Best Waterproof MP3 Players for Swimming — Audiophile ON

Benifits Of Using a Waterproof Music Player!

As I mentioned in the previous article, using waterproof headphones has transformed the way I swim. Professional swimmers and hobbyists alike listen to music during their training sessions. Something as simple as having music to listen to when in the pool can be all the difference between staying motivated or quitting.

My story of why I made this list is probably similar to yours. I was getting bored simply putting in the laps. In training for an Ironman, I saw time in the pool as a couple of hours of boredom that had to be tolerated.

While running or biking, I had much more visual stimulation to keep me occupied. While doing these workouts, I used what I consider the best bone conduction headphones to listen to, but this wasn’t an option when switching to the pool.

I also listened to a lot of podcasts and audiobooks whilst training. I stayed motivated when swimming was always an issue until I started testing various waterproof MP3 players to find something that could work for me.

Now, I actually enjoy getting in the pool. I have found that I mostly spend time listening to audiobooks and podcasts while swimming. I seem less mentally fatigued by the time I have finished my session.

Over the past few years, I have reviewed a lot of waterproof MP3 players that get sent to me, some were great, and some have been terrible.  I hope this article and our list give you something to consider when choosing an MP3 player for swimming.

Note:

If you go and look at our list of the best waterproof headphones, you will notice a few all-in-one solutions (like the Sony NWWS623) where the mp3 player is built into the earphones.  In this list, I just want to cover the external MP3 players, which are separate from the headphones and can be used independently. 

This style is my favorite and the most versatile as it can be used in and out of the pool.  They are not just great for swimming but also perfect for running in the rain, hiking, kayaking, surfing, etc.  Basically, any of these music players are perfect for use where water is involved. 

Why you shouldn’t use your phone when swimming?

This has been asked a lot lately, and it is definitely due to more and more phones coming with some sort of waterproof rating like IPX68, etc.

Whilst that is excellent for consumers, it does not mean your phone is designed to be used underwater. This rating is designed with the device’s protection instead of functional use when submerged underwater.

Think of it as more of a protection for short submersion. I know most of you reading are serious about your swimming, but you would be surprised how many times I have had someone contact me for recommendations for a dedicated waterproof MP3 player because their phone broke when swimming with it.

How to care for your Waterproof MP3 Player!

All the models I listed below are pretty robust and will take care of themselves, but there is one thing you should do that I can’t stress highly enough. When you finish your swim, take your waterproof MP3 player, rinse it thoroughly with fresh water, and then dry it off.

This is especially important if you do a lot of open water swimming in the sea or chlorine-filtered pools. Over time salt from the sea or chlorine from the pool can cause all sorts of problems with electronics. A quick rinse after every swim will add years to your device’s life.

Can you recommend to me the best waterproof headphones to use with my MP3 player?

Sure we can, but we wanted to cover waterproof headphones in a second article. This supplementary list is updated more often as new headphones and earbuds come on the market regularly. I have linked below the headphone-specific article and double-checked that all of the headphones and players on these lists are compatible.

Check out Audiophile On’s list of the best waterproof headphones.

List of the best waterproof MP3 players for swimming in 2022: