Shokz OpenSwim MP3 Player Review: The Ultimate Bone Conduction Headphones for Swimmers
The Shokz OpenSwim combines a fully waterproof MP3 player with bone conduction technology, making it the ideal choice for swimmers who love listening to music in the pool. Previously known as the Aftershokz Xtrainerz, the Shokz OpenSwim MP3 Player provides a seamless, crystal-clear audio experience underwater, allowing you to enjoy every beat while powering through laps.
In this detailed review, I’ll share my hands-on experience using the Shokz OpenSwim, highlighting its slim, comfortable design, excellent sound quality, and the features that make it stand out as the best waterproof headphones for swimmers. I’ll also dive into a few surprises I encountered and one key improvement I hope to see in future versions.
SHOKZ OpenSwim – Quick Look
- Bone conduction: no tinny music when water enters the ear canal
- Hydrodynamic; can be worn at fast swim speeds
- No wires; stays out of the way when swimming
- 8hrs battery life on a single charge
- Stores around 1,200 MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, or FLAC songs
4.8
By the end of this review, you’ll have a clear understanding of whether the Shokz OpenSwim Music Player is the perfect fit for your swimming needs.
Let’s dive right in!
Shokz OpenSwim MP3 Bone Conduction Player – Key Specs
- Price: $149
- MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC and FLAC compatible
- 4GB storage (~1,200 songs)
- IP68 rated (up to 2m of depth for 120 minutes)
- 8hr battery life
- Unit weight of just 1oz
- Available in black or blue
- Earplugs and nose clip included
- Carrying case also included (vented for water drainage)
Shokz OpenSwim – The Pros
Having tested nearly every piece of swimming gear over my 30+ years in the water, I’ve witnessed many trends come and go in swim equipment and technology.
The Shokz OpenSwim is one of the rare products that has truly exceeded my expectations while swimming.
Here’s what I really liked about the Shokz OpenSwim and how they performed in the water:
✅ Very slim profile
I was pleasantly surprised by how low-profile and lightweight the Shokz OpenSwim headphones are.
The single-piece titanium frame, along with the built-in MP3 player and bone conduction technology, is no heavier than my Swedish swim goggles.
This is excellent news for lap swimming, as they create minimal drag. More importantly, their design ensures they won’t get jostled around by incoming water, unlike bulkier and heavier devices that can “catch” water and shift position while swimming.
Especially when you start to crank up the speed.
Speed is everything in the water, and the last thing you want while swimming fast is feeling as though you have a snow plow mounted to your head or like the music player is going to fly off your head.
✅ Full, rich sound
The Shokz OpenSwim player delivers music directly to your ears through bone conduction, resulting in crisp, loud, and full sound quality.
One common complaint I have with most waterproof headphones—particularly those that use earbuds—is that water often seeps into the ear canal. This leads to a tinny or muffled sound as water interferes with the connection between the eardrum and the earbud.
The Shokz OpenSwim, much like its main competitor—the FINIS Duo, which is also designed specifically for lap swimming—completely avoids this problem by transmitting music through your jawbone.
As a result, you can enjoy consistently clear sound from the device, whether you’re kicking on a kickboard or powering through a long set with a pull buoy and swim paddles.
✅ Perfect for swimmers who wear earplugs
Swimmer’s ear is the worst, and for swimmers prone to ear infections (like me), this means using a set of swimmer’s earplugs when diving into the water.
This also means that most traditional waterproof MP3 players are kaput as they use earbuds.
Because the Shokz Open Swims use bone conduction, you get the best of both worlds (finally!): no earaches and, yes, music.
✅ No wires to get tangled up with
This is the key feature that sets the Shokz OpenSwim apart from the FINIS Duo, which uses a two-piece headset connected by a wire.
While the FINIS Duo has a single wire—much better than the multiple, often excessively long cables found on some other waterproof music players—it can still be cumbersome to clip onto your swim goggles without getting tangled in the straps.
In contrast, the Shokz OpenSwim easily slides onto your head, using your ears as a secure anchor, allowing you to dive right into your swim.
I have to say, I appreciate how quick and straightforward it is to put the player on. One of my main frustrations with many leading swimming headphones is dealing with the excess wires and cables that tend to get tangled with swim goggle straps.
With the Shokz OpenSwim, everything stays out of the way, keeping your setup tidy and hassle-free while you swim.
✅ They stay in place when swimming fast!
So, the sound quality is impressive, there are no wires to tangle with, and the design is low-profile. But the real question is: does it stay in place while you’re racing across the pool?
The answer is a resounding yes—almost without exception.
Whether I was powering through fast 50s with swim paddles or performing rapid underwater dolphin kick breakouts with swim fins, the Shokz OpenSwim player stayed securely in place.
That said, I would likely remove it if I planned on doing all-out 25s with swim fins and paddles, just to ensure a completely unrestricted experience.
Shokz OpenSwim Waterproof MP3 Player – The Downsides
While I really like these headphones, there is always room for improvement.
There is one thing I hope that future editions of this kick-ass set of headphones include, and that is…
❌ No streaming or Bluetooth
The Shokz Open Swim is currently unable to use Spotify or other streaming services to download music to the device. Which means it is purely an MP3 (or WMA files) player.
Because it has no Bluetooth connection, the ability to download a Spotify playlist to the device is not currently available, unlike other waterproof music players for swimming like the Underwater Audio Delphin or the H2O Audio Stream 3, which can be used to listen to Spotify, Audible, and so on.
Adding music to the device requires the old-school drag-and-drop method of plugging the Shokz Open Swim into your computer and adding individual MP3/WMA songs.
Shokz OpenSwim vs. FINIS Duo
These two devices are the best waterproof MP3 players on the market, and in my opinion, the competition isn’t close.
Thanks to the bone conduction, drag-and-drop functionality, and reliability, these two devices make them easy winners.
But how do the two devices compare against each other?
Well, the main difference between the Shokz Open Swim and the FINIS Duo is that the Shokz are wireless.
They have a titanium frame (almost hilariously lightweight) connecting the player/bone conduction “headphones” together.
The FINIS Duo, on the other hand, has a wired connection between the two head pieces.
As mentioned earlier, this makes for a messier set-up on your head with the straps from swim goggles.
Additionally, the Shokz Open Swim is more hydrodynamic.
The bulk of the device tucks in behind your ears when swimming, with just the slim “headphones” protruding.
Below is how the two devices compare in other key performance areas:
| Shokz Open Swim | FINIS Duo | |
| Price | $149 | $110 |
| Music Format | MP3 | MP3, WMA |
| Battery Life | 8 hours | 7 hours |
| Storage | 4gb | 4gb |
| Waterproof Rating | IP68 | IPX8 |
Final Verdict on the Shokz OpenSwim
If you’ve read through this review, you’ll already have a sense of how I feel about the Shokz OpenSwim. With its slim, comfortable design, impressive sound quality, and reliable bone conduction technology, this MP3 player stands out as the top choice for swimmers looking to enjoy music in the pool.
For anyone tired of the inconsistent performance of waterproof earbuds, the Shokz OpenSwim offers a superior, hassle-free audio experience that enhances every swim workout.
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| Extremely slim and drag-resistant design | No streaming or Bluetooth |
| Bone conduction headphones clear sound | |
| Very lightweight; weighs just 1oz | |
| IP68 water rated | |
| Wire-free design |
SHOKZ OpenSwim Swimming MP3 Player
- Bone conduction: no tinny music when water enters the ear canal
- Hydrodynamic; can be worn at fast swim speeds
- No wires; stays out of the way when swimming
- 8hrs battery life on a single charge
- Stores around 1,200 MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, or FLAC songs
4.8
FAQ :
Can you wear headphones while swimming?
Yes, you can wear headphones while swimming, but they need to be specifically designed for underwater use. Waterproof headphones, like bone conduction models (such as the Shokz OpenSwim), are ideal because they’re built to withstand water exposure and offer stable, clear audio even while submerged. Traditional headphones, even if resistant to water splashes, are not suitable for continuous immersion and often won’t stay in place while swimming.
Bone conduction headphones are especially popular for swimming because they sit on the cheekbones and transmit sound through vibrations, keeping the ears open. This design allows swimmers to hear music without blocking out ambient sounds entirely, providing a safer listening experience in the water.Can I swim with my Shokz headphones?
Yes, you can swim with Shokz headphones—but only specific models designed for underwater use, like the Shokz OpenSwim (formerly known as Aftershokz Xtrainerz). The Shokz OpenSwim headphones are fully waterproof with an IP68 rating, meaning they can withstand continuous submersion in water up to 2 meters deep for extended periods. They’re built for swimming and come with an internal MP3 player, allowing you to play music without needing a Bluetooth connection, which doesn’t work underwater.
HOW TO UPLOAD AUDIO FILES TO OPENSWIM
Open the USB charging cradle, insert your OpenSwim into the charger, and close; Plug the USB end into your computer (an OpenSwim drive will pop up); Drag and drop your favorite audio files into the drive.
CAN OTHERS HEAR YOUR MUSIC?
No, OpenSwim sends vibrations to your inner ear through bone conduction technology. While it’s an alternative to traditional air conduction technology, leaving your eardrums open to your surroundings, it still provides a private listening experience.
WILL OPENSWIM STAY IN PLACE WHILE SWIMMING?
OpenSwim stay in place while swimming, even during flip-turns, due to the headband design that hooks around the ears.
DOES IT WORK WITH STREAMING SERVICES LIKE SPOTIFY AND APPLE MUSIC?
No, streaming services only provide access to the music files. The file must be purchased to be uploaded to OpenSwim.
WHAT FILE TYPES ARE COMPATIBLE?
OpenSwim are compatible with MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, & FLAC file types.
Top reviews from the United States
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Pefection! Great Sound Quality, Easy to Use (and they answer the phone!)
Summary
Absolutely fantastic product – it feels like it was designed by swimmers for swimmers. I’ve tried a few MP3 players for swimming – starting with the waterproof Nano. Sound quality, ease of use and durability were always the issue.
Pros:
Great sound quality. I swim in an Endless Pool and so the ambient noise of the water flowing/motor are higher than in a standard pool. I definitely needed to use the earplugs they include – but with them, absolutely perfect. I am careful to set the volume before I start swimming to make sure I keep it at a safe level. No issue at all with the bone conduction – love it. No – your teeth don’t rattle! It feels exactly like an ear bud without the irritating bud in your ear.
Easy to use. When swimming – the logic of the buttons are a must. These are perfect. Super simple to tactically feel the volume/skip buttons. Loading it with music was the same as any standard MP3. Worth noting that the charging cable is ingenious! It’s a pin charger which means contact is essential and the USB charger connects with a clasp that keeps it in exactly the right place – and it can hang off a charger etc without losing connection – brilliant.
Comfort. Anyone tired of having the quality of the music dependent on jamming the ear buds in to your ear and having to reposition them when they come loose will appreciate the bone conduction. As shown in the pictures – this wraps around the back of your head, comes over your ears and rests comfortably on the bone in front of your ear. I prefer to have a cap covering my ears which made these a bit awkward but giving that up, they are fine – and even swimming against a strong current in my Endless Pools these stay in position without any difficulty.
Thoughtful additions. Love the rubber case (ventilated no less). Very thoughtful addition of excellent quality ear plugs. Fantastic charging system as mentioned. Wonderful tactical feel to the rubberized skin around the ear phones – they just feel high quality (and the blue is really great looking!).
Great support. I was confused by the pre-loaded songs and thought I’d received a return from Amazon. Called them and was connected instantly. I don’t always check up on customer service but when I know it’s either particularly good or bad it’s worth a mention.
Value. Relative to other solutions out there – I found this to be an outstanding value.
Comment on Lack of Blue Tooth: I would love it to have bluetooth for streaming Spotify – but that would mean having to have my very not waterproof iPhone on the pool deck which is just a bad idea for me. I tried and returned another system that was Bluetooth compatible and there are two issues that made it not worth the hassle. First – bluetooth doesn’t travel through water so the device has to be carefully positioned and – at least in my case, the wi-fi signal where I swim isn’t that strong and that means being organized enough to have offline playlists which I’m not. I’m sure this brand is going to figure it out but while swimming, I’m just happy to have tunes, it doesn’t have to be my latest Spotify playlist.
Cons:
I haven’t found a single one. I haven’t had it long enough to test quality or battery/charge life but not concerned. For some, the lack of bluetooth and limitation of MP3 which means owning the music might be a negative.
Thanks to the team at Shokz – the extra effort shines through. Wonderful to see a brand go the extra mile (and cost) for a great customer experience and service.
Summary
I’m a relatively casual swimmer compared to some of you. I probably average about 30-45 minutes 3 or 4 times a week. I wear these headphones every time, and they’re still working great after a year. I get at least 2 weeks on a charge with that schedule, and the headphones still have at least 45 minutes worth of battery when they give the “low battery” warning on startup.
Controls are easy to use and can be operated underwater. They pretty much never fall off during normal swiming, although I do occasionally lose them if I jump into the pool while wearing them. Sound quality is clear and volume gets more than high enough for me. As others have mentioned, the sound changes dramatically if your ears are under or above the water, but that’s going to happen with any bone conduction headphone. Earplugs would probably help with that, but I don’t want to wear earplugs.
I once somehow accidentally changed the language from English to Korean and had to look up the manual to figure out how to change it back. The controls still operate the same way, so it didn’t disrupt my swim at all.
