Swimbud’s redesigned Sport Waterproof Headphones are the best waterproof earphones of 2016. The new model comes with 4 different style of earbuds to adapt to environment and ear type. They are made with a rugged waterproof design and come with a 1 year warranty.

The Details

The Sport Waterproof Headphones‘ secure fit and tight seal separate them from their competition. In order for sound to transmit underwater, earbuds must form a completely secure waterproof seal inside your ear. If this seal is broken, the sound does not transmit under water and the earphones are useless. On a lot of other underwater earphones, it is common for the seal to break in mid-lap. When that happens it is frustrating to reseal in the middle of an aquatic workout.

Equipped with four different types of IPX8-rated waterproof earbuds, the Sport Waterproof is designed to hold a comfortable seal while submerged in water. They come with the Ergos for biking and running, Trees for lap swimming, Fins for watersports, and Mushroom for everyday activities.

The earphones sport third generation Hydrobeat audio technology which has audio fidelity that is clear enough to listen to music and audiobooks underwater. The audio fidelity does not stand up to the quality of standard earphones, and music will sound a little flat to audiophiles. Do not expect great bass quality from these things.

Unfortunately, they do not have Bluetooth capability. Instead they use a short 40 m cord with a 1m of waterproof extension.

The Sport Waterproof Headphones are available on Amazon for about $70.

Another Option

If you need waterproof headphones with Bluetooth capability, go for Plantronics BackBeat Fit Bluetooth Headphones. Although these aren’t the best for swimming, they have an IP57 rating, which means they can withstand fresh water up to 1 m for 30 minutes. They can go in the lap lane, but the seal will break. That said, they will work great on a rafting or boating excursion or in the weight room. An invisible nano-coating technology protects the earbuds against water and sweat during workouts and water related activities.

The earbuds have a flexible design so they remain stable throughout your workout. A set of built-in controls allows for easy pause, play, and skipping access, without having to pull out the phone or MP3 player. Their charge lasts for about 8 hours.

The Plantronics BackBeat Fit Bluetooth Headphones are available on Amazon for about $80.

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Sports earbuds should be comfortable enough to wear for an extended period of time, durable enough to withstand drops, sweat, and dirt, fit securely on the ear – all while producing outstanding sound. Here are our top picks:

• The Best In-Ear Sports Earphones: Jaybird X2
• The Best Behind-the-Neck Earphones: BackBeat Fit
• The Best Over-Ear Sports Earphones Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats2 Wireless

The Best In-Ear Sports Earphones: Jaybird X2

Pros:  High-quality audio, secure fit, sweat-proof 

Cons: Left and right buds not labeled

Launched in the second half of 2015, the X2 is the successor to Jaybird’s popular but flawed BlueBuds X earbuds. Although similar in appearance, the X2 offers improved sweat-proofing and sound quality, more comfortable in-ear design, and better battery life. Besides the excellent sound quality, the X2 has good comfort and fit options. Included in the box are three sizes of ear tips in both silicone and foam, as well as three sizes of ear fins. Although the unit is guaranteed sweat-proof, Jaybird offers customers a lifetime warranty against sweat-related damage.

X2 earbuds also feature an eight-hour battery life, and are compatible with any Bluetooth device.

The Jaybird X2 is available from Amazon for about $140.

Best Behind-the-Neck Sports Earphones: Plantronics BackBeat Fit

Pros: Lightweight, comfortable, includes reflective armband/storage case, wireless  

Cons: Cord around neck may bother some people    

A favorite of CNET, Men’s Fitness, and Runner’s World, Plantronics’ BackBeat Fit behind-the-neck earbuds were designed with athletes’ needs in mind. The unit is light, flexible, and allows for the user to wear eyewear unobstructed. Additionally, the ear tips rotate to ensure a snug, comfortable fit. A proprietary audio codec allows for excellent sound, including rich, deep bass. However, the unit doesn’t completely block out external sounds in order to ensure safety and awareness of surroundings. The BackBeat Fit is also durable and waterproof, so feel free to wear these out for a jog in the rain or during an intense sweat-session at the gym. Since the unit was designed to work with Bluetooth smartphones, it also features a microphone that reduces feedback, filters out background sound, and enhances voice quality. Reviewers especially liked the eight-hour battery life and the inclusion of a generously-sized reflective smartphone armband that doubles as a case when not in use.

The BackBeat Fit is available from Amazon for about $104.

The Best Over-Ear Sports Earphones: Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats2 Wireless

Pros: Excellent sound quality, water- and sweat-resistant, multiple earpieces  

Cons: Six hour battery life

Although Beats headphones have been maligned by the audio community in the past for favoring style over function, the Powerbeats2 wireless earbuds received top scores from technology and fitness magazines alike, and are currently the second best-selling earbuds on Amazon. Even the Wall Street Journal praised the Powerbeats2 earbuds for their superior sound quality. In addition to excellent sound, these earbuds feature lightweight, soft-touch plastic ear hooks that can be molded to conform to the wearer’s ear and four pairs of multi-sized and shaped ear tips for a perfect, snug fit. These earbuds are also water-resistant (IPX4) and sweat-resistant, and built to withstand even the toughest workout. Powerbeats2 earbuds are wireless and compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device and, with the addition of a remote built into the cord, can be used as a hands-free headset. However, you’ll only get about six hours of playback before these earbuds will need to be charged.

Powerbeats2 is available at Amazon for about $140.

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These top-rated headphone were selected based upon studying reviews on CNET, Crunchgear, PCWorld, and Digital Trends, as well as user reviews from Amazon and Newegg.

Sennheiser PC 350 Collapsible Gaming Headphones ($175)

Top Review Sources:

• Digital Trends: 8.5 out of 10; “Comfortable, Excellent sound quality”
• Trusted Reviews: 9 out of 10; “The very best headset for gaming”
• Amazon: Average 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 173 customer reviews

Sennheiser, a name synonymous with exceptional sound, offers up the PC 350 for the serious gamer. Sennheiser owners rave about the sound clarity during games and the headphones transfer well for movie and music listening, though the microphone inhibits versatility in that area. The microphone is one of the best tested with excellent noise cancelling. The use of a sound card is recommended to get the most value out of these pricier gaming headphones.

The Sennheiser PC 350 collapsible gaming headphones are available on Amazon.

Turtle Beach Ear Force X 41 ($140)

Pros:

• Excellent 7.1 channel surround sound
• Removable microphone
• Wireless, includes a headphone jack to connect another headset
• Xbox live chat with automatic chat boost

Top Review Sources:

• CNET: 3.5 out of 5 stars, very good, “One of the best wireless gaming headsets around.”
• Amazon: Average 4 out of 5 stars, based on 319 customer reviews

The Ear Force X41s from Turtle Beach can be connected to virtually any audio source using the included base station, though the live chat is only for Xbox users. Wireless technology has had its’ issues in the past, but these headphones use radio frequency to produce excellent surround sound. Powered by a USB port, these headphones come with all the required cables to get started.

The Turtle Beach Ear Force X41 gaming headphones are for sale on Amazon.

Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 ($118)

Pros:

• Wireless technology sounds as good as wired
• Accurate 7.1 channel surround sound
• Programmable G-keys for one touch commands
• USB recharging base recharges during play

Cons:

• Not MAC compatible
• Microphone not removable

Top Review Sources:

• Crunchgear: “A very nice headset with great sound and solid wireless technology.”
• Newegg: 4 out of 5, based on 162 user reviews
• Amazon: Average 4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 153 customer reviews

The Logitech G930 gaming headset uses improved wireless technology with a range of up to 40 feet. The microphone works well for noise cancelling and mutes when rotated out of the way, but is not removable. Sound is impeccable for gaming and movies, but doesn’t transfer well for music listening. The battery life and ability to recharge while in use beats other wireless gaming headsets.

The Logitech G930 wireless gaming headset is available on Amazon.

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