10 Best Earbuds For Swimming 2026 in the United States

The SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro earbuds are designed specifically for swimmers and active individuals, offering a robust set of features tailored to these activities. The IP68 waterproof rating ensures they are highly resistant to water, making them suitable for swimming and other water-based workouts. These earbuds can be submerged up to two meters for two hours, providing reliable performance even in wet conditions. The bone conduction technology allows for an open-ear design, offering comfort and the ability to stay aware of your surroundings, which is particularly useful for safety during outdoor activities like running and cycling.

The secure and stable fit ensures they remain in place during vigorous workouts and can be used seamlessly with swim caps and goggles. The sound quality, delivered through bone conduction, is decent, although it might not compare to traditional in-ear headphones in terms of depth and bass. However, it provides a unique listening experience that many users appreciate, especially in the water. Featuring a 9-hour battery life, the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro offers ample usage time, including a quick charge option that provides up to 3 hours of playtime with just a 10-minute charge.

The controls are user-friendly, with buttons that allow for easy navigation and volume adjustment, and the Shokz App provides additional customization options. One limitation is the Bluetooth connectivity underwater, where the signal is disrupted, limiting use to the device's internal 32GB MP3 player while swimming. This may not be a significant issue for those primarily seeking an underwater music solution, but it's worth noting for potential buyers. In conclusion, the SHOKZ OpenSwim Pro earbuds are a strong choice for swimmers and athletes, offering comfort, durability, and versatility, though their underwater Bluetooth connectivity is limited.

The JBL Endurance Race 2 earbuds are designed to withstand intense workouts, including swimming, featuring an IP68 waterproof rating that allows them to be submerged without damage. They include hook-shaped ear tips and silicone enhancers to ensure a secure and comfortable fit, which helps prevent slipping during swimming sessions.

Sound quality benefits from JBL’s Pure Bass technology, providing clear and powerful audio to keep you motivated both underwater and on land. Four built-in microphones with beamforming technology reduce background noise during calls, although Bluetooth connectivity limitations and water interference restrict underwater calling capabilities. The earbuds offer up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, extendable to 48 hours with the charging case, and a quick 10-minute charge provides 4 hours of playback time.

Touch-based controls are customizable via the JBL Headphones app, allowing adjustments to noise cancellation and ambient sound levels. Active Noise Cancelling effectively blocks external distractions when not swimming, while the Ambient Aware feature lets you stay alert to your surroundings. Bluetooth 5.3 provides stable wireless connectivity with minimal dropouts, but as with all wireless earbuds, Bluetooth signals do not transmit underwater.

These earbuds are well-suited for swimmers seeking durable, comfortable, and reliable audio gear with strong sound performance and long battery life. The main limitation is that Bluetooth functionality for music and calls only works above water due to signal restrictions.

The Aftershokz Aeropex, now known as Shokz OpenRun, stands out with its unique open-ear, bone conduction design that lets you hear your surroundings while listening to music. This makes it a great choice for outdoor workouts and running where awareness is important. They are very light and comfortable, designed for long wear without ear pain.

The earbuds offer a solid 8-hour battery life and easy Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, plus convenient controls for music and calls, including voice commands. Their IP67 rating means they are sweatproof and can handle being submerged in water briefly, but they are not suitable for swimming or extended underwater use. Sound quality is clear for calls and decent for music, though bone conduction audio may feel different compared to traditional earbuds.

If you want earbuds specifically for swimming, these won't meet that need due to their open-ear design and waterproof limits. However, if you need safe, comfortable, and wireless headphones for running or gym workouts where you still need to hear your environment, these are a strong option.