Most people rely on music to get them through their workout routine. Whether you’re going for a five-mile run, squeezing in an extra set at the gym, or trying to beat your fastest time on your usual cycle route, you probably have your favorite tunes blasting through a pair of headphones to help motivate yourself. Up until very recently, this hasn't been a luxury for swimmers, as there wasn't much choice for decent waterproof headphones. However, with advancements in waterproof technology there are great choices for underwater headphones that you can use during your challenging swim routine.
If this sounds like music to your ears, you may be wondering what the best type of headphones may be while swimming in the pool. The two best options for underwater headphones are in-ear headphones or bone conduction headphones, both having their pros and cons. Today we'll look at the advantages and disadvantages for both types to help you pick out the best pair for your needs.
How Bone Conduction Headphones Work
Bone conduction headphones are slight different from your typical in-ear headphones, which have been the dominant design for many years now. Bone Conduction headphones operate by pulsing vibrations through bone, usually placed near your temples, and the inside ear cochlea receives the vibrations, which allows us to perceive it as sound. Pretty amazing science! This obviously works slightly differently to in-ear headphones, which emit sound through small speakers down the ear canal and into the eardrum for the cochlea to receive. Relatively speaking this is pretty new technology, first invented in 1994 with athletes specifically in mind.
The Pros Of Bone Conduction Headphones
There are plenty of pros for using bone conduction headphones, primarily being that they provide a reliable audio playback signal while you are doing strenuous activity, such as swimming. Water can’t really interrupt the audio playback signal as bone conduction headphones work through vibrations, meaning you can swim as roughly as you like without disrupting the .
Bone conduction headphones are a lot safer for your hearing also, in-ear headphones can damage hearing as the inner ear is highly sensitive to sounds through the speakers from in-ear headphones. This is especially true for swimmers, considering the volume has to be pretty high to compete with the noise of the water.
The Cons Of Bone Conduction Headphones
However, bone conduction headphones don’t come without their setbacks. Sound bleed is an issue for this style of headphones and vibrations can often leak from their emission pads, which can cause interference in audio playback. You also have to be careful when considering a pair of bone conduction headphones as ergonomically, it is trickier to find a set that will fit your head properly and remain in place during a vigorous swim. It is quite hard for manufactures to create a one-size-fits-all headphone considering the huge inconsistencies with the human skull.
The Pros Of Underwater In-Ear Headphones
In-ear headphones are the most traditional style of headphones and are usually the go-to choice for many swimmers. This is due to a variety of reasons. The sound quality for in-ear headphones is a lot more immersive. The listener can pick up on a wider stereo image with a pair of in-ear headphones compared with bone conduction, making an overall more enjoyable listening experience. There are plenty of noise cancelation in-ear waterproof headphones that you can purchase on the market that are perfect for a noisy swimming pool. In-ear headphones are usually a more comfortable fit than bone conduction headphones that can sometimes sit on unusual places on your head. Most people are more accustomed to in-ear headphones, as they are a common accessory for their phones.
The Cons Of Underwater In-Ear Headphones
In-ear headphones also come with their problems. Although the sound quality is usually a lot better, this is only the case if your in-ear headphones can stay in your ear canal and remain watertight. Swimming can cause the earbud to loosen and allow water in the ear canal. If this does happen, be careful to clean and dry your ears properly to avoid swimmers ear or infection.