Best Swimming Headphones of 2024 – Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

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Swimming is a great form of exercise that is great for your body in many ways, not to mention that it is very fun too. If you are somebody who likes to go the pool and swim laps for exercise, but would also like to be able to listen to music while doing so, you need a pair of waterproof headphones. Swimming and being able to listen to music at the same time is a problem that many people have encountered, most of which have not been able to find a solution.

However, we do have a solution and it comes in the form of the very best swimming headphones. There are good headphones designed specifically for swimming and we are going to help you choose the right pair for you!

Summary: The Best Swimming Headphones

Things To Look Out For When Buying Headphones For Swimming

When looking for a good pair of headphones that are ideal for swimming, there are a few specific features that you should look out for. These things are very important to consider if you don’t want to end up wasting your money.

Sound Quality

These are headphones so of course one of the most important parts is how well they deliver sound. A good pair of headphones needs to be able to provide crystal clear audio with good treble and a decent bass sound.

Swimming can be pretty loud, so having great sound quality is essential to actually being able to hear the music while you swim. There is no point in using headphones while you swim if they don’t let you really hear your favorite songs.

Level Of Waterproofing

We are talking about swimming headphones here, an activity that takes place in the water, therefore the headphones in question absolutely need to be waterproof. Something to play close attention to is the difference between being water resistant and waterproof. The bottom line is that being just water resistant will not be good enough. They need to be labeled as waterproof to ensure that they will not get damaged in the water.

You should also pay attention to the specific waterproof rating. Some headphones can go 10 feet under water, some can go 20, and some as far as 65 feet. Moreover, some headphones can stay submerged for an unlimited amount of time and some can only stay in for an hour or two. Exactly how waterproof the headphones you get are should depend on your own exact needs.

Earbuds

Another important feature to look out for before buying a pair of headphones for swimming is what kinds of earbuds they have. To be sure, over the ear headphones will not do because they can let water in. Ideally, you want a pair with fin earbuds, which are specially designed to provide a complete seal to keep water out, plus they are designed to be streamlined too. These earbuds are important for keeping water out of your ears, water that will reduce the sound quality greatly.

Also, the tight seal is important to make sure that the headphones actually stay in your ears while you swim. Some models of swimming headphones also come with various other earbuds which are ideal for other sports. Moreover, you should be sure to get a pair with various sizes of buds to make sure that you get some that fit your ears properly.

Hooks & Straps

Yet another important aspect of a good pair of swimming headphones is whether or not they have some kind of hooks or straps. Over the ear hooks are great for swimming because it helps make sure that the headphones stay in place while swimming.

This can also be improved upon with a behind the head strap. Both of these things combined will help the headphones stay right where they are supposed to be. Swimming is a physically intense sport and the water provides a whole lot of resistance, so just good suction is not enough.

Streamlining

The next thing to look out for before making your purchase of swimming headphones is how well streamlined they are. Swimming is all about speed and being streamlined as much as possible in order to reduce resistance and increase speed. Headphones that have as small a profile as possible are what you want to be sure to buy.

Cord

The cord is also a pretty important feature of any pair of swimming headphones. The cord should not be so long as to freely float around in the water away from your body because that could get in the way of your swimming and get you all tangled up. A cord that is just long enough to connect to your music playing device is what you want.

Moreover, something like a strap to attach the cord onto your arm or somewhere else on your body is also a bonus. Moreover, the cord does of course need a good layer of protection between the wiring and the water to ensure a completely waterproof seal.

Some Problems To Address

There are a couple problems that generally accompany any, or at least most pairs of swimming headphones that you should be aware of. First and foremost you need to be aware that your actual music playing device needs to be waterproof as well. After all, waterproof headphones are useless without the actual music player.

Next, as we touched on before, never get a pair labeled as water resistant because that usually means being able to deal with small amounts of sweat or moisture, but not actually being submerged under water.

Finally, something you need to be aware of is that it is dangerous for something to form a suction with your ears, such as swimming headphones, and going deeper than 3 meters under water as that can cause pressure issues and both short and long term damage.

Swimming Headphones Reviews

Our Rating

These are by far the best swimming headphones that we could find. The HydroActive Waterproof Headphones are extremely durable, they stay in place without question, are comfortable to wear, and are ideal for various sports, especially swimming.


Design

Something that makes these swimming headphones some of the best around is that they feature various separate waterproof compartments. In other words, when it comes to being waterproof, you can rest assured that the HydroActive Headphones are not going to let you down anytime soon. Not only do the extremely waterproof abilities of these headphones mean that they will last for a very long time, but also that the sound will be clear and unmuffled.

To increase their durability even more, the HydroActive Waterproof Headphones are made of ABS plastic which is a heavy-duty plastic used to protect the heads of football players. Moreover, the cord is also quite durable thanks to being made of para-aramid synthetic fiber, something that is used to create modern bulletproof body armor. All of these things combined provide you with headphones that aren’t going to snap or break and can last up to 3 meters underwater for as long as you want to swim.

The next thing that makes these headphones more than ideal for swimming is because they feature a classic behind the head connection system, which is combined with over ear hooks. This means that they won’t come off of your ears no matter how fast you swim or how hard you turn off the wall. Swimming earphones slipping off is a big problem, one that does not exist with the HydroActive Headphones.

Another thing that is quite impressive about these headphones is that they come with a variety of earbuds. They come in various sizes to fit all kinds of people, and they also come in different styles for different purposes. They come with special fin style earbuds that are designed for swimming. These fins provide for a great waterproof seal, plus they are streamlined for fast swimming too. There is also the fact that they provide for good noise isolation and great sound quality too. 

Value for money

The HydroActive Waterproof Headphones cost around 90 dollars and they are definitely worth the money. They are some of the more expensive headphones on the list, but they are also by far the best in every way imaginable. They stay on your ears without question, they are ideal for all people, they are completely waterproof, and they have outstanding sound quality.

Build quality

These headphones come with a whole lot of value and that is largely thanks to the amazing build quality. The state of the art materials used combined with advanced waterproofing ensure a solid pair of headphones that are going to last for as long as you need them. Everything to do with these headphones simply screams quality.

Pros

  • Around the head and ear hook design – stay on without problems
  • Various earbuds for different sports – different sizes
  • Special fin earbuds for swimming
  • Very streamlined
  • Durable and built to last
  • Come with a case
  • Easy to take on and off
  • Good sound quality

Cons

  • Quite expensive
  • Around the head strap is not the most comfortable

Our Rating

If you are looking to listen to music while swimming laps, the Avantree Hippocampus Waterproof In-Ear Earphones are an option to keep in mind. These things have amazing sound quality, are proven to be effective at repelling water, and they will stay on your ears like they are supposed to.


Design

One of the best parts of these headphones is that they feature a memory foam ear hook. Not only do the Avantree Swimming Earphones hook around the ears to make sure they stay on, but the memory foam actually conforms to the shape of every individual ear to provide for a more secure fit than ever. Pushing off the wall in a pool can generate a lot of force, but thanks to the hooks that won’t cause these headphones to fall off.

Another great part about these headphones is that they have been designed with an IPX8 water resistance rating. They can be submerged in water for up to 1 hour at a time and be completely safe from water damage. After 1 hour you should stop swimming, plus you need to spin them dry to remove any excess water.

In order to provide you with a tighter fit than ever, these things also come with 3 different sizes of earbud tips. This means that the Avantree Hippocampus Headphones will fit people with all kinds of different size ears.

Not only do these buds help the headphones fit well, but they also provide noise isolation qualities, and help ensure good sound quality too. These swimming earphones also have great sound quality with clear treble and a fairly deep bass sound to make sure that you can actually hear your music as you swim.

Value for money

The Avantree Waterproof Earphones cost around 25 dollars, making them quite the valuable find. They have great sound quality, they can stay under water for a full 60 minutes, and they definitely won’t come off while swimming, all valuable aspects that make up one great pair of swimming earphones.

Build quality

Build quality is of no concern when it comes to the Avantree Hippocampus Waterproof Earphones. Their durable build and high level of water resistance, plus the memory foam ear hooks all help to make these a quality find, not to mention that they have good sound quality too.

Pros

  • Memory foam ear hooks hold them firmly in place
  • Durable build
  • In-ear buds for noise isolation
  • Different size buds included
  • Fairly good sound quality with deep bass

Cons

  • Need to be spun dry
  • Can only last under water for 60 minutes at a time

Our Rating

These are some good basic swimming headphones that you could always consider. They are very affordable and yet they still manage to provide a whole lot of quality and functionality. Just because they don’t cost much does not mean that they can’t do their job.


Design

One of the things that we really like about the design of these headphones is that they feature an over the ear hook. This is very convenient because it helps to ensure that the headphones stay on for the duration of your swim. Slipping off is not a problem that exists with the Travelon Waterproof Headphones.

Another thing that makes these headphones ideal for swimming is that they come with both arm and neck straps. The straps are very useful because they make sure that the cord does not get in your way and obstruct your path as you try to swim laps. You can easily secure the cord to your arms and body to make you as streamlined as can be.

These are swimming headphones so of course they are 100 percent waterproof. The cord and earbuds themselves are proven to not let any water in, something which is obviously bad for anything electronic. Even better is that they are made completely out of PVC plastic, something that helps ensure both their physical durability and their ability to repel water.

These are some tough headphones that are not going to get waterlogged any time soon, especially when you consider that they can be submerged in up to 65 feet of water without suffering from any ill effects. Even better is that the Travelon Waterproof Headphones are also ideal for swimming in salt water conditions as they are proven to never corrode or oxidize.

We can’t forget the fact that these things also provide you with some exceptional sound quality. The in-ear buds help to reduce outside noise and make sure that you only hear the music instead of the noise from your local swimming area or indoor pool. If you are looking for waterproof headphones with great sound quality, the Travelon Headphones are an option to keep in mind no doubt.

Value for money

For under 15 dollars we really could not complain about the value that you get for the price. This is a very low price when you consider that these headphones are quite comfortable to wear, provide good sound quality and noise isolation, and are proven to be 100 percent waterproof. They may not be the most advanced pair of headphones out there, but for swimming, they are without a doubt one of the best choices.

Build quality

There is nothing more that could be asked for in terms of the build quality of the Travelon Waterproof Headphones. Durable PVC plastic combined with waterproofing make these some very durable headphones. Being able to strap them on securely in a variety of ways only helps to add to their build quality even more.

Pros

  • 100 percent waterproof
  • Tested for salt water use as well as fresh water
  • Ear hooks for stability
  • Neck and arm straps to keep the cord out of the way
  • Durable PVC plastic
  • Earbuds for sound quality and noise isolation

Cons

  • Not much bass sound
  • Cord may require some jiggling to function properly

Our Rating

The Swimbuds make for a great swimming headphone choice. They have an extremely durable build, they have good sound quality, and they are built with comfort in mind. While they may be a little bit on the expensive side, they do deliver a whole lot of quality.


Design

One of the first things that we need to mention about these headphones is that they come in an environmentally friendly package to reduce their ecological footprint and waste as little resources as possible.

Something else that is quite exceptional about these headphones is that they come with a multitude of earbuds that are ideal for various forms of exercise. Most notably they come with special fin earbuds that help to produce a watertight seal. These fin style earbuds help to keep water out, they help to create a suction in order to keep them in place while swimming, and they also help to reduce your perception of ambient noise. This helps to deliver unrivaled sound transmission from the earphones to your ears, they help keep you as streamlined as can be, and they are comfortable to boot.

The special swimming fin buds can also be easily taken off and replaced with other specially designed earbuds that are specifically built for biking, running, and for general purpose use. Whatever the case may be, these headphones will always fit you right thanks to the purpose specific earbuds that come in various sizes.

Not only do these things have amazing noise isolation properties, but they also have great sound quality to begin with. Clear bass and treble are things that these headphones do very well without a doubt, which is in large thanks to the third generation Hydrobeat sound technology.

Another great part about the design of these swimming headphones is that they are built more durable than ever. They feature extremely strong materials, good connections, a strong cord, and better welds. If you have any doubts about these headphones being able to survive under water, those doubts are unwarranted. The Swimbuds are durable, streamlined, comfortable, and have great sound quality too.

Value for money

These particular swimming and sport headphones cost upwards of 70 dollars. That may seem a little expensive, but they are some of the most durable swimming earphones that we have come across. Their strong build and complete waterproof design are more than enough to warrant the price, not to mention that they come with enough specialized earbuds to suit every size ear and every sport.

Build quality

There is nothing to complain about when it comes to the build quality of the Swimbuds Headphones. They are built with the strongest materials possible, they have a great 0.4-meter long cord that does not get in the way, and they are about as waterproof as a US nuclear submarine. In other words, these things were built to last.

Pros

  • Environmentally friendly packaging
  • Extremely durable
  • Completely 100 percent waterproof
  • Various in-ear buds for different size people and various sports
  • Built to create a good suction with the ear
  • Very good sound quality
  • Cord is an ideal length for swimming

Cons

  • Earbuds themselves degrade after prolonged use

Our Rating

This is a great pair of headphones thanks to their clear sound quality, the tight fit and good seal they provide. They fit people of all sizes, and they also feature a nifty zero drag design.


Design

Perhaps the best part about the design of these headphones is that they cause as little drag as possible. Being streamlined is very important for swimming as fast as you can, something these headphones allow you to do without question. To further ensure that they don’t obstruct your swimming, the cord is a perfect 12 inches long, which is long enough to keep them in your ears and short enough so that the cord does not get in the way.

Something else that makes the Waterfi SwimActive Headphones ideal for everybody is that they come with 4 different pairs of earbuds, all of which are of a different size. This helps to ensure the perfect fit for everybody, plus it helps to increase noise isolation so you don’t hear much ambient noise from the water.

The noise isolation feature is very important because water and other swimmers can be very loud and reduce how well you hear the music. Even better is that it means that you can keep the volume of the music at a lower level, thus helping to preserve your hearing and ear health. Moreover, the sound quality of these swimming headphones is pretty good. They have decent treble and bass transmission and allow you to listen to crystal clear music while swimming.

The buds are not the only things that help provide for a tight fit. The cord of these headphones has been designed with memory wire technology. This means that the cord itself can be molded to conform with the shape of your ears to make sure that they stay on for the duration of your swim. Also, you can rest assured that they won’t break due to water damage as they are certified to be worn up to 10 feet underwater for as long as you please, which is after all their main purpose.

Value for money

These headphones cost around 50 dollars, which is more than worth it. The Waterfi SwimActive Headphones can be worn in the water for as long as you please, they provide for a good fit, and have great noise isolation qualities too. These headphones may seem a little expensive when compared to others, but they will serve you well without a doubt.

Build quality

The build quality of the WaterFi Headphones is quite superior. They have excellent sound quality and they will definitely not break from water damage. The memory foam cord, the noise isolation features, and the variety of earbuds they come with all increase the quality of them even more.

Pros

  • Memory wire 12-inch cord
  • Stay out of the way
  • Earbuds of various sizes for different people
  • Noise isolation capabilities
  • Clear and crisp sound quality
  • Streamlined for fast swimming
  • Can last in water up to 10 feet deep for a prolonged period of time

Cons

  • No ear hooks – may slip off at times
  • Cannot be used for diving
  • Left earphone tends to give out

Conclusion

There are many good options out there when it comes to the best swimming headphones, 5 of the very best which are listed above. Keep in mind what we said about what to look out for before you buy any pair. Just make sure that the pair of swimming headphones you get are ideal for your specific purposes and you should have no problems in finding the right pair for you. Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise out there, and with a great pair of swimming headphones, you don’t need to worry about not being able to listen to music while you do it.

If you have any comments or questions you are always welcome to tell us all about them and we will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible!