Shokz OpenSwim
The Shokz OpenSwim is a set of bone conduction headphones designed specifically for swimming. Unlike regular earbuds, these don’t go inside your ears. Instead, they rest on your cheekbones and use vibrations to send sound directly into your inner ear. This means you can still hear what’s happening around you while listening to music. They don’t have Bluetooth because Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater. Instead, they come with 4GB of internal storage, so you load your own MP3 files onto them. The battery lasts about 8 hours, which is plenty for most swim sessions. They’re IP68 waterproof, meaning they can handle continuous submersion, though there’s usually a depth limit (often around 2 meters). At 30g, they’re lightweight and designed to stay in place while swimming. The package includes a USB charging cradle, a carrying case, and swimming earplugs, which help improve sound quality underwater. People who use them generally love the sound quality and find them easy to use, thoug...
Reviews
Reviewed on 2/16/2025
I bought my OpenSwim headphones in 2021 and four years later they are still serving me well. They survived multiple trips to Thailand and Greece, including both in the open sea and in swimming pools. They were fun to use for snorkeling. I love the sound quality, I was genuinely surprised how good they sounds underwater, it's like having your own sound system. I wish they had bluetooth that you could use when not submerged, and as far as I know the newer models do have that. With either model, you still need to load your own songs for underwater use though. Everyone uses streaming services these days so mp3 are actually kind of hard to find, which is something I didn't expect I'd struggle with when I first bought these. Except for a few drawbacks that really amount to nitpicking, these are excellent, reliable, sturdy, and high quality headphones.
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| Work underwater | 1 | |
| Lightweight | 1 | |
| Battery life | 1 |
| Item | Votes | Upvote |
|---|---|---|
| No blueetooth | 1 |
The pros of Shokz OpenSwim include the ability to work underwater, being lightweight at just 30g, and having a battery life of about 8 hours, which is suitable for most swim sessions. The con is that they do not have Bluetooth functionality, as Bluetooth does not work underwater.
The Shokz OpenSwim is a set of bone conduction headphones designed specifically for swimming. Unlike regular earbuds, they rest on your cheekbones and use vibrations to send sound directly into your inner ear, allowing you to hear your surroundings while listening to music. They come with 4GB of internal storage for MP3 files and are IP68 waterproof.
Users generally report that the sound quality of Shokz OpenSwim is surprisingly good underwater, likening it to having a personal sound system. Many find it enjoyable for activities like snorkeling.
The battery life of Shokz OpenSwim lasts about 8 hours, which is considered sufficient for most swimming sessions. However, some users have mentioned mixed experiences regarding battery longevity over time.
The Shokz OpenSwim package includes a USB charging cradle, a carrying case, and swimming earplugs, which help improve sound quality while underwater.
No, Shokz OpenSwim does not have Bluetooth functionality because Bluetooth does not work underwater. Users must load their own MP3 files onto the headphones for use while swimming.