If you want a durable, all-day sports headset with exceptional battery life and clear call quality for outdoor adventures like hiking, choose JBL Endurance Pace; if you need a dedicated underwater swimming device with built-in music storage to leave your phone behind at the pool or lake, choose RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming.
• JBL Endurance Pace: Its biggest strength is a massive 10-hour battery life and IP68 durability designed for sweat, rain, and dust, but it lacks internal storage for offline listening. This pick is for hikers and runners who want their phone nearby and need gear that lasts through long days.
• RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming: Its standout feature is the massive 32GB of internal storage allowing 7,000 songs without a phone, plus true underwater capability, though its battery life is shorter at 7 hours. This pick is for swimmers and triathletes who need to go completely wire-free in the water.
• Best for Hiking: The JBL model wins on battery endurance and voice clarity during long treks.
• Best for Water Sports: The RELAXYO model is the only one capable of playing music while fully submerged.
The JBL Endurance Pace is engineered for people who live outside and move constantly. Its design centers around an open-ear experience that keeps your ears free to hear traffic, wind, or other trail users while you listen to music. The titanium memory metal frame is a standout detail; it bends back into shape no matter how you pack it in a backpack or drop it on a rocky ledge. This isn't just about comfort; it's about reliability when you are miles from home.
For hikers specifically, the battery performance is a game-changer. With up to 10 hours of continuous playback, this headset can handle a full day of trekking without needing a recharge. If you get caught in a sudden downpour or run through salt spray on a coastal trail, the IP68 rating means you don't have to worry about water or dust damage. You can rinse it off and keep going. The inclusion of two beamforming microphones ensures that even on a breezy mountain pass, your calls remain crisp.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-25 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
However, this product is not for everyone. If you plan to leave your smartphone at the car and hike into deep wilderness where you don't carry a phone, the JBL Endurance Pace will be silent. It relies entirely on Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you must have a paired device within range to play audio. It also does not come with a charging cable, which is an immediate inconvenience you'll face out of the box. It is best suited for those who prioritize battery longevity and rugged durability over standalone music storage.
The RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming headphone is a specialized tool for athletes who spend significant time in the water. Its primary advantage is the 32GB of built-in storage, which holds up to 7,000 songs. This transforms the device into a standalone MP3 player. You do not need to bring your phone to the pool, the ocean, or a lakeside swim. By switching to MP3 mode via a double-press of the power button, the headphones bypass the need for a Bluetooth connection, which is crucial because sound cannot transmit effectively through water via wireless signals.
The bone conduction driver technology here serves a dual purpose: it allows you to hear your own breathing and the rhythm of the water while still enjoying music. The memory titanium frame is lightweight and flexible, ensuring it stays secure under a swim cap or goggles without causing pressure points. The controls are straightforward, with physical buttons for volume, track skipping, and power management, which are easier to operate with wet fingers than touch-sensitive surfaces.
That said, there are trade-offs to consider. The battery life tops out at 7 hours, which is decent but significantly less than the JBL alternative. If you are planning a multi-day hiking trip where you cannot charge daily, this might fall short. Additionally, the lack of advanced noise cancellation or call-focused microphone arrays (it has basic call support but is optimized for music) makes it less ideal for taking work calls on a windy trail compared to the JBL. It is strictly for those who value independence from their phone and need waterproof performance above all else.
• Best for Battery Life → JBL Endurance Pace delivers 10 hours of playtime versus the RELAXYO's 7 hours, making it superior for long-duration activities.
• Best for Offline Music Storage → RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming includes 32GB of internal memory for 7,000 songs, whereas the JBL requires a connected phone.
• Best for Underwater Use → RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming is explicitly designed for swimming with a switchable MP3 mode, while the JBL is water-resistant but not intended for submersion.
• Best for Call Quality → JBL Endurance Pace features two beamforming microphones tuned for voice clarity in noisy environments, offering better communication capabilities.
• Best for Rugged Durability → Both share an IP68 rating, so both withstand sweat, rain, and dust equally well, though the JBL's neckband design may feel more stable for high-impact running.
• Best for Quick Charging → RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming charges fully in 1.5 hours, slightly faster than the JBL's 2-hour requirement.
• Best for App Customization → JBL Endurance Pace offers a dedicated app for EQ adjustments and Relax Mode, providing more control over sound profiles.
• Best Value for Swimmers → RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming eliminates the need for a separate music player, consolidating your gym bag essentials.
If I were buying a headset specifically for hiking, I would choose the JBL Endurance Pace. The combination of 10-hour battery life, superior microphone array for emergency calls, and the ability to stay connected to my phone for navigation is non-negotiable for me on the trail. While the RELAXYO is a fantastic device for swimmers, its reliance on a phone for audio and shorter battery life make it less versatile for land-based adventures. For a hiker, knowing you can talk clearly and last all day is more valuable than having 7,000 songs stored locally.
Neither works without a signal for streaming, but the RELAXYO Bone Conduction Swimming is better for areas with no cell service because it has 32GB of internal storage to hold music files directly on the device, whereas the JBL requires a phone connection.
No, neither product features Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Both use an open-ear design to allow you to hear your surroundings, which is safer for hiking but does not block out ambient noise like ANC models do.
Both models boast an IP68 rating, meaning they are fully protected against dust and can withstand immersion in water. They are suitable for heavy sweating, rain, and even swimming (for the RELAXYO).
Yes, for the JBL Endurance Pace, the charging cable is not included in the box. The RELAXYO package includes a magnetic charging cable, so you are ready to go right out of the box.
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