While many headphones and earbuds claim to be waterproof, a deeper look into their IPX rating (measuring water protection) often reveals ratings like IPX-4 for sweat resistance or light mist (IPX-5 if you're lucky). However, finding truly waterproof headphones with an IPX-8 rating is rare. That's where H2O Audio Tri Pro Multi-Sport open-ear headphones come in. These headphones utilize bone conduction audio and feature a slim speaker design, eliminating the bulkiness of older bone conduction models. They are incredibly versatile and suitable for various sports without compromising on music quality.
One standout feature of the Tri Pro Multi-Sport headphones is their ability to store up to 8 GB of music with Playlist+. This means you can enjoy music without relying on Bluetooth streaming, which can be unreliable or non-existent underwater.
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Price:
While we wouldn’t necessarily call these inexpensive, for what you are getting they are very reasonably priced. Coming in at $179.99 (currently on sale for $159.99 Amazon and h2oaudio.com). These are more than just bone conduction headphones, these are 100% waterproof, stream music with or without your phone, and safely hear your surroundings to name a couple of key features.
Setup and Fit:
Setup is easy and gives you multiple ways to take advantage of your music. First, just pair with your phone or watch of choice (iOS or Android) through Bluetooth. Playlist+ is a throw back to when creating mix tapes or burned CD’s, you are able to record from your headphones the audio that is coming through then bring that podcast or music with you later. Or latest, take advantage of the full 8GB of your own music, just download their free App and manage your music as you see fit.
The fit is no different than other bone conduction headphones, the loop is placed over the ears while the speaker is placed right infant of you ears, almost siting where you cheek and jaw bone come together. They are very light weight and comfortable to wear, we didn’t experience any discomfort or having the headphones come off during testing.
Sound Quality:
I found the sound quality to be better than average and exceeded my expectations for bone conduction. To be completely honest, I tried some of the first bone conductions headphones to hit the market and sound quality has come a LONG way. There are some trades off, that I find with bone conduction, but the most important aspects are there. Overall the sound is bright, vocals and miss are clearly defined. I did have some troubles with low end sound (bass), there were some songs that the bass was very muddy while others were clear and not overpowering. That could be due to the audio file itself, but overall a bit lacking on the low end. One thing we found during our testing, if the headphones are not placed just right, you can get some jittering in the sound, but easily fixable with a quick repositioning. When using these for swimming we suggest using a swim cap to help secure them in place, it will help.
Safety:
One of the biggest positives to bone conducting headphones, including these, is the safety aspect. Being able to hear your surroundings, who is coming up behind you on the trail or the traffic behind you, is unmatched with any in ear headphones.
Battery Life:
H2O Audio claims the battery life to be about 5 hours of playback on a fully charged set of Tri Pro Multi-Sport headphones, with an approximate 2 hours to fully charge via USB to their proprietary connection. During testing, we came up just short of the 5 hours, but it wasn’t a continuous playback, turning them on and off after each 30-45 minute workout. The battery indicatory is spoken to you after you turn them on. We did have a pair die during a run, where we were promoted that the battery was low and needing to be recharged. We’d love to see a bit more battery life especially on those really long rides.
Case & Accessories:
No case needed for these. In the box came the open ear bone conducting headphones, proprietary connection via USB, a set of ear plugs (to reduce water noise while swimming), and neck band for added security (if needed).
Who Are These For?:
These headphones are extremely versatile and really can be used across several if not all sports; Running, Cycling, Swimming (100% waterproof), Snowboarding, Surfing, other water sports, etc. With an average 5 hours of battery life, these should get anyone through a solid day of outdoors. We found that battery life varied slightly depending on volume levels, just something to keep in mind.
Bonus Feature:
Playlist+ is one of those features that really separates these from everyone else in this category. Think of this as creating your own mixed tape or burned CD. You can listen and record music, podcasts, language lessons, etc while at home and then be able to play them back right from the Tri Pro Multi-Sport headphones without having to bring your phone and connect via Bluetooth.
Outside of Playlist+, you can also just take advantage of the onboard 8 GB of storage and load your favorite playlist for playback. Leave your phone behind and just enjoy what you're doing while listening to your favorite music.
Testing:
Comparable to the Shokz OpenSwim, that are also waterproof, we used our H20 Audio Tri Multi-Sport waterproof open ear headphones in several uses; running, cycling and swimming.
I do a lot of different types of training; swimming, biking, and varieties of different runs and the H2O Audio Tri Pros are truly amazing! Love hearing my music as well as my surroundings.
Things We Liked:
"Having the ability to seamlessly keep my music going during my triathlon training is amazing. Plus not being tethered to my phone and just loading my favorite songs directly onto the Tri PRO, that way I didn't need to worry about ONE more device during my workouts."
"Some of my long swims can get boring going back and forth in the pool, but being able to listen to music makes those sessions go by much quicker"
"I don't run with my phone, so it nice to see I can just load my songs and hit the road"
Areas of Improvement:
"Would love to see some adjustability in the headphones, as I don't swim with a cap and found it cumbersome to secure"
"If not placed just right, there can be some jittering just from the sound vibrations, but can be easily fixed with a quick adjustment."
Conclusion
The H2O Audio Tri Pro Multi-Sport open-ear headphones represent a significant leap forward in waterproof audio technology. The use of bone conduction audio and a sleek speaker design not only enhances comfort but also eliminates the bulkiness associated with older models of bone conduction headphones.
What makes the Tri Pro Multi-Sport headphones truly versatile is their adaptability across various sports, providing a seamless music experience without the need to constantly adjust settings. The inclusion of Playlist+ with a storage capacity of up to 8 GB further enhances convenience, allowing users to enjoy their favorite tunes without relying on potentially unreliable Bluetooth connections, especially underwater.
For athletes and outdoor enthusiasts seeking durable, high-quality waterproof headphones that can keep up with their active lifestyle, the H2O Audio Tri Pro Multi-Sport headphones are a standout choice. With their combination of advanced technology, versatility, and reliability, these headphones set a new standard for immersive audio experiences in challenging environments.
Check Out The Tri Pro Multi-Sport with Playlist+ on Amazon
Check Out The Tri Pro Multi-Sport with Playlist+ on H20Audio.com
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Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.