Shokz OpenSwim Pro
Shokz
Swimming with headphones has always meant choosing between two frustrations: earbuds that either leak water into your ear canal and fall out mid-lap, or waterproof designs so sealed off from the world that you can't hear a lifeguard's whistle, a car behind you on the trail, or someone calling your name. The Shokz OpenSwim Pro is built to solve that trade-off. Rather than sitting inside your ear, it rests just in front of it and sends sound through your cheekbones, leaving your ear canal completely open. That single design decision shapes everything else about how this headset looks, feels, and performs — and it's the reason swimmers, open-water athletes, and multi-sport trainers keep gravitating toward it.
This review breaks down exactly what that design means in daily use: how the waterproofing holds up in a real pool, how the dual playback modes work when your phone is locked in a locker, how long the battery actually lasts through a training week, and where this headset falls short. By the end, you'll know whether it's the right fit for your routine — or whether your money is better spent elsewhere.
The Open-Ear, Bone-Conduction Approach Explained
Most wireless headphones create sound by vibrating air inside a sealed earbud, which is why they need to plug your ear canal to work properly. The OpenSwim Pro instead uses bone conduction: small transducers press gently against the bone just in front of your ears and send vibrations directly to your inner ear, bypassing the eardrum's usual air-based pathway entirely. Your ear canal stays completely uncovered.
Practically, this has two consequences worth understanding before you buy:
You'll always hear your surroundings. Traffic, pool announcements, other swimmers, your own breathing — none of it gets blocked out. For open-water swimmers and road runners, this isn't a nice-to-have; it's a genuine safety feature.
The sound signature is different from traditional headphones. Because the audio arrives through bone rather than air, it favors clarity and midrange presence over the deep, chest-thumping bass you'd get from a sealed in-ear design. This headset uses the latest generation of Shokz's bone-conduction engineering, which the company markets as an improvement in reducing buzz and vibration at higher volumes compared with earlier Shokz models — a refinement rather than a reinvention, but a noticeable one if you've used an older bone-conduction headset before.
If your listening priority is thumping bass for the gym, this isn't that product. If your priority is staying aware while training in or near water, it's built exactly for that.
Design, Build, and All-Day Comfort
The headset uses a flexible headband that wraps around the back of your head and neck rather than over the top, with the two driver units resting on your cheekbones. That headband core is made from a durable but flexible metal alloy designed to hold its shape through repeated bending — important for something that gets stuffed into a swim bag and pulled on and off dozens of times a month.
At roughly the weight of a couple of coins, the OpenSwim Pro disappears on your head quickly. Reviewers who've worn it for extended runs and swim sets consistently note that there's little to no ear fatigue, even in sessions well over an hour — a meaningful advantage over heavier over-ear headphones or bulky swim-specific players. Because there are no ear tips of any kind to fit, sizing is simpler than with traditional earbuds: it's a single universal fit intended to work across a wide range of head sizes. That said, a handful of real buyers have found the band runs slightly long for smaller head shapes, so if you have a petite frame, expect the fit to feel a touch loose rather than snug — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing going in.
Playback and call controls sit as physical buttons directly on the housing: volume and power on one side, a multi-function button on the other for play/pause, track skipping, and answering calls. That's a deliberate choice for a swim-focused product — touch-sensitive controls are notoriously unreliable with wet fingers, while a physical button gives you a tactile click you can feel even underwater or wearing gloves on a cold trail run. The trade-off is a small learning curve; a few buyers have mentioned that getting the button combinations memorized takes a session or two, and the companion Shokz app is genuinely useful here for customizing what each press does rather than optional.
For storage and transport, the headset comes with a silicone carry case. It's a simple, functional inclusion rather than a premium hard-shell case, but for a product this size, that's the right call — it's easy to rinse out and dries quickly, which matters when you're packing wet gear.
Waterproofing: What the Rating Actually Means for a Swimmer
The OpenSwim Pro carries a rating that certifies it against dust ingress and continuous submersion, backed by a triple-sealed internal construction at the housing, buttons, and charging port. In real terms, that translates to safe use at depths of up to two metres for stretches of up to two hours at a time — comfortably enough for a serious pool session, an open-water swim, or a triathlon leg, but not intended for scuba diving or anything beyond recreational depths.
A few practical notes worth knowing before you jump in:
- Fresh water only, ideally. The headset can handle a splash of seawater, but manufacturer guidance (echoed by independent reviewers) recommends rinsing it in fresh water for around 30 minutes after any exposure to salt water to prevent long-term corrosion of the seals and contacts.
- It's not negatively buoyant. Because it's light and worn loosely around the neck and cheekbones, more than one reviewer has noted that if it comes loose in the pool, it will sink rather than float. It's a small risk, but one open-water swimmers in particular should be mindful of.
- The charging port is the vulnerable point on most waterproof electronics, and Shokz addresses this with a magnetic connector rather than an exposed physical port — more on why that matters in the charging section below.
For anyone who has previously used waterproof headphones with a weaker splash-resistance rating, the jump to true submersible protection here is significant. This is a headset designed to be worn from the moment you step onto the pool deck to the moment you towel off, without a second thought about whether it can handle the water.
Dual-Mode Listening: Bluetooth on Land, Built-In Storage Underwater
This is the feature that most separates the OpenSwim Pro from a standard pair of sports headphones, and it exists to solve a real physics problem: Bluetooth radio signals don't travel well through water. Once your head is submerged, a phone-paired Bluetooth connection will cut out or become unreliable — a limitation of the technology itself, not a flaw specific to this headset.
Shokz's answer is to build a second, fully independent way to play music: onboard storage, generous enough to hold thousands of tracks directly on the headphones themselves, no phone required. You load music onto the headset the same way you'd load files onto a USB drive — connect the included magnetic cable to a computer, and the headphones appear as a removable drive that you drag and drop audio files into. Once loaded, you can swim laps with music playing directly from the headset with your phone locked safely in a locker.
Switching between the two modes is done with a simple button-press-and-hold combination, or through the companion app, and each mode has its own separate equalizer presets — a standard and vocal-focused mode for Bluetooth listening, and standard and swim-specific tuning for MP3 mode, the latter compensating for how sound is perceived differently against wet skin and bone.
The practical upshot: use Bluetooth for everyday commuting, gym sessions, and calls where your phone is nearby, and switch to MP3 mode the moment you're heading into the water. It's a genuinely useful bit of engineering rather than a marketing bullet point — reviewers who've tested both older Shokz swim headphones (MP3-only, no Bluetooth at all) and this model consistently point to the addition of Bluetooth as the single biggest quality-of-life improvement in this generation.
One limitation worth flagging: because there's no display or physical interface for browsing music beyond skip/repeat, media management on the storage side is fairly basic. You're building a set playlist ahead of a swim, not browsing a full library mid-session — closer in spirit to a dedicated MP3 player than a smartphone.
Sound Quality: Honest Expectations for Bone Conduction
It's worth being direct about this rather than letting marketing language set the expectation: bone-conduction audio, by its physical nature, is not going to match a well-sealed pair of premium in-ear or over-ear headphones for bass depth or overall richness. Reviewers who've spent extended time with the OpenSwim Pro consistently describe it the same way — clear vocals, reasonably present mids, and audio that's more than serviceable for spoken word, podcasts, and most music genres, but without the low-end punch you'd get from a sealed driver pressed against your eardrum.
Compared with Shokz's own top-tier running headphones, the OpenSwim Pro sits a small step behind in outright audio refinement, using slightly older-generation bone-conduction hardware than the brand's flagship running model. In practice, the gap is described by testers as minor rather than significant — noticeably less bass richness and marginally more vibration buzz at maximum volume, but nothing that undermines day-to-day listening.
If your main use case is critical music listening — long commutes where audio fidelity really matters to you — a sealed pair of earbuds will outperform this headset every time. If your priority is training audio that stays out of your ear canal and keeps you aware of your environment, the trade-off is a reasonable one, and this is about as good as that category currently gets.
Battery Life and Charging: Built for a Training Week, Not a Single Session
Battery performance here is mode-dependent, which makes sense given how differently the headset works in each state. Streaming continuously over Bluetooth, expect roughly nine hours of runtime — enough for several days of gym sessions or commuting before you need to plug in. Switch to MP3 mode for a swim, and that figure drops to around six hours of continuous playback, still comfortably more than most people will use in a single pool visit.
~9 hours
Continuous Bluetooth streaming
~6 hours
Continuous MP3 mode playback
Charging is handled through a proprietary magnetic cable rather than a standard USB-C port — a deliberate compromise. An exposed charging port is the single biggest weak point on any waterproof electronic device, so Shokz seals the housing entirely and uses magnetic pins to make contact instead. The downside is that you can't top up with a generic USB-C cable if you forget the one that came in the box, so it's worth treating that cable the way you'd treat a phone charger you can't easily replace on the road.
On the upside, a full charge from empty takes about 90 minutes, and the headset supports a genuine fast-charge function: a brief ten-minute top-up is enough to unlock a few hours of additional playback, which is a meaningful convenience if you've forgotten to charge overnight and need to grab a quick session before work.
Put together, realistic weekly use looks like this: a swimmer doing three or four pool sessions a week, plus some daily Bluetooth listening, will likely need to charge the headset once every two to three days rather than nightly — solid, dependable endurance for a device this size, even if it's not table-topping compared with the very longest-lasting bone-conduction competitors on the market.
Microphones and Call Quality
Because this headset is built to survive sweat and splashes rather than just full submersion in some use cases, its microphones use a breathable membrane and layered internal design specifically intended to keep moisture out of the mic capsule without blocking sound. In practice, this means calls and voice assistant commands stay clear even mid-workout, rather than becoming muffled the moment you start sweating — a small but genuinely practical detail for anyone who takes calls between sets at the gym or needs to trigger a voice command on a run without breaking stride.
Who This Headset Is Actually For
This is a purpose-built product, and it's worth being clear-eyed about where it excels and where a different headset would serve you better.
It's an excellent fit if you are:
- A pool or open-water swimmer who wants music or podcasts during training without a separate waterproof MP3 player
- A triathlete who needs one headset that transitions cleanly from the swim leg to the bike or run
- A trail runner, hiker, or road runner who values situational awareness — hearing traffic, other people, or wildlife — over sealed-in bass response
- Someone who's used earbuds that constantly fall out during exercise and wants a fit that stays put regardless of ear shape
- A multi-sport athlete who wants a genuinely dual-purpose headset for both wet and dry training, not just a swim-only accessory
It's probably not the right choice if you are:
- Someone whose main use case is critical music listening, where deep bass and audio fidelity are the top priority
- A diver or anyone needing protection beyond recreational swimming depths
- Someone who wants the convenience of universal USB-C charging without carrying a proprietary cable
- A buyer expecting fully seamless, effortless button navigation straight out of the box without spending a little time learning the controls or app
How It Compares to the Alternatives
Bone-conduction swim headphones remain a fairly small category, and the OpenSwim Pro sits at the premium end of it. Here's how it stacks up against the kind of alternatives a shopper in this price range is likely to be weighing.
| Feature | Shokz OpenSwim Pro | Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 (running-focused) | Typical rival swim-focused bone-conduction headset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | Swimming + general sport, dual-mode | Running, cycling, gym — no underwater use | Swimming-specific |
| Underwater playback | Yes, via 32GB onboard storage | No | Varies — often storage-only, no Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth streaming | Yes | Yes | Often absent or limited |
| Waterproof rating | Submersible to 2m for up to 2 hours | Sweat and splash resistant, not for submersion | Similar submersion ratings, narrower feature set |
| Bluetooth battery life | ~9 hours | Generally longer, tuned for endurance runners | Varies, often 8–10 hours |
| Bone-conduction generation | Recent generation, one step behind Shokz's flagship running model | Shokz's newest generation | Varies widely by brand |
| Best suited to | Swimmers and multi-sport athletes wanting one headset for wet and dry use | Dedicated runners prioritizing peak sound quality and battery life | Swimmers who don't need Bluetooth for land use |
The clearest takeaway from this comparison: if swimming is a genuine, regular part of your training — not an occasional extra — the OpenSwim Pro's combination of true submersible waterproofing, onboard storage, and Bluetooth is difficult to match without buying two separate devices. If you never swim and just want the best possible bone-conduction running headset, Shokz's dedicated running model will edge it out on sound quality and battery life, at the cost of any underwater capability at all. Against other swim-specific bone-conduction headsets on the market, some competitors edge out slightly longer battery life, but typically without matching the combination of full Bluetooth integration and dual-mode switching this headset offers.
Strengths and Weaknesses, Honestly
The Case For It
The case for the OpenSwim Pro is strongest when you consider what it replaces: instead of carrying a separate waterproof MP3 player for the pool and a separate pair of Bluetooth headphones for everything else, this is genuinely one device that does both jobs competently. The waterproofing is trustworthy rather than a marketing claim on paper — reviewers who've put it through real pool and open-water sessions consistently confirm it holds up. The open-ear design solves a real safety concern for anyone training near traffic or in open water, and the lightweight build means you forget you're wearing it during long sessions. The addition of true fast charging is a small but genuinely useful touch for anyone who trains on a tight morning schedule.
The Trade-Offs
Set against that, the compromises are real ones, not nitpicks. Sound quality, while good for the category, won't satisfy anyone chasing deep bass or audiophile-grade clarity — that's an inherent limitation of bone conduction, not something a firmware update will fix. The proprietary magnetic charging cable, while necessary for waterproofing, is a point of friction if you ever misplace it, since it can't be swapped for a generic USB-C cable in a pinch. Media management for the onboard storage is basic, better suited to loading a set playlist before a swim than browsing on the fly. And the button-based control scheme, while sensible for wet-hand use, does ask for a short adjustment period before it feels intuitive.
None of these weaknesses are surprising or hidden — they're the direct trade-offs of building a headset that has to survive full submersion while still sounding decent and lasting through a training week. The question isn't whether the OpenSwim Pro is flawless; it's whether those specific trade-offs match what you actually need.
The Verdict
If you're a swimmer, triathlete, or multi-sport athlete looking for one headset that reliably survives the pool, keeps you aware of your surroundings, and still works as a capable everyday Bluetooth headset out of the water, the Shokz OpenSwim Pro earns its place as one of the strongest options available in this category. The waterproofing is genuinely dependable, the dual Bluetooth-and-storage system solves a real problem rather than adding a gimmick, and the comfort and control design show that this was built by people who understand what actually happens during a training session, not just a lab test.
Buy it if water is a regular part of your training routine and you want a single headset that handles both wet and dry sessions without compromise on safety awareness. Look elsewhere — likely toward Shokz's dedicated running model — if you never swim and want the best possible sound quality and battery life for pure land-based training instead.
What People Say
41 commentsVery impressed
I decided to try these headphones for when swimming as I become bored when in the water and find music helps the time pass quicker. Upon opening the box I found a nice little case to protect them when not is use which can easily fit into a bag, a charger lead, and also which surprised me was ear plugs.
As these are bone conducting headphones they sit on the outside of your ear, having never tried this sort before I was very surprised at the sound quality, especially with the ear plugs in.
I found them very comfortable to wear, although I think that the band behind my head was a little big and it did cause them to move a little and so they needed adjusting on my head quite a bit. The band itself is not adjustable which is the only downside.
They are both bluetooth and MP3 which I thought was great. It's very easy to load them with music using a laptop/computer. And they connect to Bluetooth very easily as well. The buttons on the headphones are easy to operate, you can change song and adjust the volume by pressing the correct button behind your ear.
I would definitely recommend these to anyone who likes music while swimming, and I feel they would be great to use while running or even in the gym due to them being waterproof.
The safest, stylish innovative sound tech out
Such a versatile set of headphones - sporty and on point. The design is sleek, stylish and surprisingly comfortable. It was super easy to pair using Bluetooth and the magnetic charger gives a secure charging and sync to my laptop. I love the fact that these give me the safety of being able to hear what’s happening around me whilst also enjoying some workout tracks during a swim or run. I never thought I’d be listening to music during a swim and it was definitely a game changer to setting fitness goals and hitting them! They fit snugly around my ears and the headband rests softly along the nape of my neck. Even during an intense run and swim session, they stayed in place. The battery seems to last a good while and provides enough for me for a few days use before requiring a recharge. The soft silicone storage bag matches the soft silicone material of the earphones. I’ve always felt uncomfortable wearing the in ear earphones whilst being out and about but with these innovative bone conduction technology, I’m able to be more aware of my surroundings and feel more in control and safe. I literally feel immersed in both real life and my chosen track!
Good, could be great with a few minor changes
On first impression, these headphones feel well made, if not exactly 'premium'. The colour wouldnt be my first choice, but equally isn't too garish either.
As a streamer, connecting to my phone was a doddle using the pairing button on the side of the phones, so I was up and running with Spotify in a few minutes as the phones came already charged out of the box.
The sound itself is really quite good, clear and not too loud or quiet.
On testing under water, the sound stayed pretty good, but was muddied a bit by the sound of the water itself, which was unavoidable really!
Overall, they're a good product to have if you spend a lot of time swimming either in your local pool or on holiday. The only negatives would be the lack of adjustment on the band itself. They fit me ok but not sure how they would for others. The other minor gripe is the fact the charger is an old style USB-A, which is slower than newer chargers. For those reasons I can't give them 5 stars, but they're a solid product I'd be happy to buy - maybe at a lower price than RRP though!
Fantastic upgrade from my cheaper swim headphones
I'vehad these for a few weeks now and have used them in the pool several times. The battery life is excellent and the comfort is far superior to my Guud sound headphones I used to use. As I swim several hours a week lane swimming, it's worth the extra cost for that alone. However the audio improvement was also very noticeable. Much more bass sound and enhanced clarity. I feel these will also be suitable for running, but haven't used them for that as yet. The included ear plugs fit securely and also further enhance the sound underwater, where you don't have the swishing noise of the water to compete with the sound. I use ear plugs anyway so this did not detract in any way for me from using them. To get the best underwater use the MP3 mode and just load up a load of songs onto the heaphones and off you go. The dedicated button on the side of the left headphone is easy to use and tactile enough to find and click. I highly recommend these and think (especially as I got 20% off in the sale) that it was worth the spend.
Exceeded Expectations! Comfortable headphones with
I'm not going to lie, I was sceptical about the arrival of these headphones, but they really have been a revelation! Not only are they comfortable on the head (They don't sit IN your ears, but ON your ears), especially when used for a period of time but you don't sacrifice sound quality at all.
The waterproof aspect works incredibly well, as does the option load MP3's directly onto the device. My only gripe on this aspect, not everyone has access to MP3's now as music is streamed now days. That said, still a very useful function for using the headphones while swimming meaning you can listen to music without having the phone connected.
Would highly recommend these - they really are a game changer for those needing headphones that are after waterproof headphones or for when your exercising.
Great for swimming
I bought these headphones to use after I signed up to take part in Operation Swim - Help for Heroes. I swam a couple of days before buying them and swimming 80+ lengths got a bit boring. They have been great, as I managed to keep swimming without worrying about the length of time I'm at the pool or the amount of lengths I'm swimming. As they work on bluetooth and MP3 I'm now using instead of my earbuds as most earbuds just fall out of my ears. I had a number of other swimmers ask about them, as they are bone conductive, I gave the other swimmers the opportunity to listen to them. Needless to say they all said they would like to get headphones suitable for swimming.
So far so good
I will admit that I was a little skeptical of how these would work, and what the quality would be like but I was pleasantly surprised.
These are the first pair of waterproof headphones I have tried and I am impressed with them.
Putting music onto them was surprisingly straight forward, I am tech savvy but think that for someone who isn’t you may possibly need a hand to load songs.
I like that they are also Bluetooth compatible which means if your not too far you can stream your music direct to the headphones, as well as take calls.
The sound quality is clear, and the battery life so far seems to be great.
They’ll fit is comfortable and they feel secure when on.
Amazing Headphones
I recently acquired the OPENSWIM PRO and I am very pleased with this piece of tech ,after a ear infection I am not allowed to use headphones plugged on my ears but this ones just stay out , the Sound quality is great , Very easy to use, very comfortable, come with a handy storage pouch and the USB charging is easy to use and has a light to indicate on and off , battery life is very good and you get an audible message when you turn them on saying what level the battery is at, comes with ear plugs for the swimming pool if you want protect your ears from the water, I have used them for running and I am very happy with them.
Great for what they are, but don’t expect wonders.
Had these a few weeks now and was meant to sync them with my garmin watch for swimming. My mistake, please note that Bluetooth does not work underwater (for any products). This does mean if you don’t have old mp3 music to convert from iTunes like i did, then you will have to pay for some if you wish to swim with them. Bluetooth sound quality isn’t great, mp3 isn’t much better but definitely an improvement. If you’re looking for great sound quality don’t get these. If you want fully waterproof headphones for swimming, 100% buy these. They do the job and are best in class bone conducting headphones!
Great headphones but not without flaws
I have owned a pair of aeropex for a number of years so understand the limitations of sound quality etc with these types of headphones. These are both Bluetooth for normal use and MP3 mode when swimming as Bluetooth doesn’t travel in water. Copying MP3s in requires the proprietary cable which is a bit naff in 2025. In use in the pool they work very well, don’t move (after over an hour) and the sound is fine (use the earplugs). Irritatingly they revert to Bluetooth mode every time you turn them on, but so far so good.
Revolutionise your swimming
Kinda blown away by the quality of these in Water. As someone who swims most days it can get quite tedious so these headphones have made the experience so much better and the time seems to go lots quicker as you get lost in strokes and tunes. The loading of music can be a bit of a faff in youre a person who uses android systems like tablets for your computing but can be worked around. Recommend windows operating system 100%.
Apart from that... AWESOME
Great combination headphones
This is an upgrade from the Aeropex for me. It's very much worth the upgrade. You get an easy switch between Bluetooth and MP3 modes which means a phone less run. You basically are getting openrun and open swim headphones in one! Would thoroughly recommend. Sound is good too, bone conduction means the volume isn't as loud as regular would be bit still decent. Base is low but that's standard for bone conduction too.
Great purchase
Very happy with my purchase. I swim with these and have no issues and they fit perfectly and amazingly don't move. Just bought a digital download album from amazon and connected to my computer with charging cable provided and put music on headphones. It was very easy and I'm 52 with not much computer skills. Sound quality is not the best but perfectly acceptable and I did buy to swim with.
Too big
As I regular swimmer I wanted to listen to music whilst swimming and decided to purchase Shoks because they are bone conducting and thought they would fit better than other headphones for swimming. Shoks fitting are designed to fit men with wide head and neck. For women they are loose and therefore do not sit in position for optimum sound and comfort.
I love them
I previously owned the OpenRun Pro and it’s a great upgrade except for battery life. I appreciate the multi point sharing feature, now I can connect them to the treadmill and they’re really good for the pool too. I’m really impressed to have them in the water. Would love a bit longer battery life though otherwise highly recommended.
Standard nothing special
Standard pair of headphones that can be used for either swimming or running.
They work well under water was great clear sound but I found while running if windy the sound can be hard to hear.
No goof for cycling as you can't hear.
The design is good but I can see them being awkward for some people if you don't have perfect ears.
Poor Sound Quality
I am an audio engineer and use a range of headphones for personal or work use. I bought these for their waterproof feature, which is great. However the sound quality is poor at best. Fine for listening to podcasts or similar but not acceptable for music.
The phone call function works well and the call be heard clearly.
A sound upgrade
Replacing an older pair of Shokz headphones. The new open swim have several advantages over my older version. MP3 storage and Bluetooth connectivity, super quick charging and a sealed design. Multiple blue tooth connectivity, can connect to phone and watch simultaneously. Proven technology from a trusted brand.
Amazing product
I bought some software to download a book from my audible and now can swim listening to a book. You need to use the earplugs or you can’t hear very well but as long as you so it’s perfect. I have also asked a few people in my lane and they definitely can’t hear it although it feels like they should be able to!!
Amazing Headphones
Absolutely perfect. I had stuff in my ears but also hate big bulky headphones and these are just perfect for me. Great sound. Nothing to complain about.
They do sometimes not connect my phone unless I turn on and off but it could just be a Bluetooth thing and not really anything to do with them.
