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Dec 19, 2023

Best bone conduction headphones for swimming in 2023

Enjoy your tunes underwater with these bone-conduction headphones for swimming While a lot of earbuds available on the market may be water-resistant, there are very few available that are actually

Enjoy your tunes underwater with these bone-conduction headphones for swimming

While a lot of earbuds available on the market may be water-resistant, there are very few available that are actually waterproof. However, that doesn't mean waterproof options don't exist — bone-conduction headphones might be the solution you're looking for; with them, you can hear your tunes and go for a dip simultaneously. These lightweight headphones are easy to use, don't block your auditory sense, and are often usable at two meters deep. They also carry internal music players and storage.

There are many bone-conduction headphones out there, but not all are suitable for swimming. So we've included options based on their IPX rating, connectivity, integrated player, audio quality, build and design, and battery life. And they are pretty stylish, too.

These bone-conduction headphones have 8 GB of internal memory and an internal audio player, which supports both proprietary and free formats. In addition, the H2O Audio Sonar underwater headphones have IPX8-grade waterproofing protection. The sound is good enough, considering you’re hearing it underwater. Fair warning: setting it up for charging and file transfer can be difficult if you do not read the instructions first.

The pro-grade IPX8 waterproofing on the Gogailen bone-conduction swimming headphones makes them one of the best underwater headphones. Moreover, the built-in 32GB mp3 player can play most common audio formats and hold over 2,000 songs. The build of these headphones is on the light yet sturdy side; they fit snugly on your temples and do not need to be adjusted like other headphones. You can enjoy 10 hours of continuous, good-quality audio with these.

The Sayrelances underwater headphones pack a lot of punch in a small package. On the ground, they can connect to multiple Android and Apple devices using Bluetooth 5.3. For underwater performance, they are protected by IPX8-grade waterproofing, so you can go swimming deep and long with these on. They also pack 32 GB RAM to hold your entire music library, provided the tracks come in MP3 only. Lastly, these can last for about 8 hours with each full charge.

Shokz has a lot of bone-conduction headphones out there, and this one is the upgrade of AfterShokz Xtrainerz. The Shokz OpenSwim MP3 player underwater headphones don’t have Bluetooth but can hold over 1,200 tracks in various popular formats like MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC. Plus, the headphones have easy-to-access controls for playing and changing the tracks. In addition, they are IP68 grade waterproof, meaning you can stay about 2 meters underwater for 2 hours wearing them.

The Hamuti Bone Conduction Waterproof Headphones work underwater, thanks to the 32 GB in-built memory card that can play common audio files. They connect via Bluetooth 5.0 and can run for 6 to 8 hours on a single 2-hour charge. And at 30 grams, they are very lightweight and fit snugly on your temple; hair caps and swimming goggles won’t hinder them, nor would they fall off due to heavy exercise.

If you have to get a good pair of swimming headphones but hurting for cash, Tohunzo’s bone conduction headphones are a good option. They are IPX8 grade waterproof, making them, in theory, one of the best waterproofing among small audio devices. For underwater listening, they have a 32 GB chip built in that can play MP3 and WAV audio. Above water, they can connect via Bluetooth 5.3 to many Android and Apple devices at once.

The Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones offer a solid 8 hours of audio underwater with good enough sound quality. The 8 GB internal storage lets you bring your audio library to the pool. Above water, the Bluetooth connection to your phone is stable and works well, and the blue colorway looks lovely with a slightly retro vibe. On the downside, the data transfer rate of these headphones can be extremely slow at only 2 hours for 1.8 GB.

The Alpha from Dejavi looks as good as it delivers. With shiny side strips, these bone-conduction headphones deliver audio through transducers sitting on your cheekbone. But the best is IPX8-grade waterproofing, meaning you can easily take them swimming, surfing, and snorkeling. The headphones also have a built-in 8GB memory that can hold all your favorite upbeat tracks, plus they charge with a magnetic wire that gives them 8 hours of juice.

The GoArgin K9 waterproof bone-conduction headphones are great above water, with excellent connectivity with Bluetooth 5.3, ranging up to 33 feet, touching multiple devices. For a 2-hour charge via its magnetic charging cable, you get a solid 10 hours of playtime at 70% volume, thanks to the 180 mAh internal battery. For underwater usage, the K9s have IPX8-grade waterproofing. Since Bluetooth almost doesn’t work underwater, the headphones have a built-in player with 16 GB memory.

These simple-looking red-and-black bone conduction headphones are IPX8 waterproof, allowing you to take them underwater down to 2 meters. Submerged, you can listen to all your songs in the big 16 GB memory that they have — albeit in sequential order only. On the ground, you can connect these headphones to your phone using Bluetooth 5.3, giving you long-range and sharp connectivity. Finally, they can run for 7–8 hours on a full charge.

Listening to music underwater is always a challenge. To do so, the best method is to use bone conduction technology to stimulate your auditory nerves directly. These headphones are also perfect for jogging, cycling, and other outdoor activities because they do not block your natural sense of hearing. Bone-conduction headphones bypass the eardrum altogether, a plus for anyone with ear sensitivity and for underwater use.

Another issue is that Bluetooth is inefficient underwater, so apps like Spotify and iTunes won't work well. So if you don't want to part with your tunes during a daily swim, your headphones will have to carry your music underwater literally. Thankfully, some bone-conduction headphones have internal storage and an MP3 player and are waterproof.

The H2O Audio Sonar underwater headphones are the best of all worlds. They are a bit old but have decent waterproofing and nice audio quality. The Gogailen bone conduction swimming headphones are newer with great audio and specs, but they cost a bit more than the Audio Sonar. If you have a little more to spend, the Gogailen headphones might be a perfect option, especially if you plan to use them a lot. The AfterRuenz bone conduction headphones are a popular underdog. Despite their low price tag, they are reliable for daily use and have excellent connectivity above water.

A content writer and digital marketer for over a decade, Swarna loves to spread knowledge and happiness through words. As a lifetime Android user his experience with Android phones and devices are worthy of recognition. However, his expertise with audio technology lets him criticize speakers, headphones, earbuds, etc. in a very accurate manner.