What are the best waterproof swimming headphones in 2026? We’ve tested six fully submergible options

If you’re someone who likes to workout to a particular playlist, or needs an audiobook to see them through the longer training days, it may be time to invest in some waterproof swimming headphones that can keep you company while you swim.

Whether you prefer a pair of dangling headphones for your indoor laps, or a robust headset that can handle open water, we’ve tested some of the best headphone for swimming so you don’t have to.

So if you’re looking to tune out the rest of the world during your next water workout, put waterproof headphones on your essentials list alongside your trust swimming goggles – trust us, this will completely revolutionise your swim sessions!

Best swimming headphones in 2026

1. H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-sport 

The Audio Tri Pro 2 Multisport over-ear bone conduction variety from H20 Audio outshine similar swimming headphones to win the ‘best overall’ category. Here you get a hard case, the headphones, a pair of earplugs and a charging cable plus leash to attach the headphones to your goggles (in case you’re worried about losing them!). For an extra $50/£47 you can also buy a case that charges during storage. So far so good.

But what I really love about these headphones is how easy it is to transfer music onto them. You can use Bluetooth on land but not in water. Various methods of adding tunes for swimming includes the brand’s Playlist+ function, where the headphones listen to music playing on your phone and ‘record’ it, a bit like taping music off the radio. For any other dinosaurs like me is a dream of simplicity. Three buttons are easy to operate even in the water. The unit can be submerged to 12ft for unlimited time (some on the market have a limit). 

On land sound quality was superb. I happily used these to listen to music and podcasts. Once swimming the sound was naturally a little less clear due to water sounds and bubbling when breathing (ok, I’m a noisy swimmer!). It was still clear enough to motivate my swims. I’ll be adding these to my kit bag for this season’s long swims!

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2. Suunto Aqua

The Suunto Aqua are a set of waterproof bone conduction headphones that feel premium straight out of the box. They are operated via three buttons which have a satisfying ‘click’ and can also be operated via the Suunto app.

Unusually, you can also use these headphones to track your training and they will upload your distance, SWOLF, lap times and more to the Suunto app after each swim. This is a nice touch, especially if you don’t already use a swim watch.

Sound quality was great. There are three sound options (underwater, outdoors and general) which allow you to adjust the tone of audio to suit your surroundings. I also liked these for running, making them a versatile all-rounder, plus you can take and answer calls on them.

Inside the box is the headphones, a charging pod (which can give up to 20 hours extra charge), the cable, a set of earplugs and a soft cloth bag for storage.

You will need to add offline music to these for swimming and it needs to be a file transferred across via your computer, so that can be a problem if you only stream music. If you have an online account such as iTunes or access to CDs it shouldn’t prove a problem though and I found it very straightforward to set these up and add music.

The only niggle for me is the loops on the top of the headphones that sit on your ears were a bit uncomfortable for me when swimming longer than an hour, but I found this with all the headphones of this style on test. To read more, check out my full review of the Suunto Aqua.

3. Zygo Z2

The Zygo Z2 swimming headphones enable you to listen to music and audio streaming services during your swim training by transmitting a signal from your phone to the device. Usually, this isn’t possible because Bluetooth doesn’t work in water.

Zygo supplies these comfortable, waterproof headphones with a transmitter case that connects to your phone then to your headset. Therefore, you don’t have to download your favourite audio on to them.

To work, your phone has to be within 30m of the transmitter (bear in mind that it’s only splash-proof) and the range between you and the case is 50m.

Sound quality is impressive, fit is readily adjustable and battery life is 2-3 hours subject to volume. The Zygo app also has training features (you can listen to workout instructions on-the-go) and a walkie-talkie function. The signal strength stayed strong except during the odd tumble-turn. Read my full Zygo Z2 review for more detail.

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4. Shokz Openswim Pro

Shokz, formerly AfterShokz, is arguably the most recognisable name in bone-conduction audio. Since introducing its first model in 2011, the brand has refined the tech and built a broad line-up for swimmers, runners and everyday users.

The OpenSwim Pro leads its swim range, adding Bluetooth and a generous 32GB of storage to the standard OpenSwim’s MP3-only 4GB — more capacity than most people will ever need, but impressive nonetheless. Battery life is excellent: around nine hours in Bluetooth mode, six in MP3, and a 10-minute charge delivers roughly three hours of playback.

Sound is crisp, even underwater, and the controls are intuitive once memorised. The secure charging cable is a welcome upgrade over fiddly magnetic versions. Rated IP68 waterproof (up to two metres for two hours), they proved reliable in testing. Comfortable overall, though ear pressure can build on longer swims under a tight cap.

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5. H20 Audio Sonar 2 Pro

The H20 Audio Sonar 2 Pro again works by bone conduction, but the ‘headphones’ are two units that clip onto your goggle straps to sit by the side of your ears. That was a bit fiddly to get right at first. Once in place they sat well and avoided the irritation of having a band over your ears as with the others here.

This brand has also come up with a solution to needing to put music files onto the app in a time when most of us stream our sounds. You download an app which links to the unit and ‘listens’ to music as you play it with your phone. It then essentially records it and allows playback through the unit.

It’s time-consuming, as you have to play the song in its entirety, but is still easier than downloading and converting files. Sound quality was superb and we liked the simple, chunky buttons for use in the water.

Of course, you can’t use it out of the water (without goggles), but other units from H2O Audio are more versatile with the same tech. The Sonar 2 Pro is an update of the earlier version – here the unit is thinner and lighter for comfort and streamlining. You can read the full review here.

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6. Creative Outlier Free Pro+

The Creative Outlier Free Pro+ ship with a charging cable and small plastic case, but no proper storage pouch. Though promoted for swimming, they feel better suited to general training and the occasional dip rather than regular long sessions. They’re rated IPX8 for freshwater only — up to 1.5m for 40 minutes — and not for saltwater. That limitation rules them out for many structured swim workouts, even if they handled my one-hour pool tests without issue. You’ll also need to plug a tiny rubber bung into the microphone port before swimming — it’s fiddly and easy to forget, though spares are provided.

On the plus side, setup is simple with MP3 drag-and-drop, 8GB of storage and around 10 hours of battery life (plus a useful quick charge). Adjustable transducers improve fit, and Bluetooth multipoint with voice assistant support adds versatility. Sound is solid on land, though slightly muffled underwater. Better for gym-goers and runners than dedicated swimmers.

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Also consider…

7. Underwater Audio Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Headphones

Designed to be both comfortable and rugged, these earbuds from Swimbuds have a variety of tips available so you can find the best fit for your ear.

These include tree tips and fin tips, which have been specifically designed to keep out water, providing a tight seal while you swim.

Weighing just over 28g, they have a waterproof standard of IPX8 so you can take them into the water as far down as three metres, although it’s advised you don’t push them past this threshold.

8. Tayogo Waterproof MP3 Player

These headphones have an IPX8 waterproof rating which basically means they can be submerged up to three metres deep. Tayogo says they won’t fall out while you swim, either, thanks to the adjustable band and snug earbud design.

With a built-in memory capacity of up to 8GB, you should be able to store 2,000 songs so it’s unlikely you’ll run out of your favourite albums anytime soon. You can even switch to an ebook on a longer training swim, with buttons on the back designed to help you control your audio.

These headphones are said to take between 90 minutes and two hours to fully charge, which Tayogo says will give you between four and seven hours of play time once you hit the water.

9. H20 Stream Waterproof MP3 Player

This MP3 player and headphone set is fully waterproof down to a depth of 3.6 metres for an unlimited time, so you won’t have to worry about cutting your training short, with 8GB of storage that will hold up to 2,000 tracks of your choice so you can play whatever gets you in the zone.

The headphones have been ergonomically designed to stay snug in your ears and the player comes with a handy clip that can be attached to the back of your goggles or swim cap.

While this set does have the option to pair with your smartphone using Bluetooth, it can’t stream music this way while underwater so this add-on would be be better suited to sitting poolside before or after your dip.

10. Guudsoud Bone-conduction swimming headphones

For a reasonable-sounding $58 / £43, the Guudsound swimming headphones have a solid spec, including a bone-conduction design, IP68 waterproofing rating, Bluetooth connectivity and 32GB storage for up to 8000 songs, according to the brand.

Guudsoud says you can wear them with a swim cap and goggles as well as out of the water for running and cycling (also while wearing a bike helmet).

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How we tested swimming headphones

220 Triathlon editor Helen Webster has tested the majority of the headphones in this list by wearing them for multiple swims, both in the pool and open-water.

In her reviews, Helen assessed their ease of set-up, comfort and fit, sound quality, run time, and value for money. Helen tested each pair of headphones for several weeks before sharing her verdict and being an open water swim coach herself, is our expert on all things swim releated.

In the course of her testing, she went from headphone sceptic to convert – find out why in her article!

What should I look for in swimming headphones?

Here’s what you should look for shopping for the best swimming headphones.

Waterproofing

The highest waterproof rating you’ll see on swim headphones is IP68, which means they’re fully waterproof. IPX8 means that the headphones can be submerged to a depth of 3m.

Sound quality

The finest sounding swim headphones produce clean, well-rounded music and audio not dissimilar to the quality you’d get on land. Cheapest headsets struggle to block out the noise of underwater swimming and make listening less pleasurable.

Fit and comfort

Generally the best swimming headphones are of the over-ear, bone-conduction variety and the ear piece sits next to not in your ear.

This heightens your awareness of your surroundings and lets you wear ear plugs if desired. Look for headsets that come in different sizes so you can find a suitable fit for your head. It’s handy to have a selection of ear bud sizes too. 

Connectivity

Sometimes swimming headphones come with Bluetooth even though this won’t work in the water so you can play content from your phone on land. 

In this list, the Zygo Z2 is the only one that enables you to stream music from your phone. 

To transfer music on to swimming headphones, you can use a wired or wireless connection.

Storage

4GB of storage is adequate for a thousand songs or so while 8GB will hold a couple of thousand. For swimming you probably won’t need much more than this.

Battery life

Eight hours is usefully the best battery life you’ll see and 2-3 hours is the low end. The middle ground of four hours should suffice for several swims.

Frequently asked questions

Meet our tester

Being a qualified open-water swim coach and experienced gear tester, it’s fair to say 220 Triathlon editor Helen Webster knows her swim tech inside out. In the last year, she has completed at Ultraswim 33.3km, Coniston end to end and Ullswater end to end as well as training to swim the length of Windermere. With long endurance swims in both the pool and open water at the core of her training, she tests swim kit to the max.

Looking for more swimming kit? Check out our guides to the best swim goggles and the best swimsuits and best swim jammers.

Recent updates

• 20 October 2025: we added an additional ‘best for sound quality’ category and explained how to wear swimming headphones
• 28 December 2025: we added more links to our articles on swim headphones and included more images
• 21 January 2026: we added more details on how we test the best waterproof swim headphones and updated our product links to find the best possible deals for you.
• 27 February 2026: we added new reviews for the Shokz OpenSwim Pro and the Creative Outlier Free Pro+.
• 14 April 2026: We expanded the ‘best for’ section, checked that all our recommendations were still on sale and adjusted the format of the specifications table.
• May 2026: We added a table to make it easier for you to compare the headphones.