Many people enjoy exercising, and doing so while listening to music is the icing on the cake. Others, on the other hand, have no doubt that exercising on a regular basis is something they despise.
But what if there was a product that could make their workout more enjoyable? Allowing them to exercise, work out, ride their bike, and go wherever they want without having to worry about the weather or getting their earbuds wet.
Yes, there is! The best waterproof wireless earbuds are now available. They are, of course, completely normal in this day and age, but can you imagine making the suggestion even twenty years ago?
The technology we now have at our disposal is incredible. So, let’s take a closer look at the best waterproof wireless earbuds on the market and see which ones are right for you.
1. Jabra Elite Active 75t
Jabra already produces some excellent true wireless earphones. The Elite Active 75t ups the ante in terms of durability and wearability, making them an even better buy for gym-goers or anyone else looking for waterproof earphones with a super-secure fit.
Design
The Elite Active 75t in-ears, which come in black, copper, and blue models, are among the most secure-fitting pairs we’ve tested, despite the lack of extra fit accessories like ear fins. They come with three pairs of silicone ear tips, one each in small, medium, and large.
Push-button controls with varying functions are available on both earpieces. When pressed and held, the left ear’s button lowers the volume, skips a track when pressed twice, and navigates backward when pressed three times.
When on a call, a single press toggles HearThrough mode (which uses ambient mics to allow you to hear your surroundings) or mutes the mic. With a single tap, the right ear’s button controls playback or manages phone calls. A long press increases the volume, while a double-tap activates your phone’s voice assistant.
The earpieces have more grip and stay in place even better than the Elite Active 75t, which is already secure. The extra-secure fit also adds some passive noise isolation—the earpieces truly block out surrounding noise to a significant degree.
However, the main enhancement is the IP (ingress protection) rating. The previous model is IP55 rated. The IP57 rating applies to the Elite Active 75t. Those numbers may appear similar, but the difference isn’t always obvious if you’re unfamiliar with the IP rating system.
The first digit in each rating is a 5—this is the number for protection against solids such as dust and dirt. So they’re the same in that regard. The second number is where progress is made. A 5 rating for liquids is adequate but not exceptional—it means the earpieces can withstand light splashes and sweat.
The 7 rating indicates that the earpieces can be submerged in up to a meter of water without issue, allowing you to rinse them in the sink, wear them in a heavy downpour, or even dunk them in water to clean them.
Performance
A 6 mm driver in each ear provides a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The earphones produce absolutely thunderous bass depth on tracks with intense sub-bass content, such as The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” and do so without completely upsetting the balance of the mix. Those who prefer a more balanced sound signature with less thump, on the other hand, will probably want to reduce it in the app’s EQ.
The MEMS microphone array provides excellent intelligibility. We were able to understand each word we recorded cleanly and clearly using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 8 with little or no Bluetooth distortion. The recording even had a slight bass presence.
When you’re on the phone, the earphones do an excellent job of feeding your voice through the drivers as well—you hear yourself clearly and tend to speak less loudly as a result.
Jabra estimates 7.5 hours of battery life, with a charging case providing up to 28 additional hours, though your results will vary depending on your volume levels. These battery stats are the same as those of the Elite 75t.
Pros
- A powerful audio experience with thunderous bass and bright highs.
- Exceptional in-app EQ
- Waterproof and dust-resistant construction
Cons
- Expensive but super-secure in-ear fit
- For some, the sculpted sound signature may be too much.
2. Jabra Elite 7 Pro
The new Elite 7 Pro earphones from Jabra are priced to compete with the best ANC (active noise cancellation) true wireless models on the market.
A Long-Lasting Design
The Elite 7 Pro earpieces are available in black, gray, gold, and beige designs. They come with three pairs of ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes, and they fit comfortably even without ear fins.
In addition, the charging case is small. The flip-top lid reveals the charging docks, and a tiny battery status LED sits above the USB-C charging port. In the box, Jabra includes a USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable. With Qi-enabled accessories, the case can also charge wirelessly. While the case’s surface lacks traction, it is less slippery than the one that comes with the Apple AirPods Pro.
The earbuds’ push-button controls on the outer panels make them relatively simple to use. A single press on the left earbud switches between ANC and HearThrough modes, while a double press on the left earpiece activates your device’s voice assistant. The right earpiece has playback and call management controls, as well as a double press to skip ahead a track and a triple press to return to the previous one.
Simply put, the IP57 rating outperforms the competition. Most noise-canceling true wireless pairs are rated IPX4, where the X denotes “untested for dust,” and the 4 indicates that the earphones can withstand light splashing and sweat. Because of the Elite 7 Pro’s rating, the earpieces are completely waterproof and nearly dust-tight.
They can be submerged for up to 30 minutes in water up to a meter deep. Although Bluetooth does not work underwater, you can expose them to rain or sweat and clean these earbuds by running them under a faucet. This is what we would expect from sports-oriented in-ear headphones, but not from those with ANC. Remember that the IP rating does not apply to the case, so the earphones must be completely dry before docking.
Performance
The Elite 7 Pro earbuds are estimated to last up to eight hours per charge by Jabra, but your results will vary depending on your volume level and ANC usage. The case is charged for an additional 22 hours.
6 mm drivers deliver a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz internally. The earphones are Bluetooth 5.2 compatible; they support the AAC and SBC codecs but not AptX or LDAC.
Jabra Sound+ is a universal Android and iOS app that works with a variety of headphones. In the case of the Elite 7 Pro, it allows you to update the firmware, customize on-ear controls, and integrate Amazon Alexa as the voice assistant (a double tap summons Alexa or your device’s default assistant).
You can also select from various EQ presets or customize the sound on your own. The app also allows you to personalize your ANC experience.
Pros
- Powerful audio performance, with deep bass and crisp highs.
- ANC and EQ settings that can be changed
- Excellent mic acoustic intelligibility
- Earphones that are completely waterproof and dust-resistant
Cons
- Tunable ANC necessitates more effort than other models.
- Purists should avoid the sculpted sound signature.
3. JBL UA True Wireless Flash X
JBL has created a pair of wire-free earphones that are worthy of our Editors’ Choice award for exercise-focused models, thanks to a waterproof design and a super-secure in-ear fit.
Design
The UA True Wireless Flash X earpieces are chunky but lightweight and come in black. They use ear tips with separate fin sleeves to achieve a secure in-ear fit and ear canal seal.
They passively block out a significant amount of ambient noise, but so do most in-ear models, so JBL’s claims of passive noise reduction here aren’t exactly unique. The earphones come with three pairs of interchangeable silicone ear tips and three pairs of fin sleeves (S, M, and L).
The earpieces have an IPX7 rating, which means they are completely waterproof and can be submerged in water for up to a meter. Granted, Bluetooth signals do not perform well underwater, but the point is that you can rinse the earpieces in the sink under normal faucet pressure with no problem.
That means rain, sweat, and splashes won’t be an issue. This, combined with the secure fit and a free 12-month subscription to MapMyRun, makes these earphones one of the more appealing wire-free options for exercise enthusiasts.
The charging case is made of aluminum and features a slide-out tray, a built-in lanyard, and a USB-C port (with a rubber cover) for the included charging cable. The case is a little bulky, but there is a benefit: the battery life is quite impressive as a result.
JBL estimates that the earpieces will last approximately 10 hours on a single charge, which is almost unheard of in this category, while the case will hold an additional 40 hours of power. These are some of the best numbers we’ve seen for true wireless in-ears, but your results will vary depending on how loud you listen.
The earphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and support AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but not AptX. 5.8 mm drivers deliver a frequency range of 20 Hz to 22 kHz internally.
Performance
The earphones deliver a strong low-frequency response on tracks with heavy sub-bass content, such as The Knife’s “Silent Shout.” The bass thins out slightly at high, unwise listening levels, but it is always powerful, and the deep lows are delivered with gusto at lower, more reasonable volume levels.
The microphone provides above-average intelligibility. We could understand every word we recorded using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 8, and there was very little Bluetooth distortion in the mix. The recording sounded a little thin, but the mic signal remained relatively strong, and callers could clearly hear us.
Pros
- Audio performance that is powerful and bass-forward
- Extended battery life
- Watertight design
- Modes of Ambient Aware Listening
- Includes a 12-month membership to MapMyRun.
Cons
- The charging case is quite large.
- There is no app with EQ or setting adjustments.
4. Tribit FlyBuds 3
These came at a low price compared to most high-quality true wireless pairs we’ve tested, which cost $100 or more. They’re also completely waterproof, with a higher water resistance rating than Apple’s AirPods Pro.
Design
No one will buy the FlyBuds 3 for their beauty—these are plain, black, unremarkable earphones in nearly every way. However, the in-ear fit is extremely secure, and the ear tips appear to block out a wide range of ambient noise passively. There are six pairs of ear tips in various sizes included, as well as three separate ear fin pairs that fasten near the outer panel for added stability.
The FlyBuds 3’s IPX7 rating means that its earpieces can be submerged in water for up to one meter. Of course, Bluetooth signals don’t work well underwater, but the earphones’ waterproof rating means you can wash them under the faucet, expose them to heavy rain, and get the earpieces sweaty without worry.
The on-ear controls are touch-sensitive and straightforward: To play or pause audio or answer or end calls, double-tap either ear’s outer panel, triple-tap to skip forward a track, and press and hold to summon your device’s voice assistant. Unfortunately, there are no volume or track backward options, but at this price, we’re not going to complain.
The FlyBuds 3 is Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and supports AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs, but not AptX. Tribit estimates that the FlyBuds 3’s battery life is approximately 5 hours on a single charge, with an additional 95 hours (not a typo) in the charging case. Those single-charge numbers are typical, but the case numbers are out of this world. Your results will vary depending on how much you use it.
The charging case is a large, rounded flip-top rectangle that is heavier and bulkier than nearly every other case we’ve tested, and with good reason. The case’s built-in 2,600 mAh battery provides all those extra hours of charge, as well as acts as a charger for your mobile devices when they’re running low on juice—another feature we rarely see with true wireless earphones.
The exterior of the case is a slippery, glossy plastic that we wish was more rubberized and easy to grip, but at this price, we can let a lot slide. The USB and USB-C ports are protected by a rubber snap-shut cover (the former is for charging external devices)—a short USB-C to USB cable is included. There are battery status LEDs above the port and a battery status button next to it.
Performance
The microphone has good intelligibility. We were able to understand every word we recorded using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 8 without any problems. There’s some typical Bluetooth distortion in the mix, and the mic signal is perhaps a tad weaker than ideal, but these are to be expected with true wireless in-ear mics. On a clear connection, your call partner should have no trouble understanding you.
Pros
- Strong audio performance with a heavy emphasis on the bass
- Excellent battery life for true wireless earphones—can also be used to charge external devices
- Waterproof IPX7 rated at a reasonable price
- With multiple ear tip options, the fit is extremely stable.
Cons
- Design is drab
- Wildly sculpted sound signature
- Because there is no app, there is no EQ to tame the audio.
5. Anker Soundcore Spirit X2
The Soundcore Spirit X2 true wireless earphones feature a more secure fit and a higher waterproof rating. Both pairs produce booming bass, but the Soundcore Spirit X2’s larger drivers benefit from switchable EQ modes.
Design
The earpieces of the Soundcore Spirit X2 are bulky and equipped with ear hooks for a super-secure fit, but they aren’t going to win any design awards, at least not in the aesthetics department.
Unfortunately, those who wear glasses may find that the ear hooks force the temples of your frames to rest atop them, which can make for a less secure fit for your glasses or even distort your vision—this will depend entirely on the frames.
While still pocketable, the charging case is large. It has an LED battery life readout on the front and a snap-shut cover on the back to protect the USB-C charging port (a USB-C to USB-A charging cable is included).
Anker offers a variety of ear tips and ear fin sleeves. There are five pairs of ear tips in various sizes and shapes, as well as three pairs of ear fin sleeves in multiple sizes and shapes. This is a generous inclusion for any earphones, but it’s especially impressive given the price.
Each earpiece has a long, rubberized control strip that can be pressed at either end, but the controls are not always mirrored. So you’ll have to memorize some things. Still, the good news is that you can control playback, track forward/backward, volume up and down, call management, power, and summon your device’s voice assistant between the two earpieces, depending on which end of the control strip you press, on which ear, and for how long.
As I previously stated, it will take a moment to remember everything, but being able to control all of these parameters is preferable to not controlling them at all.
Holding one end of these control strips down for a second allows you to switch between EQ modes. Bass Up and Normal are among the modes, though they should probably be called Lot of Bass and Even More Bass.
We stayed with Normal mode because it already has abnormally boosted bass. In this price range, an app with user-adjustable EQ isn’t expected, but it would have been useful for those who want a little more brightness, crispness, or midrange in the mix.
The earpieces have an IP68 rating, which is about as good as it gets for consumer-level products. The number 6 indicates that the earpieces are dust-tight—the highest rating for dust ingress.
The number 8 indicates that the earpieces are waterproof and can withstand immersion in water up to one meter deep. Of course, Bluetooth signals have trouble underwater, so this isn’t very useful, but the point is that the earpieces can get wet, withstand water pressure, and are certainly resistant to sweat and rain. In this price range, this rating is almost unheard of.
Internally, 12 mm drivers produce a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and each earpiece can be used separately. The earphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and support AAC, AptX, and SBC codecs.
Anker estimates the battery life of the Soundcore Spirit X2 to be around nine hours, which is quite good for a true wireless pair, with an additional 27 hours stored in the charging case.
Performance
The following observations are made with Normal EQ mode enabled, but first: Bass Up mode can be used on tracks with subtle bass content. It can spruce up a kick drum, for example, in a pleasing way. However, it never sounds natural, and on tracks with significant bass depth… wow. It’s simply far too much low end, and it throws off the balance of the mix.
The earphones deliver serious thunder on tracks with intense sub-bass content, with enough high-frequency presence to match it to a reasonable degree. The bass sounds full and heavy at moderate levels, and it doesn’t distort at higher, unwise volumes. In Bass Up mode, the earphones sound like a subwoofer that has lost its tweeter and woofer but continues to play music.
Pros
- Extremely powerful audio with a subwoofer-like response.
- Waterproof rating is excellent.
Cons
- A wide range of accessories for a super-secure fit
- It is not for everyone to have a wild bass response.
- Earhooks can get in the way of eyeglass temples.
