The best waterproof headphones of 2023

With their FlyBuds, Tribit has somehow managed to tick most of the wireless headphone boxes. Having plenty of accolades for audio quality under its belt, this neat little package can deliver a whole lot more than good sound. But first, let's take a look at the all-important waterproofing.

Yes, these are rated as IPX8 - the same as most devices designed to survive underwater. However, whilst these will still work after being submerged (or even taken into a shower), the Bluetooth implementation is not designed to transmit through water. But this is a minor restriction that's only likely to concern swimmers. The Bluetooth standard here is 5.2, so out of the water, it's reliable with good range.

The rest of us can enjoy convenient and responsive control over our music thanks to the capacitive touch interface built into each earbud. Battery life lasts an impressive eight hours (up to 150 with top-ups from the charging case). The case can also be used, via its USB port, as a portable power bank. To top it off, you can even make calls via your mobile phone thanks to the internal microphone.

H2O has been around for several years now, specialising in solid, reliable waterproof audio accessories. At first glance, the Audio Surge S+ might seem like just another set of wired headphones - but they're much more than that. Designed to plug into your existing music player attached to your goggle strap, these are the ultimate in simplicity done very, very well.

Where waterproofing is concerned, these are 100% waterproof up to a staggering 3.6m below the surface. The cord is nice and short at 30cm, so you won't get tangled up doing the backstroke. Longer cord versions are available though, if you need a little more wriggle room. An issue that can plague many swimmers is achieving a watertight but comfortable fit in the ear. These come with a wide range of earplugs, so you should be able to fine-tune the fit and enjoy your music without them coming loose in the water.

Bone conduction is a tried and tested technology that many swimmers prefer over earbuds for a few good reasons: Some can be prone to ear problems when swimming due to their ear canal being blocked. Others may find that they never get a good fit with earbuds and prefer the sure fit that a headband can offer. The third benefit of bone conduction is clean sound quality, as no sound waves are getting muddied by the water. Read more at the bottom of the page if you're interested in how this tech works.

Compatible with swim caps and goggles and recommended by England Athletics, the SHOKZ OpenSwim headphones can be submerged up to two metres for up to two hours. They're lightweight, and the titanium wraparound headband will stop these aquatic beauties from slipping around. There's no Bluetooth to worry about here either, as there's an in-built MP3 player. Just upload your music over the USB cable, and you're good to go.

H2O are back in our pick of the best with this very well-conceived design aimed at Apple Watch owners. The cradle, or mount, will fit any size of Apple Watch at the time of writing. It acts like a dock that clips to your goggle strap, with tactile buttons on it for easy control when you're in the water. It's charged via its Micro USB port and connects to your phone via Bluetooth.

The included in-ear pods are well-known for their superior sound. They come with high-quality components that promise premium bass, a 30cm cord and five sets of Rounded ear tips to choose from, and three sizes of Tree tips - so these really will fit all shapes and sizes. 

They, too boast an IPX8 rating, which means you can continue to enjoy your tunes and podcasts up to 3.6 meters underwater. And, of course, being an Apple Watch, you're taking all of your exercise apps with you.

Not an Apple Watch user? Check out this Swimbuds Flip bundle that includes an 8GB Music Player.

This is another SHOKX product that's endorsed by England Athletics, and for good reason. Again a bone conduction set these are especially secure when worn during running and other active fitness routines. They're Bluetooth, so no wires to worry about, and they are lightweight. One huge benefit here is the dual noise-cancelling microphones, letting you make those calls (if you have the breath left to speak and run at the same time, that is). 

Tactile buttons will give you quick and accurate control over your music, and battery life is a decent eight hours. Unlike the SHOKX OpenSwim model above, these don't have a built-in MP3 player - but Bluetooth instead. Although, in waterproofing terms, these hold an IPX8 rating, the Bluetooth signal isn't designed to work in the water. If you need them too, go for the SHOKX OpenSwim headphones instead.

The Sony Walkman has had quite a few comebacks in its day, but here's one that's actually built into the headphones - with not a single cassette tape in sight. As a premium brand when it comes to all things audio, Sony has managed to squeeze a stunning 12 hours of playback time into these sophisticated-looking earbuds. 

These are IPX8 rated and will even resist saltwater. They're submersible at two metres for 30 minutes - not quite the best on this list but reasonable for such a strong all-rounder. The 623s boast 4GB of storage for your files and also benefit from Bluetooth and a microphone for wireless music and calls on the go. 

Fit-wise, a rigid hook and flexible band are designed to keep them in place no matter what. A brilliant added feature of these is its Ambient Sound modes. At the click of a button, you can choose how much of the outside world you want to let into your lobes. A huge plus for jogging in urban areas.

In the world of waterproof headphones, it's rare to find a pair that does quite as much as these do for such a low price. And somehow, TOZO has delivered on their promise here, and the popularity of these is a testament to how well-built these are.

With four pairs of ear tips included to ensure a snug and comfortable fit, the T10 earbuds have a reputation for deep bass and a rich soundscape. Bluetooth is also reliable, utilising the 5.3 standard. You can control your media through a responsive capacitive touch interface on each bud.

As for waterproofing, they have a hydrophobic coating that will repel water. Much like the other earbuds on our list, they are IPX8 rated, but whilst they'll survive a spin in the washing machine (or drop in a shallow pool for 30 minutes), they're not able to function underwater. But that shouldn't put you off unless you're a swimmer (or prone to accidentally slipping into the deep end on holiday). With 10 hours of playback time, high-tech features, and sophisticated looks, you'd never guess that these could be so affordable.