Waterproof earbuds: Top 5 swimming earbuds in 2022
Need extra motivation for your swim workout? Here are our choices for the best waterproof earbuds you can buy in 2022.
What Are the Best Waterproof Earbuds For Swimming?
Unlike regular earbuds, waterproof earbuds have their internal circuitry and components waterproofed.
They are covered with a water-resistant hydrophobic coating that makes the droplets glide effortlessly off the surface.
Besides coating, the best waterproof earbuds should be able to remain submerged in water for a long time without the droplets entering the circuitry or destroying the underwater audio quality.
Buyer’s Guide For Waterproof earbuds for swimming
Before purchasing swimming headphones or earbuds , you must consider some factors because you don't want to waste money on earbuds that will underperform, get damaged as soon as you hit the water, or are an overpriced rip-off.
If you’re buying the best waterproof earbuds , you must look for particular things in the earbuds and compare other features. Consider asking yourself:
- What is the IP rating of waterproof earbuds?
- Is the earbud wired or wireless?
- Does it have built-in controls, and how can I access them?
- Does it come with a secure ear fit? Will it fall while you swim?
- Will it affect your swimming strokes?
Some specific standards and features set earbuds apart and help distinguish between the best and average waterproof earbuds.
So before purchasing a pair, you must know the distinction between different waterproof earbuds.
We have listed them below:
Waterproof rating
The IP ratings measure the level of waterproofing, so you’ll know exactly how long your device can remain submerged in the water without getting damaged.
An IPX7 rating is considered an average waterproofing standard, and headphones or earbuds using that rating can stay submerged in three feet of water for up to 30 minutes.
However, you wouldn't want any earbuds having below IPX7 rating because there is no logic behind earbuds being waterproofed if they'll get damaged as soon as they hit the water.
If you want your earbuds to stay longer in water, consider using above IPX7 rated devices, which can handle more than 30 minutes of submersion.
Wired vs. Bone Conduction
You cannot use wireless earbuds that use Bluetooth technology underwater because they are rendered useless when submerged a few inches in the water. Hence, you have two options for waterproof earbuds.
You can either use standard wired earbuds by pairing them with a waterproof MP3 player or fully waterproof earbuds with built-in music storage.
There’s also an option of using bone conduction headphones if you suffer from a hearing problem.
They go over your cheekbones and around the head and use vibrations to transfer the sound to your ears.
Although their sound quality might not be suitable as other waterproof buds, they can be worth looking into if you dislike in-ear headphones.
Integrated MP3 Player
What's the use of wireless earbuds if you have to keep your phone at close range to listen to music while swimming.
But you won't have to because the best wired waterproof earbuds come integrated with an MP3 player.
Or those who don't come integrated, you can pair them with a waterproof MP3 player while swimming.
With a separate MP3 player, you wouldn't have to worry about limited battery life like you would have with waterproof headphones that come with integrated MP3.
Battery life
Usually, waterproof earbuds with an integrated MP3 player have a long battery life as the player relies on independent batteries.
They have a maximum capacity of 4 hours, but choosing earbuds with a higher capacity won't hurt. Additionally, try choosing headphones with universal connectors.
Ear tip Styles
Ear tips come in multiple styles and materials such as snug fit, flanged, tree tips, fin tips, rubber, silicone, foam, etc.
You can choose one that fits your ears best.
But ultimately, the point of best-fit earbuds is that they should keep a watertight seal to prevent water from leaking in.
They must also be comfortable in your ears, so you can swim without worrying about your earbuds sinking to the bottom of the pool.
Some will come with an ear hook to provide an even more secure fit.
Top 5 waterproof earbuds for swimming in 2022
Here we have ranked and reviewed the top 5 waterproof swimming earbuds according to their ranking and ratings by customers.
Calcini SweatPro3 (Best budget option)
Calcini SweatPro3 is at the top of their game when choosing waterproof earbuds.
With a waterproof rating of 8, SweatPro3 earbuds come with Water Guard technology.
So stay as long as you want in the water, play water sports, run or ride without any worries.
In addition, they have an outstanding overall sound quality with a built-in exclusive customization S series speaker, which gives you an immersive motivational music experience, motivating you to move with the deep bass.
Moreover, they are compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, and all Bluetooth devices, easy to pair, and equipped with a voice assistant.
With a 5 hours battery life, you can splash around as long as you want, and three sizes of stay ear tips and wingtips, no matter how aggressive your swim laps, these earbuds won't fall.
Regarding their affordable pricing, features, and audio quality, we give Calcini earbuds a 10/10 score.
Pros
- Well constructed, snug fit, and comes with customized ear tips.
- Top-notch music quality underwater.
- Longer battery life.
- Affordable price.
- Fully waterproof and can stay submerged without getting damaged.
- Easy pairing and no left or right ear constrictions.
Cons
- Less active noise cancellation, though, reduces ambient noise.
KITONE True
With an IPX7 waterproof rating, you won't have to worry that they'll get damaged due to water or sweat while playing water sports, running, or riding.
KITONE True wireless earbuds also come equipped with an upgraded Bluetooth 5.0 technology, making them easy to pair with any device.
For 6 hours of listening time, these earbuds ensure you can stream music for as long as you want.
Furthermore, the charging case has a 500mAh battery offering additional 25h playtime.
These earbuds have built-in microphones that provide noise cancellation during phone calls, video chatting, and online meetings.
Moreover, they feature an Audio Equalization System that can surround you with deep bass and rich sound quality.
With a sleek ergonomic design, they come with three sizes of soft ear tips that can stay securely in ears, even in small ears.
However, they are not made for swimming laps, as Bluetooth technology is useless underwater.
Overall we give them a 9.6/10 score.
Pros
- A convenient charging case that shows battery life.
- Great quality sound with crisp highs.
- Universal touch controls.
- Automatic Bluetooth pairing.
- Great price.
- Four indicator lights to check the charge.
- It comes with a reset setting to solve pairing and connection problems.
- Responsive design.
- Snug fit and comfortable earbuds.
Cons
- They are left and right-sided, so they are not interchangeable.
- No wireless charging feature for the charging case.
- Cannot use them underwater.
Tayogo bone conduction headphones
With an exceptional build quality and IPX8 waterproof rating, Tayogo bone conduction technology offers a full immersion feature for water sports and swimming laps.
These water-resistant headphones provide the highest waterproof technology where you can use them 5 meters underwater.
Besides, they include heatproof features for the bathing, sauna, or hot spring and function properly with temperatures below or equal to 60℃/180℉.
Tayogo bone conduction headphones have an integrated MP3 player with a built-in 8GB memory where you can store up to 2000 of your favorite tunes.
Moreover, it offers various audio file support, and with a 7-hour listening time, you won't get tired of playing music while surfing, diving, or swimming.
In addition, they also come equipped with radio reception.
The covering is silicone with a 360-degree adjustable headframe that provides a secure fit around your head if adjusted.
However, you would have to use swim caps so they can securely fit over your cheekbones.
Overall we give these bone conduction headphones a 9.6/10 score.
Pros
- They are heat and water-resistant so that they can be used in hot springs, etc.
- Excellent sound quality while playing various water sports.
- Device connectivity is simple.
- Excellent battery life.
- 8GB of music storage.
- Has a smartphone app for extra functions.
Cons
- No high-end active noise cancellation.
- Does not come with extra earbuds.
- Less sound quality underwater.
- Won't stay in position, so you would have to use swim caps for aggressive swim laps.
- Radio reception is not good.
- Incompatible with Apple file formats.
H2O Audio Stream 2
A bit more pricey than others on our list, but with a battery life of 10 hours, H2O Audio Stream 2 waterproof earbuds are best when it comes to using them in your swim laps.
They offer an IPX8 waterproof rating and can be actively used 3 meters underwater.
These earbuds were made for underwater workouts with an ergonomic design, sleek speakers, and earbuds that sit flush with the ear canal.
Moreover, you can easily attach them with your goggles through 360 Snap-Clip.
H2O waterproof earbuds provide superior underwater audio quality through stereo speakers to motivate you with your aggressive swimming strokes.
Besides, dedicated volume control and track buttons help you play your favorite tunes at the right volume.
The best thing that we like about them is that they are compatible with Apple iTunes music.
With an 8 GB of built-in memory capacity that can store over 2000 songs, you can play music to your heart's content while swimming, running, or diving without getting bored.
The H2O stream also comes with a Bluetooth feature where you can pair these earbuds with other water-resistant devices.
We give these waterproof earbuds an overall score of 9.4/10.
Pros
- Easy to transfer music.
- Apple iTunes music compatibility.
- Built-in rotating clip.
- No jack corrosion.
- Comes with different-sized ear tips.
Cons
- Bluetooth headphones don't work well underwater.
- The wireless range is only 10 meters.
- No display to check the charge.
Sony NWWS413LM
Coming from a reputable brand, this headphone/MP3 player combo has an IPX8 waterproof rating where you can remain submerged underwater for up to 2 meters for 30 minutes.
Sony NWWS413LM comes with dust protection and sweat-proof features which can endure the most arduous activities without getting damaged.
Moreover, you can use these headphones both in fresh and saltwater.
With two sets of regular and swimming ear tips and a flexible headband design, the headphones allow for flips and aggressive swimming strokes.
With a Sound Effects-Dynamic Normalizer and ambient noise function, it does not keep you isolated from the world.
In addition, its ergonomic design provides a secure fit over the outer ear, and with a 4GB internal storage, you can stream music or shuffle songs to your heart's content.
We give these waterproof headphones an overall 9/10 score.
Pros
- Incredible total charge rate of 36 minutes.
- Long battery life.
- Easy and straightforward to use interface.
- Comfortable and adjustable fit over the head and ear canal.
Cons
- A bit pricey for features.
- Sony does not offer support.
- Earbuds have a film that downgrades sound quality.
- Ambient noise mode may hinder sound quality.
- Easy to misplace proprietary charging clips.
- Low volume on even on maximum settings.
Conclusion
We hope that our comprehensive guide on waterproof earbuds has cleared many of your questions and doubts.
So, if you are shopping for a new pair of earbuds for your outdoor workout, what better to choose than the best waterproof headphones for swimming, riding, surfing, and other activities.
Consider factors such as waterproof rating, durability, excellent underwater sound quality, build quality, and ear tips before purchasing one.
Because the best waterproof headphones won't sacrifice sound quality and get damaged with sweat, rain, or underwater sports. So, pick out a pair that best suits your purpose.
