Best Waterproof MP3 Players for Swimming Music

Enjoying music under water is a great experience for anyone especially those who like motivational tunes to power them through their swimming sessions. This, however, isn’t naturally possible since most earphones and phones can’t work underwater. Besides that, wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi don’t do so well underwater.

This leaves you with choices between underwater speakers and waterproof MP3 players. The former won’t always be available and requires some costly investments while the latter is just the right one in many ways.

Besides very personal, waterproof MP3 players for swimming have a long life and will often last for several swimming sessions on end. You can always find the best fit for your ears and designs to fit just about any type of swimming routine. Below, we review some of the best for you to pick from.

1. The FINIS duo

The FINIS Duo is one of the best underwater MP3 players thanks to its clever way of delivering music through the cheekbones rather than the ears. As a swimmer, it’s easy to notice that your music is only as good when there is no water in the ears. As soon as water enters the ears, the sound becomes muffled all up.

With the FINIS Duo, the use of bone conduction audio transmission solves this issue as you won’t even notice the difference in audio quality whether you’re on land or in the water. With support for both MP3 and WMA audio formats, you can listen to your favorite music, podcasts or an audiobook as you swim away.

Pros

• Bone conduction audio delivery provides consistent music even when the water enters the ears.
• Has 4GB of memory which stores about 1,000 songs.
• Support for MP3 and WMA audio formats allows for use with most types of music and devices.
• It’s rated IPX8 which means that it can be submerged for 30 minutes in 3 meters of water without any damage.
• Has an integrated clip design which clips onto the straps of your swimming goggles. This makes them easy to use in different conditions without losing them.

Cons

• They can’t be used without goggles or another place to stick to.

In my opinion as a regular swimmer, these are the very best of anyone looking for a quality MP3 player to use underwater.

2. H2O Audio Stream 2 Waterproof MP3 Music Player

This is an upgrade of the previous version. Specifically designed for swimmers and it boasts waterproof rating of IPX8. You stream from your phone up to a range of 30ft. You get 10 hours of play time with shuffle and memory capacity of over 2,000 songs (8 GB).

Includes H2O Audio Surge stereo headphones are engineered to provide you with superior sound and deep amplified bass.

More features and benefits include;

• Support for Apple iTunes music (m4a) and all other MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE formats
• Now you can simply copy/paste or drag & drop any music from your computer to the memory without the need to converting to mp3.
• They are patented with a seal-tight jack which will reduce any USB connection issues and long-term corrosion.
• The dedicated volume and track buttons make it easier to adjust the volume and find just the right song with the dedicated skip and fast-forward buttons that help you advance your music or audio books
• With the inbuilt Bluetooth, the STREAM 2 can easily pair with your smartphone (iPhone, Samsung, Android etc.) over a wireless connection. Pair with the STREAM 2 player and receive Spotify, Pandora music from your phone.
• Hydrodynamic design-The speaker shape sits flush with the ear and is designed to promote proper alignment of the earbud. Our 360 Snap-Clip: Easily attaches to your goggles, swimsuit or board shorts. Rotate the clip to find the best angle for your needs. When you compare our product to others you will see there is no comparison

The Bluetooth however, does not connect underwater.

3. Sewobye Waterproof MP3 Player for Swimming

This is one the top rated waterproof mp3 player for the lap or marathon swimmer. Small and elegantly designed with a clip-on attachment feature that works on goggle or swimsuit straps.

The control buttons have been designed with raised ridges that are perfect for wet finger-tips. No rough edges and very smooth to touch. More other features include;

• HIFI lossless sound quality for remarkable audios under/out water;
• Supported Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE (no need convert software)
• Rechargeable Battery, Up to 16 hours of playback with 1.5 hours of full charge;
• 8GB Memory capacity of over 2,000 songs
• This device allows you to shuffle through all your music in the memory;
• 100% Waterproof with gold plated stereo jack to prevent corrosion.
• IPX 8: withstands submersion to 3 meters (10 feet).
• Short cord swimming headphones are perfect for swimmers for swimming in music, no more wrapping long lengths of cord around goggle straps
• This swimming waterproof mp3 player has versatility beyond swimming and can be used with activities in which you might get wet. Running, surfing, Skiing or kayaking comes to mind.

4. Underwater Audio Waterproof Music Player(iPOd) with Swimbuds Bundle

If you have always wanted to take your iPod underwater, then the techies at Underwater Audio have made that possible by waterproofing an iPod Shuffle then supplying you with waterproof Swimbuds. The Swimbuds won’t come out when you make turns in the water thanks to the purposely designed ear tips.

The music player comes fully waterproof as the firm has engineered it from the ground up to work under water. You can use your PC or Mac to load music on the player. With an IPX8 waterproof rating, you’re sure it’ll work in all types of water be it fresh, salty or chlorinated.

Pros

• Large 2GB capacity stores at least 500 songs.
• IPX8 waterproofing rating means that you can safely submerge it in 3 meters of water for 30 minutes. Some cases have shown no water damage even at 200 ft (61 meters and 86.7 psi).
• Long battery life of at least 15 hours per charge.
• You can carry out all functions underwater making it very convenient. These include using the buttons and plugging in and out the headphone jack.
• You get 4 earbud tips to choose the best fit for your ears.
• The earphones provided don’t get out of the ears when you turn or generally move in the water.
• You get a 25cm (10 inch) cord that doesn’t get snagged or caught when swimming. If you need a longer cord, you can get the 1m (39”) optional cord.
• It comes with free samples of FitGoo earbud fit helper and AquaGuard pre-swim in-hair defense for the best usage.

Cons

• Limited storage capacity

Our second entry is a flexible yet highly functional device that provides clear sound underwater. It also looks good while at it.

5. Diver DB-10 Waterproof MP3 Player with Waterproof Earphones

Another tiny and easy to use MP3 player for the swimming pool or ocean is the Diver DB-10 with 4 gigabytes of storage. That’s enough for about 1,000 songs or more. It even comes with a USB cable for ease of use with Mac or Windows computers.

What I loved about it is the ease with which you can use it no matter the location you put it on the body. The cord has a springy feeling to it which allows you to put it either close to the head or further away without getting tangled by the wire.

Pros

• Comes with a rechargeable battery which makes it convenient. There is a 12-month warranty on the battery.
• 4GB storage is enough for at least 1,000 songs.
• Has a plug and play feature which is made even better with the included USB cable. It can be used with all computer operating systems.
• The waterproof earphones included have a pair of hooks which ensure that they stay in place as you swim and change direction.

Cons

• Some customers complain that the earphones easily fall off.

If your ears can keep the earphones in place, you will enjoy one of the best experiences listening to music in the water.

6. AGPTEK Swimming MP3 Player

This is a lightweight MP3  player with FM radio that will add variety to you music.  With the IPX8 waterproof rating combined with HIFI lossless sound quality this gadget delivers beautiful sound in and out of the water.

This gadget is quite small with an attractive appearance. The convenient clip design is very easy to carry when traveling or doing sports.

More Features

• IPX8 underwater waterproof allows to bring music to swimming, surfing, running and other activities.
• Supports songs catalog and folder viewer, and with screen off mode for easy operation underwater.
• Powerful Multi-Functions: Different from other swimming mp3 player with music playing and shuffle, it also gets functions of radio, folder viewer, music choosing and setting.
• 360-Degree Rotatable Clip Design: Comfortable and soft grip feeling, stylish and elegant design, easy to carry. Just attach it to your goggles or shower cap, enjoy amazing music experience.
• HIFI Lossless Sound Quality: You can download your favorite songs from your computer, support audio formats: MP3/WMA/APE/FLAC,
• Up to 18 hours of playback time and more than 2000 songs (8GB) of storage capacity.
• Comes with multi-size 3-layer earplugs, to stop water leaking into ears and also isolate noise outside, focus on your swimming and swimming faster!
• The short-cord design is intended for swimming. Just clip your mp3 player into your goggle, free swimming. Comes with audio extension cord for other exercise usage.

However, this MP3 paler cannot connect and charge when it’s Wet, especially after Immersion in sea Water, it is best to wash with water clean, to avoid Mold interface.

2. Use together with the swimming cap to avoid the Fall of Waterproof headphones.

7. SYRYN Waterproof MP3 Player

Normally, the Syryn doesn’t come with the fan favorite Swimbuds earbuds. However, you can get them at a bargain from deals on vendors such as Amazon. These earbuds are favored for their ease of use, the fact that they stay in the ears and that provide good quality sound underwater.

The Syryn made it to my list as it’s a small and simple piece of technology with lots of storage and useful features. It’s covered in soft rubber with three control buttons across its body. The opposite side of its body has a clip which is used to stick it to the side of your goggles or other place. The buttons are easy to reach and use even mid-stroke as you swim.

Pros

• Small and convenient size coupled with a sturdy construction.
• The buttons on the side are easy to reach and can be used to play, pause, skip back and forth and even shuffle through a playlist.
• There’s an option with 8GB of storage which allows you store at least 2,000 songs.
• The IPX8 waterproof rating means you can use it anywhere in water without issues.
• You can get free Swimbuds earbuds with some deals at no extra cost.
• Battery lasts for about 10 hours which is enough for several swimming sessions.
• Compatible with most audio formats such as WMA, WAV, AAC, MP3 and others.
• Connects to both PCs and Macs making it quite convenient.

Cons

• Some users complain of poor customer care service.

I love how this MP3 player feels in the hand and on the touch when underwater. You can flip through your playlist quite easily.

8. Tayogo Bone Conduction MP3 Player

If you prefer not to have earbuds in your ears as you swim, then the Tayogo Bone Conduction MP3 player is among those you will appreciate. It comes with bone audio conduction technology which means that the sound is delivered to your cheekbone rather than the ears. Being in or out of the water doesn’t tamper with the quality of the sound you receive from it.

It comes with 8GB of storage which is more than enough for 2,000 of the tunes you love. The controls for the volume and play/pause are located on the sides of the plugs making it easy to reach when swimming. The fact that it has the latest Bluetooth technology means that you can also use it as a pair of headphones while playing music from your phone.

Pros

• It has one of the best build qualities as it’s sturdy and solid in the hand.
• The use of bone conduction technology to provide sound eliminates the problems caused by normal earbuds which can allow water into the ears to muffle the sound.
• 8GB of storage is enough for at least 2,000 songs.
• Can be used as a remote control for music on your phone as it has the latest Bluetooth technology (Bluetooth 5.0).

Cons

• Bone conduction technology helps eliminate earbud issues but the sound isn’t of the best quality.

Another one with bone audio conduction technology. If you hate having plugs in your ears as you swim but still want to listen to your music, consider this one.

9. Delphin Waterproof Micro Tablet

One of the most advanced waterproof MP3 players I tried was the Delphin Waterproof Micro Tablet. As the name suggests, it’s a small tablet with a square screen and a touchscreen on which you can see 4 apps side by side. You can load apps such as Amazon Audible, Pandora and Spotify to listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks and many others.

Besides the tablet, you get the impressive Swimbuds earbuds for your tunes. You have an option between the Swimbuds Sport and Swimbuds HydroActive earbuds at no extra cost. With the tablet running Android 5.1, you’re basically taking a whole computer underwater. Only this time, you won’t worry about water damage.

Pros

• Has storage configurations of up to 16GB for storage of at least 4,000 songs.
• Can be used with most popular music services such as Pandora, Spotify, Audible and others.
• Has a touchscreen and full operating system (Android 5.1) which allows for complex tasks.
• It comes with free samples of AquaGuard (1 oz. Bottle) and a 30-minute narrated swim workout.
• The Swimbuds earbuds included, although already impressive, come with 11 different sizes of earbud tips which allow you to get just the right tips for your ears.
• 1 year warranty against manufacturer defects.
• Has Bluetooth and WIFI capabilities which make it convenient in loading music.
• Mac and PC compatible for convenience.
• 6-hour battery life.
• IPX8 waterproofing allowing for 30 minutes submersion in 3 meters of water.

Cons

• The battery life is shorter than competitors although still enough for most swimming sessions.

If you prefer to have a screen on your waterproof MP3, go for this one.

Buy Guide

When looking to acquire an MP3 player to use underwater, there are some aspects you need to consider. These include the following:

Water protection

Electronics and water are never friends and taking any electronic devices into the water is a recipe for disaster. When it comes to waterproof MP3 players, you need to have one that’s at least at IPX7 waterproof rating to use it in any type of water. The higher the rating, the better the device will be. Anything lower than that work in any water.

Storage

On average, when the storage is 4GB, the player can store up to 1,000 songs in most common formats. The higher the storage, the higher the number of songs you will store on the player. While some audio formats take up more space than others, that’s the average. You also need to know that wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth and WiFi don’t work underwater. For this reason, the storage size of your device matters a lot.

On average, 100 songs should last for about 5 hours on end. Include a few breaks and 100 songs will last the whole day when swimming. That’s only if you swim the whole day which we know isn’t the case for most people.

Sound quality

The first thing you need to know is that the quality of sound you will get underwater will never be as good as what you get on land. However, it doesn’t mean you compromise on the quality of sound you get in the water.

Most MP3 players offer crappy sound underwater and finding genuine reviews with people who actually tested them should be your first priority. If you can hear the words and beats distinctly, you should be happy the music is audible.

There’s always the option of choosing bone audio conduction options which deliver sound through the cheekbones. While you won’t get the very best sound, you won’t notice much difference between the sound in the water and that one on land.

Battery life

A typical swimming session lasts only for a couple of hours and shouldn’t require lots of battery life. However, the fact that you can use most of these MP3 players out of the water means that you need a long lasting battery in it. The least I can think of is about 6 hours which can take you through a day or two of swimming and at least one playlist of 100 songs.

Fitting

Unlike on land where you can easily put back a loose earbud into the ear, you don’t have that luxury underwater. The moment an earbud is loose, water enters the ear canal and your music won’t be audible anymore.

For this reason, you need earbuds that fit well into your ears. The best are the triple-flanged rubber tips such as the ones offered by Swimbuds. These stay in your ears keeping the water out although you also need to have the right fit for yourself.

There is also the option of going for bone audio conduction MP3 players which deliver sound through the cheekbones rather than the ears. This eliminates the need to have fitting earbuds in the water.

Build quality

The build quality of your MP3 player determines how well it works and how long it’ll last. For a start, waterproofing an electronic device simply boils down to covering the sensitive electronic circuits with a layer of waterproof materials. If the rest of the device isn’t built well, it’ll likely just let in water that will destroy it.

Being a small item also means that you will likely drop it once in a while. If the build quality is poor, it’ll break apart on no time.

Compatibility

When it comes to compatibility, you need to have an audio player that’s compatible with most audio formats such as MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC and many others. Besides that, it should be compatible with most operating systems such as macOS and Windows to allow you load the songs faster.

With these aspects in mind, you’re sure to land the best audio player for your swimming.

Swimming MP3 Player Care and Maintenance

If you don’t clean your earphones and headphones, they become dirty and can lead to bad odors and even ear infections. Besides that, there’s also the risk of damage to the unit with salt and chlorine in the water eating away at them.

To clean and generally maintain the swimming MP3 player, you need to do the following:

• Every time you come out of the water, always rinse the MP3 player and even the earbuds in clean water. This washes off the salty water which can be corrosive.
• Wipe the player with a cloth dipped in alcohol to clean off any grease or remaining salt and chlorine for the water after every swim.
• Remove the earbuds’ rubber tips then rinse in alcohol to clean the wax and other types of dirt from the earbuds.
• For gunk or other tough stains, use a soft toothbrush to clean them off.
• Project air under pressure into the headphone port to clean any dirt stuck in it. Dirt in this port can lead to poor connections with the headphone jack.

With these maintenance routines, your MP3 player will remain in great shape no matter the type of water you swim in. If any electric parts fail, you may need repair by the manufacturer.