We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-05 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a swimming-first pair of open-ear headphones that can also double as a cycling companion for the family, choose FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming; if you need the newer Bluetooth version, lighter build and wider device flexibility for children and adults alike, choose SAMVEK IP68. Both are bone conduction, open-ear designs with 32GB of built-in storage and an IP68 waterproof rating, so the decision comes down to small but meaningful design differences — especially if you're shopping the best wireless earbuds for children or hunting for the best ear clip headphones for children.
• FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming — biggest strength: a swimming-first design with Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint, a metal enclosure and space-grade silicone, so it moves cleanly between pool laps and on-bike audio.
• FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming — biggest trade-off: it tops out at Bluetooth 5.3, so it's a step behind on connection spec, and there's no noise control.
• SAMVEK IP68 — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.4 with a stated 33ft working range and reduced latency, plus a 32g body that's noticeably light for long rides.
• SAMVEK IP68 — biggest trade-off: it's a plastic/ABS/PC build rather than metal, and its depth rating is tied to a 2-hour window at 2 meters rather than an open-ended swim claim.
• Who FlowMotion Versa is for: swimmers who want one pair that handles underwater MP3 playback and above-water cycling without swapping gear.
• Who SAMVEK IP68 is for: riders and families who want the newest Bluetooth, the lightest shell and the most flexible pairing across phones, tablets and laptops.
The Versa is built around one idea: you shouldn't need two pairs of headphones to cover a pool session and a bike ride. It carries 32GB of MP3 storage so you can load music, audiobooks or podcasts and play them straight from the headset with no phone involved — which matters because Bluetooth simply doesn't transmit underwater. You press one button to switch modes, and the same button-driven control scheme works when you're back on dry land streaming from your phone.
The spec sheet leans sporty. The enclosure is metal, the fit material is space-grade silicone, and the driver is bone conduction, which keeps your ear canal open so you can hear traffic, a riding partner or a poolside whistle. Battery is rated at up to 8 hours with a 2-hour charge time, and the IP68 rating covers dust as well as water — including heavy rain on a commute. Multipoint connectivity is the quiet win here: it lets the Versa hop between devices without re-pairing, which is handy if you move from a phone to a tablet mid-week.
Who should buy it? In my opinion, the Versa suits the swimmer-cyclist who wants one rugged pair and values a metal-bodied build. Who should skip it? Anyone who specifically wants the newest Bluetooth generation, the lightest possible chassis, or a set that lists a stated wireless range — the Versa sheet doesn't provide a range figure, so if that number matters to you, look at the other option. Parents shopping for older kids who ride and swim will also find the open-ear format sensible, since nothing blocks the ear canal.
SAMVEK's pitch is lighter, newer and more connected. Bluetooth 5.4 is the headline, paired with a claimed 33ft (10m) working range and reduced audio latency — a combination that matters most when you're cycling and want music and calls to stay in sync with what you're doing. The 32g weight is the other standout: for a kid wearing headphones on a bike, or an adult on a long ride, that lightness is the difference between "I forgot I had these on" and constantly adjusting.
Storage is the same story as the Versa — 32GB of built-in memory, cited as holding up to roughly 8,000 songs, with standalone offline playback so no phone is required. SAMVEK is explicit that you switch to MP3 mode while swimming, since water interferes with Bluetooth signals, and it rates the set for up to 2 hours at a 2-meter depth. The battery is a 200mAh cell with magnetic charging, a 2-hour full charge and up to 8 hours of playback.
Comfort leans on skin-friendly silicone that doesn't push into the ear canal, an adjustable headband, and an open-ear design that keeps you aware of your surroundings. The shell is ABS, plastic and polycarbonate rather than metal. SAMVEK also lists a wide compatible-device list — phones, desktops, laptops and tablets — and a long list of intended activities including cycling, running, swimming, skiing, surfing and office meetings. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants a metal-bodied enclosure or who prefers a fit that doesn't rely on a headband adjustment.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for swimming depth claims → SAMVEK IP68, which specifies up to 2 hours at a 2-meter depth.
• Best for build material → FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming, thanks to its metal enclosure and space-grade silicone.
• Best for seamless device switching → FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming, because multipoint connectivity is called out in its feature set.
• Best for low weight → SAMVEK IP68, at 32g with an adjustable headband.
• Best for latency-sensitive cycling audio → SAMVEK IP68, which explicitly cites reduced audio latency.
• Best for a child's first serious pair → SAMVEK IP68, where the low weight and adjustable headband suit smaller heads; the Versa remains a solid pick if a metal body is the priority.
• Best all-rounder for swim-plus-ride → FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming, if you'd rather not think about which pair goes in the bag.
If I were buying for myself and the plan was to keep one pair in rotation for pool laps and bike rides, I'd take the SAMVEK IP68. In my opinion the newer Bluetooth version, the stated 10m range, the reduced latency and the 32g weight are the details that show up most in daily cycling use, and the adjustable headband makes it the more forgiving fit. For children specifically, that lighter shell and headband adjustment are the reasons I'd lean SAMVEK. That said, if a metal enclosure and multipoint device switching matter more to you than the newest Bluetooth, the FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming is the better call — and it's the one I'd recommend to a swimmer who wants a tank-like build. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since the two sit in different value brackets depending on the day.
Yes, and both of these are designed with cycling in mind — SAMVEK lists cycling among its intended activities, and FlowMotion names it in the Versa's use cases. The open-ear, bone conduction format is the reason it works better than sealed earbuds on a bike: your ear canal stays open so you can still hear traffic and surroundings.
how to bike with headphones
Load audio onto the 32GB storage or pair over Bluetooth, then use the push-button controls to play and pause without taking a hand off the bars. Keep the volume low enough that you can hear cars and other riders, and if you're near water, remember that Bluetooth doesn't transmit underwater — switch to MP3 mode instead.
what are the best cycling headphones
There's no single answer, but the specs point in two directions. Want Bluetooth 5.4, a 33ft range, reduced latency and a 32g build? Go SAMVEK IP68. Want a metal enclosure, multipoint switching and a swimming-first design that also handles rides? Go FlowMotion Versa Open-Ear Swimming.
can cyclists wear headphones
Yes — open-ear bone conduction models like these are the least intrusive option because they don't seal the ear canal. Both are IP68, both run up to 8 hours per charge and both recharge in about 2 hours, so a long ride or a swim session won't outlast them.
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