The best headphones for swimmers
The ability to listen to audio while training can aid long training hours and help with boredom in the pool. Omie Dale reviews four headphones for swimmers.
The best headphones for training
Best for open water – Shokz OpenSwim, £169.95. Buy now.
Best for pool training – Finis DUO underwater MP3 Player with bone conduction audio £151.24. Buy now.
Shokz OpenSwim
£169.95
They say: Take open ear listening to new depths. OpenSwim is engineered with Shokz’s signature open-ear design and 7th generation bone conduction technology to ensure bud-free, comfortable listening all day, in or out of the water. OpenSwim is completely waterproof and submersible, and features 4GBs of MP3 storage, enabling athletes to train harder; no wires, no devices, no limits.
We say: These headphones feel as if they’ve been designed perfectly with the open-water swimmer in mind. The bone conduction element allows for crystal-clear sound quality in the water, and they even work in the sea too! With 4GB of memory, the device can hold over 1000 tracks, allowing enough variety during even the longest of swims.
Sony WS410 Walkman® WS Series
£109
They say: You’re ready to train in all weathers and any conditions – and so is the NW-WS410. Whether you’re carving through open water or pounding the heavy bag, let nothing hold you back. Salt-water / dust proof (ipx65/68 rating) design for use with increased range of sports. Equipped with 4GB memory and 12 hours battery life.
We say: These are super comfortable headphones that stay put during even the most strenuous sets, making them an excellent choice for those that lead an all-round active lifestyle. However, for the price point, I didn’t find the sound to be as high-quality or as loud as the bone conduction options. I would much prefer to use these for land-based activities.
Nank (Naenka) Runner Diver Bone Conduction Swimming Headphones
£139.10
They say: Nank (Naenka) headphones have advanced bone conduction technology, which delivers audio through the cheekbone instead of air. Nank Swimming headphones are certified with IPx8 waterproof, and fully resistant to sweat, moisture, and dust. You can use it in any sports indoors or outdoors, including swimming, snorkelling, and surfing.
We say: I loved these headphones! The sound quality underneath the water is absolutely incredible – I actually felt as if I was having my own mini-concert underneath the water. The fit was comfortable and secure, with a straightforward design allowing for ease of use throughout your swim. The sound on land is also good enough for me to consider these for every-day use.
Finis DUO underwater MP3 Player with bone conduction audio
£151.24
They say: Highest quality sound without the use of ear buds. The Duo™ utilises a sleek, two-piece design and Bone Conduction audio transmission to deliver crystal clear audio through cheekbones to the inner ear. An integrated clip design secures the Duo™ to goggle straps to rest on the cheekbones for a comfortable and streamlined fit.
We say: So clever and so much better for sound under the water compared to headphones that shift and change as you swim. Comfortable and easy to connect to the goggles. It seemed like everyone would be able to hear my music, but others around me assured they couldn’t. Easy to set up with music, good battery life too.
This reviewed featured in the November 2022 issue of Outdoor Swimmer and was updated October 2023. If you buy a product through a link on this page we may receive a commission. Read our guide to the best swimming tech and gadgets.
Outdoor Swimmer
Outdoor Swimmer is the magazine for outdoor swimmers by outdoor swimmers. We write about fabulous wild swimming locations, amazing swim challenges, swim training advice and swimming gear reviews.
