The best headphones for swimming, chosen by experts

Exercising and music go hand-in-hand. In fact, workouts are always made better by blaring your favorite tunes which keep your adrenaline high and your mind focused. Studies have shown that listening to music can improve your swimming performance. There’s just one problem. Electronics and water generally don’t mesh. So, if you’re swimming, it’s a bit more difficult to listen to music, at least while wearing headphones. Unless you have one of the best headphones for swimming, or more specifically, a pair of headphones that are waterproof and safe to use in something like a lap pool. Believe it or not, they do exist, and while they’re rarely featured in a deals guide like ours on the best headphone deals, it’s still possible to find a pair for your next swim session.

It’s also important to point out that while many of these headphones are geared towards swimmers, and being in the water, they’re also suitable for other activities where you might get wet, like surfing, paragliding, jet skiing, boating, fishing, and beyond.

Before we name the best headphones for swimming, as selected by experts, we’ll first explore what makes them different from regular headphones and how you should go about finding a pair that meets your needs.

The Best Headphones for Swimming

1. Best overall: Sony NW-WS623 Waterproof Walkman
2. Best conduction: FINIS Duo Underwater MP3 Player
3. Best design: H20 Audio Sonar Headphones
4. Best simple earbuds: Swimbuds Sport
5. Best fit: Shokz OpenSwim MP3 Player

How to Choose Headphones for Swimming

Are the popular Apple AirPods waterproof? Yes and no, the answer isn’t quite so simple, but the main thing you should know is that most earbuds, even those with waterproof ratings, are not designed to be used in the water while swimming. It means that while searching for headphones for swimming there are some things you’ll need to look out for. Don’t worry, we’ll explain what they are.

Here are some quick steps to help you choose the right headphones for swimming:

Consider the technology

The type used will determine your experience and the audio quality. For example, boneless conduction works best when water is surrounding the ear. The benefit to bone-conducting headphones is they rest on the cheek while pumping sound into your inner ear using your cheekbones. Plus, with conduction you can still wear earplugs. Traditional earbuds, on the other hand, go inside your ears, and even if they’re snug getting a water-tight seal might be near impossible.

Water resistance is critical

Make sure you choose the right water resistance rating, denoted by IPX levels. For swimming, you want something rated IPX7 or higher. Any rating lower than that was not made to be submerged in water or exposed for long periods.

Know your ideal ear-cap sizes

Typically, the cap goes over the bud or hearing portion of the headphones to keep them firmly in your ears. If the caps are too small they will be uncomfortable and may impede the audio, but if they’re too big the earbuds will fall right out and you can lose them in the water.

Built-in music players are a thing

Prioritize headphones that have built-in music players. You don’t have to connect your phone or tablet to play music with headphones that have this functionality, as it’s done directly from the head or ear pieces. Storage might be limited but it’s a much more convenient option if you’re swimming in a large pool or in the ocean over great distances.

Take them for a trial swim

Don’t be afraid to test out headphones before making a final decision. Most retailers and sellers offer a return window for products. While you can’t go around testing dozens of pairs of headphones, you can try one or two pairs. Narrow down your list of potential models and then take them for a swim.

How We Chose These Headphones for Swimming

Our choices were made with a number of factors in mind, particularly the price, the water resistance rating, the overall design, and the extra features they offer — like built-in music players. We also tried to stick with bone-conducting headphones as much as possible, as it doesn’t make sense to take traditional Bluetooth earbuds in the water, especially if you’re doing the Ironman.

Why Trust Us?

With years in the smart home technology space, writing and researching a variety of devices, our team knows how to spot a reliable product.

Best overall: Sony NW-WS623 Waterproof Walkman

These salt-water and extreme temperatures tolerant headphones are IPX5/8 waterproof and IP6X dust-proof rated. They’re also durable, have a built-in battery with a long life of 12 hours, and come with a built-in MP3 player. In true Walkman fashion, you can leave your phone behind and store your music on the 4GB of internal storage, which is about 1,000 songs depending on the file quality and format.

They come in four unique styles, so you could essentially match your headcover or goggles if you wanted. But the best part is the audio quality. Even though they are earbuds and go inside your ears — sorry no bone conduction tech — you can expect Sony-quality audio at all times. They double as a hands-free headset for calls, too, although that’s more of a bonus feature than how they should be used normally. Altogether, they’re one of the best options for swimming headphones in terms of features, price, and capabilities. That’s why they earned the “best overall” spot. If you want some additional waterproof wireless earbud options see our guide.

Best conduction: FINIS Duo Underwater MP3 Player with Bone Conduction Audio

Using our preferred tech, bone conduction audio, these standalone headphones have a built-in MP3 player so you can leave your phone behind and take a dive in the deep end. You also get an IPX8 waterproof rating, 4GB of internal storage, and an estimated battery life of 7 hours. If you’re swimming for 7 hours straight you’re going to need a medical crew on standby.

An integrated clip design keeps them firmly in place when you’re on the move, securing the headphones to your goggle straps. The media player supports both MP3 and WMA audio formats, and is fully compatible with iTunes so you can listen to podcasts, and audiobooks, as well as music. The audio quality could be a little better, but it will certainly get you by and is still a great way to jam out underwater. Although, they do only come in the one black and green style.

Best design: H20 Audio Sonar Bone Conduction Headphones

Sporting one of the best designs on the list, for a couple of reasons, this bone conduction-friendly pair of headphones wraps firmly around the back of your head, and is secured via your goggle strap. It’s iTunes compatible, and works with MP3 files — you can drag-and-drop files right onto the internal storage after connecting to your computer. It has 8GB of internal storage, which is double what comparable players offer for twice the music, media, or audiobooks if that’s your fancy.

The IPX8 rating means they’re waterproof, and safe for use in a variety of environments, including the pool and ocean. You’ll get 7 hours of battery life on a single charge which is plenty of time to swim and practice. But you should know, to use the Bluetooth mode, you’ll need to connect a smartwatch which straps right into the back of the headphones. That’s because Bluetooth wireless signals don’t travel far underwater.

Best simple earbuds: Swimbuds Sport

If you don’t want fancy bone conduction headphones, and you don’t want something with a standalone media player, and you prefer simple earbuds, well, here you go. They come with a hard zipper carrying case and a headphone extension cord, which is always good if you need a longer cord. Otherwise, there’s not much to elaborate on. They’re wired earbuds with an IPX8 waterproof rating that are designed to be tucked into the strap of your goggles.

They also come with 11 pairs of ear-cups, or earbud tips, in four unique styles. You’ll certainly be able to find a fit that works for you.

Best fit: Shokz OpenSwim MP3 Player

These headphones from Shokz, rebranded from the AfterShokz Xtrainerz, offer one of the best fits while gliding underwater. They wrap around the back of your head, with a clip that extends over the ears to keep them secure. They’re comfortable, but also because they utilize bone conduction audio, they work great and keep your ears free.

You’ll get 8 hours of playback on a single charge, 8GB of internal storage for music, and, of course, the built-in media player so you can disconnect from your phone and mobile devices. An IPX8 waterproof rating means they’ll do just fine in the water for an extended period. They also work great for a ton of other activities like floating down a lazy river on a tube. That’s one of the best times to listen to an audiobook or podcast, being honest.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.