Review: Nank Runner Diver 2 Pro Headphones – The Perfect Waterproof Audio Companion for Triathletes

As a triathlon coach and athlete, finding gear that works across multiple disciplines is essential. The Nank Runner Diver2 Pro Bluetooth headphones bring that versatility in spades, making them a perfect fit for triathletes who want high-quality audio while training.

Whether you're pounding the pavement or cutting through the water, these headphones deliver solid performance. Here's my take after putting them to the test in both running and swimming sessions.

Note: Nank use to be called Naenka and their website is still called naenka.com

The Nank Swimmer Diver2 Pro headphones with the carry case which can hold charge cable, ear plugs, nose clips and swimming hat

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What are Bone Conduction Headphones?

The Runner Diver2 Pro headphones are bone conduction headphones. This technology has been around for a few years but if you are new to the technology then here’s a quick overview.

Bone conduction headphones transmit sound through your cheekbones to your inner ear, leaving your ear canals open. This allows you to hear both your audio and your surroundings, making them great for outdoor sports where awareness is key.

In contrast, standard headphones send sound directly into your ear canal, which can block external noises but provide more isolation and deeper sound.

Bone conduction is ideal for athletes who need to stay alert while training.

Runner Diver2 Pro: What’s in the Box?

The contents of the box are quite intriguing:

• Runner Diver2 Pro Headphones
• User Manual
• 6 x Sound Quality Enhancers of various sizes
• 2 x Earplugs to improve your swimming audio
• Magnetic USB Charge Cable
• Silicone Adjustable Strap to help keep your headphones in place

Price: 148€ / £125 / $159

Available on the Nank website.

The unboxing video below will show you the full contents.

Nank Runner Diver2 Pro Headphones Unboxing Video

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The six sound quality enhancers, ear plugs and silicon adjustable strap I was not expecting and was not sure what they were for so had to look it up. The sound quality enhancers are different sizes so you can find the one that works for you – you don’t need to use them, but they do give a different sound. For me they did not improve the sound nor did the silicone strap add anything but for some they may help the headphones stay in place and enhance the bone conduction.

Runner Driver2 Pro bone conduction headphones with silicone Strap

Wearing the earplugs did enhance the bass sound but for me I prefer the just the headphones with the earpiece folded in 35 degrees in “noise cancelling mode”.

The earplugs you can use when swimming and again are optional but if you use earplugs normally you now have an extra pair, and it will potentially enhance your audio.

Sadly, they did not come with a carry box like the Oladance headphones I reviewed a while back, but they did send me the case that they sell separately.

The Runner Diver2 Pro Waterproof headphones noise cancelling mode

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Running Performance

For runners, the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro ticks all the boxes. The fit is snug and secure, thanks to the lightweight, wraparound design. During my runs, whether on the road or trail, the headphones stayed put, with no need for constant adjustment. I did have to ensure my hair was tied up high so that the bar could pass underneath it.

Their ergonomic shape ensures comfort, even during longer training runs. The open-ear bone conduction technology means you can still hear your surroundings, which is crucial for safety—especially on busy roads.

The sound quality is solid, with crisp highs and adequate bass for bone conduction headphones. Whether you’re listening to music, a podcast, or tracking your splits with an app, the audio comes through clearly without feeling overwhelming. One of my favourite features is the waterproof (IP69 rating), so you don’t need to worry about heavy sweating or unexpected rain during a run.

The battery life is also a plus for triathletes doing long-distance training. You can easily get through multiple workouts without having to charge them. With around 10 hours of playback time, the Nank Runner Diver 2 Pro makes it through my longest runs with ease.

If you wear glasses (sun or prescription) you may need to take a little time to adjust the headphones into a position that works for you. I also found that I needed to tie my hair back in a certain way to ensure the headphones stayed in position.

The Runner Diver2 Pro headphones are great for those sweaty runs!

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Swimming Performance

The waterproofing on these headphones is one of their most standout features. With an impressive IPX69 waterproof rating, they’re designed for underwater use, making them a great option for swimming. I’ve tested them in the pool and open water, and the sound quality holds up surprisingly well underwater when using MP3 mode. Bluetooth does not work well in water so streaming is not possible.

While the clarity isn’t as crisp as on land (as expected), the sound is still clear enough to enjoy music or listen to audio cues during a workout. This is a game-changer for triathletes who spend significant time swimming and want to make the most of their sessions.

They come with a built-in MP3 player feature, allowing you to upload music directly to the headphones for swimming. Since Bluetooth doesn’t work well underwater, this MP3 mode ensures you can still enjoy tunes while in the water—no phone needed. The simple controls make it easy to switch tracks or adjust volume even while you are mid-lap.

I don’t like wearing ear plugs, so I found the best combination for me to get the best sound swimming was to fold them into noise cancellation mode and push the headphone ear pieces under my swimming hat. In this position the sound had more bass as the ear pieces were press against my head for the best sound bone conduction.

The Runner Diver2 Pro headphones can be use in the swimming pool and salty sea water in MP3 Player mode

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The Built in MP3 Player

The headphones come with pre-loaded music so you can try this function out straight away out of the box.

Adding to the music was easy if you had MP3 files already on your PC. Note you can also load M4A, WAV, APE and FLAC music files onto the headphones.

I tend to use Spotify for my music, and you can listen to music from this source off-line and on the headphones without streaming.

I found I had to cut and paste the song link into an online converter like spotidown.app to create an MP3 file which I could then load onto the MP3 player. This does take a little time as you need to convert the Spotify tracks one at a time and drag and drop to the headphones connect via the charge cable to a PC. You can also load Podcasts, but you will need to convert them to one of the supported formats detailed above.

The controls are limited, you can skip to the next track with a double tap on the up and down buttons and pause with the centre button.

The Runner Diver2 Pro headphones have an impressive 32GB of music / audio file storage

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Nank Runner Diver2 Pro Headphones and Sea Swimming

This is probably the biggest test for any headphones with salt sea water, waves, wind and noisy beach goers to contend with - how did the Runner Diver2 Pro's fair?

Thanks to the noise cancellation mode they did very well!

I spent a few minutes making sure I would not loose them in the sea and the noise cancelling folding mode meant they could hold onto my ears. I did however also tuck them under my swimming hat as well.

I used them in MP3 mode and the sound was great outside the water but I found they did vibrate if the music was too loud. In noise cancelling mode the sound, in particulat the bass, was similar under the water and in the air.

They did keep trying to connect to my phone on the beach when I got close to the shore, so my top tip is turn your phone Bluetooth off if your phone is close to your headphones.

When not in noise cancellation mode and with my head was out of the water the sound was quieter than in the water and was most noticeable during breast stroke. Front crawl and backstroke my ears were mostly under water so the audio was fine.

When talking to my swim buddy it was best to move the headphones out of noise cancellation mode but this was easy to do.

Overall my experience with the Nank heaphones during open water swimming in the sea was a good one.

The Nank Runner Diver 2 Pro headphones used seas swimming in Spain

Special Features for Triathletes

What makes the Nank Runner Diver 2 Pro particularly great for triathletes is their versatility and durability. Here are a few standout features that I loved:

• Bone Conduction Technology: These headphones sit just outside your ears, keeping your ear canals open so you can still hear the environment around you—perfect for safety during road runs or bike rides. At home or on your commute you can take advantage of the noise cancellation feature to cut out background noise.
• IP69 Waterproof Rating: Not only can these headphones handle rain and sweat, but they’re also fully submersible, which is rare in most sports headphones. You can use them in the swimming pool and in the salty sea water.
• MP3 Mode: With the built-in MP3 storage, you don’t need to rely on your phone for music during your swim sessions, making them incredibly practical for all your training sessions.
• Long Battery Life: Up to 10 hours of playback means these will last through long runs, bike rides, or even a full day of back-to-back training sessions.
• Comfortable and Secure Fit: The wraparound design ensures that the headphones stay secure through all movements, whether you’re running, cycling, or swimming.

Runner Diver2 Pro Waterproof Headphones and case

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The Nank Headphone Case

The headphones do not come with a case like others on the market so if you do require one then you can buy a separate one called the Bone Conduction Headphones Storage Pack and is around 15 euro or £17.

I find that having a case is useful as you can use it to carry the headphones, ear plugs, nose clips, charge cable and swimming hat plus other small items you need for your swim.

Amazon UK £17.

Nank Website 14.77€

The Nank Bone Conduction Headphones Storage Pack can be bought separately

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Comparison with other Sports Headphones

Here is a comparison of the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro with other sports and waterproof headphones that are on the market that I have tried.

You can see that there are differences between them and the Nank headphones come out on top for having both MP3 player and Bluetooth, plus has the most storage memory and noise cancellation. It is however the only one that does not come with a case but you can buy this separately.

Sports headphone feature comparison table: Nank, H2O, Oladance and Shokz

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Nank Runner Diver 2 Pro Bluetooth headphones are a fantastic piece of gear for triathletes. Their water and sweat resistance, combined with bone conduction technology, make them a perfect fit for those who need headphones that can handle multiple environments.

From the road to the pool, they perform well and deliver a comfortable, high-quality audio experience. Whether you’re training for your first triathlon or your tenth, these headphones are a smart investment that will keep you motivated and entertained throughout your sessions.

Pros

• Adequate sound quality with optional noise cancellation
• Integrated music player with large memory
• Can be used underwater & while swimming! – even in the salty sea
• Long battery life when compared with competitors
• Bluetooth for music streaming, phone calls and music loading?

Cons

• Can be uncomfortable, especially while wearing glasses or if you have long hair
• Does not turn off automatically in MP3 mode
• Loading tracks is time consuming and may involve converting formats
• No case but can be bought separately

Karen Parnell is a Level 3 British Triathlon and IRONMAN Certified Coach, WOWSA Level 3 open water swimming coach and NASM Personal Trainer and Sports Technology Writer. 

Need a training plan? I have plans on TrainingPeaks, FinalSurge and FinalSurge IRONMAN marketplace:

TrainingPeaks

FinalSurge

I also coach a very small number of athletes one to one for all triathlon distances, open water swimming events and running races, email me for details and availability. Karen.parnell@chilitri.com

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The Nank Runner Diver2 Pro waterproof headphones "what's in the box"

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FAQ: Nank Runner Diver2 Pro Headpones

Is this headphone suitable for swimming?

Yes, Naenka Runner Diver is specially designed for swimming, We enhanced its water resistance. You can get rid of Bluetooth and mobile phones to enjoy music in MP3 mode.

This headphones compared to Shokz?

Nank Runner Diver2 pioneers noise cancellation in bone conduction headphones, offering a significant advantage in noisy environments by providing clearer music. In contrast, Shokz headphones lack this feature.

How can I download music from my Spotify playlist to the headphone’s memory?

You can follow the tutorial in this blog to download the music: Full Guide: How to Download Spotify Music for Offline Listening?

Does the sound quality sound different from earbud headphones?

The sound quality of bone conduction headphones is not as good as that of earbud headphones due to the different ways in which sound is transmitted and produced.

How to switch between sequential and random playback modes in memory mode?

To switch between sequential and random playback modes in memory mode, press the power button four times consecutively. You'll hear a "beep" sound, indicating a successful switch.