H2O AudioSurge+ 100% Waterproof Headphones - Noise Canceling, Sweatproof, IPX8 Swim Earbuds with Bass Boost, Multiple Earplug Sets, for Swimming, Running & Underwater Activities - Black/Blue

I bought a pair of Surges and a pair of iHip AquaVibes at the same time. The first pair of Surges had a short right out of the package, but I've been swimming with the replacment pair for a couple of weeks now (and the Surges have a 1-year warranty, so that's good). The AquaVibes work fine, but don't sound as good as the Surges -- I'm keeping the AquaVibes as a backup pair for the day the Surges stop working and I have to buy a new pair/send them in under warranty. The sound quality of the Surges is surprisingly good for a set of waterproof headphones. I've owned regular headphones and earphones that didn't sound as good, so these are definitely good enough for working out, running, etc. if you're not a swimmer.One peeve: The plug housing is straight (as opposed to being a right-angled) and really long -- a little over 2" I'd guess, not including the actual plug you insert into your player. That can make your mp3 player more difficult to fit in waterproof bags/cases and makes it more likely that the plug will be hit against things or put under pressure, thus putting strain on your player's jack. I would MUCH prefer a right-angle plug -- if not a right-angled plug, a smaller straight plug, at least.Actually, two peeves: The box is a nightmare. It takes a great deal of effort to open the box without destroying it and you must either take off the tips that come on the earphones or cut through the strip of stiff plastic that is between the seated tips and the earphones (look at a picture of the box). Really unecessary and annoying; it's like opening a puzzle box.Some people say you can't swim/swim fast with waterproof headphones. You CAN!!A primer on swimming with waterproof earbuds:1) They only work if they seal the ear canal 100%. The phones must seal out ALL water, leaving only empty air between the phone and the eardrum. If ANY water leaks in, you can't hear anything because the phones aren't powerful enough to conduct sound through water. This is the same with ALL waterproof earphones. The Surges come with five sizes of eartips; the ones that are already on the earphones worked great for me, there are two smaller sets and two larger sets. For swimming, pick the set that requires you to pull on your ear rim to insert and is borderline uncomfortable; you'll get used to it and it'll keep the water out. With five sets, EVERYONE should be able to find a pair that fits properly. I haven't had water get in once in half a dozen swims: I run the cord under, through (between the gap in back), and back around my goggle strap, carefully insert the headphones, jump in, swim laps, get out, towel off, remove headphones. Ta-da!Inserting earphones:a) Pull upward and out on the rim of your ear while inserting earphones and insert them well/far into your ear canal.b) Consider inserting the earphones with the wire pointing upward and slightly rearward and securing them/the wires in place with your goggle stap and/or a cap.2) Given 1), you must take steps to ensure that your earphones don't get jostled or tugged on. If they move or get pulled on, they will leak. Use your goggle strap, and/or another strap, and/or a cap to keep the earphones securely in place and don't mess with them or take them out once you get set up. Finding the securing routine that works for you, your player, your goggles, your ears, and your cap will take some trial and error. A waterproof cap can also cut down on the swimming noise you hear while listening to music.If the eartips fit your ears properly, all it takes is a little trial and error with your set up and you'll be swimming up a musical storm in no time. I'm guessing most people with problems either had ill-fitting tips or didn't secure the earphones with straps/caps once they seated them.

These ear-buds are so good that I gave them a five star rating even though one of the pair that I received (I’ve bought several pairs), was defective. However, the company took care of this right away, and I was back with a new pair in less than a week. The quality of sound of these is astonishing. I have been a swimmer for years, and have tried all kinds of water-proof MP3 players. I found one which is also the best on the market called the Diver, also sold on Amazon,, but as is the case with even the best players, their ear-buds were just okay, and a bit uncomfortable. So, I splurged and bought these ear-buds, and after hearing them for the first time, I felt like Dorothy walking through the grim black-and-white Kansas into the Technicolor Oz. It also showed off just how good the player was, since the sound quality was as HD as you can get. Full range, crisp highs, clear middle range, and real “woofer” type base. And of course they are water-proof as well. Because of the sound quality and comfort of these buds (they come with half a dozen different ear bud sizes, but the one supplied fits perfectly), I now can easily swim two or more hours, since they put you into another world, where you forget time and place. I have tried over a dozen other types of water-proof ear-buds, and again, none of the others come even a third of the way to the quality of these gems. They are worth every penny, and best yet, this company truly cares about their product, and are right there to help you, and take care of any problems, and totally back their products, not only through the warranty period, but way, way beyond. If you are looking for water-proof ear-buds… look no further. There are no others of this quality on the market!

After doing a little research on waterproof headphones I was very skeptical because of the varied results from users. However, as with anything, I decided to pick the item I thought to be the best and go with it to see for myself. The H2O Audio Surge 2 headphones worked as advertised and did not disappoint. It took me no longer to get setup than it did putting on my goggles. I wound the excess cord around my goggle band and clipped my waterproof iPod shuffle (another outstanding purchase!) to the band as well and off I went. The clarity was perfect for about 35 minutes when I got a little water in my left ear and the sound went out on that side, but the sound and clarity were still there in my right ear (which is the reason I gave only 4 stars). I did stop to clear the water from my left ear and the sound came back. I don't know if that is typical of all waterproof headphones, but I was happy just to hear music while I was submersed! It made my workout ten times more enjoyable than ever before and I found myself wanting to swim for another hour! My recommendation is to try out all the ear buds that come with the headphones to see which is the best fit. Typically, I wear a medium size earbud with headphones but decided to go with the small bud because it seemed to be a better fit and provided a better seal.

These lasted 4 months, then the sound in one earpiece became distorted, like the sound of a speaker that had blown out. I didn't play the music extremely loud, and I wore them only when swimming. I'm buying a different brand to replace them.