The best waterproof headphones I've tested are also the most comfortable

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Shokz OpenSwim Pro headset is available for $179 in grey and red versions. 
• The headset sounds fantastic underwater, the nine-hour battery life is outstanding, and you can use it in MP3 or Bluetooth mode.
• However, it doesn’t support audio playback services like Spotify, which means you have to manually load your music files onto the device. 

Music keeps me focused and helps to motivate me when I exercise, but I also like to have awareness of my surroundings. For that reason, I’ve used bone conduction headsets for years, with Shokz being my preferred brand. When the company recently released the OpenSwim Pro, a waterproof headset designed for swimming, I couldn’t wait to try it out in the water. 

Also: The best bone conduction headphones you can buy: Expert tested

Now that summer is here, I’ve been spending more time in local lakes and pools while exploring swim-tracking technology. It’s great to listen to music while in the water, and I can do just that with this headset, which can be worn up to two meters deep for two hours. And it sounds great underwater — even better than on land.

View at Shokz

While this pair is designed for the water, bone conduction headsets in general are great for other outdoor activities as well. For example, I’ve been cycling a lot more lately, and the open-ear design lets me be fully aware of my surroundings while I’m on my bike, especially navigating around cars and pedestrians. 

When it comes to playback controls, the headset features two buttons on the right that rest behind your ear, with a large single button on the left side in front of your ear. The two smaller buttons serve primarily as volume controls while the large multifunction button can be used for play/pause, answer/end calls, and previous/next song.

Also: I walked over 10,000 steps with 3 sports watches – this one was the most accurate by far

Battery life is another reason I prefer to wear wrap-around headsets like the OpenSwim Pro. Shokz advertises up to nine hours in Bluetooth mode and six hours in MP3 mode, and just 10 minutes of charge time provides up to three more hours of listening time for Bluetooth mode.  

I also prefer the wrap-around form factor for active workouts since the flexible nickel-titanium alloy frame keeps the headset in place without any pressure on my head. It is covered in soft silicone material that provides traction and comfort.    

One challenge with the Shokz OpenSwim Pro is that it doesn’t support music subscription services such as Spotify. While in MP3 mode, you’ll need to load your audio files onto the headset by connecting it to your computer via USB cable and transferring them manually, up to 225 songs per minute. 

Thankfully, I have a few hundred songs in MP3 format that I purchased or ripped years ago and keep in my collection, as the headset supports MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, M4A, APE, and WMA file formats. This is actually better than it sounds, since the headset has a large 32GB capacity, and holds up to 8,000 songs. 

I also suggest that users install the Shokz app as it supports standard, vocal equalizer, and swimming modes, as well as multipoint pairing, customization of the physical buttons, firmware updates, and a battery status indicator. You can also customize the multifunction and volume buttons to launch your voice assistant and switch between Bluetooth or MP3 modes. 

Also: One of my favorite open-ear headphones just got better (and somehow cheaper)

The headset’s impressive audio quality is delivered through Shokz PremiumPitch 2.0+, a bone conduction technology that provides clear sound, powerful volume, and rich bass. Shokz has been perfecting bone conduction devices for years, with this headset using its latest eighth-generation technology that lets the audio speak for itself. 

While the Shokz OpenSwim Pro is primarily designed for you to enjoy music while swimming or working out, it does have two mics with noise and echo cancellation so you can make calls, record voice notes, or use your voice assistant.

I tested the Shokz OpenSwim Pro with an iPhone, a few different Android phones, a MacBook Pro, a Garmin watch, and an Apple Watch Ultra 2, and it had flawless playback with all these devices equally. And while I still have a decent MP3 collection, I would love to see support for Spotify, YouTube Music, or Amazon Music in the future so that the headset would be a more attractive option for others.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I’m not a pro swimmer, but the ability to play music while in the water keeps me going lap after lap. The OpenSwim Pro stays put on your head, has a long-lasting battery, and sounds great. As long as you have access to your own saved music files, this headset is a solid option for waterproof beats.