How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want open-ear headphones that keep your ears free for traffic, wind, and ride chatter on every bike ride, choose Arciea Bone Conduction Headphones; if you need a waterproof, screen-free music and swim-tracking system built for the pool, choose Holoswim SollaWave AI Music.
• Arciea's biggest strength: bone conduction with an open-ear fit, so your ears stay open to the world while you listen — the one thing most cyclists actually need.
• Arciea's biggest trade-off: it's a Bluetooth headset first, so it depends on a paired phone and isn't built for swimming.
• Holoswim's biggest strength: offline music plus AI swim tracking in a single waterproof system — you leave the phone on the deck.
• Holoswim's biggest trade-off: it's purpose-built for swimming, with offline-only music and no Bluetooth audio, so it's the wrong tool for road cycling.
• Choose Arciea if you're a cyclist, runner, or commuter who wants audio without closing off your ears.
• Choose Holoswim if you're a swimmer who wants music plus structured training data in the water.
Arciea sends sound through your cheekbone instead of your ear canal. The drivers are bone conduction, the fit is open-ear, and the frame is titanium at just 26.5g. That combination is the whole point for cycling: nothing sits inside your ear, so traffic alerts, a passing car, or a riding partner's voice all still reach you. On a bike, that open-ear safety design isn't a gimmick — it's the reason to pick this type of headphone over sealed earbuds in the first place.
The spec sheet reads like a commuter-and-training kit. Bluetooth 6.0, a built-in mic with noise cancelling for calls, button controls you can find by feel without looking down, and IPX5 water resistance to shrug off sweat and light rain. Battery is rated at 14 hours of playback with a 2-hour charge time. It ships with the headphones, a cable, and a manual, covered by a 1-year warranty.
Buy it if you ride, run, hit the gym, or commute and want music, podcasts, or audiobooks while staying aware of what's around you — and you want long battery life so you're not charging every day.
Holoswim SollaWave AI Music: Who It's For
SollaWave is a different animal. It's smart goggles with headphones built in — goggles, waterproof ear protection, an MP3 player, and a swim tracker rolled into one system. There's 4GB of storage for offline music (up to roughly 800 songs), and it deliberately skips Bluetooth audio, because 2.4GHz signals get absorbed by water and every stroke can break the connection. That's a real design decision, not a missing feature, and it's the standard approach for serious swimming headphones.
The tracking side is where it earns its name. 9-axis motion sensors plus a proprietary swim algorithm log time, distance, laps, pace per 100m, SWOLF, and stroke type, all fed into an app that captures 12 dimensions of swim data with charts and exportable history. An AI Swim Coach then analyzes the session and gives feedback. Battery is rated up to 8 hours of music playback, or up to 80 hours in swim voice-feedback mode.
The hardware is built for the water: IP68 with a multi-layer sealed construction and an isolated audio module, TÜV anti-fog lenses, an adjustable fit system, and replaceable components. No monthly fees, no locked features, 30-day returns, and a warranty that runs longer than Arciea's.
Buy it if you swim laps and want music plus structured metrics without strapping on extra gear or leaving a phone at the poolside.
Skip it if you cycle or run outdoors. It's not a general-purpose Bluetooth headset, the music is offline-only, and the whole design is tuned for a lane, not a road.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for cycling → Arciea Bone Conduction Headphones. Open-ear bone conduction keeps ambient sound in play while you ride, which is exactly what the open-ear safety design is for.
• Best for swimming → Holoswim SollaWave AI Music. IP68, an isolated audio module, and offline playback are built for being underwater; Arciea's IPX5 is not.
• Best for calls and everyday use → Arciea Bone Conduction Headphones. Bluetooth 6.0, a high-sensitivity mic with noise cancelling, and button controls make it a normal daily headset.
• Best for tracking and training data → Holoswim SollaWave AI Music. 9-axis sensors, SWOLF, pace per 100m, stroke type, and AI analysis in the app.
• Best if you don't want to carry a phone → Holoswim SollaWave AI Music. Offline MP3 storage means the music lives on the device.
• Best for comfort and flexibility → Arciea Bone Conduction Headphones. The 26.5g titanium frame bends and springs back, and there's nothing pressed into your ear canal.
If you're shopping for cycling headphones, I'd buy the Arciea Bone Conduction Headphones. In my opinion, the open-ear design is the deciding factor: it lets you hear music and the road at the same time, and that matters more on a bike than any spec on either sheet. The 14-hour battery and Bluetooth 6.0 cover commuting, training, and calls without fuss. The Holoswim SollaWave is genuinely impressive — but it's a swim system, and I'd only send you there if your training happens in a pool. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing that changes.
FAQ
can you bike with headphones
what are the best cycling headphones
In my opinion, the best fit for cycling here is the Arciea Bone Conduction Headphones. The open-ear bone conduction design, 26.5g titanium frame, IPX5 rating, and 14-hour battery all line up with long rides and daily commutes. The Holoswim SollaWave is the better pick only if your "ride" is actually a swim.
can cyclists wear headphones
Legally and practically, it varies by place, and you should check your local rules. From a design standpoint, open-ear headphones are the compromise most cyclists reach for, because they keep you aware of your surroundings. Arciea's whole pitch is that balance — music in, ambient sound still audible.
how to bike with headphones
Keep the volume low enough that traffic still registers, favor open-ear designs over sealed ones, and use button controls you can operate by feel rather than pulling out a phone. The Arciea model's button control and open-ear fit are built around exactly that. The Holoswim SollaWave, by contrast, is controlled through an app and designed for water, not handlebars.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Koss KSC32iGry vs Helvioran Silicone Case: Wrap Around, MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones vs LOVE EYE Sleeping Eye Mask, YY KATTY Hybrid Active Noise vs xinwld Earbuds, SONY WH-CH520 vs Ogogrs Bone Conduction Headphones