Shokz OpenSwim Pro: all-terrain headphones that dominate in and out of the water

Some products are born to meet a very specific need, but end up standing out precisely because of everything they can do beyond that. That’s exactly what happens with the Shokz OpenSwim Pro. After testing them for several weeks, the conclusion is clear: they are one of the most complete options in the open-ear headphone sector.

They are designed for those who want to listen to music while swimming, a field in which they are practically unrivaled, but their true value lies in the fact that they don’t stop there. They are also suitable for running, cycling, working out at the gym, taking calls, or connecting to work video calls, making them a true all-rounder for everyday use.

The main difference compared to conventional headphones is their combination of bone conduction, open design, and IP68 certification. This allows them to be used submerged up to two meters for a maximum of two hours, keeping your ears free (so you can use earplugs in the water, for example) and providing great comfort even during long sessions. Furthermore, they include 32 GB of internal memory to store thousands of songs in MP3 format, precisely because Bluetooth signals cannot be transmitted properly underwater, making it ideal to use this library.

However, one of the aspects that surprised us most during testing is that, although Bluetooth is officially designed for use outside of water, it can still be perfectly functional in a pool as long as you don’t submerge your head continuously. During those moments when you’re swimming breaststroke or freestyle, resting between sets, walking along the edge, or doing exercises with part of your body out of the water, it’s very convenient to continue listening to a podcast directly from your phone, avoiding the process of downloading it beforehand and copying it to the internal memory. It doesn’t replace MP3 mode when swimming underwater, but it does offer a very interesting flexibility.

It is precisely this versatility that makes the OpenSwim Pro a unique product. Simply get out of the pool and continue using it just like any other premium sports headset thanks to its ergonomic design and noise-canceling microphones. All of this while maintaining the open-ear design, which allows you to continue hearing your surroundings and provides extra safety during sports activities.

In terms of sound, it’s important to remember that we’re talking about bone conduction headphones, so the experience is different from that of traditional in-ear headphones. The goal here isn’t to offer the most powerful bass on the market, but rather to find a balance between comfort, safety, and sufficient quality to enjoy music, podcasts, or calls without being completely isolated from the outside world. In that sense, they deliver exactly what they promise, and this consistency between concept and result is one of their greatest strengths.

Another of their strengths is that they hardly require any compromises compared to other models from the brand. They feature Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint pairing for two devices, up to nine hours of battery life in Bluetooth mode (six hours using internal memory), fast charging capable of providing three hours of playback with just ten minutes of charging, and a weight of only 27.5 grams.

And here an interesting point arises. If you were already considering buying OpenRun Pro 2, the price difference is a mere €29 (the retail price is €229). For that extra amount, the upgrade to the OpenSwim Pro is easily justified. They retain virtually all the features you’d expect from Shokz sports headphones, but also add a feature that could open the door to a whole new use: listening to content underwater.

However, it’s not all perfect. If we had to point out one aspect that could be significantly improved, it would be the charging system. Shokz uses a proprietary four-pin magnetic cable, a solution that likely meets the waterproofing requirements of a device designed to work underwater. The drawback is obvious: if you lose that cable, it will be difficult to replace it immediately, as you can’t just use any USB-C cable you have lying around. It’s not a major problem, but it’s a detail worth keeping in mind.

After several weeks of use, the conclusion is clear. The OpenSwim Pro aren’t just swimmers’ headphones. They’re a very complete pair of sports headphones that also offer a feature few competitors can match. This combination makes them a particularly recommended purchase for those who train both in and out of the water and don’t want to carry multiple different devices for each situation.