Why we like them: Shokz’s OpenSwim Pro are the company’s premium bone conduction headphones built for aquatic activities. They sport an IP68 waterproof rating, a nine-hour battery life, and are equipped with Shokz’s industry-leading bone conduction technology for $150.
Review: Shokz OpenSwim Pro
ZDNET’s Matt Miller tested the OpenSwim Pro during his swims in the summer and praised them for their secure fit, long battery, and intuitive multifunction buttons. The OpenSwim must enter MP3 mode when used in the water. This allows you to listen to up to 32GB of downloaded music files during your swim. Miller says, “As long as you have access to your own saved music files, this headset is a solid option for waterproof beats.”
Who these are for: The OpenSwim Pro are a solid option for people who want bone conduction headphones that can accompany them while hiking, biking, running, and swimming. According to Miller, although the OpenSwim Pro excel in the water, they were a wonderful companion while biking, helping him stay aware of his surroundings.
The OpenSwim Pro have an IP68 rating, making them dust and waterproof, compared to the H20 Audio Tri 2’s IPX8, which wasn’t formally tested for dust ingress. If you find yourself off-trail with the OpenSwim Pro, you can feel more confident that dust and dirt won’t damage the headphones.
Who should look elsewhere: You’ll need to download your favorite songs in either MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, M4A, APE, or WMA file formats to listen in the water, which could be a roadblock for people used to streaming music via Apple Music or Spotify. If you don’t want to deal with downloading files, consider headphones that strictly use Bluetooth. However, you’ll forgo using your headphones in the water.
Shokz OpenSwim Pro tech specs: Form factor: Open-ear | Bluetooth: Yes (5.4) | Battery life: 9 hours (6 hours in MP3 mode) | IP rating: IP68 (dust and waterproof) | Charging option(s): 4-pin USB | Weight: 27.3g
