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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone — biggest strength: an IPX8 waterproof build wrapped in ultra-soft liquid silicone with an ergonomic ear-hook that spreads pressure evenly, so it holds steady during swimming and long sessions.
• MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone — biggest trade-off: only 7 hours of playback per charge, and underwater listening relies entirely on MP3 mode — Bluetooth does not work beneath the surface.
• Nanajorwa Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest strength: up to 10 hours of playback at 50% volume on a single charge, plus an adjustment cord that lets you dial the fit in for different head sizes.
• Nanajorwa Bone Conduction Headphones — biggest trade-off: it lists no noise control and a button-only control scheme, so there's no app or touch trickery to fall back on — and no mention of a liquid-silicone overmold like MARLALL's.
• Pick MARLALL if the pool is your main arena and you want the softest, most secure swim fit.
• Pick Nanajorwa if you split your time between the gym, the road and the pool and want the longer runtime and adjustable fit.
The MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone is built around one idea: staying glued to your head while wet. It carries an IPX8 waterproof rating, which the spec sheet describes as resisting water immersion for swimming, snorkeling, surfing and similar outdoor activity. The ear-hook design spreads pressure evenly rather than clamping down on one spot, and the overmold is an ultra-soft, skin-friendly liquid silicone. At 22.68 g it's the lighter of the two, and that lightness matters when you're wearing something for an hour of laps or a full gym session.
There's a 32GB MP3 player onboard, and this is the part you have to understand before buying. Bluetooth does not work underwater — the sheet says it plainly, and the same applies to any bone conduction set. So swimming means MP3 mode only, with your tracks stored internally. You manage those files by plugging the magnetic charging cable into a computer, which gives direct access to the internal storage. A full charge takes about 1.5 hours and returns up to 7 hours of playback. One quirk to plan around: music sitting in a phone app can't be copied straight across to the headphone's memory card, so you'll want your files accessible on a computer first.
Nanajorwa Bone Conduction Headphones: Who It's For
Nanajorwa takes the same bone conduction premise and stretches it across more of your week. The headline number is battery: up to 10 hours of playback at 50% volume, with a full recharge in under 2 hours via magnetic charging. If you're the type who charges once and forgets, that's a meaningful cushion over MARLALL's 7 hours. It weighs 26.08 g and uses a silicone and ABS enclosure in black, with a curved open-ear shape and a 16 mm bone conduction driver. The audio specs are laid out honestly: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz frequency response, 8 ohm impedance, 97 dB sensitivity, and 60 ms latency.
The waterproofing is IPX8 as well, with protection for submersion up to 2 meters — enough for pool laps, underwater training and rainy runs. Same physics lesson applies: Bluetooth can't travel through water, so swimming runs on the built-in 32GB MP3 player. Supported formats are MP3, FLAC, WMA and WAV. You load files by connecting to a computer with the included charging cable, then double-click the MFB button to jump into MP3 mode, since the headphones boot into Bluetooth mode by default. If MP3 mode won't switch, the sheet's own troubleshooting is simple: confirm files are actually on the internal storage, power off, power back on, try again.
The fit story is where Nanajorwa pulls ahead for mixed training. An included adjustment cord lets you fine-tune the headband for different head sizes — you tighten until the speaker pads sit close to your cheekbones without pressing. That's a genuinely useful feature for running, cycling and gym work where a loose fit gets annoying fast. Connectivity is Bluetooth 6.0 with roughly 33 feet of range, controlled entirely by push buttons, and there's no noise control listed — which is arguably the point of open-ear design anyway. Who should buy it: runners, cyclists, gym regulars and swimmers who want one pair to cover all of it. Who should skip it: anyone who specifically wants that liquid-silicone, pressure-distributing ear-hook feel and doesn't care about runtime.
• Best for battery life → Nanajorwa Bone Conduction Headphones (up to 10 hours at 50% volume versus MARLALL's 7 hours).
• Best for swim-first use → MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone (IPX8 with an ergonomic ear-hook and silicone overmold designed to stay put in water).
• Best for adjustable fit → Nanajorwa (the included adjustment cord tunes the headband to different head sizes).
• Best for the lightest wear → MARLALL (22.68 g versus 26.08 g).
• Best for fast top-ups → MARLALL (about 1.5 hours to charge versus under 2 hours).
• Best for open-ear safety in traffic → either one (both keep your ears fully open so you hear cars, bikes and voices).
• Best for gym and road training → Nanajorwa (longer runtime plus the fit adjustment suit cardio, cycling and strength sessions).
• Best for snorkeling and water sports → MARLALL (the sheet explicitly names snorkeling and surfing alongside swimming).
In my opinion, if your training is a mix of gym floor, road and pool, I'd buy the Nanajorwa Bone Conduction Headphones. The 10-hour runtime and the adjustment cord make it the more flexible daily driver, and IPX8 with 2-meter submersion still covers swimming. I'd only steer you to the MARLALL Soft Liquid Silicone if water is the center of your routine — that liquid-silicone ear-hook and lighter 22.68 g build are built for laps and snorkeling first, and the faster 1.5-hour charge is a nice bonus. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing specs can't tell you.
what is best headphones for gym
There's no single answer, but for gym use the deciding factors are fit stability, sweat resistance and runtime. The Nanajorwa's 10-hour battery and adjustable cord suit longer sessions; the MARLALL's lighter 22.68 g silicone build and secure ear-hook suit shorter, sweatier workouts. Both are IPX8 and open-ear.
what headphones for gym
Look for IPX8 waterproofing, an open-ear design so you stay aware of your surroundings, and enough battery to cover your session. Both models here qualify. Nanajorwa offers up to 10 hours and Bluetooth 6.0; MARLALL offers up to 7 hours and a skin-friendly liquid-silicone fit.
what headphones for gym reddit
Threads like this usually split between in-ear buds and bone conduction. The recurring argument for open-ear sets like these two is safety and ear comfort — no pressure inside the canal. Bone conduction does trade some bass depth for that openness, so set expectations accordingly.
what headphone is good for gym
A good gym headphone stays put during movement and survives sweat. The Nanajorwa's adjustment cord helps lock the fit for running and lifting, while the MARLALL's pressure-distributing ear-hook and soft silicone overmold are made for extended wear. If you also swim, both require MP3 mode underwater.
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