A pair of sweat-resistant earbuds is a vital piece of equipment when it comes to boosting your exercise output. Typically, people hit higher heart rates and peak power output when listening to upbeat music.
But how can you know if your earbuds can resist your sweaty workouts? If you exercise outdoors in the rain or get particularly sweaty, considering the level of sweat and splash resistance is as important as sound quality, Bluetooth connectivity, and battery life of earbuds. Ultimately, worrying about your earbuds getting wet will only ruin your training.
Sweat will affect the vibration of the diaphragm within your earbuds if they aren’t sweatproof, producing a sound of less quality. Also, it can speed up the corrosion of internal parts. To know your earbuds are sweat-resistant, you need to look for the IP (Ingress Protection) code.
Understanding the IP Ratings
Many earbuds are sweat-resistant. But what does that mean? Sweat-resistant isn’t the same as water-resistant. The first thing to look for is a device’s IP rating code. IP rating code typically consists of four characters.
The first two characters are I and P, and they stand for Ingress Protection. The third digit indicates how well the device keeps the dirt and dust out. The numbers range from zero to six, where zero means no protection and six indicates complete protection from dust ingression.
The last digit denotes the level of liquid or water resistance, ranging from one to eight. So, if you see IP68 on earbuds, you’ll know they provide the highest level of protection against both dust and liquids. We explain the details below.
- IPX1: The device is protected against water drops.
- IPX2: Water drops at a 15-degree angle or less have no harmful effect on earbuds.
- IPX3: Water sprays at any angle up to 60 degrees from the vertical won’t affect them.
- IPX4: Water splashes over 5-10 minutes won’t damage them.
- IPX5: Water projected from a small nozzle for 5 minutes won’t harm the device.
- IPX6: Water projected in a powerful jet for 1 minute won’t affect them.
- IPX7: Earbuds can endure submersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
- IPX8: The device can survive submersion in water deeper than 1 meter for more than 30 minutes.
Sweat- and splash-resistant earbuds typically have a rating from IPX4 to IPX6, and these are an excellent choice if you need earbuds for any type of workout, except for swimming. Swimming will require an IPX7 rating or higher.
Things to Watch Out For When Buying Sweat-Resistant Earbuds
Note that these ratings aren’t meant for saltwater, soda, coffee, etc. Saltwater can quickly damage any electronic device regardless of the IP rating.
Moreover, if earbuds are rated for submersion, it doesn’t mean they can also endure water jets. Earbuds should have two ratings listed if they can survive both water jets and submersion. However, most companies list only the higher rating, making it unclear what a buyer should expect.
Nonetheless, if you see an atypical rating, such as IPX-57, it either wasn’t independently tested, or it doesn’t meet the standards. You shouldn’t trust such ratings.
If the rating looks normal, but one digit is replaced with X, it means it has been tested only for one. Often, earbuds will miss the first digit because dust ingression doesn’t affect them much.
Sweatproof Does Not Mean Waterproof
A dip in the water won’t kill waterproof earbuds. Waterproof devices are usually IPX7 rated or more and will endure being immersed in water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes. That’s essential for swimmers looking for swim-safe earbuds.
On the flip side, sweatproof earbuds are usually IPX4 to IPX6 rated. That’s more than enough for anyone looking for earbuds for most types of workouts.
What if Earbuds Don't Have an IPX Rating?
If the manufacturer doesn’t provide the IP rating, you shouldn't trust their claims. You don’t have proof to see the level of water resistance they offer, even if they are water-resistant. Maybe the company didn’t want to pay for the testing, but that’s not your problem. To be on the safe side, purchase your earbuds from a trusted producer.
Nano-Coating
Nano coating makes earbuds water-repellant by causing water to bead up on the contact and get off of treated earbuds’ parts. Many earbuds come with nano-coating but don’t provide an IP rating. Such devices may withstand light rain or accidental spills but won’t endure submersion or heavy rain. Again, your safest bet is to get IP-rated earbuds to ensure they are sweatproof.
Why Do You Need Sweat-Resistant Earbuds?
Music can enhance your motivation when exercising. However, exercising comes with sweat and all kinds of weather if you train outside. Sweat and rain can damage earbuds if they lack water-resistant properties. That’s why you need sweatproof earbuds.
IPX6 rated earbuds are an optimal solution, whether you sweat a lot or train in the rain. Sweat-resistant earbuds rated below IPX6 (IPX5, IPX4, IPX3) can endure lighter sweating and rain but may get damaged when exposed to a larger quantity of water.
Enjoy Your Workout with the Best Sweat and Splash-Resistant Earbuds
After reading this article, you understand sweat- and splash-resistant earbuds will include IP ratings from IPX4 to IPX6. Those are the specifications you should look for if you need workout earbuds that can withstand sweat and occasional rain.
IPX6 rated earbuds are best for such activities. Feel free to check out NeoPodz if you want high-quality, IPX6 rated, sweatproof earbuds that aren’t too expensive. That way, you’ll be able to enjoy your training without worrying about your earbuds dying when encountered with sweat and rain.
Remember that getting earbuds rated below IPX6 can also be a good solution, just not the best.
