[2024 Updated] How to Choose the Best Headphones For Swimming

No matter how enthusiastic we are, swimming gets a bit boring sometimes, right? That's where swimming headphones come in! You can listen to your favorite tunes or even listen to a nice podcast while swimming.

Nowadays, swimming headphones have features such as bone conduction which transmits sound through the cheekbones. This means your ears stay open to hear what's going on around you, keeping you safe. Moreover, these waterproof headphones for swimming come to handle a lot of water. They are designed enough to be tight to not come off when you are swimming with them on.

However, to enjoy these features, you need to choose and then use your headphones carefully. 

Getting confused? Hold on! This post will let you know everything about swimming headphones to enhance your swimming experience and keep you going.

So let’s go ahead!

Why Use Specific Headphones For Swimming?

The trend of water-resistant headphones for swimming is significantly increasing these days due to multiple reasons, such as:

• Prevents damage from water exposure during swimming.
• Maintains functionality and longevity despite moisture.
• Secure fit and lightweight design for uninterrupted swimming.
• Allows awareness of surroundings for increased safety.
• Ideal for swimming, surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The Advantages of Using Swimming Headphones

Bone conduction headphones for swimming transmit sound through cheekbones instead of your eardrums, making swimming fun, safe, and double. This innovative approach has several advantages:

Convenience

Swimming headphones through bone conduction keep your ears open to ensure you are always aware of what is happening around you. This feature is helpful, especially for pool or open water safety.

Healthier

One significant advantage of bone conduction in swimming headphones is that they do not plug up the ear canals, which decreases ear infections, inflammation of the ear, or discomfort related to in-ear headphones.

Comfort

These headphones come with wearable features that ensure they do not easily slip from your ears regardless of your swimming intensity level. Finally, you won’t have to remain anxious that they will slip off or get spoiled by water.

Durability

Swimming headphones for bone conduction are constructed from water-resistant material that allows them to be exposed to water but remain fully active.

How to Choose the Best Headphones for Swimming

If you want to choose the best headphones for swimming, you should consider the best headphones for swimming, which is possible when you keep certain points in your mind, such as:

• Waterproof Rating: Ensure high waterproofing for underwater use.
• Fit and Comfort: Look for secure and comfortable designs.
• Sound Quality: Clear sound with good bass for noisy environments.
• Technology: Choose between bone conduction or traditional waterproof earbuds.
• Battery Life: Long playback time for uninterrupted sessions.
• Controls: Make sure your headphones are easy to use, even underwater or with wet hands.
• Compatibility: Your headphone should be compatible with your devices and file formats.
• Durability: Swimming headphones are resistant to chlorine and saltwater, so ensure your headphones hold this feature.
• Additional Features: Noise cancellation, MP3 players, or voice assistants can be a plus.

Top 3 Recommendations For Swimming Headphones

We know the market is overwhelmed with headphones, and it is very tricky to pick one; after extensive research, we have chosen the best three headphones for you; let's have a look:

1. Nank Runner Diver2

With the 32GB Nank Runner Diver 2, you can listen to music of your choice when swimming. This swimming headphone is suitable to use while swimming, running, jogging, and cycling, among other activities.

Nank Runner Driver2 is powered by a 180mAh battery that supports 10 hours of gaming time and 1 hour for a full charge. Additionally, it has 5 hours through the magnetic fast charging sessions.

It can be synchronized with both iOS and Android smartphones; moreover, it has an MP3 mode with 32GB memory, which aids in storing countless songs.

Price: $127.99

Rating: 5 stars

Pros:

• Perfect for outdoor activities
• Upgraded Bluetooth 5.3
• Advanced MP3 and sound quality

Cons:

• Reduced bass response

2. Shokz OpenSwim Pro

Shokz OpenSwim Pro headphones are ideal for outdoor activities with MP3 mode for built-in music playback. They offer Bluetooth mode for versatile listening during running, cycling, or gym sessions. The open-ear design enhances safety and awareness during activities like swimming.

With secure-fit ear hooks and a lightweight build, they ensure comfort and stability. Physical buttons provide easy control, and PremiumPitch™ 2.0+ technology delivers clear sound and rich bass for music and calls.

Price: $179.95

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Pros:

• Enhanced safety with open-ear design.
• Secure fit with ergonomic ear hooks.
• Comfortable, lightweight design.
• Easy control with physical buttons.

Cons:

• Lacks streaming capability.
• A bit expensive if you have a limited budget.

3. Underwateraudio Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2

If you have Swimbuds Bone Conduction 2, you can enjoy up to 6 hours of playback with 16 GB of built-in storage; incredibly, it is enough for 67 hours of audio or 4,000 songs.

You can listen to MP3s in standalone mode or pair them with your Delphin 2.0 (sold separately) for Spotify, Audible, and more without cables.

Connect this water-resistant headphone to your phone via Bluetooth on land, and transfer files easily via USB, compatible with MP3, AAC, M4a, and FLAC file types. It is perfect for swimmers and outdoor enthusiasts who want a seamless and versatile listening experience.

Price: $140.00

Rating: 4 Stars

Pros:

• Long playback time with good storage.
• Versatile listening with MP3 standalone and Bluetooth pairing.
• Compatible with various file types and devices.

Cons:

• Requires additional purchase of Delphin 2.0 for Spotify and Audible functionality

How To Use Headphones For Swimming: Simple Steps

You can follow the given steps to enjoy swimming headphones to the fullest while swimming.

• Step 1: Choose waterproof headphones specifically for swimming. Be careful that only certain models, such as Nank include MP3 mode compatibility with swimming headphones, so it is better to consider them.
• Step 2: Consider features such as bone conduction technology for enhanced comfort and safety.
• Step 3: Tighten or loosen the headband or straps to get the best fit. Ensure they are positioned well such that during swimming they do not move around.
• Step 4: Before swimming, transfer your favourite music to your headphones. Let's take Spotify as an example, you may download the playlists you like, connetct your headphones to PC, copy and paste the playlists to the target folder, so as to make sure you can listen to your podcast during the exercise.
• Step 5: To add additional protection for your ears, put a swim cap over your headphones. Clean your headphones with fresh water after using them in a chlorinated pool or seawater.

Final Words

It is essential to have swimming headphones for the purpose of making your swimming sessions more fun and productive. Swimming headphones should therefore be waterproof or water-resistant; they should fit right into the ears and should be comfortable to wear.

The bone conduction headphones are great because they let you hear what’s happening around you. Some of the features to consider include the MP3 mode for the built-in audio player and Bluetooth function for versatility.

With these considerations, you can find the right headphones for swimming to complement your exercise experience and motivation.

So, why make swimming boring when you have Waterproof Headphones for Swimming?