Where are all the waterproof headphones?

At a time when our smartphones can survive a dunk in the pool and our smartwatches can handle deep-sea diving, there’s a curious gap in the market: waterproof over-ear headphones. Even more puzzling, nearly every pair of true wireless earbuds on the market, from budget to flagship models, comes with a standardized IP rating for water and dust resistance. Yet, pull up any of our reviews on flagship headphones, and you’ll find a conspicuous absence of these same ratings.

Manufacturers have figured out how to protect smaller devices from sweat and rain. So why can’t you find a pair of premium over-ear headphones that can handle your sweaty workout or survive an unexpected downpour?

A market missing its moment

The demand certainly exists. Browse any audio forum or Reddit thread, and you’ll find users searching for this elusive combination: premium sound quality, active noise cancelation, and water resistance in an over-ear format. People seem willing to pay premium prices, yet the market offers surprisingly few options.

As such, most users end up compromising, either wearing out their headphones more rapidly by wearing them in poor weather or at the gym or adopting a two-device solution —  wireless earbuds designed for working out and over-ear headphones for everything else.

While over-ear headphones can work well for certain gym activities like weight lifting, their size and mass create practical limitations for high-movement activities. Even with perfect water resistance, the physics of having large, relatively heavy devices on your ears makes them impractical for activities like running or intense cardio, where they’re likely to shift and bounce. This is another reason why many users prefer earbuds for athletic activities, regardless of water resistance.

The engineering puzzle

Understanding the market gap starts with a crucial distinction: water-resistant versus waterproof products. This difference is standardized through IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, which indicate exactly what level of water exposure a device can handle safely. Most over-ear headphones aim for water resistance rather than true waterproofing, and understanding why requires looking at some fundamental design challenges.

The scarcity of truly waterproof over-ear headphones isn’t just about engineering priorities – it’s rooted in fundamental design challenges. This challenge becomes clearer when we compare headphones to earbuds: while earbuds can achieve impressive IP ratings through relatively simple methods — primarily using tight ear canal seals and liberal application of waterproof adhesives — over-ear headphones face more complex obstacles.

The first and most significant challenge lies in the drivers themselves. Over-ear headphones typically use 40-50mm drivers that require careful ventilation for proper bass response and overall sound quality. While water-resistant designs can protect against splashes and light rain, achieving true waterproofing would require completely sealing these vents – which would significantly compromise audio performance.

There’s also a practical limitation that often gets overlooked: Bluetooth signals don’t work underwater. This means that unless headphones have onboard storage for music, making them fully waterproof for submersion would serve no practical purpose – they simply wouldn’t be able to receive audio signals while submerged. This is why truly waterproof audio devices designed for swimming, like bone conduction headphones, typically include built-in storage for music.

For over-ear headphones, achieving true waterproofing isn’t just technically challenging – it’s often unnecessary. Most manufacturers opt for water-resistant designs instead, using techniques like water-repellent coatings and sealed joints to protect against moisture while preserving audio performance. This approach better matches how people actually use over-ear headphones in real-world conditions.

These engineering challenges haven’t stopped manufacturers from trying to create more water-resistant options, though results have been mixed.

Past attempts and current solutions

The market hasn’t been completely devoid of attempts. Several manufacturers have tried to solve this challenge with varying degrees of success. The Plantronics BackBeat FIT 6100 stood out as a promising solution, offering an IPX5 rating specifically for workout use. It featured an adjustable headband for a tighter fit during vigorous workouts and an impressive 27-hour battery life. However, like many water-resistant headphones, it sacrificed some sound quality, with heavy bass that tended to mask other frequencies.

More recently, the Under Armour Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones by JBL attempted to combine premium features with workout durability. These IPX4-rated headphones offered noise cancelation and an extensive battery life of over 41 hours. They even included practical features like removable ear pads for easy maintenance. Yet again, the sound signature favored heavy bass over accuracy.

Interestingly, some users report that popular headphones like Sony’s WH-1000X series can handle light rain and sweat better than their lack of IP rating suggests. However, neither we nor the manufacturers endorse such use.

The bone conduction solution

While traditional headphone manufacturers struggle with water resistance, one category of audio devices has cracked the code: bone conduction headphones. Models like the Shokz OpenSwim Pro achieve what seems impossible for traditional headphones — complete waterproofing that’s robust enough for swimming.

The secret lies in their fundamentally different approach to delivering sound. Instead of using traditional speakers that require careful acoustic engineering and ventilation, bone conduction headphones transmit sound through your cheekbones, leaving your ears completely open. This elegant solution sidesteps many of the engineering challenges that plague traditional headphones — no driver ventilation to seal, no acoustic chambers to protect, and no absorbent ear cushions to worry about.

With IP68 ratings becoming standard in this category, bone conduction headphones have become the go-to choice for swimmers and extreme sports enthusiasts. However, this solution comes with clear trade-offs. Bone conduction technology can’t match the sound quality of traditional headphones, particularly in bass response and overall richness. They also don’t offer noise cancelation, making them less suitable for noisy environments.

Looking forward

For now, consumers adapt by juggling multiple devices: water-resistant earbuds for workouts and traditional headphones for everyday use. But with engineering solutions advancing and consumer expectations for durability rising, the question isn’t whether over-ear headphones that can withstand water will arrive but when manufacturers will decide the time is right. Given the ubiquity of water resistance in earbuds and the persistent demand for more durable over-ears, that moment might be closer than we think.

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