I’m looking for recommendations for my partner, who swims regularly. They currently use swimming headphones but have to download MP3s of podcasts and manually fast forward to the right spot. It’s a bit inconvenient.
Does anyone know of something more advanced or higher-tech that syncs with a phone but still works underwater ?
Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater. That’s why all swimming headphones require downloading MP3 files.
Cairo said:
Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater. That’s why all swimming headphones require downloading MP3 files.
Is there anything better than having to rewind and fast forward like it’s an old cassette player?
Cairo said:
Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater. That’s why all swimming headphones require downloading MP3 files.
If I swim freestyle, will Bluetooth work for me? Or will rotating my head to breathe cause interruptions?
There are two solid options. For premium, check out Shokz Openswim Pro for around $200. For a budget-friendly choice, look into generic bone conduction headphones, which are about $50 but still work well.
@Marlon
I just replaced my 3-year-old Shokz Openswim for $104 during a Black Friday sale (normally $150). The new pro version includes Bluetooth but only works outside of water. This is great for triathletes or anyone wanting a single set for both swimming and everyday use. For underwater, you’ll still need to use MP3 downloads.
@Kyrie
I’ve had generic bone conduction headphones for two years, and they cost me about $40. They have an MP3 mode for swimming and a Bluetooth mode for use outside the pool. They’ve been very reliable.
I use Shokz Openswim headphones, and they’re great. The only issue I’ve had is that wearing a swim cap over them can be uncomfortable since I have a large head. Without the cap, they’re perfect.
Halston said:
I use Shokz Openswim headphones, and they’re great. The only issue I’ve had is that wearing a swim cap over them can be uncomfortable since I have a large head. Without the cap, they’re perfect.
Try using a spandex swim cap. I have the same issue with a large head, and it works well for me.
I use H2O Audio with my Apple Watch. It’s been a game changer for me. Absolutely love it.
Look into bone conduction headphones that use a radio signal. I use Zygo’s model. It streams audio from your phone via a small radio transmitter by the pool, so you don’t need to download anything. The downside is it cuts out if your head goes more than a foot underwater, like during flip turns. For me, it’s worth it since I have a private pool where I can keep my setup close by.
Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater, so any swimming headphones will need files stored locally. I use Shokz Openswim Pro, and they sound great. There’s a specific water mode in the settings that makes them ideal for swimming.
I’ve recently learned about Suunto Aqua headphones. They’re similar to Shokz Openswim Pro but include extra features like swim tracking and gesture controls. If you’re already in the Suunto ecosystem, it might be worth looking into. The only downside is they lack certain swim drill features.
I just bought the Delphin 2.0. I don’t have a computer or music library to drag and drop files, but the Delphin lets me stream from apps like Spotify or Apple Music on my phone, and then play it back later. Can’t wait to try it out.
I’ve used both Zygo and Shokz Openswim Pro. The Zygo streams underwater but has poor sound quality and breaks easily. The Shokz are sturdy, sound great, and are comfortable, but you do need to load MP3s onto them. I stuck with Shokz because they’ve been more reliable overall.
I didn’t like Openswim because they felt loose without a swim cap, and uncomfortable with one. I switched to H2O Audio (not the Apple Watch model), and they’ve been perfect. They fit snugly and only need occasional charging.