Can You Swim with Waterproof Bluetooth Headphones?

Nothing beats the fun of timing your swimming strokes to your favorite music beats. That’s why you are reading this post on the best waterproof Bluetooth earphones for swimming.

I know… Earbuds are all the rage right now. But hey, waterproof earphones are not out of the market yet, and you might love a pair for yourself.

And the good news is that these earphones are multipurpose, so you can use them for swimming, riding, hiking, mountain biking, and other adventures.

If you would like to just buy a pair straight away, check out the four that we have listed in the table below for you.

Table

Waterproof earphones for swimming vs headphones

Most people confuse headphones for earphones and vice versa. However, these are completely different products both in shape, style, and even size.

They do have some similarities though because they both help you to enjoy music when you are in the swimming pool.

Another thing they have in common is that they come Bluetooth enabled, which means you can catch some music from a device that is on the deck. However, that is just about where the similarities end.

Headphones cover the ear completely, so they have better noise-canceling functions than the earphones that go into your ears. Even though they sit on the outside of the inner ear, earphones feel a bit invasive before you get used to them.

If you buy high-quality ones made of silicone, they can feel comfortable on your skin. For waterproof earphones for swimming, the silicone would be excellent since it is waterproof.

Earphones do not have the best noise-canceling features, obviously, because they leave some space when you wear them. However, the lightweight is good compensation for that.

Headphones

These are great for noise-canceling, and they are comfortable to wear. However, they are bulkier and even if they are made of lightweight material, they can still feel like a load on your head.

These devices also come in wireless and wired types. For swimming, you would need wireless, Bluetooth-enabled ones, since your device will be far from you.

The best feature about the waterproof headphones is that they cancel the noise completely. They cover your ears, cutting out the noise.

Like some earphones, they also come with an integrated microphone so you can receive calls while you are in the water.

Does Bluetooth work underwater?

If you are going to wear a Bluetooth device on your person while swimming, you might need to know whether it is going to work underwater.

Unfortunately, no! Bluetooth does not work underwater. However, if you can keep your head over the surface, it is going to work.

Since all Bluetooth devices work on the 2.4GHz frequency, there may be interruptions underwater. However, since swimming does not require you to keep your head underwater all the time, you will find that these earphones work very well in the swimming pool.

The only thing you have to be wary of is the range of connectivity. Bluetooth will work well within the range of 10 to 30 meters, depending on the device. Therefore, if you swim out of range, it is going to fail.

Another question many people ask is: Can you use Bluetooth headphones in water? Well, while the BT signal does not travel very far in water, you can find a means to bring your smartwatch into the pool. If it is waterproof, wear it. If it is not, leave it on the deck.

So, how can you enjoy your music when you are in the swimming pool? There are a few ways:

• Keep your device – smartphone most likely on the poolside
• Don’t swim too far away from the poolside to stay within range
• You will need to keep your head and earphones above the water surface
• You can also wear your earphones, and then wear your swim cap over them

Water molecules will interfere with the Bluetooth signal. Therefore, keep your head out of the water. This means you can mostly tread water or swim at a slow speed. If you swim vigorously, the reception will not be too good.

Waterproof earphones vs earbuds for swimming

Earphones and earbuds may look the same, but they are different by default and by design.

Different designs

As earlier mentioned, earphones are a bit invasive since they get into the ear canal (not too deeply).

On the other hand, earbuds sit outside the ear canal on a part of the ear that’s referred to as Concha.

This is why some people feel that earbuds are more comfortable. However, even the earphones are comfortable once you are used to them.

Wired vs wireless

Another difference is that earbuds are wireless by design. Earphones on the other hand can be wireless or wired.

The wired ones plug directly into the device containing your music. The wireless ones connect via Bluetooth.

In this case, you are looking for earphones that you can wear while swimming. Therefore, they are wireless and can connect through Bluetooth.

Earbuds come as two separate devices. Therefore, when connecting to a device, each bud has to connect individually.

Noise cancellation 

Both the earphones and the earbuds lack proper noise-cancellation features. Thus, as a swimmer, you will tend to increase the volume to compensate for this. Prolonged use of earphones or earbuds at high volume might eventually cause ear damage.

You can find the best waterproof earbuds for swimming, as well as earphones. While they can be completely waterproof, don’t get too excited to jump into the pool with them because when they are submerged, they lose connectivity.

Volume control 

Lastly, earbuds have volume control, but earphones might lack this function. This and the design makes earbuds costlier than earphones.

How do waterproof earphones for swimming work?

They work in a simple way. These earphones come with Bluetooth mode and local mode. Since they have a memory card slot, you can upload music so that you can play it in an MP3 version when you are in the water. If you are swimming underwater, you should use Local Mode.

If you just want to float on water and relax, you can be able to keep your ears out of water. Therefore, the earphones can work well on Bluetooth.

To use these devices, you have to upload the music of your choice. You also need to know how it works, how to charge, and so on, by reading the user manual.

Usually, with an IPX67 or IPX8 waterproof rating, if you intend to use the earphones in the swimming pool only, they can last a long time.

Waterproof earphones for swimming: How to Choose

Many people ask: Can you listen to music while swimming? If you have a pool party, there must be music.

If you are wondering whether you can listen to music while swimming privately, yes, you can. However, you will need to buy waterproof earphones for swimming.

To choose these earphones, you must consider the following factors:

Waterproof rating

The waterproof rating of the earphones for swimming determines how much water exposure they can withstand.

The waterproof rating simply means how deep these devices can be submerged and not sustain damage. In this case, the recommended waterproof rating is IPX67 or IPX8, and for both, the earphones can stay dry and safe for up to 30 meters of water.

Most of them come with a waterproof rating of IPX67 or IPX8. At least, this is the bare minimum, since anything lesser than that is not going to keep them free from water damage.

If you need to wear the earphones inside the water, make sure they cannot sustain water damage because no matter how careful you are, they will at one time or another be submerged.

Music source – card support

The main reason for buying these waterproof swimming earphones is to swim to the beat. However, this can be hard when you want to swim underwater.

Bluetooth connectivity is interrupted by water molecules. However, not all earphones use Bluetooth. Some of them come with microSD card slots.

If you buy such, make sure it has a sizeable memory card so that you can pack all the music, audiobooks, and motivational clips that you can find.

For the purpose of uploading your songs from a computer, the earphones should come with a USB cable. You can use it to connect the earphones to your computer to upload the music.

Power source

Bluetooth waterproof earphones for swimming must have a power source. They come with rechargeable batteries that can last many hours on one charge.

Some come with a quick charging function so that you can charge it fully in an hour or so.

Material

Because of the design of the earphones and the fact that they have to go into your ear canal, it is vital that they be made of high-quality material.

If they have silicone tips, get them! Silicone is the best material for the parts that will be in contact with the ear canal.

The other parts can be made of high-quality plastic, and tightly sealed to keep the water out completely.

Other features

Modern earphones come with many extra features. For example, they can have + or – buttons to increase or decrease the volume. They also come with buttons to take you to the next song or to the last one you played.

Wrapping Up

The best waterproof Bluetooth earphones for swimming can help you enjoy your moments in the swimming pool.

Swimming has many benefits. You can enjoy a great time in the water with music, as you take your daily cardio workout.

To tell you the truth, Bluetooth does not connect very well when in the water. However, that should not worry you because these earphones also come with a Local Playing mode. They have an SD card slot so you can upload music to the earphones, and play it directly from them.

When buying, check the price. You do not want to spend an extravagant amount of money on a pair of earphones. Check whether they have a warranty.