How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-01 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Swimbuds Flip biggest strength: IPX8 waterproofing rated to 10 ft, a short anti-drag cord, and a wired 3.5 mm connection that never needs a battery.
• Swimbuds Flip biggest trade-off: It's wired only — no Bluetooth, no onboard memory — so you must plug into a device (or a waterproof MP3 player) to hear anything, and the earplug-style fit isn't for everyone.
• Hostena biggest strength: IP68 waterproofing to two meters plus open-ear bone conduction, Bluetooth 6.0, and a built-in 32GB card that holds roughly 8,000 songs so you can leave your phone on the deck.
• Hostena biggest trade-off: Underwater it only plays from the memory card in MP3 mode — Bluetooth won't work in the water — and the bone-conduction design delivers less bass isolation than sealed in-ear buds.
• Who Swimbuds Flip is for: Swimmers who want simple, sealed, wired sound and don't mind carrying a player.
• Who Hostena is for: Swimmers who want cable-free, phone-free listening with awareness of their surroundings.
The Swimbuds Flip is built around one idea: reduce drag and stay sealed. The buds rest in your ear at an angle designed to cut resistance in the water, and the short cord trims the slack that normally whips around your neck mid-stroke. That's paired with an IPX8 rating — submersible indefinitely up to 10 feet — so pool laps, rain runs, even a downpour dance are all in scope. The "L"-shaped 3.5 mm jack is a small but smart detail: it takes stress off the cable where cords usually fail.
For fit, you get three pairs of tree-style silicone tips in three sizes, plus a sample of earbud lubricant and an AquaGuard sample in the box. That's a deliberate nod to the reality of swimming: a good watertight seal is everything, and silicone tree tips are the tool for getting there. The short cord also kills tangles, and the included extension cable gives you enough length to reach a pocket when you're listening on land — so the same pair works for a jog or a commute, not just the pool. Controls are touch-based with volume adjustment, and the design leans on sound isolation rather than active noise cancellation.
Buy it if you already own a waterproof MP3 player or don't mind tethering to one, and you want a light, sealed, no-battery pair that just works in the water. Skip it if you hate wires, want to swim without any player at all, or you can't get a comfortable seal from in-ear tips — because with the Flip, the seal is the whole ballgame.
The Hostena is a very different animal. It's an open-ear bone-conduction set wrapped in full-coverage liquid silicone, rated IP68 — good for dives up to two meters. Because the drivers transmit sound through bone conduction instead of plugging your ear canals, your ears stay open, which matters if you swim in a public pool or open water and want to hear what's around you. The silicone construction is also designed to sit comfortably alongside goggles and a swim cap, which is a real consideration for anyone who's fought with earbuds under a strap.
The headline convenience is the built-in 32GB of memory, which Hostena says holds roughly 8,000 songs and supports MP3, WMA, WAV, APE and FLAC. That's the killer feature for swimmers: load your music, leave the phone in your bag, and swim. There's also Bluetooth 6.0 with a 33-foot range for dry-land use, and the magnetic charging cable doubles as the way you transfer files from a computer. Battery is quoted at up to 8 hours of continuous playback with a 1.5-hour charge and 90 hours of standby, and the set carries a 1-year warranty.
One thing to internalize before you buy: underwater, Bluetooth does not work. You have to switch to MP3 mode when you get in the water, and Hostena repeats that warning throughout its materials for good reason. It's a mechanical limitation of Bluetooth through water, not a defect. Buy it if you want cable-free, phone-free swimming with ear awareness and you're fine loading music onto a card. Skip it if you want deep bass or total isolation, or you'd rather not manage modes and charging.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for waterproofing depth → Hostena Full-Coverage Liquid Silicone: IP68 to two meters versus IPX8 to 10 feet — Hostena is rated for deeper submersion.
• Best for phone-free swimming → Hostena Full-Coverage Liquid Silicone: 32GB onboard storage holds about 8,000 songs, so no player or phone required.
• Best for situational awareness → Hostena Full-Coverage Liquid Silicone: open-ear bone conduction keeps your ears unblocked.
• Best for a tight, isolated seal → Swimbuds Flip Waterproof Short-Cord: silicone tree tips in three sizes plus sound isolation, with earbud lubricant included to help the seal.
• Best for land use on the same pair → Hostena Full-Coverage Liquid Silicone: Bluetooth 6.0 at up to 33 feet for workouts and calls off the water; the Flip needs a device and its extension cable.
• Best for long sessions → Hostena Full-Coverage Liquid Silicone: up to 8 hours of playback per 1.5-hour charge; the Flip has no runtime limit since it's wired.
• Best for low-maintenance simplicity → Swimbuds Flip Waterproof Short-Cord: plug in, swim, done — no modes to switch.
In my opinion, the Hostena Full-Coverage Liquid Silicone is the better buy for most swimmers, because the 32GB of built-in storage and open-ear design solve the two biggest annoyances of swimming with music: needing a device and losing awareness of your surroundings. The catch is that you have to remember MP3 mode underwater, and you give up the sealed, bass-heavy feel of in-ear buds. If you'd rather not deal with charging, modes, or fit fiddling — and you already have a waterproof player — I'd take the Swimbuds Flip instead. Both are legitimate picks; the deciding question is whether you want to swim untethered or uncomplicated.
can i wear waterproof headphones in the shower
Yes, in most cases. Both of these sets are rated well beyond shower conditions — the Swimbuds Flip at IPX8 to 10 feet and the Hostena at IP68 to two meters — so splashing water and steam aren't a concern. Just note the Hostena needs MP3 mode, not Bluetooth, for any submerged listening.
are headphones waterproof
Is the Hostena Bluetooth usable while swimming?
No. Underwater you must switch to MP3 mode and play from the built-in 32GB card, because Bluetooth won't transmit through water. Bluetooth 6.0 is there for dry-land use, with a range up to 33 feet.
Yes. The Swimbuds Flip is a wired 3.5 mm set with no onboard storage or Bluetooth, so it needs a connected device — typically a waterproof MP3 player for swimming. The included extension cable adds length for pocket listening on land. If you want to swim with no player at all, the Hostena's 32GB memory is the better fit.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: SENZER SG600 vs YPBDAN MD33, MOCANIO Sleep Headphones vs Wekily Ear Plugs: Soft Silicone, AIYIMA DAC-A2 vs CVJ Shadow Blade IEM: PC Gaming Headphones, XIAOWTEK Earbuds vs Monster N-Lite 310