Naenka Runner Diver Sport headphones review: High fidelity audio and waterproof

Listening to music is an essential part of training for me. It’s hard to get into the zone and put in the time if I don’t have uplifting tracks that motivate me. Swimming is a bit of a dilemma because headphones and water don’t usually mix. Cue the Naenka Runner Diver Bone Conduction Sport Headset. These IPX8 waterproof headphones have an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours and are designed for all sports in and out of the water. They can be worn while swimming, surfing and even snorkeling (up to five meters). They have 16GB of storage, so you can download your favorite tunes and listen to them while you work out without a phone.

The Naenka Runner Diver Bone Conduction Sport Headphones are available on Amazon for $158 and on Naenka’s website for $170. The purchase comes with the bone conduction headphones, a pair of earplugs, and a magnetic charging cable.

Naenka Runner Diver Sport Headphones: What sounds good

I have reviewed many different types of headphones, but these are my first waterproof headphones designed for swimmers. The Naenka Runner Diver headphones have an IPX8 waterproof rating and can be submerged up to five meters. I love swimming and was thrilled to be able to listen to music while doing laps in the pool. These headphones did not disappoint. They sound amazing underwater, even better than they do out of water.

They use a 16mm vibrating speaker and bone conduction technology. Bone conduction headphones have earbuds that sit in front of the ear, on the cheekbone. They transmit sound waves through the user’s skull bones instead of their ear canal. They’re great for outdoor activities like running, where you want to listen to music while staying aware of your surroundings, and they sound fantastic underwater, with minimal noise leakage.

Out of the water, the highs and midlines stand out clearly, but the bass is a little soft for my taste. Underwater, these have a rich, amplified and well-balanced sound. I am very impressed with the quality of the underwater sound. I had a blast listening to music while swimming and splashing around the pool.

These headphones offer Bluetooth connectivity and 16 GB of internal storage, which can accommodate between 3,000 and 4,000 songs. They are compatible with MP3 and FLAC audio files, but not M4A, which is a little disappointing since most of the songs in my iTunes library are in this format.

You can switch between Bluetooth and MP3 mode by double-clicking the multifunctional power button on the left side of the earphone. The volume buttons also serve multifunctional purposes. They let you answer, reject, and hang up phone calls, play, pause, skip forward and backward, and access the voice assistant.

MP3 is the only mode that works underwater. Bluetooth connectivity went in and out for me when I tried to take it swimming. Pro tip: Make sure to disconnect your iPhone before jumping in the water, otherwise you’ll get lots of annoying interruptions of connected and disconnected voice signals while you’re trying to swim.

These headphones charge quickly and can go from 0% to 100% in an hour and a half. They offer up to 10 hours of playtime and come with a magnetic charging cable that you can connect to your laptop to download your favorite audio.

Naenka Runner Diver Sport Headphones: What doesn’t sound right

These headphones are one size, but I really wish they were adjustable. They are a bit too big for me and feel a bit loose on my ears. Another issue is that they don’t get very loud out of the water. That’s by design, as they’re meant to provide a way to listen to music while remaining aware of your surroundings. Their sound is however amplified underwater and it is of high quality.

Naenka Runner Diver Sport Headphones: Competition

The Shokz OpenSwim Bone Conduction Headphones also have an IPX8 waterproof rating and are designed for swimming. They offer 4GB of internal storage, which is minimal compared to Naenka Runner Diver’s 16GB. They’re slightly cheaper but have less internal storage and a shorter battery life of eight hours.

I reviewed the MU6 ring last year and liked its open-ear, air-conduction design. Air conduction is different from bone conduction, but they share the common goal of allowing the wearer to listen to audio while remaining aware of their surroundings. The ring is not waterproof, so no plug in the pool, nor internal storage. Like the Naenka Runner Diver headphones, they offer up to 10 hours of playtime and are half the price.

Naenka Runner Diver Sport Headphones: Should I buy it?

You should buy it if…

• You want waterproof headphones
• You want internal storage
• Looking for Bluetooth connectivity as well as MP3 mode

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You want something adjustable
• You want Bluetooth in the water

You should buy these if you want waterproof headphones. With an IPX8 waterproof rating, Naenka Runner Divers can be submerged up to five meters in fresh and salt water. They offer 16 GB of internal storage and can hold between 3,000 and 4,000 songs. They have Bluetooth connectivity for music streaming, as well as MP3 mode. You shouldn’t buy these if you want something adjustable as they are one size fits all. Also remember that only MP3 mode works in water.

4
out of 5

If you love water sports, the Naenka Runner Diver Bone Conduction Sports Headphones are a must have. They’re designed for all activities in and out of the water, but they sound better in the water. They deliver high fidelity sound while you swim and up to 10 hours of playback. Multi-function buttons are easy to use, and 16GB of internal storage lets you download all your essential audio files and more.