There’s no better way to listen to music in the water than with the best bone-conduction headphones. Sure, a lot of earbuds these days, especially of the workout variety, have a relatively high water resistance, but they can only stay in the water so long. There are even some waterproof options out there, but they still aren't ideal. That’s because all wireless earbuds rely on Bluetooth connectivity, which just doesn’t work well in the water.

Bone-conduction headphones are the best headphones for swimming for a few reasons. First, since they don’t go inside your ear and transmit sound through your cheekbones, you don’t have to worry about them popping out or water seeping in and interrupting your hearing. Second, many of the models meant for swimmers address the Bluetooth issue. They feature a built-in MP3 player, FM transmitter, or some other technology, so you can listen to whatever you want without an intermittent connection.

However, not all bone-conduction headphones are right for the job. The best bone-conduction headphones for swimming included on this list were selected because of their IP rating (determines water resistance level), connectivity type, audio quality, battery life, build quality, and integrated player. With that in mind, here are the best bone-conduction headphones for swimming.

  • Naenka Runner Diver 2 headphones on white background
    Naenka Runner Diver 2
    Best overall

    You really can't find a better all-around pair of underwater bone conduction headphones than the Naenka Runner Diver 2s. Featuring an IP68-rated waterproof triple-layered silicone coating and an impressive ten-hour battery life, these headphones will keep up mile after mile and lap after lap. Plus, they offer a highly competitive 32GB of onboard memory, so will store thousands of songs to keep you company during every practice session or marathon.

  • h2o-audio_tri-multi-sport-pro-bone-conduction-headphones-1
    H2O Audio Tri Pro Multi-Sport with Playlist+
    Premium pick
    $160 $180 Save $20

    This updated version of the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport is the ideal option for athletes. They offer 5 hours of use, an IP68 rating to handle the water, and a secure fit for swimming, biking, and running. There's even a built-in 8GB MP3 player and H2O Audio’s unique Playlist+ (the main difference between this version and its predecessor). This patent-pending tech can store playlists, podcasts, and music from your favorite streaming service, so you can leave the phone at home.

  • Tayogo waterproof bone conduction headphones for swimming, angled view
    Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones
    Best value

    With the Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones, you can enjoy eight hours of underwater audio with impressive sound quality and store up to 8GB of music in the internal storage for in-pool entertainment. Above water, you'll get a stable Bluetooth connection with your phone, and many colorway options add to the pair's fun feel. The only drawback is the sluggish data transfer rate of two hours for 1.8GB.

  • H2O Audio Sonar waterproof bone conduction headphones, angled view
    H2O Audio Sonar
    Exceptional audio quality
    $100 $130 Save $30

    These bone-conduction headphones feature a relatively small 8GB internal memory, but the audio player supports proprietary and free formats. The H2O Audio Sonar underwater headphones are IPX8 waterproof, and sound quality underwater is among the best we've tested. For extra safety, make sure to clip them onto your swimming goggles. Note: Charging and file transfer setup may be tricky without reading the instructions first.

  • Gogailen bone conduction swimming waterproof headphones
    Gogailen Bone Conduction Swimming Headphones

    Gogailen bone-conduction swimming headphones boast pro-grade IPX8 waterproofing, rendering them among the finest underwater headphones. Equipped with a 32GB MP3 player, they support various audio formats and store 2,000+ songs. They are also lightweight yet robust and securely fit on your temples without requiring constant adjustments. With these, you can expect to experience ten hours of uninterrupted, high-quality audio pleasure.

  • Shokz Openswim Swimming MP3 bone conduction headphones
    Shokz OpenSwim Swimming MP3

    Shokz offers a wide range of bone-conduction headphones, and this model is an upgrade of the AfterShokz Xtrainerz. The OpenSwim MP3 player underwater headphones can store over 1,200 tracks in popular formats like MP3, WMA, AAC, and FLAC. With user-friendly controls, they are perfect for playing and changing tracks. Moreover, they are IP68 grade waterproof, allowing you to enjoy music up to 2 meters underwater for two hours. The only downside is that there's no Bluetooth support.

  • Fojep OpenEar AS18 bone conduction headphones
    Fojep Openear AS18

    If you need good swimming headphones with a durable and lightweight build (under 1oz), then you can’t go wrong with the Fojep Openear AS18. They have an IP68 waterproofing rating, surprisingly good audio for bone-conduction headphones, and up to ten hours of use on a single charge. They are pretty flexible, fitting any head size or shape, around and under the hair cap or swimming goggles.

  • Mojawa HaptiFit Terra
    Mojawa HaptiFit Terra

    The Mojawa HaptiFit Terra might be pricey, but they add AI training programs and real-time health and activity tracking to a pair of bone-conduction headphones that are already great for the pool. They've also got 32GB of space as well as Bluetooth and voice assistant support. As far as keeping track of those extras? You can access them as well as EQ settings via the companion app. And, if you're worried about battery life, there are eight hours available here.

The best bone-conduction headphones for you

Listening to music underwater comes with a unique set of issues, so bone conduction technology is often the best way to address those problems. Since this tech sends sound waves through your bones, it’s the ideal way to listen to music because you don’t have to worry about anything outside the ear canal getting in the way. They’re also versatile enough for other activities like cycling, jogging, and more. Athletes appreciate them for such activities as well, because they allow you to still fully hear your surroundings.

The Naenka Runner Diver 2 bone conduction headphones are a great option, with their impressive onboard memory, long battery life, and solid audio performance. They're at the mid-upper end of this class' price range, but they are reliable and get the job done.

As far as budget goes, the Tayogo Bone Conduction Headphones offer quite a bit of storage without a hefty investment. And, if you’re willing to spend a bit more, the H2O Audio Tri Pro Multi-Sport with Playlist+ have the technology to download any and everything from your Spotify account, making the whole process of uploading MP3s to your headphones a thing of the past.

Related
Best waterproof headphones and earbuds for swimming in 2024
Enjoy your favorite tunes in the deep end with the best waterproof headphones and earbuds