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If you want one pair of headphones you can actually wear in the water, choose SAMVEK Swimming Headphones; if you need an everyday open-ear set for cycling, running and long days on the move, choose PPBP Open Ear Headphones. They look like rivals on a search page, but they solve two different problems: one is built to survive being submerged, the other is built to disappear on your head while you ride. Below I break down what each design actually gives you, where each one falls short, and which one I would put my money on depending on how you move.
• SAMVEK's biggest strength: a true IP68 waterproof build plus 32GB of built-in MP3 storage, so it works with no phone anywhere nearby — even fully underwater.
• SAMVEK's biggest trade-off: Bluetooth does not work underwater, so you have to switch to MP3 mode for laps, and the 8-hour battery is decent rather than huge.
• PPBP's biggest strength: a featherweight 6.1-gram-per-earbud open-ear design with a charging case that stretches total playtime to around 40 hours.
• PPBP's biggest trade-off: an IPX6 rating handles sweat, rain and splashes but not swimming, and the 3-month warranty is short.
• Who SAMVEK is for: swimmers, snorkelers and anyone who trains in or around water.
• Who PPBP is for: cyclists, runners and commuters who want all-day open-ear audio and don't need to submerge their headphones.
The SAMVEK set is a bone conduction design, which means the drivers sit outside your ear canal and send sound through your cheekbones to your inner ear. That matters in two ways. First, your ear canals stay completely open, so you keep your awareness of traffic, pool lanes and whoever is calling your name. Second, there is nothing jammed into your ear to get uncomfortable or waterlogged over a long session. The frame is a slim, lightweight ergonomic shape at just 30 grams, and SAMVEK includes an adjustable headband so it can be sized to different heads — a small but genuinely useful detail for a one-piece design like this.
What really separates it is the water story. The IP68 rating is the top end of the waterproof scale, and it's described as covering swimming, snorkeling and other underwater sports, with the brand noting it can be worn alongside a swimming cap, goggles and earplugs. The catch you need to know before buying: Bluetooth only reaches about 10 meters and does not work underwater at all. For laps you switch to the built-in MP3 player, which holds 32GB — roughly 8,000 songs by the brand's count, with support for MP3, WMA, WAV, APE and FLAC files. That's the whole point of the design: no phone on the pool deck, no signal worries, just your own library.
Buy it if you swim, snorkel, surf or train in water and want music without risking your phone. Skip it if you mainly want a wireless pair for cycling and don't care about swimming — you'd be paying for waterproofing you'll never use, and the open-ear awareness it offers is matched by lighter, longer-lasting rivals.
PPBP Open Ear Headphones: Who It's For
The PPBP set takes the opposite approach: it's a pair of open-ear earbuds with ergonomic earhooks, and the entire pitch is lightness and battery. Each earbud weighs 6.1 grams, which the brand compares to a standard key, and the open-ear shape is explicitly framed around safety — you hear your surroundings while you listen. PPBP also claims the design cuts ear canal friction and skin irritation by 5% compared to in-ear models, and that you can wear them for 10+ hours continuously without discomfort.
The audio side is unusual for this category. Instead of a single driver per ear, PPBP uses a quad-speaker arrangement — dual drivers per earbud — with 15mm large-diaphragm dynamic drivers and a dedicated headphone amplifier chip. The primary drivers are aligned with your ear canal to push sound inward. I'd treat the "live-concert-quality" phrasing as marketing, but the hardware description is specific enough that this is clearly a more ambitious audio design than a basic open-ear bud. You also get active noise cancellation listed among the controls, plus a multi-function single-button setup for music and calls, and the description references ENC for clearer calls.
Battery is the headline number: the earbuds alone are rated for around 10 hours, and with the charging case the total reaches about 40 hours. A 5-minute charge is enough to get you moving again when you're short on time. Connectivity is Bluetooth 6.1, which the brand says brings faster transmission and steadier connections, and the earhooks are shaped to stay put through intense workouts. The IPX6 rating repels sweat, rain and splashes and is described as tested through 100+ hours of active use.
Here's the honest limitation: IPX6 is a splash and sweat rating, not a submersion rating. You can ride in the rain and sweat through a hard interval session, but you cannot swim with these. The warranty is also only 3 months, which is short next to SAMVEK's year, and the box contains just the headphones and a manual.
Buy it if you cycle, run, commute or work out and want something you forget you're wearing, with battery that lasts days between charges. Skip it if you want to swim with music, or if a 3-month warranty feels too thin for how you treat your gear.
• Best for swimming and underwater use → SAMVEK Swimming Headphones. IP68 is the only rating here that survives being submerged.
• Best for cycling → PPBP Open Ear Headphones. Lighter per-earbud weight, secure earhooks, IPX6 for sweat and rain, and no MP3-mode switching mid-ride.
• Best for total battery life → PPBP Open Ear Headphones. Roughly 40 hours with the case against SAMVEK's 8 hours per charge.
• Best for training without a phone → SAMVEK Swimming Headphones. 32GB of built-in storage means no device needed at all.
• Best for situational awareness while riding → a tie. Both keep your ear canals open; SAMVEK does it with bone conduction, PPBP with an open-ear earbud shape.
• Best for calls and everyday convenience → PPBP Open Ear Headphones. Button call control, ENC call clarity and a charging case you can pocket.
• Best for long-warranty peace of mind → SAMVEK Swimming Headphones. 1 year versus 3 months.
• Best for mixed water-and-land athletes → SAMVEK Swimming Headphones. It covers cycling, running, surfing and fitness in one pair, though you'll switch modes when you get wet.
If you asked me to pick one for cycling, I'd take the PPBP Open Ear Headphones (ASIN B0H225FSDN). In my opinion the 6.1-gram-per-earbud weight, the earhooks that are designed to hold through hard efforts, the IPX6 sweat-and-rain protection and the roughly 40 hours of total playtime add up to a better companion for long rides and daily training. The SAMVEK set is the more specialised tool and the clear winner if water is part of your routine — IP68 and 32GB of offline music are things PPBP simply doesn't offer. Match the product to your sport, and neither will disappoint.
FAQ
can you bike with headphones
how to bike with headphones
Keep the volume low enough that you can hear cars and voices, and use an open-ear or bone-conduction style rather than sealed in-ear buds. Both headphones here pair over Bluetooth for riding, and SAMVEK also plays from its 32GB internal storage if you'd rather leave your phone at home.
what are the best cycling headphones
For riding, I'd point to the PPBP Open Ear Headphones: 6.1 grams per earbud, Bluetooth 6.1, IPX6 for sweat and rain, and about 40 hours of total battery with the case. The SAMVEK set is the better choice if your riding is part of a routine that also includes swimming.
can cyclists wear headphones
They can, though local rules on riding with headphones vary and it's worth checking yours. The safety argument for open-ear models is that they leave your ears unobstructed, which is exactly how both of these are built — SAMVEK through bone conduction, PPBP through its open-ear earbud shape.
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See also: MONODEAL Swimming Headphones-IP68 vs BUGANI Open Ear Earbuds, Tayogo Swimming Headphones vs SAMVEK Swimming Headphones, GGSTOPWATER Open Ear Headphones vs ZCA Earbuds