Swimming headphones have to work with your head under water, so three listing details decide the buy: the waterproof rating and depth the maker states, whether the set stores its own music, because Bluetooth does not travel through water, and how it stays on your head alongside goggles. This page compares seven sets on Amazon Australia, six wireless with built in MP3 storage and one wired pair, in each listing's own words.
For an open ear set for running and the gym rather than laps, our bone conduction headphones guide covers the dry land picks.
Best swimming headphones overall: KIM HOST IP68 Bone Conduction Headphones
Best swimming headphones overall: the KIM HOST IP68 bone conduction headphones, because the listing describes IP68 waterproofing for pool and underwater use, 32 GB of memory for music without a phone, and Bluetooth 5.4 on land.
The listing describes bone conduction that transmits sound across the cheekbones and leaves the ears free for ambient noise, Bluetooth 5.4, and an integrated 32 GB memory for music playback without a smartphone when swimming. It calls the set fully waterproof to the IP68 standard, developed for swimming in the pool and underwater use up to several metres deep. The box list reads headphones, USB charging cable, instruction manual, earplugs and a carry bag. It holds 4.4 stars from 2,763 ratings.
It suits lap swimmers who want their own music in the water. The honest catch: the brand name tells you little, the listing gives no battery life, weight or exact depth, and the rating count may be pooled across versions.
Best big brand swimming headphones: Shokz OpenSwim Pro
Best big brand swimming headphones: the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, because the listing gives an IP68 rating for depths of up to 2 metres for 2 hours, 32 GB of MP3 storage and Bluetooth 5.4, switched by buttons or the Shokz App.
The listing describes an open ear design that lets you perceive hazards while hiking or swimming, Bluetooth and MP3 dual modes switched with physical buttons or through the Shokz App, PremiumPitch 2.0+ bone conduction for clear sound, powerful volume and rich bass, and ENC and DNS noise reduction for calls. The box lists a 4 pin magnetic charging cable. It holds 4.3 stars from 3,203 ratings, the most on this page.
It suits swimmers who also want a daily set for calls and commutes from a brand with its own app. The honest catch: it costs several times what the unbranded sets cost, and its 4.3 stars sit below the KIM HOST and Niecase sets.
Best swimming headphones for lap swimming: Niecase S950 Swimming Headphones
Best swimming headphones for lap swimming: the Niecase S950, because the listing gives an IP68 rating that works at 3 metres depth and includes swimming earplugs and an adjustable silicone lanyard.
The listing describes 8 GB of storage for more than 2,000 songs, a switch to MP3 mode for underwater audio because the Bluetooth signal cannot penetrate water, and Bluetooth 6.2 that connects two devices at once. The set weighs 24.8 g, with a rear hook and buttons that work with wet hands. The 180 mAh battery gives 6 to 8 hours and magnetic charging fills it in 2 hours. It holds 4.6 stars from 202 ratings, the highest score here.
It suits pool swimmers doing laps who want earplugs in the box and a listed weight of 24.8 g. The honest catch: 202 ratings is a thin record next to the top two picks, and 8 GB holds fewer songs than the 32 GB sets.
Best earbud style swimming headphones: SANOTO S710 Swimming Headphones
Best earbud style swimming headphones: the SANOTO S710, because it is the one wireless in ear set here, with an IPX8 rating the listing says allows swimming and diving to 10 metres for over 2 hours.
The listing sells the S710 as in ear earbuds for swimming. It says they are IPX8 waterproof certified and can be submerged in 10 metres of water for over 2 hours, and it tells you to switch to MP3 mode and turn off your phone's Bluetooth while swimming. The title gives Bluetooth 5.4 and 8 GB of MP3 storage, and the description says a USB C charging cable connects magnetically to the headset. It holds 4.4 stars from 582 ratings.
It suits swimmers who prefer a bud in the ear to a band on the cheekbones. The honest catch: 8 GB is a quarter of the storage of the 32 GB sets, and the listing gives no battery life or weight.
Best wired earbuds for swimming: Swimbuds Sport
Best wired earbuds for swimming: the Swimbuds Sport, because the listing describes an extra short 40 cm cable made to tuck into a goggle strap and 11 pairs of ear tips in four styles for a watertight fit.
The listing describes the successor to the Swimbuds Classic, with lower drag, greater comfort and third generation HydroBeat technology. It calls Swimbuds the world's first short cord headphone designed for swimmers: you insert the bud with the cable pointing up, run the cable under your goggle strap and remove the slack. It describes stronger body construction, reinforced cords and a watertight seal, and the product details give 11.34 g. It holds 4.2 stars from 936 ratings.
It suits swimmers who already own a waterproof music player. The honest catch: there is no battery and no storage, so you need a separate waterproof player, and 4.2 is the lowest rating on this page.
Best swimming headphones for long sessions: Oz5 Bone Conduction Headphones
Best swimming headphones for long sessions: the Oz5 bone conduction headphones, because the listing claims up to 14 hours of continuous play, the longest here, with 32 GB of MP3 storage and an IPX8 rating.
The title says the Oz5 is designed in Australia. The listing describes bone conduction, an IPX8 rating that handles depths up to 1.5 metres for 40 minutes, and dual listening modes that switch between open ear and noise cancelling with the adjustable ear hook. Wireless and 32 GB MP3 playback switch with one tap, and magnetic charging gives up to 14 hours. The box list reads charging cable, noise suspension kit, storage pouch and user manual. It holds 4.5 stars from 40 ratings.
It suits swimmers who want the longest listed battery life between charges, up to 14 hours. The honest catch: only 40 ratings so far, a very thin record for the dearest set after the Shokz, and the listing rates it for depths up to 1.5 metres for 40 minutes, the shallowest and shortest water claim here, so the 14 hours is battery life, not time in the water.
Best budget swimming headphones: SAMVEK IP68 Swimming Headphones
Best budget swimming headphones: the SAMVEK IP68 swimming headphones, because they are the cheapest set on this page and the listing still gives an IP68 rating to 2 metres, 32 GB of storage and up to 8 hours of playback.
The listing describes waterproof and dustproof protection that operates at a water depth of up to 2 metres. Built in 32 GB storage holds up to 8,000 songs and plays without a Bluetooth device, with a note to switch to MP3 mode when swimming. The set weighs 32 g, and its 200 mAh battery charges in 2 hours by magnetic cable for up to 8 hours. It holds 4.4 stars from 89 ratings.
It suits a first set to find out whether you like music in the pool before spending more. The honest catch: 89 ratings and a brand name you will not know, so treat it as a trial rather than a long term buy.
How to choose swimming headphones
Compare the listing specifications
Every figure is the listing's own claim, not a test result. Where a listing gives none, the cell says not stated.
Swimming headphone specifications from the listings
| Pick | Waterproof rating | Listed depth and time | Music storage | Listed playtime | Weight |
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| KIM HOST | IP68 | Up to several metres | 32 GB | not stated | not stated |
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| Shokz OpenSwim Pro | IP68 | Up to 2 metres for 2 hours | 32 GB | 9 hours | not stated |
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| Niecase S950 | IP68 | 3 metres | 8 GB | 6 to 8 hours | 24.8 g |
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| SANOTO S710 | IPX8 | 10 metres for over 2 hours | 8 GB | not stated | not stated |
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| Swimbuds Sport | 100 percent waterproof, no IP code | not stated | none, wired to your player | no battery | 11.34 g |
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| Oz5 | IPX8 | Up to 1.5 metres for 40 minutes | 32 GB | Up to 14 hours | not stated |
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| SAMVEK | IP68 | Up to 2 metres | 32 GB | Up to 8 hours | 32 g |
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Read the waterproof rating and the depth figure
Six listings give an IP code: IP68 on the KIM HOST, Shokz, Niecase and SAMVEK sets, IPX8 on the SANOTO and Oz5. The last figure, 8, is the immersion grade on all six. The first is a dust grade, and X means dust was not rated. The code does not say how deep or for how long, so use each listing's own figure in the table. Swimbuds gives no code and calls itself 100 percent waterproof. They are makers' claims, not rankings.
Bluetooth on land, MP3 in the water
The Niecase listing says Bluetooth does not work underwater, the SAMVEK listing says underwater environments interfere with Bluetooth, and the SANOTO listing tells you to switch to MP3 mode and turn off your phone's Bluetooth while swimming. That is why every wireless set here carries its own storage, 32 GB on the KIM HOST, Shokz, Oz5 and SAMVEK sets and 8 GB on the Niecase and SANOTO, which the SAMVEK listing says you fill from a computer. On land the KIM HOST, Shokz, Niecase, SANOTO and SAMVEK listings name Bluetooth, and the Oz5 listing calls its connection wireless. If most of your training is on the road, our running headphones guide compares sets built for that.
Bone conduction band, in ear buds or a wired pair
Bone conduction sets send sound across the cheekbones, which the KIM HOST and Oz5 listings describe as leaving the ears free, and the Niecase and KIM HOST boxes both include earplugs, which the Niecase listing says enhance underwater sound. The SANOTO puts the bud in the ear instead, and the Swimbuds Sport are wired buds with 11 pairs of tips. Goggles are the other thing on your head: the Swimbuds listing says to run the cable under the goggle strap, and the Niecase adds a silicone lanyard. Our swimming goggles guide covers the strap end of that pairing.
Battery and charging
Four listings give a playtime: up to 14 hours on the Oz5, 9 hours on the Shokz OpenSwim Pro, up to 8 hours on the SAMVEK and 6 to 8 hours on the Niecase. The KIM HOST and SANOTO listings state none. The Niecase and SAMVEK listings both give a 2 hour full charge by magnetic cable, which the Niecase listing says keeps the set waterproof because there are no exposed ports. Every wireless set charges from a cable, and no listing lists a wall adapter in the box. The Swimbuds need no charging.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best swimming headphones in Australia?
The KIM HOST IP68 bone conduction set is our pick for most people: the listing describes IP68 waterproofing for pool and underwater use, 32 GB of music storage and Bluetooth 5.4, and it holds 4.4 stars from 2,763 ratings. The Shokz OpenSwim Pro is the big brand choice, and the SAMVEK set is the cheapest way in.
Which swimming headphones have the best reviews?
By star rating the Niecase S950 leads at 4.6, but from only 202 ratings. The KIM HOST set holds 4.4 from 2,763 ratings and the Shokz OpenSwim Pro 4.3 from 3,203, the two counts large enough to lean on. The Swimbuds Sport sit lowest at 4.2 from 936 ratings.
Is the Shokz OpenSwim Pro worth it?
It is the pick for a big brand with an app. The listing describes an IP68 rating for depths of up to 2 metres for 2 hours, Bluetooth 5.4 plus 32 GB of MP3 storage, and switching through buttons or the Shokz App. It costs several times the KIM HOST set, which rates higher.
Do Bluetooth headphones work underwater for swimming?
No. The Niecase listing says the Bluetooth signal cannot penetrate water, the SAMVEK listing says underwater environments interfere with Bluetooth, and the SANOTO listing tells you to switch to MP3 mode and turn your phone's Bluetooth off while swimming. In the pool you play music stored on the headphones themselves.
What do IP68 and IPX8 mean on swimming headphones?
Both end in 8, the immersion grade of the IP code. The first figure rates dust, and X means dust was not rated. The code gives no depth, so read each listing: the Shokz OpenSwim Pro says 2 metres for 2 hours, the Niecase 3 metres, the SANOTO 10 metres and the Oz5 1.5 metres for 40 minutes.
How do bone conduction swimming headphones work?
Bone conduction sends sound through the cheekbones instead of the ear canal. The KIM HOST listing says it transmits sound across the cheekbones and leaves the ears free for ambient noise, and the Oz5 listing says it sends sound through your cheekbones and keeps your ears open. The Niecase listing adds swimming earplugs for underwater sound.
How do you put music on swimming headphones?
The sets store music themselves, because the Niecase, SAMVEK and SANOTO listings all say to switch from Bluetooth to MP3 mode in the water. The SAMVEK listing says to connect the charging cable to a computer, where the set appears as a disk, then drag your audio files across, and its 32 GB holds up to 8,000 songs.
Which swimming headphones have the longest battery life?
The Oz5 listing claims the longest at up to 14 hours. The Shokz OpenSwim Pro page gives 9 hours, the SAMVEK listing up to 8 hours from a 200 mAh battery and the Niecase 6 to 8 hours from 180 mAh. The KIM HOST and SANOTO listings state no playtime, and the wired Swimbuds Sport need none.
