Waterproof MP3 Players for Swimmers
Posted May 8, 2008 at 05:00 PM by Denise Musumeci
Section: His Gear & Apparel, Equipment, Gadgets & Access, Reviews
Swimming is one of the most fun sports to participate in and allows you to work all of the muscles in the body. However, one of the drawbacks of being involved in underwater sports is the lack of music. If you are running, going to the gym, or practicing a sport, you can easily slip on your headphones and get lost in your own little world, but water causes most MP3 players and other audio equipment to short out or become damaged. Luckily, technology is always being developed and improved, hence waterproof audio players for swimmers.
The New York Times reports that swimmers have two options: buying an MP3 player that is designed to withstand water and drag, or investing in waterproof cases designed for the traditional iPod. Katie McClelland, a swimmer with Dallas Aquatics Masters who has broken two FINA world records, tested four waterproof players and one case-headphone combo.
The first in the New York Times slideshow online was the Aquapac MP3 case with waterproof headphones, valued at $75. The case is made out of waterproof polyurethane, which kept the iPod dry, but the iPod and case were so bulky and odd-shaped that it created a drag and caused her to become unbalanced. Also, the water resistance caused the headphones to keep falling out.
Next was the Finis SwimP3 v.2, costing $139. This unique piece of equipment was headphone-free. Vibrations off of the cheekbones, allowing McClelland to hear both her coach and her music at the same time, created the sound. McClelland reports that the sound quality was great and the shape of the MP3 player allowed her to swim at her normal pace.
The Speedo Aquabeat, $144.99, is a small device that is clipped to the goggles. The different textures of the buttons makes it easy to changes songs while you swim and the short cord on the headphones did not cause a drag
The Nu Technology Dolphin, $94.95, is so lightweight that it stays out of the way of the race. However, the small buttons on it made changing songs difficult while swimming.
Last is the Intova 256MB Waterproof MP3 Player, $36.99. Though it was lightweight, McClelland reports that it did tug while it was attached to her arm. Luckily, clipping it to her suit solved this problem. She says that the sound quality was good, however, the headphones fell out easily.
If you are a music fanatic who loves to swim, investing in a waterproof MP3 player may be right for you. Determining which type you want to get may depend on your price range, the desired amount of song memory, and how often you go swimming. If you only swim casually or just once in a while, it may be better just to get the waterproof case and headphones for your existing headphones. But, if you swim professionally or on a team, investing in a lightweight device that is strapped to your goggles may be a more desirable choice. You can find these devices and more on each company website, or by browsing on Amazon.com.
Research sources and for more information: [NY Times]