Swimming is better with music
There’s no better way to listen to music in the water than with the best bone-conduction headphones. Sure, a lot of earbuds these days, especially of the workout variety, have a relatively high water resistance, but they can only stay in the water so long. There are even some waterproof options out there, but they still aren’t ideal. That’s because all wireless earbuds rely on Bluetooth connectivity, which just doesn’t work well in the water.
Bone-conduction headphones are the best headphones for swimming for a few reasons. First, since they don’t go inside your ear and transmit sound through your cheekbones, you don’t have to worry about them popping out or water seeping in and interrupting your hearing. Second, many of the models meant for swimmers address the Bluetooth issue. They feature a built-in MP3 player, FM transmitter, or some other technology, so you can listen to whatever you want without an intermittent connection.
However, not all bone-conduction headphones are right for the job. The best bone-conduction headphones for swimming included on this list were selected because of their IP rating (determines water resistance level), connectivity type, audio quality, battery life, build quality, and integrated player. With that in mind, here are the best bone-conduction headphones for swimming.
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H2O Audio Sonar
Best overall
$100 $130 Save $30
These bone-conduction headphones feature a relatively small 8GB internal memory, but the audio player supports proprietary and free formats. The H2O Audio Sonar underwater headphones are IPX8 waterproof, and sound quality underwater is among the best we’ve tested. For extra safety, make sure to clip them onto your swimming goggles. Note: Charging and file transfer setup may be tricky without reading the instructions first.
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H2O Audio Tri Pro Multi-Sport with Playlist+
Premium pick
$160 $180 Save $20
This updated version of the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport is the ideal option for athletes. They offer 5 hours of use, an IP68 rating to handle the water, and a secure fit for swimming, biking, and running. There’s even a built-in 8GB MP3 player and H2O Audio’s unique Playlist+ (the main difference between this version and its predecessor). This patent-pending tech can store playlists, podcasts, and music from your favorite streaming service, so you can leave the phone at home.
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Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones
Best value
$30 $40 Save $10
With the Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones, you can enjoy 8 hours of underwater audio with impressive sound quality and store up to 8GB of music in the internal storage for in-pool entertainment. Above water, you’ll get a stable Bluetooth connection with your phone, and many colorway options add to the pair’s fun feel. The only drawback is the sluggish data transfer rate of 2 hours for 1.8GB.
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Gogailen Bone Conduction Swimming Headphones
Most capacity
$56 $70 Save $14
Gogailen bone-conduction swimming headphones boast pro-grade IPX8 waterproofing, rendering them among the finest underwater headphones. Equipped with a 32GB MP3 player, they support various audio formats and store 2,000+ songs. They are also lightweight yet robust and securely fit on your temples without requiring constant adjustments. With these, you can expect to experience 10 hours of uninterrupted, high-quality audio pleasure.
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Shokz OpenSwim Swimming MP3
Shokz offers a wide range of bone-conduction headphones, and this model is an upgrade of the AfterShokz Xtrainerz. The OpenSwim MP3 player underwater headphones can store over 1,200 tracks in popular formats like MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC. With user-friendly controls, they are perfect for playing and changing tracks. Moreover, they are IP68 grade waterproof, allowing you to enjoy music up to 2 meters underwater for 2 hours. The only downside is that there’s no Bluetooth support.
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Fojep Openear AS18 Bone Conduction Headphones
$80 $100 Save $20
If you need good swimming headphones with a durable and lightweight build (under 1oz), then you can’t go wrong with the Fojep Openear AS18. They have an IP68 waterproofing rating, surprisingly good audio for bone-conduction headphones, and up to 10 hours of use on a single charge. They are pretty flexible, fitting any head size or shape, around and under the hair cap or swimming goggles.
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Dejavi Alpha Bone Conduction Headphones
Dejavi’s Alpha headphones combine style and performance effortlessly. Featuring shiny side strips and innovative bone-conduction technology, these headphones deliver audio through cheekbone transducers. They also boast IPX8-grade waterproofing. With 8GB built-in memory for storing all your favorite tunes and a magnetic charging wire providing 8 hours of playback, these headphones are the perfect choice for those seeking versatility and quality in one sleek package.
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Mojawa HaptiFit Terra
The Mojawa HaptiFit Terra might be pricey, but they add AI training programs and real-time health and activity tracking to a pair of bone-conduction headphones that are already great for the pool. They’ve also got 32GB of space as well as Bluetooth and voice assistant support. As far as keeping track of those extras? You can access them as well as EQ settings via the companion app. And, if you’re worried about battery life, there are eight hours available here.
The best bone-conduction headphones for you
Since listening to music underwater comes with a unique set of issues, bone conduction technology is often the best way to address those problems. Since this tech sends sound waves through your bones, it’s the ideal way to listen to music as you don’t have to worry about anything outside the ear canal getting in the way. They’re also versatile enough to use them for other activities like cycling, jogging, and more. Athletes appreciate them for those activities as well, since they don’t touch your ears, allowing you to still fully hear your surroundings.
The H2O Audio Sonar underwater headphones are a great option since they balance the various features nicely. They’re a little older, but they get the job done.
As far as budget goes, the Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones offer quite a bit of storage for not much money. And, if you’re willing to spend a bit more, the H2O Audio Tri Pro Multi-Sport with Playlist+ have the technology to download any and everything from your Spotify account, making the whole process of getting MP3s and uploading them to your headphones a thing of the past.
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