Top Waterproof Headphones for Sports and Swimming

Explore the best waterproof headphones that are perfect for swimming and sports activities. Get ready to enjoy music in water with these top picks!

Understanding Waterproof Headphones

The best waterproof headphones are not only resistant to water damage like most workout headphones but also immerse you fully in the pool or open water. They are perfect for professional swimmers, swimming enthusiasts, open-water swimmers, and triathletes alike. Most of these headphones perform just as well above water, making them ideal if you need headphones for running that can withstand rain and harsh weather conditions.

Key features to look for include an ergonomic design that prevents them from falling out during workouts, and built-in storage that allows you to listen to music even if you’ve left your phone in the locker or at the beach.

While the best workout headphones are often splash or sweat-resistant, our top waterproof headphone selections come with an IPX7 rating or higher, allowing them to be submerged in water up to one meter for 30 minutes. While we offer models with more features, this is the minimum level you should expect from waterproof headphones.

Still uncertain about the difference between waterproof and water-resistant headphones? Waterproof means that headphones can be submerged in water, while water-resistant means they can withstand splashes, sweat, and rain. Many of the headphones listed below utilize bone conduction technology, and we have a separate guide for the best bone conduction headphones.

In 2025, we still prefer the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, but here’s a complete overview of everything available!

Best Waterproof Headphones: Quick Overview

If you don’t have time to read our complete guide to the best waterproof headphones, check out the quick overview below to quickly find the best options that meet your needs and budget. You can use the links to jump or scroll down for our more detailed headphone reviews.

Overall Best Waterproof Headphones

Shokz OpenSwim Pro

Best Overall

These headphones offer excellent sound quality, Bluetooth and MP3 support, and reliable waterproofing, making them the top choice for most people.

Best Multi-Sport Waterproof Headphones

H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport

Best Multi-Sport Option

Here you have rich bass sound, 8GB of memory, and a mode that allows you to use the headphones in both water and on land.

Best Premium Waterproof Headphones

Zygo Solo

Best Premium Choice

These high-end bone conduction headphones use an FM transmitter to stream music and podcasts from your phone.

Best Music Storage Waterproof Headphones

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro

Best Music Storage

With 36GB of storage, these headphones offer double the capability of other options listed here. You can also stream music via Bluetooth when you're on land.

Best Stability Headphones

Shokz OpenSwim

Best Stability

These bone conduction headphones, chosen for their stability, provide a comfortable and secure fit that won’t interfere during workouts and swimming.

Best Waterproof Streaming Headphones

YouthWhisper SuperQ3

Best Budget Streaming Headphones

The YouthWhisper SuperQ3 handles many tasks well within its limitations, as it lacks built-in memory. However, the Bluetooth works surprisingly well, and they cost less than $50, providing decent sound quality.

Detailed Reviews of the Best Waterproof Headphones

Overall Best Waterproof Headphones

Shokz Openswim Pro

Best Overall Waterproof Headphones

Specifications

• Waterproof Rating: IP68
• Battery Life: 9 hours Bluetooth, 6 hours MP3
• Storage: Case
• Audio Formats: Any
• Additional Info: Saltwater resistant, Bluetooth

Pros:

• Excellent waterproofing, IP68
• Combination of Bluetooth and MP3 options
• Bone conduction keeps your ears free

Cons:

• Bluetooth does not work underwater
• Not as good drivers as OpenRun Pro

The Shokz Openswim Pro takes the top spot in our buying guide because they are high-quality bone conduction headphones with excellent waterproofing designed for use both on land and in water. Most headphones on this list don’t cover your ears and operate using bone conduction, but Shokz stands out among them.

You can stream music from your phone or music player via Bluetooth, but underwater, the signal tends to drop, so there's also 32GB of built-in storage in the integrated MP3 player. While this may be a downside if you primarily use streaming services like Spotify, it is the perfect solution for swimming if you have a musical library.

With their exceptional battery life, convenience, and stellar performance, it’s no wonder we’ve chosen them as our top pick!

Best Multi-Sport Waterproof Headphones

H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport

Best Multi-Sport Waterproof Headphones

Specifications

• Waterproof Rating: IPX8
• Battery Life: 8-9 hours
• Memory Size: 8GB
• Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, and M4A from Apple iTunes
• Additional Info: Bone conduction, immersion up to 3.5 meters indefinitely

Pros:

• Bone conduction technology leaves your ears free
• Combination of memory and Bluetooth options
• Waterproofing with IPX8

Cons:

• Controls can be tricky to operate quickly
• Heavy bass

The H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport waterproof headphones with open earbuds let you enjoy music underwater like you’re at a party, thanks to their rich bass sound and 8GB of memory for storing favorite workout tracks. Compared to the JBL headphones described above, these bone conduction headphones are an excellent choice for swimming since they don't cover your ears, nearly preserving sound quality.

During testing, we found that files were easy to upload and organize at your discretion. So, if you’re worried about using an MP3 player nowadays, don’t be! The most challenging part is finding decent podcasts to download in MP3 format!

If you want streaming options, these headphones also support Bluetooth, but Bluetooth still works poorly underwater. Nevertheless, it allows you to experiment with Spotify and other music streaming services on land and near the water's surface.

The main button controls playback, pause, and switching between Bluetooth and memory modes, as well as several other functions that require some getting used to. But overall, these headphones are fantastic.

Best Premium Waterproof Headphones

Zygo Solo

Best Premium Waterproof Headphones

Specifications

• Waterproof Rating: IP68
• Battery Life: 3 hours
• Storage: N/A
• Audio Formats: Any
• Additional Info: Bone conduction, safe for saltwater, depth up to 50 meters

Pros:

• Underwater streaming via FM
• Easy to use
• Includes audio training guide

Cons:

• No playback button on the headphones
• No internal memory

The Zygo Solo is the only waterproof headphones we've tested that can play music and podcasts from a phone sitting by the pool. As mentioned earlier, Bluetooth signals can only penetrate water at a very short distance, and Zygo Solo solves this issue with an FM transmitter—an unusual yet effective approach.

The transmitter is quite large, but the ability to enjoy music, podcasts, and coaching tips (provided by the Zygo app) without fiddling with MP3 files is a real bonus. The earphones themselves aren’t as compact as others in this guide, but in our tests, they proved comfortable and stayed in place even while turning underwater. The sound quality is also impressive.

Zygo Solo uses bone conduction to transmit sound to the auditory nerve, and while the sound may seem a bit tinny on land, it impresses with bass in the pool.

We are also big fans of the Zygo app, which offers instructor-led workouts and exercises to spice up your sessions. In the future, the company plans to add interactive classes in a Peloton style that will use the built-in accelerometer in the headset to track your progress in the water. These are the best premium bone conduction waterproof headphones you can buy today.

Best Music Storage Waterproof Headphones

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro

Best Music Storage Waterproof Headphones

Specifications

• Waterproof Rating: IP69
• Battery Life: 10 hours
• Memory Size: 32GB
• Audio Formats: MP3, FLAC
• Additional Info: Bone conduction, multipoint connectivity

Pros:

• Long battery life
• Memory size is double that of the H20 model above
• Supports MP3 and FLAC

Cons:

• Sound quality could be better
• Earplugs recommended for best experience

The Nank Runner Diver2 Pro stands out from other bone conduction headphones on this list by offering massive storage (32GB, enough for thousands of songs or podcasts) and also supporting Bluetooth streaming. However, these waterproof headphones primarily support Bluetooth, making them great for connecting to multiple devices.

Like with earplugs, the flexible headset allows you to adjust the speakers closer or further away from your ears for comfort, as well as press them against the included earplugs for a closed listening experience. They perform well both underwater during swimming and on the roads during runs, with a 10-hour battery life and quick charging.

Since they use bone conduction, expect bass-heavy sound that may lack high frequencies. But we don’t see this as a major drawback compared to what you get elsewhere.

Best Stability Waterproof Headphones

Shokz OpenSwim

Best Stability Waterproof Headphones

Specifications

• Waterproof Rating: IPX68
• Battery Life: 8 hours
• Memory Size: 4GB
• Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC
• Additional Info: Bone conduction, safe for saltwater

Pros:

• Lightweight and secure fit
• Excellent situational awareness

Cons:

• No Bluetooth connectivity
• Only 4GB of memory

These waterproof bone conduction headphones are great for sports, functioning well both in and out of the pool. With a built-in MP3 player, you can take your music with you while swimming, as well as work out to music without your phone. The Shokz Openswim only has 4GB of memory, significantly less than some other products on this list.

We found that for swimming, Shokz OpenSwim (known as AfterShokz Xtrainerz prior to the company’s rebranding in December 2021) works best when paired with swimming goggles or a swim cap to keep them from slipping off. With a special swimming mode, the sound is clear enough, and your ears are not only protected from potential irritants but you can also hear surrounding noises, like a lifeguard blowing a whistle to ensure you don’t splash too much.

Despite other advantages, the lack of Bluetooth means you must plug the headphones into your phone to load songs or podcasts, and you can’t make calls. However, if you primarily swim, these are an excellent choice.

Best Budget Waterproof Streaming Headphones

YouthWhisper SuperQ3

Best Cheap Waterproof Streaming Headphones

Specifications

• Weight: 34g
• Waterproof Rating: IP67
• Battery Life: 8 hours
• Storage: None

Pros:

• Streams well close to the surface
• Very affordable
• Good design with easy controls

Cons:

• Better with earplugs
• No internal memory

Despite lacking built-in memory, the YouthWhisper SuperQ3 performs well in the pool—provided you stay near the surface. If you're willing to leave a streaming device by the pool, the YouthWhisper headset can even work in larger pools.

During testing, we found the controls to be intuitive and easy to use even when wet, and it’s possible to make calls in the pool and out. This headset can be used while swimming, but it suffers from the same limitation as all Bluetooth headsets: Bluetooth does not work well underwater.

Nevertheless, the sound quality is good, especially for podcasts if you wear earplugs in the pool for optimal results. They sit comfortably, and the overall design works great despite the limitations of Bluetooth technology. They are currently very affordable.

How to Choose the Best Waterproof Headphones?

When purchasing waterproof in-ear or earplug headphones, the first thing to consider is their design. If you like how regular in-ear headphones fit, a pair of earplugs might be your best option. However, a pair of bone conduction headphones will be best if you want your ears free and can navigate your surroundings.

It's also worth considering how you want to access your music. If you want to leave your phone by the pool, swimming headphones with a built-in FM transmitter like the Zygo Solo are the best choice—standard Bluetooth headphones won't work underwater.

If you don’t want to rely on your phone, you’ll need a pair of swimming headphones with a built-in MP3 player. You just need to check how much memory they have. For example, the Naenka Runner Diver headphones from our guide above come with a built-in MP3 player with 16GB of memory—this is roughly 3000 to 4000 MP3 files.

Can You Use Bluetooth Headphones While Swimming?

Generally, no—Bluetooth signals do not transmit well through water. If you can attach a smartwatch to a pair of swimming goggles, you can use it to stream music to your headphones, but not all smartwatches and headphones support this function.

Can You Swim with Apple AirPods?

No, Apple AirPods, AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro are not fully waterproof. Only wear headphones specifically designed for swimming in open water or pools.

In conclusion, finding the right waterproof headphones is essential for enjoying your music while swimming or participating in sports. With options available for various budgets and preferences, you can find the perfect headphone to enhance your aquatic experience.

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