Customer Reviews

Waterfi Waterproof Shuffle 4th Generation 2GB - Best Underwater MP3 Player for Swimming & Water Sports! 5 Colors available

5 star:		(407)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I bought this after breaking 4 H2o audio waterproof ipod cases. On the first three one the ear bugs stopped working (the cords are very short if you have a large head). The last one leaked and fried my ipod, so I gave up. Don't know if I was particularly hard on them, or they're just not that well built, but only one lasted more than a month.

Bought this hoping it would work and it's worked perfectly so far, about 15 hours swimming laps in total (if it stops working I'll update this). The other great thing about this ipod, vs. the plastic cases, is that it's so small. Fits easily under my cap and easy to control. The H2o audio cases are huge. And you can just use the ipod clip to hook onto your google strap, no fuss no muss (you don't need the velcro strap it comes with). With the latest version of the H2o audio cases you have to undo the strap and fit the case over it, then rethread it, or fight to to get the strap to fit through the very thin slits on the sides.

All in all, a great product, so far, and well worth the money (about the same cost as an H20 case and new ipod). Highly recommend it. You can also freak out your friends if you're using it outside the pool, dunking it in a glass of water.

I received the Shuffle as a Christmas gift and used it on all my workouts. I'm training for triathlons, so the ability to listen to music during all activities has been an asset. Paired with my H2O Audio IE2-BK Surge 2G Waterproof Earbuds,the Shuffle worked perfectly. However, after a couple months of use, the Shuffle had issue with syncing. I contacted H2OFriendly's customer service, and had a replacement sent within the week! I returned the malfunctioning one via USPS and was all set. Great product and great customer service! Can't ask for anything more.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I too, like many other reviewers, started out with a huge, bulky case for my 80GB iPod w/video. It was so-so, but kind of annoying, especially having to remember to clean and dry the case and armband after every swim, and be extra vigilant when sealing the thing (making sure there wasn't any debris on the o-righ seal, etc) This thing on the other hand, is amazing. It's absolutely tiny, and with a good pair of UW headphones (just get simple earbuds and tuck them under a cap...no UW headphones will work 100% of the time without a cap, due to drag and the necessity of having a solid, watertight seal maintanied at all times for functionality. So just accept that you have to wear a cap to use any UW headphones for lap swimming, and get the lowest-profile earbuds you can find. I got the ones from Aquapac) your entire UW music system can be attached to your head without noticing it at all. There is zero weight with this system, and the drag is negligible. The construction is very solid and the clip attached to the back is perfect for clipping to goggles or the cap itself. (I recommend goggles for comfort. The ONLY downside I can see to this is that it's so small you might lose it if you are careless with it while not attached to earphones, but that's your problem not the iPod's. This is especially true if you take it into the ocean and ride waves with it. But all-in-all, this is the way to go.

And even though it's not that cheap, think of it as an investment in an all-weather mp3 player, not just an UW mp3 player, because it is a fully-functioning iPod shuffle that can be used anywhere, anytime. It's just also fully submersible as well. So you can do all manner of exercise with it (run, bike, row, ski, swim, surf) And not only is the waterproof feature awesome for swimming, but it makes it impervious to sweat for workouts, and accidental spills also. When you factor in how much an underwater case is going to cost for you current iPod, the weight saving and convenience of this tiny little unit compared to bulky cases, and the possibility that even with a bulky case you may flood your iPod anyway and ruin a $400 device in the process, there really are no drawbacks to just buying this instead. I wish I had just bought this thing outright in the first place. Buy one.

I have to say I was extremely skeptical of this product and I still don't completely understand it...but this is in fact a waterproof ipod. I have used it to swim laps for about a week and it has been perfect. I will certainly update this review if this should change. Finding the right headphones is key to perfect performance, but as far as waterproof music goes this can't be beat. It is light and small enough to clip on the back of my goggles and there is no noticeable drag. I am so happy with this purchase because swimming laps can be brutal! It is definitely worth the extra cost to avoid bulky cases that don't work.

One thing to note: The company did call me to ask me to write a review here. I think this just means they are confident in their product and want to get the word out. They certainly didn't tell me to write a good review (though that was probably assumed) so take it for what you will.

Ok, I know everybody loves this thing. I do too. Problem is, this is the third one I've had. First one, died after about 6 uses. They quickly sent me a second one - which died after 15 uses. I was about to just return because I am the type to get very dramatic when something doesn't work, especially when I'm rocking out to some high octane rock n roll and pounding out quick sets one minute ... and the next minute getting nothing and cursing to myself "Great, I can't swim anymore, this goddam thing hooked me like a drug! I don't think my limbs work without it and now it doesn't work. Who can I strangle and scream at like Axl Rose was just doing to me 1 minute ago?!!"

Long story, slightly longer. I calmed down eventually. Customer service was fantastic. They sent me my third replacement before I even mailed the second one back. I've had my third ipod for months and months and it has worked like a charm. H20 Friendly even got in touch with me to tell me that I was instrumental in helping them work out a few kinks. Now their waterproofing technique is absolutely bombproof. I am a believer. I was just reading another review complaining that the price has gone up? Well, I can't really remember what I paid for it, but yes, it is supply and demand. Every swimmer I see, including all the lifeguards, see this tiny thing on the back of my goggles and immediately wants one. What do you want? Its apple, its tiny and its waterproof and its bombproof. Its cheaper than hiring someone to drag your a$$ into a pool when you don't want to go -- and then play you some music underwater while you smile and crank out the sets.

I've had my waterproof Shuffle for about 2 months now, and have used it about 15 times in the pool. I am very satisfied. It ranks in the top 3 best workout aides I've ever owned. Using an iPod while exercising is helpful to any exercise, but it's most crucial for swimming, at least for me. Swimming had always bored me, I couldn't wait to be done with it. But when using the player, I never get bored at all, I look forward to each swim. I suppose it helps if you're interested in what you're listening to. Music alone doesn't do it for me. I listen to podcasts or audiobooks. And that's a big reason I chose the Shuffle, since it rewinds and remembers where you left off (the other waterproof players either don't have rewind or will make you start from the beginning if you turn it off). Another advantage, from comparing to the other players, is the small size. It fits very unobtrusively without any hindrance on your goggles. That's also why I didn't get the Interval Headphone System, since it looked so bulky. (The Interval also doesn't give access to the voiceover button which is an important function of the Shuffle.)

I've read complaints from people about their headphones falling out or not hearing well when underwater. I have never ever had that problem. I suppose it matters what your headphone setup is. I bought the Pyle $15 pair. I figured the tree shaped buds would stay in better than the round kind, though it comes with both types. I have not swam with the round ones, so don't know if they work or not. I do know the tree shaped ones work for me. They stay in well enough, sometimes slide out a little, but no big deal. Getting back to my setup... I clip the Shuffle onto the goggles strap. I fold the headphone cord back and forth parallel to the goggles strap and attach it with some twist ties, tying the cord to the strap. I believe Waterfi sells the Shuffle/headphone bundle with a velcro strap, but the ties work fine for me. I leave enough slack to reach my ears. I tuck the over-ear loops under my swim cap and feed the bud into the my ear. (I might mention I bought the Aqua Sphere Aqua Glide cap because it seems to have a bigger ear cover than most caps. I think it helps to cover the ear loops to hold them in place so the cord doesn't get tossed around too much while swimming, but other, smaller caps may do the job just as well. In the end, the sound is great. You do have to turn it up loud because you have to overpower the water rushing by. I don't think there's any getting around that.

One other thing to note. The waterproof Shuffle does not handle the same as a regular Shuffle. The waterproofing process makes the buttons very stiff. It takes some getting used to. In fact, I was going to return mine at first because I could not get it to play no matter how hard I pushed. After contacting Waterfi, they told me the buttons are jammed and I should first try laying the player on the floor face down and stepping on it to loosen it up (waterproofing fluid leaks out when you do this). I tried that a few times and eventually it worked. It's still quite stiff but it's playable. This is the main reason I took a star off the review. They may not be able to help it, that the stiffness may be unavoidable in making a waterproof shuffle, but it does detract somewhat from the user experience.

I also wanted to give 4 stars simply because Waterfi emailed me offering a nominal prize for giving a 5 star review, which I thought was kind of shady. They didn't say "any review" for a prize, it had to be 5 star. Now when I look at all the 5 star reviews here or for other products, I will wonder.

I'll end on a positive note. Another good use for the player I've found is wearing it in the shower. Makes showers less boring too.

The best thing about buying a product from H2OFriendly is the people who you get to talk to. They are not the typical on-line distributors and are there to help you with a better solution. They are extremely responsive (perhaps that is "Friendly" part of their name).

I had gone through 2 competitor products, one that uses "bone conduction" technology and another that houses a 3rd generation iPod shuffle. Both of those products were purchased from another on-line distributor and they broke beyond repair and had to be returned.

I am very satisfied with the H2O Friendly iPod and their customer service. The iPod is easy to use both in and out of the water as there is no housing to mess with. I am on my second set of headphones with this iPod using another brand, which came at their recommendation, as I have difficulty sealing my ears with the ones they had shipped originally.

I have had this product for a few months. Enoy!

I have a whole array of waterproof mp3 players. This one is my new favorite. I have only had it for a week, but so far, so good. I swim for an hour every day and I love having music to swim to. I started with the iPod cases, which you have to keep re-sealing and they are a pain. I've tried the bone conduction headset, but the music isn't ever quite loud enough. I like the Dolphin player, but the headphones weren't my favorite. I finally settled on swimman's waterproof iPod and headphones, but the end pieces on the iPod continually fall off, and some have shorter charging lives than others. (In other words, the quality from set to set is not the same.)

There are four swimmers in my family, so we all have sets and use them a lot. What I like about this iPod is that the (side) buttons are all still functional (as compared to swimman's which they are glued into position and you can't use them). That means that with H20Friendly, I can tell that the unit is off, whereas the swimman one, I can't. I'm hoping this means I'll have a longer battery life between charges, too.

I'm putting my money where my mouth is and buying one for my husband.

This is the perfect thing for water lovers of all kinds. The early morning lap swim has never gone better. I love, love this!

I've used this over a month and the only hiccup was when I forgot to charge it for a week. Now I try to charge it every 2 or 3 swims and I've had no problems since.

One of the biggest keys is in the use of the headphones. I paired mine with the Pyle PWPE10W Marine Sport Waterproof In-Ear Earbud Stereo Headphones, which I recommend...they have a good sound and stay attached to the ear. As others have mentioned, it may take a few tries to find the right size of earbuds for you. I lucked out because the first ones I tried fit perfectly. One day while swimming, I knocked the right side out of my ear. The rest of the swim was spent trying to get a good sound but obviously, that was my fault.

The unit itself has performed well. As per the instructions, after each swim, I run fresh water over it, then dry it with a towel. I've also gotten into the habit of waiting to unplug the headphones for half an hour or so to make sure there is no moisture that could enter the jack.

Other manufacturer's instructions:

It's recommended to not use the power/shuffle switch. When you power it up the first time, decide then if you want it to shuffle or play the songs in order, then don't use it again. That decreases the likelihood of leakage via the slide switch. To power down, press pause. Then press the pause button again, holding it until you hear it "click" through your headphones. Now it's locked and won't play.

Put on your headphones before you get into the water...dry headphones, dry hands, dry ears.

After your swim, put the unit in a dry place where air circulates. Don't stuff it into a gym bag, zip lock bag or other enclosed location.

Out of an abundance of caution, I don't use the VoiceOver button, in order to lessen the chance of leakage. If I've added a new song and have forgotten the title/artist, I wait until I can look through my iTunes library or plug it into a speaker and use Shazam to identify it. When I'm in the water, I rarely use the volume or the buttons to skip ahead or back. If you're running mp3's, there's a free program called MP3 Gain that will normalize all your songs to the same level. That way, you don't have to turn it up or down, depending on the loudness of each song file.

I've had no problems on the water-side of things, nor with its basic functions. It has worked as well as my regular iPods and Shuffles have in the past. If something does go wrong, from what I've read in other reviews, I'm sure Waterfi will do their best to correct the problem.

I also agree with the other reviewers who have said it makes the swim less boring and helps the time go by faster. I'm in the pool exercising longer than I used to be.