If you want better Bluetooth
Choose H2O Audio Tri Run. It scores 4.5 vs 2.9 for Bluetooth, with a 3.6 overall score.
H2O Audio TRI 2 PRO Headphones Review
Bottom Line
Choose the TRI 2 PRO if swimming audio, IPX8 waterproofing, and onboard music matter most. Skip it for land workouts if you need rich bass, crisp vocals, easy controls, or simple playlist loading.
Best for
Best for swimmers, triathletes, and pool users who want music or podcasts without relying on Bluetooth underwater. It also suits athletes who prioritize open-ear awareness and comfort over hi-fi sound.
Not for
Not for buyers who want rich land-based audio, strong bass, easy track control, or a simple streaming-style workflow. Runners and gym users who do not need underwater playback are repeatedly pointed toward alternatives.
Verdict
Reviewers consistently frame the H2O Audio TRI 2 PRO as a specialist swim headset rather than a general-purpose sports headphone. Its strongest case is practical: secure fit in water, very high waterproof confidence, onboard storage, and Playlist+ make pool sessions possible without a phone or Bluetooth signal. The tradeoff is that the same bone-conduction design and offline workflow frustrate some reviewers on land, where bass, clarity, and maximum-volume behavior often fall short of regular earbuds or rival open-ear options. Controls and setup split opinions too, ranging from simple and tactile to stiff, finicky, or time-consuming.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
33 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.04 (12%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.414 (42%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.411 (33%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.43 (9%)
-
Very negative below 1.51 (3%)
Pros highlights
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Water readiness is the strongest consensus area, with reviewers repeatedly praising pool, underwater, and waterproof performance.
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Offline playback is the product's defining advantage for swimming, but Playlist+ recording and syncing can be cumbersome or unreliable.
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Reviewer opinion is split by use case: underwater and swim use often sounds good or even impressive, while several reviewers criticize above-water sound as tinny, muddy, or below regular earbuds.
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Value depends heavily on the use case: swimmers often get enough benefit, while land users and audio-focused buyers face better-value alternatives.
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Battery life is mostly good for workouts and swims, though one review found real-world drain below the stated claim.
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Stability is a major strength in water and workouts, although one reviewer with fit issues felt less secure while running.
Cons highlights
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Bass is highly inconsistent: some reviews praise punch or improved bass in water, while others say land playback lacks low-end impact or becomes woolly and hollow.
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Controls are divisive: some reviewers found them reachable or simple, while many criticized stiff buttons, accidental presses, and unreliable secondary commands.
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Setup is mixed: drag-and-drop loading can be easy, but Playlist+, app handling, and troubleshooting are often described as clumsy or time-consuming.
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Treble is serviceable but not consistently crisp; reviewers mention rolled-off, grainy, or missing high-end detail, with a few brighter elements coming through well.
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Volume is adequate for some voices and workouts, but multiple reviewers had to raise it high, noticed vibration, or found volume changes distracting in water.
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Bluetooth experiences vary sharply: pairing can be easy on phones and laptops, but underwater use, stutters, random disconnections, and clumsy setup hurt reliability.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Open-Ear Headphones, this product is above average in Noise isolation (passive), Water/sweat resistance rating, Offline playback and onboard storage, near average in Stability, Android compatibility, below average in Equalizer customization, Instrument separation, Microphone quality for calls.
Comparison summary
33 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher6 (18%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts8 (24%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower19 (58%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equalizer customization | 1.0 | 3.9 | -2.9 |
| Instrument separation | 1.8 | 4.2 | -2.4 |
| Noise isolation (passive) | 3.8 | 1.9 | +1.9 |
| Microphone quality for calls | 2.3 | 3.9 | -1.7 |
| Bluetooth | 2.9 | 4.2 | -1.3 |
| Software/setup simplicity | 3.1 | 4.3 | -1.2 |
| Button control usability | 3.0 | 4.1 | -1.1 |
| Maximum volume clarity | 2.0 | 3.3 | -1.3 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Volume output
Choose H2O Audio Sonar 2 Pro. It scores 4.5 vs 3.0 for Volume output, with a 3.8 overall score.
If you want better Equalizer customization
Choose Cleer ARC 5. It scores 4.8 vs 1.0 for Equalizer customization, with a 4.5 overall score.
If you want better Instrument separation
Choose Shokz OpenFit 2+. It scores 4.7 vs 1.8 for Instrument separation, with a 4.2 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
- Compared: design and swimming limitation Tom's Guide compares the design to Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 but notes the Shokz are not suitable for swimming.
- Better: battery life per charge TechRadar says the Tri 2 Pro battery is good, though the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 lasts longer per charge.
- Better: audio quality and price PCMag says non-swimmer athletes should consider the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 for better audio at a lower price.
Shokz OpenSwim Pro
- Worse: water submersion rating The Tri 2 Pro is credited with stronger submersion endurance than the Shokz OpenSwim Pro.
- Better: onboard storage The Tri 2 Pro is framed as storage-limited because the Shokz OpenSwim Pro offers much more storage.
OpenSwim Pro
- Better: sound quality and value The reviewer would personally buy the OpenSwim Pro instead to save money.
FAQ
Does the H2O Audio TRI 2 PRO work underwater?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly report that it works in the pool and underwater, with onboard memory solving the problem that Bluetooth does not work reliably when submerged.
Is the sound quality good?
It depends on the setting. Several reviewers liked the underwater sound, but many found above-water audio thin, muddy, bass-light, or weaker than regular earbuds and some rival open-ear options.
How comfortable is it for workouts?
Most reviewers found it lightweight, comfortable, and stable for swimming or exercise. The main fit caveat is sizing: a few reviewers with smaller heads or fit gaps found it less secure or slightly awkward.
Is Playlist+ easy to use?
Playlist+ is useful because it can put streaming audio onto the headset for offline swimming, but reviewers often describe the recording process as slow, clumsy, archaic, or requiring patience.
Can it replace everyday earbuds?
The review evidence says it is better treated as a specialist swim headset. For everyday land workouts, critics point to weaker sound, finicky controls, and better-value alternatives.
How is battery life?
Battery life is generally viewed as good enough for workouts and swims. Most reviewers report solid results, though at least one found real-world drain lower than the stated figure.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.9
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.0
Article Reviews
tomsguide.com
- Review score
- 2.6
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