Thursday, April 28, 2011

Waterproof MP3 Players

I enjoy reviewing products and with summer approaching and a need to start working out again, I decided it was time to check out the options on waterproof MP3 players.  I've wanted one for a few years now, but something always seemed to stop me from getting one. Well not this year!  This year, I'm going to get one.

Swimming is my favorite method of exercise and the H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System was is perfect for getting in that daily hour of cardio I need to get my blood pumping.  I never got one before because I wasn't sure of just how waterproof they would be, and what the sound quality would be like, but after doing some research, I've found that for surface level swimming, an underwater mp3 player would not suffer from any water damage, and I don't have to worry about being electrocuted. I've also learned that sound quality is not at all disturbed by the waterproofing of my favorite workout companion, music.

I must admit, I thought all waterproof mp3 players were about the same and that I just needed to find one in my price range or wait for a sale, but I was wrong.  Once I decided that this was going to be the year I finally get to experience my favorite workout with some great tunes to keep me motivated in rhythm, I took the time to study the details of the various models and find the best quality for the best price on my new underwater mp3 player.  My exhaustive research finally led to me to the H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System.

What to Look For When Buying An MP3 Player

I quickly discovered that there were a few important things to look for in a waterproof MP3 player.  These are:

  • Lightweight so it won't slow you down
  • Ability to clip to your swimming goggles to keep your hands free
  • Enough disk space to last for the length of your swimming session
  • How Much You Should Expect To Pay
  • A warranty
If you buy just based on the price alone, you're headed for trouble.  This is an electronic device that's going under water and being attached to your body, especially if you're planning to use your waterproof mp3 player often.  So let me explain each of these things as they apply to the  H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System.

How lightweight should it be?

If you're going to be swimming for exercise like I am, you don't want a heavy electronic device slowing you down.  The lighter the mp3 player, the less drag you'll have on your own energy.  This will be even more important if you're an athlete in training for an event that will require speed.  If you're training for an event, you'll be feeling the weight dragging down your speed by the end of your workout and at the end of your event.  The shipping weight of the  H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System. is only 6.1 ounces.  

Clipping To Your Goggles
Even during my non-cardio workouts, I need my hands free but you need even more freedom when you're swimming, especially if you're swimming to lose weight and build strength. Form, during any workout, is extremely important and even more so when swimming.  If you have to keep breaking stride, you lose your form, and trying to regain it not only saps you of the energy that should be going into your workout but also could cause injury too.  

 H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System. clips right to your goggles so you don't need to break stride.

Enough Disk Space To Last Through Your Workout

I workout 2 to 2 1/2 hours each day.  I swim for at least one hour on the days when I do other cardio, and if I don't want to get on a treadmill or an elliptical I'll spend the full two hours swimming.  If you plan to swim often and for long periods of time, you'll want at least 1.5 GB of space on your MP 3 player.

The  H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System has 2GB of space.


The Warranty

While waterproof cameras have been around since the early days of Jaques Cousteau, MP3 players are only a few years old and waterproofing technology for them is even newer. As with any electronic device and machine, sometimes a lemon makes it's way through the manufacturing process so a warranty on your waterproof mp3 player is a necessity. The  H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System offers a 1 year warranty.

How Much Should You Expect To Pay?

The H2OFriendly 100% Waterproof MP3 Player Swim System  is available on H20Friendly for $169.00 but  you really shouldn't be paying more than $160.00 for this mp3 player.  The cheapest I've found it is on Amazon for $159.99.

What's Included:

  • H2OFriendly 2GB iPod Shuffle, Any Color 
  • 1 Set of RMKF HiFi Waterproof Headphones & Extra Earbuds 
  • Set of Velcro Securing Straps For iPod & Headphone 
  • Cord.Original iPod box, headphones, and USB Cable Description:
  • Small, durable and syncs with your existing iTunes Library.

What Others Are Saying

This waterproof mp3 player has been getting rave reviews from consumers on the Internet with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon reviews.

Here are some of the comments to date:

  • Works well
  • Downloading music to it is easy
  • The sound is good
  • Love the size and the quality of the earbuds
  • Good customer service
Any complaints?

I found very few complaints about the H2OFriendly 2GB iPod Shuffle.  The one I did find was that the earbuds kept falling out.  The consumer said this was easily rectified once she pulled her swimming cap down over her ears.

Where can you buy the H2OFriendly 2GB iPod Shuffle?

You can buy the H2OFriendly 2GB iPod Shuffle from Amazon.  At the moment, they're including free shipping for any mp3 player over $25.00, with some restrictions, and from the research I've done, Amazon does seem to have the best deal, especially with the free shipping option.