Best Waterproof Swimming headphones for open water and pool swimming. We’ve taken the plunge and tested the best waterproof headphones around so you can be confident you’re choosing the best ones for swimming. Best swimming Headphones.
While many sports headphones are marketed as water resistant to varying degrees, if you’re intending to soundtrack your swim with a motivational playlist or educational podcast, this is far from the only consideration.
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The big exception is the Zygo Solo – our pick for the best waterproof headphones – which uses an FM transmitter to stream audio from your phone instead.
What Are Waterproof Headphones?
Waterproof headphones are basically regular headphones that had their internal circuitry and components waterproofed. Best Swimming Headphones.
You might be thinking, “Electricity and water don’t go together too well. How do you ACTUALLY prevent water from entering the headphones?”
Enter the hydrophobic coating. The coating repels water particles by having a low-energy surface that promotes the formation of water beads that resist and glide off the headphones’ surface.
1. Zygo Solo
Waterproof headphones that can play anything from your phone
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SPECIFICATIONS
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
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The Zygo Solo is the only set of waterproof headphones we’ve tested that can actually stream music and podcasts from a phone that’s sitting by the side of the pool.
Bluetooth signals can only penetrate water for a very short distance. The Zygo Solo gets around this problem by using an FM radio transmitter – an unusual, but effective approach.
The transmitter is quite large, but the ability to enjoy music, podcasts and coaching tips (provided by the Zygo app) without messing around with MP3 files is a real bonus.
The headset itself isn’t as compact as the others in this guide, but in our tests it proved comfortable, and remained secure even when making turns underwater.
The sound quality is impressive, too. Like the Aftershokz Xtrainerz and Sony NW-WS413 below, the Zygo Solo uses bone conduction to transmit sound to your auditory nerve, and while it sounds a little tinny on land, once you’re in the pool the sound has an impressive amount of bass.
We’re also big fans of the Zygo mobile app, which offers instructor-led workouts an drills to give you training some variety.
In the future, the company plans to add Peloton-style interactive sessions, which will make use of the headset’s built-in accelerometer to track your progress in the pool. The best waterproof headphones you can buy today.
2. Aftershokz Xtrainerz: Best Swimming Headphones
Comfortable and secure, with impressive battery life
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3. Sony Walkman NW-WS413 – Best Swimming Headphones
Conventional functionality that’s great on land and in the water
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4. Finis Duo: Best Swimming Headphones
Swim-specific bone-conduction waterproof headphones
5. H2O Audio Sonar: Best Swimming Headphones
Waterproof headphones with Bluetooth and internal storage
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Buyer’s Guide For Waterproof Swimming Headphones
Considering the right factors before jumping the gun is very important, as wasting money on an underperforming product or an overpriced rip-off often leads to buyer’s remorse. Consider asking yourself these questions if you’re set on getting one.
- Is it wired or wireless?
- What’s the IPX rating?
- Will it affect the form of your swimming strokes?
- How does it stay securely on your while you swim?
- Does it feature built-in controls? And how accessible are they?
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Important Factors To Consider Before Buying A Pair of Waterproof Headphones. Best Swimming Headphones
If you’ve made it this far, kudos! But before you go rushing to your trusty online shop, take heed. Here are some factors answering the questions above, and other important details to consider before clicking the checkout button.
IPX Rating
As discussed earlier, we cannot stress how important it is to ensure the unit you’re getting actually has a rating of IPX8, which is the minimal IPX rating that one should get for underwater purposes.
Be wary of some vendors who:
- don’t include the rating on the post,
- are obscure and unfamiliar, especially with rating claims that seem suspicious.
Build Quality
Headphones that are waterproof may have higher alloy content (for stainless steel housings) to combat corrosion and mineral deposits. Some manufacturers may highlight these for specialized underwater pressure operation, but take it with a grain of salt.
High-quality plastic housings can withstand the measly pressure in 3 feet of water just as well as their stainless steel counterparts. Wired models also feature thicker wire insulation in conjunction with gold-plated output jacks, for extra protection during extended periods of use underwater. Best Swimming Headphones
Integrated MP3 Players
Most people overlook the fact that a separate, equally-waterproof MP3 player is needed when they opt for the wired variants of these headphones. This problem was solved with a simple yet ingenious solution: integrated MP3 players.
With 8GB of memory, it can fit approximately 2000 tracks. But some MP3 players do offer the option of expandable storage space with memory card slots.
Battery Life
Models with integrated MP3 players rely on batteries to function independently. Although most headphones have a maximum operating capacity of 4 hours, it’s never a bad thing to give yourself some headroom and choose a higher capacity model.
Another thing to note is the use of chargers, as some might have proprietary connectors that are unique and aren’t compatible with conventional ones, making it a pain in the ass when they break down. Try to choose a unit with universal connectors.
Wired Vs. Wireless
There are no wireless headphones that can work effectively under water as of yet, due to the limitation of Bluetooth. While its average range on land is about 10m, it is reduced to mere inches submerged.
With this in mind, it is recommended to stick to wired models for underwater purposes. Nothing beats the sound fidelity from a solid and stable connection, minimal compatibility issues, and you can save a few bucks off without the Bluetooth implementation. Best Swimming Headphones
Eartip Styles
These help secure that watertight seal for your ears and that comfortable fit needed for extended hours of use.
Eartips may come in rubber, silicone, foam, or hybrid materials. Eartip styles include flanged designs, ranging from the standard single flange, up to the extreme triple flange, usually referred to as tree tips.
Other styles include fin eartips, which basically fit to the contours of your ear for a more watertight seal, with some designed with low-profiles to maximize comfort when wearing swim caps. This is usually a matter of preference, so try out multiple types and sizes to find optimal fit for you.
Bone Conduction Headphones: Best Swimming Headphones
Other than in-ear headphones, there’s another type of headphones that you can use for swimming – Bone Conduction Headphones. Using the same principle of sound transfer using vibrations, bone conduction headphones use your cheekbones to transfer sound to your ears.
While some debate the compromise of sound quality going through your skull instead of directly into your ear canal, bone conduction headphones are beneficial for those who are hard of hearing, because you aren’t relying on your ear cavity to transfer sounds anymore. Best Swimming Headphones. Make choice…… and buy now
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