Lap-training days can get monotonous for even the most seasoned swimmers. “You can only stare at that black line on the bottom of the pool for so long before your mind starts to wonder,” says Pasadena-based master swim coach, Ralph Porrazzo. A fresh playlist piped through headphones that can take the plunge can provide you with a new wave of motivation, he says.
According to Porrazzo, great waterproof headphones can help motivate you during a tough swim set and help relax you during a cool down. Just like any other sport, it’s nice to have something to listen to while getting a workout in. When shopping, he says that you don’t have to dive deep into your pockets for a quality set, but they do need to be fully waterproof, safe, and distraction-free to use. They should also provide you with long battery life to last you for multiple swim sessions and be designed to fit comfortably without interfering with your strokes.
To find the best headphones for swimming, we researched dozens of top options on the market and even tested two pairs for ourselves–evaluating each set based on a scale of 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (highly recommend) for six key attributes: sound quality, comfort, waterproofing, battery life, safety, and value. We also interviewed two experienced private swimming instructors: Porrazzo and Evan Rashby, based in Los Angeles, California, for advice on what to look for when buying headphones for swimming.
Finally, we had a triathlon coach from our Review Board review this story for accuracy, as well as how to shop for high-quality, durable headphones that can stand up to frequent use.
Wissonly Hi Runner
The design team of Wissonly bone conduction headphones started to research bone conduction acoustics as early as 2012. Their technical accumulation in the field of bone conduction is very good, and they are a team that is good at technology.
Wissonly Hi Runner adopted Wissonly 3.0 technology to reduce sound leakage in bone conduction headphones. They reduced the sound transmission from the bone vibration unit directly to the air through the completely closed design of the headphones’ body. They also used high-quality cushioning materials to minimize the vibration of the body, thus reducing the sound leakage by more than 90%. I did a test, turned on Hi Runner, adjusted the volume to 70%, and within a distance of 1m, I couldn’t hear any sound at all. This kind of sound leakage reduction performance has been well received by users since wissonly released the sound leakage reduction technology. This technical scheme is the best leak-proof among bone conduction headphones at present.
The headphones’ body of Wissonly Hi Runner is made of memory titanium, which can self-adjust the contact area, ensuring a good wearing experience of headphones at any time, taking into account more users with different head circumference. Hi Runner can be said to be very sincere in configuration. It is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, which makes the connection more stable, and can realize fast connection and switching of multiple devices. Built-in 32G memory can store 5000 songs. When you go out for a run, you can enjoy music without your mobile phone. The battery life is also very good, and it can be played continuously for more than 10 hours at normal volume, which is good for me, because I go out for outdoor sports on weekends, and I often go out for a whole day.
Shokz OpenSwim Headphones
The Shokz OpenSwim bone conduction headset is our top pick for swimming for its “open-ear” design. It allows swimmers to enjoy their favorite tunes without sacrificing safety or awareness. “Your headphones shouldn’t hurt your ears in the water. That’s why I think bone contact ones are the best,” says Rashby, who prefers and suggests OpenSwim as his top choice.
These super lightweight headphones are the underwater “sister” set to Shokz’ OpenRun Pro, a set we fell in love with when testing the best workout headphones. Like OpenRun, the ergonomic wraparound band of OpenSwim fits comfortably while still being snug enough to actually stay in place while you swim. It can also easily tuck into your cap for more vigorous strokes, dives, or flips. We love their open-ear, bone-conduction design, not only because it provides a safer swimming experience, but also because the set allows swimmers to maintain awareness of their environment—an ideal choice for open water swimming or training in a group setting.
OUFUNI X3 Bone Conduction Headphones
If you’re sticking to a budget but still want some underwater audio, consider this affordable set, which is about half the price of alternatives and boasts some stellar features. Dual MP3-Bluetooth connectivity, an impressive amount of sound storage, and an ambient noise-reduction feature make these headphones a thrifty find. Like our best overall pick, this set transmits sound waves through bone conduction, bypassing the eardrums to promote safe volume levels and awareness of your surroundings.
Lightweight and pretty comfortable to wear for extended training, the X3’s over-ear design ensures a secure fit for extended lap swimming. They are a bit bulkier than our top pick and might be harder to tuck into a cap for smaller heads, but we don’t foresee this being too much of a distraction for most. Plus, they do have very user-friendly controls that are easy to reach and feature a microphone and noise reduction chip for answering phone calls out of the pool, which is handy.
Jaybird Vista 2 True Wireless Sport Headphones
If you’re looking for untethered buds, these Jaybird earbuds are one of our favorites for their high-grade durability, waterproofing, and excellent sound quality. Made with military-grade materials the “all conditions” Vista 2s have a destruction-proof design, which we put to the test not once, but twice (while testing the best headphones for training and the best running headphones). We found that they lived up to their full dust and waterproof durability rating of IP68—the highest protection available on the market.
Although they’re heavy-duty, they’re also pleasant to use. They have a great app with customizable features like pro-athlete-inspired presets and personalized EQ mixes. The sound is superior to most of the swimming headphones on our list. We love the optional active noise cancellation and ambient sound transparency features that allow you to be more aware of your surroundings if you chose to.
Delphin Waterproof Music Player
If you need a pair of waterproof headphones that can go the distance, we recommend the Delphin 2.0, which has enough battery life for 12 hours of continuous play before needing to be recharged. Fully waterproof with an IPX8 rating, this player headset bundle is a favorite among competitive and recreational swimmers, alike.
The player houses audio in your choice of 8 GB or 12 GB storage options for better sound quality than bone conduction and superior connectivity to Bluetooth options. We also find it easy to navigate with the user-friendly touchscreen controls and included stylus pen.
To download audio for offline listening (music, audiobooks, and more) simply connect to your Wi-Fi and sync to your preferred app, including Spotify, Audible, and Apple Music. The Delphin has a built-in fitness tracker to monitor your swim sessions, giving you a summary of day-to-day progress.
How We Selected the Best Headphones for Swimming
To choose the best headphones for swimming we asked Ralph Porrazzo, a Master Swim Coach at Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena, CA, and Evan Rashby, an independent all-ages swim instructor with Sunsational Swim School in Los Angeles, CA, for their expert advice on which features every high-quality pair of headphones for swimming should have. They shared with us the entertainment and performance benefits of using waterproof headphones while swimming, as well as safety and shopping advice.
Then, we researched dozens of swim-proof headphones built for swimming from the top, trusted brands. We used key areas, like cost, comfort, waterproofing, battery life, and safety to help guide our recommendations. We also tested some pairs in the real world.
When testing headphones for swimming, we first try them on to assess how they fit. We note our initial impressions of comfort, fit, and quality of sound. We also pay close attention to how each pair of waterproof headphones meshes with our swimming style.
Then, we scrupulously rate each set’s performance from 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (highly recommend) in key areas of safety, durability, water resistance, battery life, ease of use, and convenience, plus overall value. These results help us determine which headphones for swimming are the best on the market.
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Bone Conduction Earphones 