Waterproof headphones are becoming incredibly popular of late, and it’s easy to understand why. Whether you’re exercising, dancing, swimming, or just walking in the rain, no matter how hard you sweat, how many laps you’re up for, whatever the weather outside is doing, how long you shower after, it is great to have a pair of really nice waterproof earbuds, especially ones that also sound fantastic.
The best waterproof earbuds can be wonderful anytime, no matter what you’re doing, but especially if you are:
- Swimming
- Working Out
- Wearing them Outside (especially in rain or snow)
- Working or Playing around Water
- Sometimes Forgetting to Check your Pockets when Doing Laundry
Ok, I might have added that last one because I recently washed one of my favorite (non-waterproof) pairs of earbuds, and now they sound, somewhat ironically, like all the musicians and instruments are under water.
But if you are in or around water, if you work out and don’t want to sweat about sweating, if you love singing in the rain or if you simply like having durable gear that you don’t have to worry about, the best waterproof wireless earbuds let you just relax and enjoy the music and whatever you’re doing.
IP Code Waterproofing Ratings Explained – What do the Numbers Mean?
The IP, or Ingress Protection, Code is a measure of how much dust or water a device can protect against. Ingress means “entering,” and the code is about how the case, housing or outer shell of headphones (or other products) can protect the working inner mechanisms from dust or water – although in this instance we are concerned about protection from water.
An IP code will appear in a few different ways, for example:
- IP8
- IPX8
- IP58
IP = Ingress Protection
X, or 5, refers to the level of dust protection. If a number, it can be from 0-6 (higher is better), and if an X this just means data about dust protection is either not available or not included.
8 (which can actually be from 0-9, again higher being better) refers to the level of water protection, and in our example 8 is quite good, and means that a pair of headphones can be totally immersed in water for an extended amount of time.
Again, the water resistance number in an IP rating can be from 0-9, 0 meaning no protection and 9 meaning able to withstand high pressure spray with hot water. So, if there is a new workout fad which involves being sprayed with a strong, hot jet of water you will definitely need an IP9 or IPX9 pair of headphones. And perhaps a hospital.
How Much Water Protection do You Really Need?
Headphones that are really waterproof have an IP rating of IP7 or IP8.
- IP7 means the buds can be under water at depths of up to 1 meter (~3.3 feet) for up to 30 minutes.
- IP8 means the earbuds can withstand water up to 3 meters (~9.8 feet) for 30 minutes or longer.
If you are swimming or surfing, you probably want IP8, and for pretty much anything else, including showering, running in the rain, or even a quick dip in the pool – or if you sweat a lot during exercise – IP7 is more than enough.
In this buyer’s guide for waterproof wireless headphones we will only consider ‘phones with at least IXP7 rating. Anything below that means a pair of earbuds can, at best, be splashed or sprayed with water, but are not really waterproof (although many manufacturers and other articles may well recommend IP6 or IP5 headphones as waterproof).
Even if you’re not swimming, or diving for quarters in public fountains, a real waterproof rating is really great to have, because you can just stop worrying and do what you want, never feeling like your headphones or your music are holding you back.
Do Waterproof Wireless Headphones Really Sound Good?
Not all waterproof wireless headphones sound good, and some of even the best and most premium pairs seem to be designed and built with a little more concern about protection from water than about sound quality and listening enjoyment.
That said, there are really great wireless buds out there which are tough and impervious to water but also sound great, with a beautiful balance in engineering and design between high fidelity and waterproofing.
How Can You Find the Best Waterproof Wireless Headphones?
We here at Speakergy are all about the sound. That’s why we think this list of best waterproof wireless headphones in 2024 is special, because while we will only include buds that have the very best water protection, we will also only include ones that have the best sound too, not to mention great features, overall quality and durability and amazing value.
Our recommendations for best waterproof wireless buds will be listed in order of price, from the least expensive to the most premium, and so all you need to do is figure out just how much you want to spend, and you can be sure that the corresponding choice will be perfect for you and your hydrophilic lifestyle. Or your washing machine. Either way…
Whatever you spend, and whichever of these great wireless earbuds you end up with, you’ll never worry about your headphones again, no matter how intense the workout, how long the swim, how heavy the rain or how fast the spin cycle.
The Best Waterproof Wireless Earbuds on the Market in 2024
At a Glance:
- Headphone Type: True Wireless Earbuds
- IP Waterproof Rating: IPX7
- Battery Life: 5 Hours Buds :: 25 Hours Total with Case
- Bluetooth Version: 4.2
With the winning combination of Under Armour material design and style and JBL sound, the Flash X are some of the best feeling and sounding of any in-ears of any type we’ve ever used, and perfectly engineered to stay place during workouts, light swims and heavy rains.
The sound is pure JBL, and at that premium level of the best JBL products, with not only deep, punchy bass and bright, clear sound, but a kind of open, easy authority that allows for really loud listening with no discomfort or distortion, and an overall presentation that is exceptionally accurate and at the same time intensely energetic.
If you want your music to really move you, no matter what the conditions, these IPX7 Under Armour / JBL Flash X true wireless headphones are the ones for the job, and quite possibly the best waterproof wireless earbuds available in 2024.
At a Glance:
- Headphone Type: Bone Conduction
- IP Waterproof Rating: IP67
- Battery Life: 8 Hours :: 10 Day Standby
- Bluetooth Version: 5.0
Ok, so these aren’t really earbuds, but I wanted to include them anyway – not just because they’re a great product and a great value, but because they have been a bit of a breakthrough for me. I mean, I’ve been a little ambivalent about bone conduction headphones, but that may just be because all of the ones I’ve hear have had a muffled, unclear sound and little of the qualities I so love when listening to music – detail, dynamic drive, clarity and precise, realistic stereo imaging.
But when we heard these AfterShokz Aeropex bone conductors we finally got it – even much more so than with other AfterShokz models, the Aeropex have a clear, detailed and engaging sound quality that rivals in-ear headphones in the same price category.
In case you don’t know what ear conduction ‘phones are, they don’t go into or on the ears, but rest on your cheekbone directly in front of the ear, leaving your ears wide open. And while for critical listening we would not want to be able to so clearly hear our surroundings, it turns out to be a great thing for workouts – or hanging out with friends, for that matter.
If you want waterproof bone conduction headphones for exercise or sports, for using a lot outdoors or in adverse conditions, or for whatever reason, and if sound quality is really important to you, the AfterShokz Aeropex are the best sounding we’ve ever heard, and in terms of overall quality, features and tech they tick all the boxes as well.
At a Glance:
- Headphone Type: True Wireless Earbuds
- IP Waterproof Rating: IPX7
- Battery Life: 6 Hours Buds :: 16 Hours Total with Case
- Bluetooth Version: 5.0
If your number one priority is finding a waterproof wireless earbud with big, slamming, dynamic sound, tons of bass and intense energy, buds that will really get you going during a workout, the Jaybird Vista may not be for you. They have a comparatively calm and neutral sound that, while far more accurate than most, and much more in line with that true audiophile ideal we’re always chasing around here, may not push you to more reps or more laps.
On the other hand, if you want really refined sound, with tonal beauty, real resolving power and lots of detail, deep, powerful bass that’s not overly boosted and vocals and high frequencies that have a clear and liquid quality, the Jaybird Vista waterproof in-ear headphones are among the best sounding I’ve ever heard – and they’ll play really loud with no loss of sound quality. Anyway, aybe loud and luscious sound is just what it takes for some people to go that one final kilometer, especially when the rain is so heavy and noisy…
A superbly built product, with the most advanced technology, including Bluetooth 5, and really smart and useful features, and an in-ear headphone that really stays in your ear, the Jaybird Vista is the best waterproof wireless earbud we know for true high-fidelity sound.
At a Glance:
- Headphone Type: MP3 Player with Bluetooth Wireless
- IP Waterproof Rating: IPX8
- Battery Life: 10 Hours
- Bluetooth Version: 4.2
- MP3 Player Storage: 8GB
The problem with waterproof wireless earbuds for swimmers is that once you’re underwater the Bluetooth takes a dive – it cuts in and out or stops working completely. If only somebody would make a great Bluetooth wireless headphone that was really, truly waterproof but also had an MP3 player and plenty of storage for your favorite tunes…
Actually lots of companies do, and the very best one we’ve ever used – in terms of sound quality, build quality, waterproofing, features and design, in ear security and, I admit it, overall coolness – is the H2O Audio Stream 2. Designed for swimmers and their needs, the Audio Stream 2 looks and feels great, has a fun and engaging sound with overall clarity and powerful deep bass, and works perfectly.
The H20 Audio Stream 2 is a truly premium product in every way, and the best waterproof wireless headphone / MP3 player for swimmers on the market today.
At a Glance:
- Headphone Type: True Wireless Earbuds
- IP Waterproof Rating: IPX7
- Battery Life: 10 Hours Buds :: 70 Hours (!!!) Total with Case
- Bluetooth Version: 5.2 with aptX and ACC Lossless Codices
Lypertek is a brand new company that makes some of the finest and most intelligent products I’ve ever seen – in fact, the PurePlay Z3 seems to come rather from a company with decades of engineering, production and customer support experience behind them, but this great and innovative company is only five years old!
If we just tick off the PurePlay Z3’s features and tech – full IXP7 waterproofing, the latest Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX and ACC high resolution codices, graphene sound drivers, up to 70 hours of battery life, excellent controls and features – these would be the best hundred dollar wireless earbuds on the market today. But then there’s the sound, which is incredibly clear, rich and accurate, but with strong bass and real dynamic energy – that perfect balance between audiophile neutrality and pure excitement.
An amazing find, the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 in-ear headphones are the best waterproof wireless on the market today for under 100 dollars, and quite possibly the best value on our list.
At a Glance:
- Headphone Type: True Wireless Earbuds
- IP Waterproof Rating: IPX7
- Battery Life: 7 Hours Buds :: 35 Hours Total with Case
- Bluetooth Version: 5.0
With a name like EarFun, I had a bit of trouble taking these waterproof wireless earbuds seriously, and at just under sixty dollars I really didn’t expect too much from them. But I have to admit that once I began handling them, checking out their remarkably high quality fit and finish, feeling the fit in my ears, and then – the real clincher – hearing them, I was totally sold.
The EarFun Air are great sounding headphones. Not as boomy or bright as most headphones in this price range, they actually have nicely flat, extended frequency response and a smooth, clear sound that is detailed without harshness or brightness. They are really dynamic sounding, and still have plenty of bass, and are sure to be pretty motivating during workouts, but can also be used for real, critical high-fidelity listening.
And to think that these pretty little true wireless earbuds are IPX7 waterproof, as well as having 5.0 Bluetooth and great all around design and features. You can wear them anywhere, anytime, and in any conditions, and your ears, at least, will always have fun.
At a Glance:
- Headphone Type: True Wireless Earbuds
- IP Waterproof Rating: IPX7
- Battery Life: 7 Hours Buds :: 40 Hours Total with Case
- Bluetooth Version: 5.0
Anker is a company we’ve come to expect the very best value from, and these nifty little Life P2 true wireless definitely deliver, and are one of the most popular and positively reviewed wireless in-ears – waterproof or otherwise – on the market today.
The sound is very crisp and clear, with excellent imaging and accurate tonal quality, and unlike most buds at this lower price level the bass is deep and extended but hardly boosted or emphasized at all. In fact, if you’re a basshead, you are going to need to equalize the bass up a bit, but if you like true and neutral sound they have lots of deep bass anyway, and overall a real audiophile sound signature at a budget price.
The Anker Soundcore Life P2 also have a full waterproof IPX7 rating, Bluetooth 5.0 with lossless aptX codex, a superb 4 microphone system with CVC 8.0 noise reduction for crystal clear calls and truly premium material and build quality – almost ridiculous for this low price, and one of the best value waterproof wireless earbuds we’ve ever found.
Final Thoughts: Do You Really Need Fully Waterproof Wireless Earbuds?
If you are absolutely certain that your wireless buds are never going to get wet, or only a little wet, you’re not going to go running or walking in the rain, take a quick dip in the pool or dance until your eyes are blind with sweat, you won’t ever wash them or accidentally drop them into a glass of beer, then no, you probably don’t need full waterproofing.
Still, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get full waterproofing. The way I see it, when wireless earbuds are as high-tech and feature-rich as the eight recommendations on our list of best waterproof wireless in-ear headphones, when they sound this good and are built this well, it actually makes great sense to go for full IPX7 or IPX8 waterproof protection – it gives you a greater sense of security and a greater sense of freedom, and no matter where you are, what you’re doing or how the conditions are you can stop worrying about your gear and just fall into the music. Or, I suppose, the pool.