H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport review: A triathlete’s dream
H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport: Two-minute review
For triathletes, there may be no better headphones than the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport. Its lightweight frame, flexible construction and numerous features, especially the Playlist+ function that allows you to record playlists from the source directly to the headphones, make it more than The best open-back earbuds or The best wireless headphones Used in water. Yet another reason to consider these Best running headphones If you are looking for something specifically for races, marathons or even long jogs.
As bone conduction headphones, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport aren’t the best sounding option, but they sound better than most bone conduction headphones I’ve used. If you need to hear sounds around you when you’re on a trail or driving along traffic, having your ears completely exposed is crucial.
That said, there’s still some room for growth, which I’ll discuss later, and the price is higher for this form factor. However, triathletes, swimmers, and anyone who hates having their ears plugged while exercising (they can also perform well in the gym) will greatly benefit from the H2O Audio Tri 2 Multi-Sport.
The Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport weighs 3.2 grams, making it very lightweight. It wraps the back of the head with a frame that can twist this way or that, not to mention there’s enough clearance in the back to accommodate a variety of head shapes and sizes (and also handle a ton of abuse). It is very stable and does not move even if your head moves quickly.
Its matte black rubber covering has an IPX8 waterproof rating, which is one of the reasons it’s perfect for use in water. Its charging port is a unique proprietary port that most likely keeps the headphones completely waterproof.
The downside of the thick overlay comes when trying to manipulate the controls, of which there are three: volume down, power, and volume up. The headset is a bit slow to respond, especially when trying to use accessibility features triggered by a double tap or long press. Best of all, if you double-click not fast enough, it will only register as two consecutive clicks.
This is especially frustrating when trying to switch from Bluetooth to onboard memory during a run or trying to use the Playlist+ feature. While testing this feature, I ended up having some silent moments that I didn’t really want to record with the beginning of another song because my keystrokes didn’t always register.
On the bright side, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport comes with 8GB of storage and a built-in MP3 player that’s loaded with around 2,000 songs, for when you can’t or don’t want to take your phone with you, such as in the water where Bluetooth connectivity isn’t great . This is all supported by the Playlist+ feature, which basically records anything you play over a Bluetooth connection in real time and converts it into MP3s loaded onto the headphones.
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Of course, if you run an entire playlist while doing this, it will basically register it as one song, so you’ll have to start and stop each song if you want to jump from one song to another. Still, it’s a welcome way to add music to onboard storage without having to buy MP3s.
It was a bit of a hassle to use the “Playlist+” feature and get exactly what I wanted due to the issues that can arise with using the buttons, as when I tried to stop the feature without initial success the beginning of the last song was cut off .
It’s much easier to do this with an app that I can control by pressing the app. Overall, the app is easy to navigate. My only complaint with the app is that I had to switch from Bluetooth mode to memory mode to see what was stored on the headphones and back again to use the playlist+ feature.
Before I delve into the overall sound quality of the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport, I want to talk about its vibrations with bone conduction headphones. These types of headphones essentially transmit sound through high cheekbone vibration frequencies. The benefit of this is that it leaves your ears completely unaffected, so you can hear everything around you – even transparency mode on wireless earbuds isn’t that great. Check out our guide How bone conduction headphones work Learn more. The disadvantage is that at higher volumes, the vibrations can cause discomfort and sometimes even nausea. This is the main reason I don’t usually use bone conduction headphones for daily driving (I also usually only do about three mile runs).
However, H2O Audio managed to reduce this effect so much that I only felt very slight discomfort at the highest setting, and even then it was more annoying than anything else. As for the sound quality itself, it’s good, but don’t expect high-resolution audio. When using them while running or even around the house, they won’t have the detail and clarity of high-quality earbuds. However, they did reproduce everything very well.
There’s quite a bit of bass, although not a lot (which may contribute to the discomfort issues I mentioned above). The mids are nice and full, while the high end is a bit rolled off, but doesn’t sound obscured. As is often the case with bone conduction headphones, the form factor is nice and good enough.
Interestingly, they sound better underwater when used with the provided earplugs. When I put the earbuds in before submerging in the water, the audio got noisy and a little fuzzy, but once I submerged, everything sounded as clear as day, with tight bass and balanced mids and highs. This is indeed something worth experiencing.
While you can take calls with the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport, they’re not ideal as you’ll sound quiet and a bit far away. This isn’t a huge issue for me, just because of the niche use of these headphones (in fact, most earbuds are still pretty good in this department).
Finally, I want to mention the battery life, as it lasts for 9 hours (18 hours total if you open the charging case). While headphones like the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 offer 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, that’s pretty good compared to many wireless headphones, and more than enough for a marathon session, not to mention you don’t have to worry about the effects of sweating on the headphones. Discomfort.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multisport: Specs
| driver | not specified |
| Active noise reduction | No |
| battery life | Up to 9 hours (18 hours total with charging case) |
| weight | 3.2 grams |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| frequency range | 20Hz-20kHz |
| water proof | IPX8 |
| Other features | Playlist+ functionality, MP3 player (8GB storage), included earbuds |
H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport: price and availability
- how much does it cost? US$199.99/£155.68 (approximately AU$310)
- When can it be used? Now available
- Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK
At $199.99 / £155.68, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport is a bit pricey for a pair of bone conduction headphones, but the price makes sense when you consider the original version of this triathlete . The Focus Headphones start at $149.99 (£128.00, AU$225.00), with the introduction of the Playlist+ feature adding around $20/£20 to the price tag.
An increase in price due to some design upgrades also makes sense, although I’d like to see the Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport stay at the same price point as the Playlist+-enabled Version 1 it replaces. If you have some extra cash, you can also buy the charging case for an extra $49.99 (around £40 / AU$80).
Spending around $200 on bone conduction headphones isn’t unheard of. For example, Suunto wing Prices are similar at $199 / £169 / AU$319. Of course, it doesn’t have Playlist+ functionality, and the sound quality is terrible. However, its charging case does offer up to 30 hours of battery life. You can get up to 18 charges with the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport only if you pay extra for the charging case.
H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multisport: Scorecard
| property | notes | grade |
| value | It’s at the higher end of the bone conduction market, so even though it’s worth the money, it’s definitely not a steal. | 4/5 |
| design | It’s lightweight and stable, not to mention packed with features that make it perfect for both water and land. | 4.5/5 |
| Performance | It sounds great, especially underwater, and the battery life is more than adequate. | 4.5/5 |
| average rating | For its purpose – on land and water – it’s nearly perfect, especially with its unique feature set. | 4.5/5 |
Should I buy the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
also consider
how i tested
- Tested for more than a month
- Listen to different media
- Tested all the different features
I spent a month using the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport as my workout headphones. While using them, I listened to a variety of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic to get an idea of what they sounded like. I use them in a variety of environments, such as running and even underwater. Check out our guide How bone conduction headphones work Learn more.
After testing, it’s clear that they serve the needs of triathletes, swimmers, and general athletes well enough to listen to music while hearing their surroundings.
I’ve been reviewing audio gear for the past few years, and have spent even longer using my picky ears as a listener and musician to understand what sounds good and what doesn’t.
- First review time: November 2024
