Swimming MP3 headphones:Aftershokz xtrainerz review
Oct 18,2023 | David
Enter the Aftershokz Xtrainers, launched at CES 2019: bone-conduction headphones that bring music to your swimming more simply than ever before.The Xtrainerz come with a 4GB internal memory, meaning you can fill them up with MP3, WMA and other file formats if you’ve still got an MP3 library lying around anywhere. The bone-conduction method on offer from the Aftershokz Xtrainerz means you just need to place them on your temples and the music will vibrate through your skull.This article will review Aftershokz xtrainerz by collecting its real user reviews to help you analyze how its sound quality, settings and functions, and whether it is worth buying.
Item Package Dimensions(LxWxH):6.73 x 5.39 x 2.72 inches
Package Weight:0.44 Kilograms
Item Dimensions(LxWxH):5.3 x 3.7 x 6.7 inches
Item Weight:0.83 Pounds
Brand Name:Aftershokz
Material:Plastic
Suggested Users:Unisex-adult
Number of Items:1
Manufacturer:AfterShokz
Style:Classic
Size:1 Count (Pack of 1)
Sport Type:Swimming
Internal Storage:4G
Waterproof Rating:IP68
Product name:Xtrainerz Price: $149.95
Rating: 4.4 Where to buy: Amazon or official website.
User review 1:
User:Chris Nation:United States
“Perfect headphones for what I needed. Listen to music while swimming under water. These are very comfortable and the sound quality is amazing when you go under water. They sound great out of the water too, but for some reason when swimming it just sounds perfect. Great battery life and charges quickly.
I did find out that the headphones don't like 24bit flac files, but I just converted mine to 16bit flac. 4GB of space is plenty especially if you convert songs to MP3. If you need headphones for swimming under water, get these!”
User review 2:
User:arvind ramanjooloo Nation:United States
“The Bass underwater with this device is plain amazing !! Amazed at how the boom accentuates once you plunge your head into the water ; it's like magic ! I already own a Sony walkman for swimming, but this Aftershokz is miles away in terms of sound quality under water and built as well. It's like swimming with a boombox underwater ; even swimmers around me were like ''where the hell is this sound coming from ?!?'' ;)
I just regret i didn't order 2 of these ! 1 as spare... :(
Btw : don't plan to use it out of water if Bass is a must in the music you listen ; you won't get any or nearly in open air....”
User review 3:
User:Dan Haley Nation:United States
“(you are under water!). But it so far surpasses any in-ear “swimming” headphones I’ve tried that the comparison isn’t really fair. They are great. And then... they broke. For no apparent reason. One day they were working perfectly, the next, suddenly, the right side was dangling limply from an apparently broken frame. Since contact with the face is essential for these to conduct “sound,” they are immediately useless. Since I only used them six times (maybe), and since they are marketed and intended for active use, their fragility is surprising and disappointing. I’ve written to customer service and will update this review if I get a replacement pair... quickly.”
User review 4:
User:Jessica Kinney Nation:United States
“They do not Bluetooth. Very misleading. Im stuck with useless headphones I spent way too much on. This is the only pair that like its the 90's you have to hook up to a to a computer and download MP3. Don't waste your money.”
User review 5:
User:CG Nation:United States
“These bone conducting swimming headphones are great! I purchased a pair after seeing someone else with them. They are very clear sounding and easy to use. I would definitely recommend using them with goggles or a swim cap, because they do need something to help secure them to your head. Maybe something to include in the listing? Otherwise, great product and amazing value.”
User review 6:
User:A. Tamburello Nation:United States
“I've owned several bone conduction headphones for swimming over the years, though have taken a few years off from using them because I either found them uncomfortable, difficult to put on, or found it difficult to keep them in place. I tried XtrainerZ because a friend of mine recommended it and I found a great deal on it at a local store. This product, after testing, I will confidently say is the best swimming headset I've ever owned. It took a solid two hours to charge up, but while that was happening I transferred songs. You can't mess up the connection to the (proprietary, one of only a few cons) charging cable. It supports all the major file formats (including MP3 and AAC) and transferring songs is a simple drag and drop. The controls are minimalistic, but not too minimalistic, and make sense to use.
It tells you when you turn it on the amount of charge remaining. It is a piece of cake to put them on, as it should be, and they do not get in the way of a cap and goggles. Here's the most important part of the review: they stay in place when you are swimming. It is easy to forget that they are there. The sound is really very good. In "swimming" mode, it sounds better under water, so you hear some variation when you come up for air, but not much, and it does not detract from the music too much. I am curious if wearing (the included) ear plugs would improve that variation, but I really don't like ear plugs.
I am super happy with this purchase.”
User review 7:
User:Auberon Nation:Canada
“Did some research and decided on the AfterShokz for my swimming headphones. I am definitely satisfied with my purchase! They are pricey, almost a little too pricey for what they are, but they do work very well under water and I was having trouble finding anything else that I thought would be worth the money. They stay on well and don't feel uncomfortable at all. I like that there is a general mode and an underwater mode. I can definitely hear the difference between the two. Sound quality is quite good considering what these are used for. I've used them when I have forgotten my standard headphones at work. Don't expect a lot of bass or anything, obviously... but I knew not to going into this. I think they are really great swimming headphones and I am pleased! Customer service is top-knotch, too!
Edut* having had these for nearly a year now, I think my review was almost a little harsh. As long as you know that this style of headphone is different from the rest and therefore your expectations must be flexible, this is an amazing set. Since I last wrote this review (I used them swimming in a pool and in calm shallow ocean water prior) I came home from my work trip out-of-town and used them while dipping into the Pacific Ocean just a 10 minute walk from my home. I’ve never been disappointed with these headphones in the water. The waves were crashing against me and they stayed put on my head (obviously you have to be aware and careful) but I just want to say these really are cool, innovative, have lasted well and again, customer service was absolutely fantastic.”
User review 8:
User:Hannah Edwards Nation:United Kingdom
“These bad boys far exceeded my expectations and then some! I mean you can barely feel them on your head, which can be a little disconcerting, i tried them for the first time today, but i didn't have the confidence to try them without a swim cap on, however that is purely down to how ridiculously light they are.
You put them on not really sure what to expect, tap the button to turn them on then tap the other button to turn on swimming mode, i didnt really notice much difference until i stuck my head in the water and then BOOOM the magic happens. Its louder with your head in the water than out! Having music to swim to increased my timing and speed. With their design you don't need to worry about ear buds falling out your ears, or music being too muffled from the waterproofing. You could easily listen to a podcast on these things. I am absolutely in love with these.
There is a downside that you can't use the likes of play music/itunes on here and there is no bluetooth (which doesn't really work with water anyway) you connect to your computer with usb cable and drag and drop mp3's into the folder. I discovered loads of mp3's in my amazon music account from previous cd's etc i'd bought.
Are they pricey? Absolutely. But oh my days i can't describe how fantastic these little things are. If you get the opportunity and feel the urge (and are a regular swimmer bored to tears swimming laps) you really should buy them. You won't regret it!”
User review 9:
User:Yen Nation:Canada
“I bought these on discount for $150 CAD and these are absolute gamechangers! I used to get bored after swimming for 30 minutes but now I regularly swim for 1-1.5 hours while listening to music; they have done wonders in terms of motivating me to swim for longer. The headphones are comfortable and they've never fallen off. Sound quality is quite good; I sometimes use them as my mp3 player while on land, too. My only warning is that it might be difficult to listen to audio books while swimming, with all the water splashes/turns, etc., but I think these are perfect for listening to music!”
User review 10:
User:maragirl Nation:Canada
“I have been looking for a swimming mp3 that could withstand training, and the elements. While these headphones are light weight, seem durable in the water, and have beautiful sound, the battery life is terrible. After a full charge, 1 hour and 10 minutes into a run, it starts saying 'charge me', and then died. This is truly disappointing! My search continues for a lightweight mP3 that can withstand the elements and has a significant battery life for training. Disappointing!”
Through the real user review of Aftershokz xtrainerz MP3 Swimming Headphones, it can be seen that it is a good audio product for swimming.However, its disadvantages are also obvious. Its price is a little too high,and it is an MP3 headphone without Bluetooth mode, which means that it is inconvenient for you to use it in daily life and there are few applicable scenarios.If you want to listen to any audio you want during swimming or daily exercise, a pair of swimming headphones with both Bluetooth mode and MP3 mode is a good choice. If you want to find a headphone that has equivalent performance but more cost-effective, Wissonly Hi Runnerbone conduction headphone is a good substitute.
The first thing to consider about swimming headphones is undoubtedly the waterproof level.Although the name of Wissonly Hi Runner is Hi Runner, it also has an IPX8 waterproof rating higher than the industry standard, which allows it to work normally during swimming and diving,which it is a swimming headphone that deserves its name.
Hi Runner uses a 5.0 Bluetooth chip for smoother connectivity.However,when you use Bluetooth mode while swimming, because there is still a certain distance between the connected device and the headset,so the connection may be poor and the sound will be intermittent.Don't worry,Hi Runner equipped with 32G built-in storage, which can store 5000 songs, and supports two working modes of Bluetooth and MP3. In the scene of underwater sports or without a mobile phone, you can completely use it as a Bluetooth MP3 player.
When it comes to fit and comfort, the Wissonly Hi Runner features an adjustable aerospace-grade titanium frame that can accommodate different head sizes and also works well with swimming glasses and swimming caps, ensuring a stable fit. The headphone surface is made of high-tech, low-sensitivity silicone material, free from any chemical components, to avoid allergic reactions. The overall feel of the headphones is as smooth as a baby's skin, preventing discomfort during extended wear. Moreover, weighing less than 30g, they are lightweight and won't feel burdensome. In addition, the design of the Hi Runner bone conduction headphone is open-ear, which means that swimmers can wear earplugs to protect their ears while swimming with headphones. This intimate design makes swimmers' ears cleaner,less susceptible and better sound quality to infection while swimming.
It is a headphone that needs to be charged,so you may worry about whether its battery life is strong enough.Its battery life is very strong, it can be used continuously for 10 hours, and it supports magnetic fast charging,which takes only 2 hours to fully charge.As a result, it is able to accompany the swimmer throughout the swim.
Its price is $99.99, which is the most cost-effective product among swimming headphones with the same performance. Generally speaking, it is a powerful and cost-effective swimming bone conduction headphone.