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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a fully submersible, do-everything training headphone with built-in music storage, choose I love e iFecco IP68; if you need a lighter, simpler open-ear headphone for gym days and outdoor runs with splash-level protection, choose Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear.
• I love e iFecco IP68 — biggest strength: an IP68 rating rated for submersion up to 3 meters for 60+ minutes, plus 8GB of onboard MP3 storage so you can swim laps without a phone anywhere near the water.
• I love e iFecco IP68 — biggest trade-off: Bluetooth does not work underwater, so you must manually switch to MP3 mode before you submerge; it is also a 28g bone-conduction set, which is a different listening feel than a traditional driver.
• Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear — biggest strength: a very light 1-ounce wraparound neckband with secure ear hooks and a wider 33-foot Bluetooth range, built for gym, cycling and outdoor sessions.
• Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear — biggest trade-off: the maker describes it as water-resistant against wind, rain and splashes, so I would not treat it as a lap-swimming, fully-submersible headphone, and it has no built-in music storage.
• Who each pick is for: the iFecco is for swimmers and phone-free athletes; the Sport Headphones set is for gym-goers, runners and cyclists who want an easy open-ear fit and can keep a phone or watch nearby.
The iFecco IP68 is the one to look at if water is the whole point of your workout. Its IP68 rating is spec'd to survive depths up to 3 meters for 60+ minutes, which is the kind of claim that matters for laps, surfing, kayaking and genuinely heavy rain. Most "sport" headphones stop at sweat and splashes; this one is designed around being underwater.
The second thing that sets it apart is the 8GB of built-in memory. That is roughly 2000+ songs stored on the headphone itself, synced over a magnetic cable. For swimming, that is the difference between a workable product and a useless one, because Bluetooth simply does not transmit through water — the brand is explicit that you switch to MP3 mode before going under. Pair that with an 8-hour battery and a 28g titanium frame, and you get a set built for marathon-length sessions and multiple swims between charges. Bluetooth 6.0 handles the dry side: pairing, low latency, calls mid-run, and a 10-meter range, and it charges in about 2 hours.
Who should buy it: swimmers first, then trail runners, cyclists and anyone who wants to leave the phone at home. The 20Hz–20kHz bone-conduction driver keeps your ears fully open, which is the safety argument for running and riding on roads. It also ships with ear plugs and an adjustment strap, and carries a 2-year warranty.
Who should skip it: if you mostly lift in a gym or jog in the park and you want zero fuss, the mode-switching and the bone-conduction sound character are extra steps you do not need. Also note there is no active noise control here — that is deliberate for open-ear safety, but it is not the pick for blocking out a noisy environment.
The Sport Headphones Open-Ear set is the simpler, lighter option, and it knows exactly what it is. At 1 ounce with a flexible wraparound neckband and secure ear hooks, the design brief is clearly "stay put and stay comfortable" — the kind of fit you can forget about during a long session, whether that is the gym, the bike or a run.
On protection, the language is worth reading carefully: the brand positions it against wind, rain and splashes, and describes it as water-resistant. That makes it a strong everyday sport headphone and a sensible companion for a poolside session, but I would not plan on submerging it the way you would the iFecco. If your definition of swimming is serious lap work with your head under the surface, this is not the one I would point you to.
Where it wins is convenience and connectivity. Bluetooth 5 with a 33-foot range gives you more room to leave your phone on a bench or in a bag, and the 1-hour charge time is quicker than the iFecco's 2 hours. The 13mm dynamic driver runs at 32 ohms with a 20Hz–20kHz response and 105dB sensitivity, so it is a conventional dynamic setup rather than bone conduction — some people simply prefer that. Push-button controls, an open-ear hook shape, and a build in ABS, rubber and silicone round it out, backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Who should buy it: gym regulars, indoor cyclists, outdoor runners and casual athletes who want an open-ear headphone that is light, quick to charge and easy to live with. Who should skip it: dedicated swimmers who need a genuine submersion rating, and anyone who wants to train without carrying a phone, since there is no onboard storage here.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for actual swimming → I love e iFecco IP68. IP68 rated for up to 3 meters for 60+ minutes is the spec that makes lap swimming realistic.
• Best for long sessions on one charge → I love e iFecco IP68. Up to 8 hours of battery versus the Sport Headphones set, which does not publish a playtime figure.
• Best for light, forget-you're-wearing-it comfort → Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear. 1 ounce with a flexible neckband and ear hooks is about as minimal as it gets.
• Best for staying connected across a room or gym floor → Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear. Bluetooth 5 at a 33-foot range beats the iFecco's 10 meters.
• Fastest to top up → Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear. A 1-hour charge time against the iFecco's 2 hours.
• Best for rain, sweat and splashes only → Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear. Water-resistant is enough for most gym and outdoor use, and you avoid the underwater mode-switching entirely.
• Best for road safety on both → either. Both are open-ear, so both keep you aware of traffic and surroundings; neither offers noise control.
In my opinion, the I love e iFecco IP68 is the one I would buy, and the deciding factor is the word "swimming." The IP68 submersion rating plus 8GB of built-in storage is a combination the Sport Headphones set simply does not offer, and it turns the headphone into something you can genuinely use in the water without a phone. The 8-hour battery, 28g frame and 2-year warranty round out a package aimed squarely at committed athletes. I would only steer you to the Sport Headphones Open-Ear if your training is dry — gym, cycling, running — and you value the lighter 1-ounce fit, longer Bluetooth range and quicker charging more than underwater capability. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your routine.
are headphones waterproof
It depends on the model, and the rating is the honest answer. The I love e iFecco IP68 is built to be fully submersible, rated for depths up to 3 meters for 60+ minutes, which is why it needs an MP3 mode underwater since Bluetooth will not transmit through water. The Sport Headphones Open-Ear set is described as water-resistant against wind, rain and splashes rather than submersible, so I would not take it below the surface.
are headphones water resistant
Many sport headphones are, but "water resistant" is not the same as "waterproof." The Sport Headphones Swimming Headphones Open-Ear is positioned for wind, rain and splashes, which covers sweat, bad weather and poolside use. The I love e iFecco IP68 goes further with an IP68 rating for actual submersion, so if your workouts put your head underwater, that is the distinction that matters.
Yes, in practice — that is the strongest argument for the iFecco. Bluetooth does not work underwater, so the 8GB MP3 player (2000+ songs) is what lets you listen during laps without a phone. The Sport Headphones Open-Ear set has no onboard media, so it relies on a Bluetooth connection from a device you keep dry.
For a typical gym session, I would lean toward the Sport Headphones Open-Ear set. At 1 ounce with a flexible neckband and ear hooks it stays put through lifting and cardio, charges in about an hour, and its splash-level protection is plenty indoors. The iFecco is the better all-rounder if your week also includes swimming, since it covers both without a second pair.
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