It’s no secret that the right music can have a positive impact on a person’s abilities, whether that’s focusing at the office or powering through a workout at the gym. Music can be especially beneficial for athletes; studies have shown that music can improve concentration, reduce stress, and even help with motor functions.
However, some workouts don’t lend themselves to listening to music. Swimmers may very well benefit from listening to music, but it might be impractical or impossible to swim with your phone in your pocket. Fortunately, there are now a variety of sport headphones with waterproofing that even swimmers can use.
It might seem like the word “waterproof” would be easily defined as something that is impervious to water. But there are actually multiple categories of waterproofing; some devices are splash resistant and some are submersible. Electronics are rated using the IP system. For waterproofing, IPX8 is the best. IPX8 devices are fully submersible up to a certain depth.
Even if you’re not a swimmer, water-resistant headphones can be a great investment. They’ll remain protected against sweat at the gym. And if you run or cycle in the rain, you won’t want wet weather to get in the way of your throwback funk playlist.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite waterproof headphones. Some of these are truly waterproof and will work for swimmers. Most of them are water-resistant, so they’ll be sturdy enough to withstand other kinds of moisture, such as sweat and humidity from the weather or the shower. Read on for our picks.
1. Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Headphones
If you want something truly waterproof that you can swim with, then you’ll need to invest. These wired earbuds may look similar to budget options, but they’re designed with swimmers in mind. The headphones use a standard 3.5 mm jack. They’re designed to be plugged into a compact player that can be clipped to the swimmer’s goggles.
Pros: Designed specifically for swimmers. It comes with various inserts to suit the user’s preferences.
Cons: They protrude from the ears in a somewhat bulky way.
2. TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Earbuds
Wireless earbuds are a great option for many athletes because there are no wires to accidentally pull while moving. These sleek headphones are truly wireless, unlike typical sport headphones. They include a charging case, which is Qi-compatible. That means you can charge your earbuds on a wireless charger. These are suitable for running and other intense activities, but not recommended for swimming.
Pros: Wireless headphones, charging dock is Qi-enabled for truly wireless charging. Sleek design.
Cons: Not designed for swimming.
3. AGPTEK IPX8 Waterproof in-Ear Earphones
AGPTEK’s set of headphones is another option that is specifically designed for swimmers. They’re highly affordable, and feature a 3.5 mm jack to connect to waterproofed players. Various ear tips are included with the buds, so you can swap them out depending on your comfort level. The coiled cable resists tangling and moves with you when you swim.
Pros: Affordable. Designed for swimmers. Comes with interchangeable ear tips.
Cons: Not as durable.