You may already know that your favorite tunes can motivate you to run faster or stick with the kettlebells longer, but dry land isn’t the only place that your mp3 player can help you step up your fitness game: Listening to music underwater can make you swim faster, according to new research conducted at Brunel University in the United Kingdom.
In a recent study, 26 collegiate swimmers experimented with wearing earbuds during 200-meter trials for three weeks. They listened to motivational music for one week, neutral music for one week, and no music at all for the final week. Listening to both types of music helped the athletes slash their 200-meter times by three seconds. That may not sound like a lot, but in swimming, three seconds can be the difference between first and third place—and the difference would likely be even greater for longer distances. “We found that any song played at 130 beats per minute, mellow or upbeat, motivated the swimmers,” says study co-author Jasmin Hutchinson, assistant professor of exercise science and sport studies at Springfield College in Massachusetts.
Looking to improve your swim time or just have a more efficient workout? You might want to invest in one of these underwater music systems:
Already have a waterproof mp3 player? Then all you need are these Underwater Audio Swimbuds. The extra-short cord minimizes the chance of any tangling, and the around-the-ear style keeps them secure even during flip turns.
$ 30; underwateraudio.com
If your iPhone is where you store your music, DRYBuds and DRYCase will waterproof your device. Simply place your phone in the plastic case, use the pump to remove any extra air, and secure it to your arm with the neoprene arm band. Plug in the ear buds, and you’ll be rocking out, lap, after lap, after lap.
$ 40 for DRYCase; $ 30 for DRYBuds; drycase.com
Pyle’s Waterproof MP3 Player is made of soft, silicon material that wraps around both your head and ears so you don’t have to deal with annoyingly long cords. Upload your music directly to the device, and you can decide whether you want to repeat or skip a track mid-swim with an easy tap of the control system under the right earpiece.
$ 60; pyleaudio.com
For those iPod Shuffle users, the X-1 Interval Swim Solution is your system. Just pop open the waterproof case, insert your Shuffle, and plug it into the inner wire. Then slide your goggle straps into either side of the device, and you’re ready to dive in. The device comes fully equipped with ear buds and multiple bud tips for a personalized fit.
$ 100; x-1.com
Can’t seem to keep ear buds from slipping out of your ears? Try the FINIS Neptune. You can upload your favorite playlists directly onto it, then connect the mp3 player to your goggles and adjust the bone conduction speakers so they rest in front of your ears (on your temples). Hit the play button, and the speakers will vibrate the jaw bone, sending pulses into your inner ear canal.
$ 160; FINISinc.com
More From Women’s Health:
Take the Plunge: Train for a Swim Race
Kim Vandenberg’s Workout
Best Swimming Workout: Lose Weight In the Pool