Waterproof Headphones That Are Worth Buying Right Now

A carefully-curated playlist can be the perfect companion to your gym workout, swim, or morning run, but not every pair of headphones will be able to stand up to the task. Waterproof headphones allow music lovers with an active lifestyle to take their tunes with them wherever they go, and there's a huge range out there to choose from. However, not all waterproof headphones are equal — most are designed for one specific type of activity, and aren't quite so good outside of that environment. So, it's important that you pick the pair best suited to your routine.

Our list of top picks aims to cover all the main reasons you might want a pair of waterproof headphones, and there's something for all budgets, too. All of these pairs are naturally quite tough, but if you're in the market specifically for something hard-wearing, then we've also compiled a list of the most durable headphones you can buy right now. Alternatively, if overall sound quality is your number one priority, take a look at our roundup of the best-sounding over-ear headphones available.

Naenka's Runner Pro bone conduction headphones are a bit of a jack of all trades, and as such, they're great for the athlete who likes some variety in their workout routine. As you might expect from the name, they're primarily designed for running, and they're comfortable enough for multiple hours of wear on the go. Our reviewer found that users with smaller heads might notice the headphones hang down a bit, but regardless of head size, they remained secure while running.

Bone conduction headphones bypass your eardrum altogether, piping sound directly to the bones in your ear. This provides a safer listening experience, especially when listening to louder music for long periods, but it does usually come at the expense of sound quality. The Runner Pros are one of the best-sounding bone conduction headphones we've tried, though, with impressive mid-range tones and vocals. With an IPX8 rating, they're also suitable for swimming, and they come with 8GB of built-in storage so you can pre-load your songs without having to worry about a patchy Bluetooth connection underwater. Unlike many of their competitors though, they also feature Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for when you're not in the pool. Neanka advertises six hours of battery life per charge, although we found that to be a little optimistic, with realistic play time closer to five hours.

Another top pick for runners looking for an all-weather pair of headphones, the Jabra 7 Elite Actives feature IP57 water and dust protection and a ShakeGrip coating to keep them firmly in your ear. As a result of this coating, they forgo the usual wing tips or ear hooks entirely, making them one of the most aesthetically pleasing pairs of sports headphones around. It's also easy to take the guesswork out of deciding which earbud tips are best for your ears, as the MyFit function in Jabra's app automatically scans your ears with the headphones in and tells you if the fit is optimal.

The headphones are good for up to eight hours of battery life, with a further 22 hours of charge available from the case. ANC is offered and although it's not class-leading, it's more than effective enough for most environments. The app also offers a variety of sound profiles to optimize listening to podcasts or music, and in general, sound quality remains clear and crisp no matter what style of music you prefer.

Sony doesn't actually market its NW-WS413 headphones as headphones at all, but rather as a "sports wearable MP3 player." 4GB of storage is available as standard, and files can be transferred by mounting the headphones to your PC like a regular disk drive. This does require you to have the MP3 files on hand in the first place, as there's no streaming integration. There's no Bluetooth connectivity or handy app either, so you're reliant on using the buttons on each earpiece to navigate between albums and tracks. However, once you get used to what each button does and how many presses each function requires, it's generally pretty intuitive.

The biggest advantage of the NW-WS413 headphones is that they require no extra equipment (phones, transmitters, etc.) once they're loaded with music — a big benefit if you're swimming in public pools or in the sea. They're also suitable for running too, and with 12 hours of battery life, you'll be able to fit in plenty of sessions before needing to recharge them. Sound quality is great for the price, and at just $99.99, they're more budget-friendly than a lot of the competition. Sony says they're suitable for swimming in both saltwater and freshwater up to 2 meters deep, and they're dustproof too, although no IP rating is given. They might be a bit old-school by some people's standards, but if you're not fussed about the lack of Bluetooth connectivity, they're undeniably great value for money.

Swimmers looking for a pair of waterproof headphones that don't compromise on streaming connectivity should consider the Zygo Solo bone conduction headphones, which feature a unique way of solving the Bluetooth connectivity problem. Bluetooth signals don't travel well underwater, making traditional Bluetooth headphones all but useless once you're in the pool. The Zygo Solo solves that by including an FM transmitter, which sends a feed straight from your phone to a receiver in the back of the headset.

There's also an optional external microphone so that a coach can use the FM transmitter as an easy way of talking to their athlete. Clearly, this is not a pair of headphones for your average occasional pool patron, but for serious swimmers, it's a breakthrough piece of kit. You do still have to leave both your phone and the transmitter by the side of the pool, which could be a problem depending on where you usually swim, and the headset itself is quite bulky. But, there simply isn't anything else quite like it on the market right now, which justifies its steep $299 asking price.

A high-end solution for the most deep-pocketed headphone buyers, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Sport wireless earbuds get almost everything right. You'd hope so, given their hefty $349 retail price. They come with a variety of ear tips and ear fins, so finding the perfect fit should be easy. They also offer a decent resistance to dust and water, with an IP57 rating — not the highest on the market but more than enough to withstand anything a runner can realistically throw at them. An EQ is available on the B&O app, but it's not the most intuitive, or the most precise for that matter. Luckily, the existing presets are quite comprehensive.

Official battery life is claimed to be seven hours, with another 21 hours available from the charging case. One notable omission from these headphones is ANC — it's become an industry-standard feature in recent years, so it's odd to see it missing from a pair that costs as much as these. Still, the variety of ear tips do a pretty good job of creating a seal to block out your surroundings. It's hard to say that the Beoplay E8 Sports represent the best value for money since plenty of competitors offer an equally good range of features for considerably less. However, few come close to combining Bang & Olufsen's signature sound quality, sharp styling, and a commendable level of water- and dust-proofing, if you can justify splashing out.