Those of you on the MWS Companion newsletter list would have recently been asked to give me some motivation to get off my butt and move it, move it! I’m very bad at sticking to any form of exercise routine, simply because I get bored, or there’s always something else more interesting to do… that involves me sitting around on my butt.
But as I’ve also told you early in the year, I’ve taken up swimming again. The problem with swimming however (I can always find a problem, trust me) is that it gets boring doing laps. Unlike running or gym work, you can’t listen to anything while you swim. Or can you?
Introducing the Underwater Audio Waterproof Swimbuds Earphones and Syryn Waterproof MP3 player for use in the pool! I was offered by Underwater Audio to try these and see how I liked them, and truth be told, I leaped at the opportunity. Here was the answer to my pool boredom! Or so I hoped!
On the website, I see that the waterproof Syryn Mp3 aren’t offered anymore, and instead they now offer only the waterproof ipod shuffle. But you can still find it on Amazon. If you are in the USA, you have the option of sending in your own ipod shuffle for them to waterproof.
I received the waterproof Syryn MP3 8GB player together with a set of swimbuds sport earphones with a selection of different earbud tips. I like that they offered different varieties in different sizes, so you can pick the one that suits you best or that you find most comfortable. It all comes in a very handy, zip-around, sturdy case.
I started out using the tree earbud tips in the smallest size. They are very soft silicone, and you insert it into your ear. But I found even the smallest size quite uncomfortable, and it tended to let water in. I then switched to the fin style earbud which I now prefer. Unless I don’t fit it properly, or it comes loose, it lets in less water, and the sound is clearer.
I can’t deny that the first day I put these Underwater Audio waterproof swimbuds and MP3 player to the test, I was quite worried. I didn’t want to fry my ears, and I wasn’t quite sure if they’d actually work. I mean, we all know that you don’t bring electronic gadgets anywhere near water, right?!
As it turns out however, it works like a charm! I kid you not. If you have ever stopped swimming due to boredom from doing laps in the pool, this gadget will be your saviour!
I don’t really listen to music, so I downloaded some podcasts. I kept them to about 25-30 minutes, so I know that when the podcast ends, it’s time for me to get out, thankfully! LOL! The audio is clear if you don’t get water in your ears, and it’s quite easy to forward or rewind from one podcast to the next. You can’t see what you’re listening to, because there’s no screen, but I’m fine with it, as I just keep a handful on the MP3 player, and delete as I go along.
It’s also easy to download music or audio files into the Syryn MP3 player. I just drag and drop from one folder to the other. If you pick the iPod option, then you’ll need iTunes (which is why I didn’t pick the iPod!) While I can shuffle along, it’s worth noting that you can’t really stop midway through a podcast or audiobook and hope to pick it up the next time. It just doesn’t happen that way as the forward and rewind buttons jump from file to file, not within a file.
There is a bit of technique involved to wearing it the swimbud earphones and MP3 player, so I’ll just share some tips based on my experience.
- I find that it is easier to wear my MP3 player clipped to the back of my goggles, and a swimming cap helps hold it in place better. For the iPod, I believe it should be the same.
- You can also clip the player to the strap of your swimsuit, which I did the first time around, but I prefer it on the back of my head (because I also feel that keeping it periodically out of the water is better? I dunno LOL!)
- The wires for the earbuds are quite short, which is perfect so you don’t get entangled in them. But tuck the dangly bits under your goggle strap, and it stays out of the way. If you want to use these outside of the pool (yes you can!) they provide an extension cable as well.
- For the swimbuds earbuds, there is a bit of technique to inserting them for best effect and for least water going in. There is a piece of paper with instructions included, but basically, you have to lift your ear at the top, insert the earbud and then adjust it to be sure it sits comfortably.
- A swimming cap pulled over the earbuds help them stay in place better too.
When you get out of the pool, be sure to shake off the excess water from the player, and to remove the earbud tips and then shake out the earbuds to dislodge any water that might have gone inside. There are ample instructions included, so just be sure to take a look.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to try these, because I didn’t know they existed! But it’s a great invention, especially for swimmers, who’d like to break the boredom in the pool. It helps me stop counting laps and wishing it was all over, because I know I’d have done 25-30 minutes each time. Now, I just need more podcasts to listen to! :D
IN A NUTSHELL
The Underwater Audio Waterproof iPod or MP3 players and Swimbuds are the perfect gadgets for swimmers. They help break the boredom while doing laps in the pool, and it really does work underwater! I’ve been using mine for almost 2 months now, fairly regularly, and Underwater Audio sells replacement earbud tips for the ones you use most often.
PROS: Useful gadget for swimmers who get bored doing laps in the pool, Lets you listen to music or audio while in the pool as it’s waterproof
CONS: Rather pricey, Only available online
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who gets bored doing laps in the pool and who wishes they could listen to music while doing their pool exercises
PRICE: iPod shuffle + Swimbuds earphones bundle starts at US$139.99
WHERE TO BUY: Underwater Audio website (ships internationally) Amazon
It’s quite small and nifty, and I often get strange looks from people at the pool who are probably thinking I’m stark raving bonkers, for putting on earphones before I get into the pool LOL! Definitely one to make people turn heads coz you don’t often see electronic gadgets IN a pool :D
Do you have any podcasts to recommend that I listen to?
I don’t know if any of you have come across this, but it’s one to put on your wishlist if you’re a swimmer. If you know of any others, let me know too! Or better yet, what else I can listen to :)
Paris B
I don’t have a podcast to recommend (maybe the odd BFM89.9 recording here and there) since I tend to prefer music to zone out.
But I was going to recommend my own underwater gadget for swimming – huge fan of the waterproof Sony ones. A wee bit smaller and can take a serious bashing – I know because it always ends up at the bottom of my swim bag, getting seriously pounded by my shampoo bottle!
On a separate note, what’s your beauty routine like, after the pool? Between the sunblock and the chlorine… UGH.
I realised I couldn’t do music, coz I don’t really listen to any (except the radio), and I don’t know where to download from! LOL! Ya I’m a bit ulu :P Oh yes the Sony, I remember you telling me about it! I didn’t get round to getting one for reasons I cannot remember, but I’ll certainly bear it in mind should anything happen to these *touchwood*. As for my beauty routine? Erm…. I usually swim in the evening, and then I have my shower, and do my nightly routine, with a double cleanse, or perhaps a mask. Lucky enough not to have to trudge to a gym :)
I’ve been using Sony Walkman Waterproof Sport MP3 Player for swimming for years and I love it so much. The sound quality is awesome, though water does get into the earbuds sometimes. Without it, I’ll get bored after 10mins, with this on, I can swim nonstop for almost an hour!
An hour! Good job! I’m struggling past the half hour mark, but I promised myself I’ll keep pushing. Just have to get into my stride you know. And I’ll definitely bear the Sony in mind should anything happen to these! I remember there are 2 versions of the Sony, one slightly more affordable than the other – do you know if there’s a difference?
Not so sure about the difference, I think it has to do with the memory size and the waterproof depth. The one I got is the cheapest version if I’m not mistaken.
Thanks! I was wondering hence I didn’t dare take the plunge before. Now I know, I can keep a look out for the cheap one when it goes on offer ;)
Have you compared the 2? I’ve used Sony ones for years and will need a new set soon. I would like to try these as the reviews seem fab but reluctant to move away from what I know lol
Ohhhhh I really really need this !!!
Ah a swimmer too? :D It does help with the boredom, seriously. And if you have a repository of music you enjoy, it’s even better
I don’t swim for the fear of sunlight, I do exercise at the gym listening to podcasts or audiobooks. I prefer mystery / horror genres and I often gasp when I get surprised by parts of the stories.
I download them using the music application Spotify which I paid premium every month, and find my audiobook with Overdrive apps that I have to login with local library membership.
Usually I will get a good hour or two of gym listening to good podcasts / books.
Ah but in the gym, you can download things like Spotify onto the phone right? I’m not sure how that works for an MP3 player? that said, I’ve never used Spotify (I know, where have I been!) so I’ll have to look it up and see if it’s possible to actually transfer the music to a device. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
I guess if you can download Spotify to that device, you should be able to access it. If not then you would be better off just downloading music files to the device directly.
Yep, I think downloading directly is the best way to go. Where to find the MP3 however, is the bigger problem LOL! ;)