Waterproof Bluetooth headphones?

PulpFaction

(Apologies if this has been asked before, I couldn't see a way to search the forum).

I'm going to be getting the new waterproof apple watch and was hoping to use it for music when I'm swimming. Does anyone out there have any recommendations for waterproof bluetooth headphones that they are using when swimming?

Montepulciano

I use an iPod with the headphones wired in. I will keep an eye on this as it would be great to go wireless.

fishgutzy

BT operates at a frequency that is not conducive to use in water. Only lower frequencies can propagate enough to be useful. Like the 5khz range used by Polar HRM transmitters.
Wired is recommended. That are many swimmer designed players that hook to your goggles.
Personally, I don't use any music when I swim. For me it is a nice long meditation.

PulpFaction

That is interesting information fishgutzy, and not something I had considered! I may need to have another think about whether this is feasible. I have never swum with music either but thought since the device would be sitting on my wrist already it might be worth considering if it was easy enough to do.

Wuggums

I've been looking into this a lot lately. Fishgutzy is correct - you can't find any truly waterproof Bluetooth headphones. I used to have a SwimP3, but it recently died. I also got tired of converting iTunes music files or any other downloaded music to MP3 files before I could use them. Did a bit of research on options. All of the swim specific devices use MP3 files and have mediocre reviews on quality and durability. The waterproof iPod shuffles had similar concerns about quality and durability. But I ended up buying the waterproofed iPod shuffle and wired short-cord waterproof headphones. The sound is 100x better than it was with the SwimP3, and so far I haven't had any problems.

UG77

I bought an ipod shuffle off of amazon from a company called Underwater Audio. What they do is take it apart and waterproof it from the inside out. I've been using mine 4-5 times a week in a salt water pool for about a month now. It is amazing. And surreal the first time I used it. When I bought mine there was a price break to get the upgraded version of the earbuds with it, which I went ahead and did. They're basically earplugs, which I need anyway.

I can't recommend these things enough. I also finally ponied up and spent $40 on a set of goggles I don't have to fidget around with every few laps.

gentlygently

I have water proof I pod shuffle too. Not a 100% success - I have a hard job keeping the headphones in place which gets really annoying, and I can't read the volume/play etc dial without my reading glasses on (mmm), and I am useless at remembering to charge/download stuff, especially the podcasts which I prefer.

However - if and when I ever get back I into the pool....I will give it another concerted effort! In theory it shoukd be a great toy!

Montepulciano

gentlygently wrote: »

I have water proof I pod shuffle too. Not a 100% success - I have a hard job keeping the headphones in place which gets really annoying, and I can't read the volume/play etc dial without my reading glasses on (mmm), and I am useless at remembering to charge/download stuff, especially the podcasts which I prefer.

However - if and when I ever get back I into the pool....I will give it another concerted effort! In theory it shoukd be a great toy!

I tend to leave my settings alone as I have a playlist I like. I turn it on, attach it to my goggle strap and put the ear buds in. Once it is on, there is little to do with the controls, or at least there is for me. I will brush against an ear bud sometimes during backstroke. I just wait until I reach the wall, and put it back in if it has fallen out. It isn't going anywhere.

I got the AudioFlood version of the waterproofed shuffle from Amazon and it seems to be working fine so far.

UG77

gentlygently wrote: »

I have water proof I pod shuffle too. Not a 100% success - I have a hard job keeping the headphones in place which gets really annoying, and I can't read the volume/play etc dial without my reading glasses on (mmm), and I am useless at remembering to charge/download stuff, especially the podcasts which I prefer.

However - if and when I ever get back I into the pool....I will give it another concerted effort! In theory it shoukd be a great toy!

The earbuds that I got with mine are the same shape as the swimming ear plugs I previously used. Except the headphones plug into the ends of them. I seat them in pointing up, instead of down, and my goggle straps go over the wires to keep them snug and situated. I clip the shuffle itself on to the goggle strap at the back of my head. I always orient it in the same direction so that I can just adjust things by feel. If I'm not in the mood a particular song at that moment I can reach back and tap beyond it when I get to the wall. Similar process for adjusting the volume.

fishgutzy

It is interesting seeing the various comments. Seems a lot of time, effort, and money is spent trying to find diversion during a swim.
Y'all know how long I swim. And to me, I just can't wrap my head around putting music in my ears while I swim. I find the repetitive counting of strokes per length to be quite meditative. For me it is definitely part of my mental health routine.

UG77

fishgutzy wrote: »

It is interesting seeing the various comments. Seems a lot of time, effort, and money is spent trying to find diversion during a swim.
Y'all know how long I swim. And to me, I just can't wrap my head around putting music in my ears while I swim. I find the repetitive counting of strokes per length to be quite meditative. For me it is definitely part of my mental health routine.

There are times I'd rather not be present in my body. Particularly when I'm pushing it beyond its comfort zone and making it suffer/adapt to new things. I'm still learning and adjusting to swimming laps as my main type of physical conditioning, and there are a lot of times I have to be present in the moment and focus on my control, position, and breathing. However, there are other times when it just really sucks/hurts and I'd like to take a mental time out and let the autopilot handle things.