Shokz OpenSwim Pro

The OpenSwim Pro is built first and foremost for movement. Its open-ear bone conduction design sits comfortably in front of your ears, leaving your ear canals free so you can still hear your surroundings, your coach, or traffic when running outdoors. The flexible titanium neckband and soft silicone contact points create a secure fit that stays put through flip turns, sprints, and long training sessions without pinching or slipping.

At just around 27 g, it feels light enough to forget you are wearing it, yet robust enough for daily pool use and outdoor workouts. Physical buttons give clear tactile feedback, so you can control volume, tracks, and calls even with wet hands or while wearing swim goggles. For athletes who want a no-fuss, durable design that pairs easily with caps, goggles, and helmets, this build quality is a major advantage over fragile in-ear buds.

Waterproof performance and IP68 rating

Where many “water-resistant” headphones fail, the OpenSwim Pro is engineered to truly go underwater. With an IP68 rating, it is tested to withstand submersion up to 2 meters for 2 hours, making it suitable for serious lap swimming and open-water training. The triple-sealed body and waterproof microphone system are designed to keep water out while maintaining clear audio and call quality in wet conditions.

This level of protection means you do not need to baby the headphones at the poolside or worry about sweat, rain, or accidental drops in water. The IP68 certification also gives confidence for triathlon use, where transitions from swim to bike to run can be harsh on electronics. For Kenyan swimmers and multisport athletes, that genuine underwater durability is a key reason to choose OpenSwim Pro over standard sport earbuds that only claim splash resistance.

Sound quality and bone conduction technology

Shokz equips the OpenSwim Pro with its latest 8th Generation Bone Conduction and PremiumPitch 2.0+ technology, which delivers noticeably richer sound, stronger bass, and clearer mids than earlier bone conduction models. Instead of firing sound into your ear canal, the transducers vibrate through your cheekbones directly to your inner ear, creating an immersive experience while keeping your ears open to ambient noise.

Reviewers have noted that sound can feel fuller and more present underwater, where bone conduction works especially well in the dense medium of water. On land, the open-ear signature provides a natural, spacious sound that is great for running, cycling, and gym sessions where situational awareness matters. While it will not match the isolation of noise-canceling in-ears, the trade-off is safer, more comfortable listening that still delivers satisfying music and podcast quality for training and daily use.

Bluetooth 5.4, 32GB MP3 storage, and battery life

One of the OpenSwim Pro’s biggest selling points is its dual-mode operation. On land, it works as a modern Bluetooth 5.4 headset, pairing with your phone for calls, music, and apps with a reliable range of up to 10 meters. Underwater, where Bluetooth signals cannot travel, you switch to built-in MP3 mode and play directly from the 32GB internal storage, which holds roughly 8,000 songs in multiple formats.

Battery life is excellent for long training blocks and travel days: up to 9 hours in Bluetooth mode and 6 hours in MP3 mode, with a quick charge feature that gives about 3 hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging. The magnetic 4-pin charger is easy to align even with wet fingers, and a full charge takes around 90 minutes. For users who want one device for pool sessions, runs, commutes, and calls, this combination of offline storage, modern Bluetooth, and long battery makes the OpenSwim Pro a highly versatile choice.