$165. What can that get you nowadays? A few trips for two to Chili’s. An outdated Biology textbook for college classes. Enough groceries to last the week. Well that last one sounds pretty worthwhile, but all in all, we spend money on items that don’t last very long or leave worthwhile impressions. It could cost $30 to go to the movies without even getting any drinks or snacks. We often regret a lot of these temporary purchases. Why don’t we invest in something that lasts?
I’ve swam competitively for quite some time and have spent upwards of six hours in the pool a day. Unlike other sports that I have played above the water, swimming offers us very little to look at or listen to and it is so easy to get BORED. Triathlon and endurance sports have become more popular and there has been a growth in the swimming industry as a result. Working with triathletes, competitive swimmers, and newcomers of all levels always turns me to the same recommendation. Practice. Time in the water… time in the pool, time in the open water.
One question. What can make that time in the water more enjoyable? Swimming is not easy. Even if you find your groove, it is physically exhausting. You don’t want it to be mentally exhausting as well. Well, here is the solution for swimming as by yourself in the pool. MUSIC! Sure, you can put speakers in the pool but I don’t think everyone else will appreciate that so you to create your own little world in that lane of yours. This leaves us with one option… using an underwater MP3 player. Are there multiple choices? Of course, but I recently had the pleasure of trying out a new one and here is what I have to say about it!
The Product: Waterproof iPod Bundle
The Price: $165 for the whole bundle
The Provider: Underwater Audio
The Pros:
- It’s an iPod shuffle. Very easy to use. Very familiar in our society. iTunes is free and most of us already have it.
- That iPod shuffle has a clip. That clip will hook onto your suit, no matter what gender as long as the material is thin enough. (Not a 7mm wetsuit.)
- The earbuds have multiple earplugs and options for people with different shaped ears. The cords are long enough to wrap them around your suit or goggle straps so they stay in place.
- It’s competitively priced and you will get your money’s worth if you swim often.
- Shipping is fast and it is well packaged with all the necessary charging devices.
- The music is not so loud that other swimmers can hear your music.
The Cons:
- You need to be careful about just getting the headphones and actual iPod wet, not the USB charging cables.
- You need to take the time to clip the device in and set up the headphones so they don’t fall off when moving quickly.
- The music is not so loud that other swimmers can hear your music! I know it’s in both categories but sometimes if there are just a few of you in the pool, it doesn’t hurt to share!
The Bottom Line:
This is a product well worth purchasing if you train in the pool. Whether you are an olympic swimmer or a triathlete, this makes 12,000 yards go by a lot faster. The length of the earphones is great for competitive swimmers since you don’t have these awkward cords being ripped out by your arms when they move throughout the water into the path of your pull. You can’t just throw it on but if you take two minutes to put it on right you don’t have to worry about the iPod unclipping or earphones popping out on your flip turns. (I did not try any starts with these on… obviously?) It obviously works well in open water as well, although I’m not so keen on the idea of using music in open water… personal preference.
So go over to www.underwateraudio.com and check out this product! Trust me, it makes swimming laps a lot more enjoyable at a reasonable price. And as always, stay hungry and fit!