6 Best Waterproof Earbuds, According to Testing

JBL's Reflect Aero ticks all the boxes on earbuds for any outdoor activity: They're compact, durable and provide high quality sound. The earbuds boast an IP68 IP rating (a measure of how well an electronic is protected from dust and water, with the first number representing dust and the second water), making them a great companion for beach days, rainy hikes or even swimming.

In the Lab, we were impressed with their sound quality given their durability, and the inclusion of noise cancellation, which some others on this list don't feature, was a nice touch, though not as robust as other non-waterproof noise cancelling models we've tested. The accompanying JBL app allowed our testers to tailor the sound to their preferences using EQ and noise cancellation control. The app also features convenient functions like "find my buds," which helps you locate them if they're lost; "check my best fit," which helps you find the most suitable fit for your ears and voice assistant configurations.

Consumer testers loved these headphones' portability, with one remarking, "I did like how this case had a smaller charging case that comes with a small strap that can be used to secure the charging case to a bag if needed."

Finding the sweet spot between price, durability and audio quality is tricky with earbuds. It often feels like one can be compromised but Jabra's Elite 4 manages to do it all. They boast an IP57 rating, feature active noise cancellation and come in at just under $80.

The Elite 4 was a star in our consumer testing, with several remarking on the impressive sound. One tester stated, "The noise cancelling features helped enhance my listening experience — I felt like the sound quality was much better than other earbuds." The variety of stylish colors in which they come and the simple, intuitive setup was appreciated by testers. Some noted that the buds didn't have the most comfortable fit, however: "The ear fit wasn't perfect and the construction of the ear piece makes it hard to guess which way is upright vs. upside down."

We also noted that the battery life is slightly less than other picks on our list (28 hours with the case), so those looking for earbuds for extended periods of listening may want to look at other options.

If you're looking for earbuds specifically designed for swimmers, look no further than this pair from H2O Audio. These unorthodox buds don't actually sit inside the ear but rather rest alongside your head in front of it (secured by goggle straps), transmitting sound through their speakers and bone vibration. The standout feature on these buds is the inclusion of "Playlist+", an on-board MP3 player that lets you pre-load songs to the headphones so you don't have to worry about going out of Bluetooth range, though Bluetooth is still an option.

Though we were wowed by the durable, innovative design of these headphones, the sound quality left something to be desired. Lab tests showed steep cuts in the high and low frequencies and a good amount of distortion, though in practice we found they weren't too low quality to perturb us. Analysts were also impressed with the IPX8 rating, meaning they're protected against continuous submersion in water, and H2O audio claims they can be submerged up to 12 feet deep.

The Elite 8 Active takes everything we love about the Elite 4 Active a step further. Maintaining the same stylish color options that testers loved in the Elite 4 Active, they feature a higher degree of ingress protection (IP68) and include a splash- and dust-resistant case, (IP54) making them suitable for taking on any outdoor excursion, no matter the weather. Jabra also claims that the noise cancellation on these is 1.6 times more effective than the Elite 4 Active, a big win considering how much consumer testers appreciated it on the lower priced model.

The Elite 8 Active earbuds also feature spatial sound thanks to Dolby Audio integration, and in road tests we found the sound quality to be exceptional. They also feature improvements to battery life over the Elite 4 Active — 56 hours with the case, though they feature a similar design that testers complained about in terms of fit and comfort.

The Treblab X3 Pro shows us that hardy water protection doesn't have to come at a hefty price tag or compromise on audio quality. The IPX7 rating means they're submersible for up to 30 minutes in up to one meter of water, so they'll survive short swims and exposure to rain and sweat with no problem. The inexpensive buds also don't skimp on additional features, boasting voice assistant with Siri and Google Assistant.

Our Lab testing showed these buds to perform way above their price tag when it came to audio quality, with a smooth, balanced frequency response curve and little distortion. Analysts also found them comfortable and secure to wear (thanks to the over-ear loops) and were impressed with the long battery life (nine hours for the buds plus an additional 36 hours with the case). It was noted that the setup for these is a bit odd, as you've got to connect each of the buds separately which can be confusing, but in no way a deterrent.

If your main concern when shopping for waterproof headphones is substantial water protection, and you can compromise a bit on sound quality, JBL's Endurance Peak 3 is a strong option. Unlike our pick for best waterproof earbuds for swimming, these buds actually fit into the ear (and quite comfortably) and we found them to fit securely while listening to music. They have an IP68 rating and are protected in both salt and fresh water, plus they sport a long battery life (50 hours with the case), so they're a great companion for surfers, polo players or any other activities where they might weather a bit of moisture.

In-Lab tests showed us that the audio quality on these was a bit less full-bodied than other earbuds we've tested. The frequency response curve had noticeable bumps and cuts (we prefer a more neutral response) and a significant amount of distortion. That said, our analysts noted that when actually listening to music or spoken content the audio quality wasn't as subjectively bad as our technical tests might suggest.

In our ease of use testing, we found the on/off functionality of these buds a little finicky: The buds are turned on and off by disconnecting and connecting the loop from the bottom part of the buds, which takes some getting used to and can lead to some accidental shutoffs at first.