Swim headphones: The key to perfection or total compromise

For those who, like me, cannot move an inch without music—especially during exercise—it’s clear that swimming, despite the calming silence everyone talks about, can be rather dull. The membership fee is steep, the pool is filled with chlorine, and it's freezing in winter. Yet, the results yield a beautiful body, so I had to find a solution. I quickly concluded that the only thing that could motivate me to keep swimming would be to get headphones that allow me to listen to music or, heaven forbid, a podcast underwater. Until now, I’ve been counting laps and waiting for it to end, but give me something interesting to listen to, and I’m a hyperactive dolphin.

But where to find swim headphones? One day, I arrived at the office, and a colleague introduced me to his new Mojawe headphones, complete with a glowing recommendation. He claimed they are stable, durable, do not fall out, are comfortable, water-resistant, offer good sound, and feature technology I wasn't familiar with: “bone conduction.”

This relatively new technology in the audio field provides a completely different experience from what we’re used to with regular headphones. Instead of transmitting sound directly into the ear, bone conduction headphones send sounds through the cheekbones or jaw. The music travels through vibrations directly to the inner ear without entering the ear canal.

The Big Advantage? Your ears remain open, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music while staying aware of your surroundings. This means you can run, cycle, or simply stroll while listening to music and still hear what's happening around you—an important safety feature that also provides a sense of freedom.

Advantages of Mojawe Headphones

Comfort During Extended Use: One common complaint about regular headphones is that they can put pressure on the ear canal over time. With Mojawe’s bone conduction headphones, this is not the case. They rest on the cheekbones, above the ears, providing exceptional comfort even during extended use—whether at the gym, running, or just for everyday listening.

Safety: This is one of the most notable benefits of bone conduction headphones. The open listening design allows you to stay connected to your surroundings, enhancing your sense of security—especially when running in public spaces, cycling, or engaging in other activities where awareness is essential.

Health: Regular headphones can cause hearing damage when used at high volumes for extended periods since sounds directly enter the eardrum. In contrast, bone conduction headphones bypass the eardrum and reduce the risk of hearing damage. This makes them a safer choice for daily use, especially for children or those aware of the potential harms of regular headphones.

Good Battery Life and Water Resistance: Mojawe headphones are designed for an active lifestyle, boasting high water and sweat resistance (IP68 rating), making them perfect for swimmers, runners, and cyclists. The long battery life (up to 8 hours out of water and 2 hours underwater at depths of up to 2 meters) allows for worry-free usage.

Bluetooth Connectivity and MP3 Storage: The headphones include stable Bluetooth connectivity that easily pairs with a smartphone or any other compatible device, along with 32GB of internal storage that allows for playlists and songs for offline listening—a significant advantage for those who want to enjoy music while swimming in the pool, without the need for a constant connection to a smartphone.

Diving into the Pool—How Was It?

I started off easy—connecting them to my phone, which I left near the pool, and preparing to swim while listening to a Spotify playlist. I encountered a challenge: every time my head went underwater, the Bluetooth disconnected because the technology doesn’t transmit well through water. The moment the headphones sank even slightly, the connection dropped. My conclusion was straightforward—when it comes to swimming, forget Bluetooth. The best way to utilize the headphones is through the internal music storage, ensuring a completely seamless listening experience without internet access, a phone, or any favors.

And Here Comes the Major Downside

It’s impossible to download entire playlists from Spotify or YouTube, and downloading song by song is a nightmare like no other. For this review, I downloaded about 40 songs, and it reminded me of the 1980s. Sorry, but it’s unreasonable that in this advanced wireless age, I’m forced to download song by song from YouTube. Enough is enough. I have an idea that I believe would be a game-changer for Mojawe and their customers: ready-made playlists available for direct download from their website. This is a cheap and simple solution that would save users a lot of time, especially while swimming or engaging in outdoor activities where streaming services can’t be used. A few playlists in various styles available for free or at a ‘subsidized’ price for customers who purchase the headphones would solve this issue effortlessly and encourage headphone sales, not to mention add value, foster brand loyalty, satisfaction, and word-of-mouth recommendations. I’m sure there’s a possibility to strike a deal with Spotify or Echo 99 to address this issue, which stands between buying the headphones and achieving a perfect experience versus total compromise.

Price: NIS 649. To purchase, click here.