It's not uncommon to listen to music or a podcast when getting a workout in, and many of us find it absolutely essential to shut out the outside world while we put in the work. If your regular workout is on dry land in a gym or on a run, then you're spoiled for choice when it comes to the best headphones and best wireless earbuds.
But for those putting in laps at the pool, regularly participating in water sports, competitive swimming, or just enjoying music while relaxing in the ocean, finding headphones suited for your purpose is a trickier proposition. After all, electronics and water rarely mix.
Believe it or not, there are companies out there doing a stellar job at leveraging technologies like bone conduction and waterproofing to create stellar headsets designed for use in the water. We've put together what we believe are the best headphones for swimming on the market today.
Best headphones for swimming overall
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
- Perform great when swimming
- Bluetooth adds missing functionality
- Comfortable fit
- Stay secure while exercising
- Audio quality isn't great out of the water
- Niche, not everyday headphones
| Specification: | |
| Type | Bone conduction open-ear |
| Waterproof Rating | IP68 |
| Battery Life | 9 Hours |
| Storage & Playback | 32GB of storage for local playback. Bluetooth support for dry land. |
The Shokz OpenSwim Pro is the premier option for a waterproof, bone-conduction, swim-proof headset. Shokz specializes in open-ear bone conduction headphones and designs products tailored to active use like running and swimming in both form and function.
The OpenSwim Pro is the company's follow-up to its first-gen OpenSwim and adds new functionality like Bluetooth for use when you're out of the water since Bluetooth doesn't function underwater. As is usual with headphones meant for use in water, the OpenSwim Pro supports local playback of MP3 files for use when swimming.
We went hands-on with the OpenSwim Pro, and our reviewer thought they sounded outstanding when in the water. They did note that the audio quality was fairly lacking when out of the water, but use on dry land isn't really what they're geared toward, after all.
Their IP68 rating keeps them safe for up to 2 meters of submersion for up to 2 hours, as well as seals them from dust, which is perfect if you're using these for open-water swimming where sand and dirt are present.
These are certainly niche headphones, and at $180, it's unlikely you'll be picking these up if you are just a casual swimmer. But if you find yourself in the lap pool regularly and jamming to your tunes helps you get a better workout in, then the Shokz OpenSwim Pro is the best overall headset for use while swimming.
Best budget headphones for swimming
H20 Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport Series
- Better value than competitors
- Offers Bluetooth and on board memory for dry and wet use
- Great battery life
- IPX8 rating protects from water, but not dust.
| Specification: | |
| Type | Bone conduction open-ear |
| Waterproof Rating | IPX8 |
| Battery Life | 9 Hours of Bluetooth playback, 6 hours in Memory mode |
| Storage & Playback | 8GB storage. Bluetooth support. |
The Tri 2 Multi-Sport Series bone conduction headset is the latest swim-friendly headset from the aptly named H2O Audio.
The IPX8 rating on these headphones makes them ideal for swimming laps in the pool since their waterproofing is more than enough for surface-level laps. What's missing is the protection against dust or debris offered by the fuller IP68 rating, meaning these headphones might not have the same lifespan for open-water swimming that exposes you to salt, sand, or silt, like swimming in oceans, rivers, or lakes.
With 9 hours of Bluetooth playback and 6 hours of playback in memory mode, the Tri 2 Multi-Sport Series will get you through your marathon, workout, or triathlon with ease. Onboard controls make it easy to switch between these two modes for use in and out of the water.
Honorable Mention goes to the Tri PRO Multi-Sport Series. The Pro version of this headset attempts to solve the drudgery of having to load music files directly onto your headset’s onboard memory. Loading MP3 files onto a playback device used to be second nature, but we've all become spoiled with the instant satisfaction of music streaming platforms.
H2O Audio's solution to this is a feature called Playlist+, which lets you record or load audio that you're playing through Bluetooth directly into the onboard memory for playback later when you're in the water. This feature comes at a roughly $20 premium on MSRP.
Best for streaming in the water
Zygo Z2
- Stream music or podcasts while swimming
- Counts your laps
- Audio classes offered
- Walkie-Talkie feature
- Requires clunky FM transmitter pool side
- Short battery life
| Specification: | |
| Type | Bone conduction open-ear |
| Waterproof Rating | Not made available |
| Battery Life | 2-3 hours depending on volume |
| Storage & Playback | Streaming only playback |
Zygo is by far the most premium offering on this list, and its claim to fame is really a single feature. The Zygo Z2 streams music to your headset, even when in the water, via its included FM transmitter. This is a fundamentally different use case than most other bone conduction headphones meant for swimming and lacks onboard memory or Bluetooth connectivity in order to make room for an FM receiver and battery.
The first-generation Zygo was launched in 2017, and the Z2 promises to be an improved iteration of the original Zygo Solo, offering better battery life, increased range, and enhanced audio quality.
The companion app offers audio classes, a one-way walkie-talkie feature, a lap counter, and more. The case itself is both the charger and the FM transmitter, so it must be kept poolside with you when swimming. You connect your phone or compatible audio device to the case via Bluetooth, which then transmits to the headset via FM.
As for the effective range, Zygo says that salt water vs. fresh water makes a big difference and that "At 2 feet below the surface in a chlorinated swimming pool, the range should be roughly 50 meters." It's worth noting that the exact waterproof rating isn't published anywhere on their website, but the company offers a one year warranty.
Most comfortable design
H2O Audio Sonar
- Standalone MP3 player
- Uses bone conduction audio
- Only one style option
- Need a smartwatch for Bluetooth
| Specification: | |
| Type | Bone conduction |
| Waterproof Rating | IPX8 |
| Battery Life | 7 Hours |
| Storage & Playback | 8GB on board memory and Bluetooth connectivity |
Sporting one of the best designs on the list, for a couple of reasons, this bone conduction-friendly pair of headphones wraps firmly around the back of your head, and is secured via your goggle strap.
It's iTunes compatible, and works with MP3 files -- you can drag-and-drop files right onto the internal storage after connecting to your computer. It has 8GB of internal storage, which is double what comparable players offer for twice the music, media, or audiobooks if that's your fancy.
The IPX8 rating means they're waterproof, and safe for use in a variety of environments, including the pool and ocean. You'll get 7 hours of battery life on a single charge which is plenty of time to swim and practice. But you should know, to use the Bluetooth mode, you'll need to connect a smartwatch which straps right into the back of the headphones. That's because Bluetooth wireless signals don't travel far underwater.
Frequently Asked Questions
The type used will determine your experience and the audio quality. For example, boneless conduction works best when water is surrounding the ear. The benefit to bone-conducting headphones is they rest on the cheek while pumping sound into your inner ear using your cheekbones. Plus, with conduction you can still wear earplugs. Traditional earbuds, on the other hand, go inside your ears, and even if they're snug getting a water-tight seal might be near impossible.
Make sure you choose the right water resistance rating, denoted by IPX levels. For swimming, you want something rated IPX7 or higher. Any rating lower than that was not made to be submerged in water or exposed for long periods. If you're swimming in open bodies of water, you'll ideally want something rated for dust as well, like IP67 or IP68.
Remember to consider your swim cap when selecting sizes from brands that offer them. Typically, the cap goes over the bud or hearing portion of the headphones to keep them firmly in your ears. If the caps are too small they will be uncomfortable and may impede the audio, but if they're too big the earbuds will fall right out and you can lose them in the water.
As far as wireless connectivity has come, it simply doesn't work the same underwater, so you'll need to prioritize headphones that have built-in music players. You don't have to connect your phone or tablet to play music with headphones that have this functionality, as it's done directly from the head or earpieces. Storage might be limited, but it's a much more convenient option when swimming than trying to get any wireless connectivity to work. For the headsets that support Bluetooth, what you'll find is music cutting in and out every time your head enters and exits the water.
Headphones for swimming are definitely a niche product, but there are a few companies out there putting in the work and innovation to deliver a quality product that will enhance your swimming workouts and let you take your tunes and podcasts into the pool or to your next triathlon.
