag in the water, and that’s because Swimbuds’ products are designed specifically for swimmers.
The downside to Swimbuds? You aren’t buying a complete audio package, and you’ll need a separate underwater MP3 player. Swimbuds does offer some bundles if you’re looking for a one-and-done solution. But if you’re looking for a truly wireless solution, then we recommend investing in the more expensive Zygo headset.
Pros
Highly waterproof
Tree tipped fittings for tight seal
Cons
Music player sold separetely
ALSO GREAT
Shokz OpenSwim
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$150 at best buy
Why We Chose It: We like that you can ditch your phone thanks to on-board music storage.
Key Specs:
8 hours of battery life
IP68 waterproof rating
4GB of internal MP3 storage
We like that you can fit 4GB, or about 1,000 songs of music on-board. You’ll certainly prune up before you run out of tunes to listen to while in the water. You can expect about eight hours of battery life which is upper echelon for waterproof earbuds. We do recommend that you wear these under your swim cap though, as these are only IP68 rated, where most other waterproof earbuds are IPX8.
Pros
Waterproof
On-board music storage
Good battery life
Cons
Expensive
BEST ALL-IN-ONE
Finis Duo Underwater Bone Conduction MP3 Player
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$120 at Swimoutlet
Why We Chose It: We like that it clips onto your Google straps and it’s everything you need to dive into the water and start listening to music.
Key Specs:
7 hours of battery life
IPX8 waterproof rating
4GB of internal MP3 storage
The problem with water and earbuds is when water seeps into your ear canal, it can make music sound garbled and muffled. Eliminate that problem with the Finis Duo Bone Conduction MP3 Player. These headphones clip onto your goggles and actually rest on your cheekbones, instead of going over your ears.
Through bone conduction, the music travels through your cheekbone to your eardrum, so you’ll still be able to hear your music clearly. Ah, the wonders of science! Plus, you’ll be able to store around 1,000 songs on the device, so you can keep rocking out in the water. You won’t win any style points, but these might be the underwater music solution you’ve been searching for.
Pros
All-in-one device
Stores up to 1,000 songs
Good battery life
Cons
Bulky design
AMAZON CHOICE
SYRYN Flip Bundle
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$110 at sears
Why We Chose It: It’s a convenient all-in-one bundle of headphones with great battery life.
Key Specs:
10 hours of battery life
IPX8 waterproof rating
8GB of internal MP3 storage
While we’ve only featured headphones with integrated MP3 players so far, there are also standalone wired earbuds that are designed to be used with a waterproof MP3 player that clips to your headgear. This bundle from Underwater Audio pairs the Swimbuds with the SYRYN Waterproof MP3 Player, providing everything you need to listen to music while getting some laps in. The SYRYN has large, tactile buttons so you can easily shuffle, play and pause songs while you’re in the pool.
And since this MP3 player is rated to handle water up to 10 feet deep, you won’t have to worry about diving headfirst into the pool and damaging the player. When it comes to battery life, you’ll sure to prune up before you outlast the 10-hours it’s rated for, and you won’t even begin to scratch the surface of the 2,000 songs it can store.
Pros
Great battery life
Stores up to 2,000 songs
Cons
Users have complained about durability issues
SMART PICK
H2O Audio Sonar
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$100 at H2O Audio
Why We Chose It: These have a swimmer-friendly short cord and flexible ear fit.
Key Specs:
Wired earbuds
IPX8 waterproof rating
8GB of internal MP3 storage
The most comfortable earbuds come with a variety of ear tips to ensure you find your perfect fit. These wired headphones use special tips to produce a tight seal inside of your ears, so you can still get premium audio quality under the water. And deep underwater you can go, as the IPX8 rating means these headphones can handle being submerged up to 12 feet.
The headphones come with five unique tips for ear canals ranging from small to large, making them great for your entire workout regimen. Although these aren’t self-contained, they’re still a solid pair of waterproof headphones, specially made with swimmers in mind.
Pros
Comes with five different tips
Swimmer-friendly short cord
Submersion up to 12 feet
Cons
Audio source not included
WRAP-AROUND DESIGN
HydroActive Premium Short-Cord Waterproof Headphones
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$90 at walmart
Why We Chose It: These feature a unique, yet secure wrap-around design.
Key Specs:
Wired earbuds
IPX8 waterproof rating
Wrap around design for snug fit
If you prefer a more fitted wired option, the HydroActive earbuds are a performance-focused model made by Underwater Audio. These swimming headphones feature a wrap-around design that’s guaranteed to keep your buds in place as you let those butterfly strokes fly.
However, these still feature a 3.5mm jack and no integrated MP3 player. For some, this is a good thing; You can use these with any MP3 player you like for years to come without having to worry about compatibility with file formats or computers, or whether the battery will go kaput.
WORTH CONSIDERATION
NAENKA Bone Conduction Headphones
Buy Now
Why We Chose It: We like the 8GB of storage, which equals out to about 2,000 songs.
Key Specs:
10 hours of battery life
IP68 waterproof rating
8GB of internal MP3 storage
If you’re looking for waterproof earbuds with an abundance of on-board storage, look no further. The 16GB of storage is 4x the amount of the Shokz waterproof earbuds, and they hold an even-more impressive 10 hours of battery life. Like the Shokz, we can only recommend wearing them under your swim cap since these are IPX68 rather than full IPX8 waterproof.
Pros
Long battery life
16GB of on-board storage
Bluetooth
Cons
Not as waterproof as others
Thing You Should Know About Waterproof Earbuds for Swimming
Before you take a dip, there are a few things you should know about waterproof earbuds for swimming. For example, the IP (Ingress Protection) waterproof rating is a scale that helps you determine the water resistance rating of your devices, and which design style fits your needs best is important. Here’s what else you should consider:
IPX67 vs. IPX7/8 Waterproofing: When buying Bluetooth headphones for swimming, you don’t even want to entertain anything that is rated below IPX67 or IPX7 — your headphones will get ruined. An IPX7 and IPX8 rating means your headphones, or any device with that rating, can handle being submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, but manufacturers can bump up the rating to IPX8 if they last longer than 30 minutes underwater.
Ear Hooks vs. Earbuds vs. Waterproof Headphones: When it comes to swimming, we recommend earbud-style headphones (no ear hooks) if you wear a swimming cap that covers your ears. Without a swimming cap, there is a good chance they’ll fall right off, and it won’t be fun trying to find your earbuds at the bottom of a pool. If you do buy earbud-style underwater headphones, then look for products that come with multiple ear tips (or ribbed ear tips) so that you can find a good fit. For everyone else, the best waterproof headphones for swimming will have ear hooks to keep them securely on your head during flips and turns.
3.5mm Connector vs. Integrated MP3 Player: We didn’t include many waterproof Bluetooth earbuds in our shopping guide, and that’s because wireless audio technologies like Bluetooth don’t work so well in water. Even if they did, finding a way to keep your phone within the 30-foot range at all times is far less convenient than just having a dedicated waterproof MP3 player. With this in mind, you have two options: using a waterproof MP3 player, or buying waterproof earbuds that come with their own wireless radio transmitter.
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1. Swimbuds Waterproof Earbuds
While we’ve only featured headphones with integrated MP3 players so far, there are also standalone wired earbuds that are designed to be used with a waterproof MP3 player that can clip to your headgear. This bundle from Underwater Audio pairs the Swimbuds with the Syryn Waterproof MP3 Player, providing everything you need to listen to music while getting your laps in. The SYRYN has big tactile buttons so you can easily shuffle through songs, play and pause, even while you’re in the pool. And since this MP3 player is rated to handle water up to 10 feet deep, you won’t have to worry about diving headfirst into the pool and damaging the player. And when it comes to battery life, you’ll prune up before you outlast the 10-hours it’s rated for, and you won’t even begin to scratch the surface of the 2,000 songs it can store.
Pros: Comes with an MP3 player with intuitive controls. Long battery life. Plenty of song storage.
Cons: Since the MP3 player is separate, it can be harder to find somewhere to store it while you're swimming.
Swimbuds Waterproof Earbuds
2. Sony Waterproof Walkman MP3 Player
This Sony Waterproof Walkman MP3 Player is made for extremes. Whether you’re swimming across a lake or hiking the highest peaks, this water- and dust-proof device is capable of coming with you. The tough and durable design is ideal for sporting activities and also includes 4GB of built-in memory for storing your music. The intelligent device also lets you answer calls and delivers up to 12 hours of playback from a full charge. In addition, the player is capable of dealing with saltwater and extreme temperatures.
Pros: Integrated loop to ensure headphones stay secure. Built-in memory as well as Bluetooth compatibility.
Cons: Some options are more economical.
Sony Waterproof Walkman MP3 Player
3. JBL Endurance Dive
Stream music while you’re in the pool with the JBL Endurance Dive Bluetooth headphones. If you find yourself losing connection, you can use the 1GB of onboard storage to upload music straight to the headphones. And we wouldn’t recommend trying to outlast these headphones in the pool. You’ll most certainly turn into a prune before the eight-hour battery life runs out. When the battery does get low, a quick 10-minute charge provides one hour of battery life. This is a great option for impromptu pool sessions.
Pros: Top audio brand. 1GB of onboard storage to save your favorite songs. Long battery life.
Cons: Maximum volume could be better.
JBL Endurance Dive
4. H20 Audio Waterproof Headphones for Swimming
These wired headphones use special tips to produce a tight seal inside of your ears, so you can still get premium audio quality underwater. And deep underwater you can go, with an IPX8 rating that means these headphones can handle being submerged up to 12ft. The headphones come with five unique tips for small to large ear canals, making them great for your entire workout regimen. Although these aren’t self-contained, they’re still a solid pair of waterproof headphones, specially made with swimmers in mind.
Pros: Simple and economical. Different ear tips to ensure a secure fit in the water.
Cons: They're simply earbuds, unlike other options with built-in battery and storage. So you'll need to bring an MP3 player.
H20 Audio Waterproof Headphones for Swimming
5. Nocmpic Bone Conduction Headphones
Using the latest Bluetooth technology, these bone conduction headphones pair and keep a strong connection with your mobile device, even when you’re in the pool. You can forgo pairing it with your phone and store music thanks to 8GB of storage which allows you to keep thousands of songs readily available. It sports about eight hours of battery life, plenty for your morning run and afternoon swim before it needs a recharge.
Pros: Unique design utilizes bone conduction, rather than traditional in-ear buds. Listed as IP68 waterproof.
Cons: Might not feel as secure on the head. Songs won't be as loud.
Nocmpic Bone Conduction Headphones
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