8 Best Waterproof Earbuds and Headphones in 2023

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Not to be dramatic, but water is the enemy of my personal soundtrack.

I feel very strongly that earbuds (like the ubiquitous AirPods) should be straightforward to shop for. But then I realized a) just how many there are to choose from and b) not all earbuds actually fit into my ear comfortably, if at all. Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by a stubborn earbud that decided to fly out of your ear cannonball style 🙋‍♀️ But worst of all is the dreaded earbud-falls-into-water fiasco, causing them to immediately break. Yea, we all want to find the perfect pair of earbuds, but the perfect pair of waterproof earbuds? Even better.

Whether you’re searching for earbuds for running, taking work calls while you WFH, or a pair you can travel with, having waterproof headphones will change. your. life. Dramatic? Yes. Accurate? Also yes. Take it from someone who can be a bit clumsy, even if you don’t spend tons of time near large bodies of water, somehow, some way, those bbs are gonna wind up submerged in water somewhere. It’s just…science.

So, be prepared with waterproof earbuds specifically designed to handle H2O. I tested and reviewed several of these earbuds to determine which are worth investing in. The main thing to keep in mind? IP ratings. These figures estimate how much water the hardware can typically withstand. The “IPXX” on the product description is key; pay attention to the second number, which measures waterproofness ranging from zero to eight, with eight being the highest level. Though, just to be clear, most waterproof earbuds aren’t designed to be submerged underwater or used for swimming. Instead, they’re designed to withstand the occasional splash, accidental drop into the bathtub, sudden downpours, etc. BUT that doesn’t mean you don’t have options for listening to tunes while you log some laps at the pool. Keep on reading to see what I mean.

When you have these earbuds in your gadget collection, you can literally weather the storm and still listen to your personal soundtrack without any interruptions. Ahead, check out the 8 best waterproof earbuds to shop right now.

Customization is crucial when looking for earbuds bc remember: one size most def does not fit all. With nifty hooks that are rotatable so you can easily adjust the fit, these are a clear front-runner. Plus, the bass is pretty deep, delivering a quality sound experience.

Need some relatively inexpensive waterproof earbuds that still provide solid sound? These Bluetooth wireless earbuds boast hundreds of five-star reviews and for good reason: They're under $20, look sleek AF, and have bass and treble levels that rival pricier competitors.

When you're logging miles, above all else you want something reliable. There's nothing worse than earbuds running out of juice when you're, well, mid-run! These ones from JBL are a popular choice and stay in place better than most. Though they are water-, sweat-, and dust-proof, you probably won't wanna swim in these, FYI.

The charging case on this one can give ya up to 100 hours (!!!) of battery life, which is v impressive compared to other wireless earbuds on the market. The design features small "wings" that help clip into ears, and the sound quality is up to par with more expensive earbuds. Did I mention there's a noise cancelling feature, too??

A color for (nearly) every day of the week? Don't mind if I do. These cutie buds are currently available in a rainbow of hues, including green (shown here), black, carbon black, blue, purple, and flare red. On the audio front, they don't disappoint either, bringing serious bass to the party.

In order for earbuds to feel snug and secure, I need that behind ear hook. Is it my emotional support hook? Idk, maybe! The design on these feels as sturdy as can be, and the audio experience is *chef's kiss*. Turn on the bass boost for even richer, punchier sound.

If you're a swimmer, water sports enthusiast, or someone who just wants to be able to listen to stuff while actually under water, may I introduce you to this ~throwback~ concept? It's waterproof earbuds with a built-in MP3 player. Yes, there's Bluetooth, too, but the MP3 mode is specifically designed to work when submerged in water! You'll just have to upload your music (or podcasts) via USB cord, the old-fashioned way.

Here's another pair of earbuds that are designed for swimming, but there's no Bluetooth, my friend. Just pure analog plug-in earbuds! These are best when coupled with the brand's underwater MP3 players, though you can plug 'em into any MP3 player you like when using them on dry land.

Mekita Rivas is an editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. She writes about everything from the best leather totes and books she can't put down to plants, podcasts, and politics. Prior to joining Cosmopolitan, she was a senior contributing fashion editor at PopSugar and Bustle. Her writing has been published in dozens of publications including The New York Times, Vogue, Harper's BAZAAR, Women's Health, Refinery29, and others. She currently splits her time between New York City and Washington, D.C. Follow Mekita on Instagram, where you'll typically find a mix of her snapshots from fashion week and various editor travels.

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