In this review we are going to be looking at another good set of bone conduction headphones that might be of interest if you are looking for something that is completely waterproof, other headphones claim that they are waterproof, but they may not be suitable for sports when you have to get really wet like swimming.
Remember, there is a huge difference between having a good set of bone conduction headphones that you use for running in the rain and actually swimming with them.
This is where the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones comes in to help and gives you headphones that are not just water-resistant but water proof!
We are going to tell you about what you can expect from the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones, in terms of the features, performance, and if they are worth the money so that you can get a good idea if they are something that you think are worth investing in. Of course, the main emphasis will be on swimming, as that is the main activity that these headphones are aimed at.
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Who are the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones for?
If you like to listen to some tunes while you are in the pool, ocean, lake or river then these headphones are definitely worth checking out, one of the great things about them, is that you are actually able to wear ear plugs at the same time which is pretty cool, and are also fine to wear with swimming caps and goggles which is perfect for any swimmer.
They are also ideal for using outside if you are running, cycling and other sports in extremely wet conditions without the worry of them getting damaged at all however hard the rain is driving down.
Waterproof headphones are not just needed for swimming and wet conditions, even when you are working outdoors things can get very sweaty at times, so the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones are just the thing if you don’t want them getting sweaty and breaking. So, even as a runner if you were concerned about your headphones breaking due to sweat then this pair should put your concerns to rest.
Even if you are not in a situation when you are getting wet, the AfterShokz Xtrainerz are good for using when you are at home relaxing, on the train listening to your favourite tunes to pass the time, so they are not just exclusive for sports people. Basically, you can use them anywhere.
Can The AfterShokz Xtrainerz Help With Hearing Issues?
If you have hearing problems, these bone conduction headphones may be just the thing for you to use, they can allow you to hear sound using vibration through the bones and bypass the actual ear. The best thing to do is do some research first to see if they are compatible with your particular hearing problem.
If you find traditional over the ear headphones a bit bulky and uncomfortable or ear buds jammed inside the ear painful (as well as falling out when you need it least!) bone conduction headphones are a fantastic alternative. They leave your ears totally free and uncovered.
So, the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones are very versatile and suitable for most people, in addition a lot more hygienic than traditional types, which we will tell you more about further down in this review.
If you want to go straight over to Amazon.com to buy the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones, click on the link below:
Now let’s take a look at the features:
- Open-Ear Design – Patented bone conduction technology delivers audio through the cheekbone, keeping you comfortable and aware of your surroundings in or out of the water.
- Internal Music Storage – Load your favorite audio and dive into your workout with 4GB of built-in MP3 storage, holding up to 1,200 songs. Not compatible with Bluetooth or audio streaming services.
- 8-Hour Battery Life – Enjoy 8 continuous hours of premium audio while you’re cross-training.
- IP68 Waterproof Rating – Fully waterproof, Xtrainerz headphones perform in and out of the water. Submersible in depths up to 2 meters for 2 hours.
- Comfortable + Secure – An open-ear design enables bud-free listening and keeps the headphones in place for every stroke.
The AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones use bone conduction technology which means that the sound totally bypasses the ear drum and instead transmits through the bones in the upper cheek and jaw, the audio then travels directly into the inner ear.
This open ear design allows the ears to be free, which has many advantages, including being able to use them for swimming, either above or under the water up to 2 meters deep and still be able to wear your ear plugs at the same time.
Or, if you don’t want to be completely isolated of what’s going on around you, these open ear phones allow you to still be able to be aware of your surroundings when you need to, either in the water or out so you have the best of both worlds.
The Xtrainerz headphones feature internal music storage, which means that you get 4 GB of built in MP3 storage, which is quite generous, it actually allows you to be able to load up to around 1, 200 songs.
This can be handy if you happen to be somewhere where there is a bad phone signal and you haven’t got access to anything online, then you will always have your stored music to listen to.
If you are looking for something for listening to streaming services, you might be disappointed here, unfortunately these don’t work with Bluetooth so you might be better going for some of the other bone conduction headphones we have looked at, which will give you that ability, and give you a bit more choice to what you can listen to.
Another thing to consider, is that this means that you won’t be able to take phone calls either, which won’t be a problem if you don’t like being interrupted during a swimming session.
What is the battery life like?
As for the battery life, the Xtrainerz headphones will give up to 8 hours from a full charge which is pretty average for rechargeable headphones of this type, they take around 2 hours to charge fully.
A look at the design:
The AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones have been designed to be both comfortable and fit securely, made with flexible material. The band fits by going around the back of the neck over the top of the ears and so that the speakers sit in front of the ears on the top of the cheek bones to give a snug and secure fit.
This design means that they are much less likely to fall off the head while doing sports and activities, or losing them like you can with ear buds, which can have a tendency of falling out of the ears.
The design is also means that they area more hygienic alternative to ear buds, because they will never get a build up of ear wax in the opening of the phones which can be a bit gross to clean.
They are also very lightweight, which adds to a more comfortable experience while wearing them.
The audio:
Let’s face it, bone conduction headphones are probably not going to be as good as over the ear/ in ear phones for sound, the main reason being that you are still aware of your surroundings as well as being able to hear the music.
Looking at user reviews, most people are quite happy with the sound quality under the water, and when above the water the ability to hear when other people are near by so that you don’t end up bumping in to anyone.
What’s in the box?
The AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones come with a neat carrying case, charger, and you also get a pair of ear plugs, which are very useful for any swimmer, and of course an instruction manual which will tell you everything you need to know about how to use.
Price:
Ok, so these bone conductions are not cheap, but they are definitely worth going for if you have got the budget to do so, they are good quality, and worth every cent if you need some good headphones for swimming. You also get a 2 year warranty,
Ease of use:
They are pretty straight forward to set up, the instruction manual is easy to follow, and once you have downloaded your tunes or audio books, the headphones are controlled by four buttons on the right side of the headset.
The buttons are really easy to press and control the volume, shuffling your music, and activate the in and out of the water mode, which will improve the sound quality for when you are under the water, you can also skip tracks by tapping on the buttons.
What do they look like?
The AfterShokz Xtrainerz look like any other bone conduction headphones on the market – they go around the back of the head like a band and the bone conduction parts rest near the temple, top of the jaw:
What about the pros and cons?
Looking at both the pros and cons is absolutely essential before you to decide to invest in anything, so let’s go through the pros first to see all the good stuff.
Pros:
- Completely waterproof, so perfect for swimming
- Allows for wearing ear plugs, swimming caps at the same time
- Very comfortable
- Lightweight
- Gives around 8 hours of battery life
- Hygienic
- Sound good under the water
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- No Bluetooth
- The audio isn’t perfect
Verdict:
If you are looking into getting some bone conduction headphones that are fully waterproof and comfortable, the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones are very much worth considering. In fact if you are looking for something for swimming or other water sports these will be ideal, as long as you don’t mind compromising on the Bluetooth.
You still have 4GB of memory so that you can load up all your favourite music or audio books to listen to, you might even prefer this if the phone signal isn’t very strong where you are going to be using them.
The bone conduction technology means that your ears are going to be free to be aware of your surroundings at the same time as listening to music, and this also leaves your ears free to use ear plugs if you need them for swimming.
They are great for using out of the water as well as in the water, but if you are a swimmer, we think that you will really like the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones.
Thanks for taking the time to read this review, we hope that it has given some useful information.
To check out the AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones, click on the link below:
Want To See The AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction Headphones In Action?
If you want to see these in action then we recommend checking out the video below for a great review. This will allow you to see them before you buy and get an idea of the size and shape.
Check out Andy’s Tech Tone channel for awesome headphone reviews as well.
Here is the review that Andy made:
Alternatives For The AfterShokz Xtrainerz Bone Conduction MP3 Swimming Headphones?
If we are just looking at swimming then we highly recommend check out the Xtrainerz – it gives you everything you need, you can be confident it will not break due to the water and then the really cool thing is that you can upload your mp3’s and play them direct from the headphones. It gives you a generous 4GB of storage!
If you are after bone conduction headphones for swimming then in our opinion – you have found the best choice!
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