How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-30 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Swimming — biggest strength: an IPX8 watertight in-ear design built specifically for lap swimming, with a 40cm short cord and 11 pairs of eartips in 4 styles so you can chase a secure seal.
• Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Swimming — biggest trade-off: it's a wired 3.5mm pair with no onboard memory and no Bluetooth audio of its own, so you need a device to plug into and a pocket or strap to route the cable.
• GREYOLK Swimming Headphones — biggest strength: IP68 bone conduction with 32GB of built-in MP3 storage, so you can swim with no phone nearby at all.
• GREYOLK Swimming Headphones — biggest trade-off: open-ear bone conduction deliberately lets outside sound in, so it will never give you the plugged, isolated feeling of an in-ear seal.
• Pick Swimbuds Sport if you already swim with a music player and want a low-drag, in-ear fit tucked into your goggle strap.
• Pick GREYOLK if you want fully wireless swimming, onboard storage, and awareness of your surroundings in the pool or open water.
The Swimbuds Sport is the more specialized tool of the two. It's a wired in-ear headphone with a 3.5mm jack, a 32 ohm impedance, and a dynamic driver rated 20–20,000 Hz — a conventional audio setup wrapped in a body the manufacturer describes as having an absolute watertight seal. The IPX8 rating is the headline: this is a pair meant to be submerged, not just splashed. The 40cm cord is the detail that tells you who it was designed for. That's roughly 15 inches, short enough that it won't loop and drag behind you mid-lap.
The fit system is unusually thorough. Eleven pairs of eartips across four different tip types is a lot of chances to find a seal that actually holds, and the intended wearing method is specific: tuck the buds into your goggle strap just above the ear, insert with the cable pointing upward, and run the cable under the strap. If you've ever had a bud pop loose on a flip turn, that instruction makes immediate sense. The bundle also includes a 0.6m extension cord and a zipper case, which matters if you want to run the cable down to a player clipped at your waist or tucked in a cap. One caveat straight from the specs: don't use the clear Ergo tips with FitGoo earbud lubricant.
GREYOLK Swimming Headphones: Who It's For
The GREYOLK is a different animal entirely. It's a bone conduction headphone with an IP68 rating, which the manufacturer describes as fully waterproof, sweatproof, rainproof and dustproof — covering swimming, snorkeling, fishing and boating. Instead of pushing sound into a sealed ear canal, a 30mm bone conduction driver sits against the bone in front of your ear. That's why the design is open-ear: nothing goes inside your ear, and nothing covers it.
The practical payoff is twofold. First, you keep your hearing open, so you can hear a coach, a lane partner, or traffic on a run. Second, there's no seal to break, which is exactly the failure point that plagues in-ear buds underwater. The 32GB of built-in memory is the other big differentiator: the specs say it holds up to 6,000 songs across MP3, WMA, WAV, APE and FLAC, and you switch modes by double-clicking the power button. Magnetic charging cable doubles as the data connection to load files from a computer. So you can leave your phone in the locker and still have hours of music.
Battery is listed at up to 8 hours of playback or talk time from a 150mAh battery, charged in 1.5 hours. Wireless is Bluetooth 5.4 with a stated range of up to 10 metres. The frame is a wraparound titanium design at 32 grams, and the controls are physical push buttons — handy with wet hands. GREYOLK also lists a 1-year after-sales service and a 2-year warranty.
Buy it if you want to swim untethered, hate things in your ears, or split your training between pool, bike and road. Skip it if you want deep bass and total isolation — bone conduction trades low-end punch and quiet for safety and comfort, and that's a design trade, not a defect.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for lap-pool audio quality → Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Swimming. A dynamic driver sealed in your ear canal will out-punch an open-ear bone conduction driver on bass every time.
• Best for staying aware of your surroundings → GREYOLK Swimming Headphones. Open-ear design is built for hearing what's around you.
• Best for cord-free movement → GREYOLK Swimming Headphones. Bluetooth 5.4, no jack, nothing to route under a goggle strap.
• Best for a locked-in fit with maximum tip options → Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Swimming. 11 pairs of tips in 4 styles gives you far more chances to find a seal.
• Best for swimmers who already own a waterproof player → Swimbuds Sport Waterproof Swimming. The 3.5mm jack and 40cm cord are made to pair with one.
• Best for battery life on a single charge → GREYOLK Swimming Headphones. Up to 8 hours of playback per the spec sheet.
• Best for multi-sport use → GREYOLK Swimming Headphones. The same pair is pitched for running, cycling and exercise, not just the pool.
In my opinion, the GREYOLK Swimming Headphones are the more versatile buy for most people. Onboard 32GB storage, IP68, 8 hours of playback and an open-ear design that works just as well on a run as in a pool make it a one-pair solution. I'd choose the Swimbuds Sport instead if I were a dedicated lap swimmer who already carries a waterproof player and wants the fuller, sealed-in sound only an in-ear fit can give. Both are legitimate picks — they're just built for different swimmer habits. If budget is the deciding factor, check the current price on Amazon for each before you commit.
can i wear waterproof headphones in the shower
Yes, in most cases. The Swimbuds Sport carries an IPX8 watertight rating and the GREYOLK carries IP68, both of which the manufacturers describe as suitable for full water exposure. Showering is far gentler than swimming, so either pair can handle it. Just dry the charging contacts and ports afterward.
are headphones waterproof
Do I need my phone to use the GREYOLK for swimming?
No. The GREYOLK has 32GB of internal memory and an MP3 mode you reach by double-clicking the power button, so you can load music from a computer via the magnetic cable and swim without carrying a phone. Bluetooth 5.4 is there for dry-land use within about 10 metres.
In my opinion, the GREYOLK suits open water better because the open-ear design keeps you aware of boats, swimmers and surroundings, and there's no cable to snag. The Swimbuds Sport is the stronger pick for a controlled pool lane, where its in-ear seal and short cord are advantages rather than liabilities.
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: MAIRDI USB Headset vs BANIGIPA Headset: Office Noise, Razer Kaira vs BlueFire Headphones, XMBYGY Cute Case vs nine-tailed fox Sleep Mask, Blucalm Headset vs LEVN Headset: Headphones for Work From