Anyone use the Aftershokz Xtrainers or Tayogo Force?
I’m using these and absolutely love them so far. Lasts about 3 hours using the FM radio, and about 5 hours playing music files. I run and swim with them. If you put the back of the headset in the rear split of your goggle strap, it stays in place great in the pool. FM reception can be dicey in the pool, and only picks up really strong stations, but FM out running is great. As for sound quality, it’s certainly not high fidelity, but it’s great in the water… and louder under water than above water. In fact I’ve had to turn it down, as it gets loud enough to hurt my ears… which I find hard to explain, because its not even going through my ears. Heck, it works better with ear plugs in. I hope these last, as I’ve gone through countless other “pod” type radios with wired ear buds… and they never last more than a few months. I’ll probably never go back to ear buds or wires… the bone conduction is awesome, simple, and hassle free, and you can hear outside noise, and even carry on a conversation while still jamming.
Yes, I have the Aftershokz Xtrainerz. I actually used them this morning at my local school pool. They store music on an internal memory similar to an iPod shuffle (not blue tooth as that doesn’t seem to work well if at all through water). They can be used out of the water of course. Being water submersible they are great for drenching runs in the rain. 
For reference… I’ve tried the Finis Duo and the Underwater Audio waterproof iPod shuffle. Both of those I could only swim a few laps before they needed to be readjusted, get water out of my ear to hear the darn music again, etc. Very frustrating and gave up on them quickly. The Xtrainerz are awesome. Expensive - but a great product. The battery lasts like 6-7 hours. Running in cold temps (like 10 degrees F or lower) drains the battery more quickly. Sound quality is dampened slightly under water but is still quite impressive. *For reference, I have mild-mid hearing loss and I can still hear individual words under the water.
I do not use ear plugs. Sound might be better with them but I just don’t. They stay on very well and in the proper place (even during flip turns). I prefer wearing a swim cap with them as it presses the disc speaker things to my cheek bones slightly. Just a bit better overall sound that way.
Ultimately, it was a great purchase for me since I don’t really care for lap swimming to be honest. It adds some extra enjoyment.
As far as the Tayogo Force… I have no experience with that.
Anyone use the Aftershokz Xtrainers or Tayogo Force?
I use the Xtrainers and LOVE them. I have found that the sound quality is more crisp while using ear plugs, but you can still hear fine without them.
Game changer for swimming
Yes, I have the Aftershokz Xtrainerz. I actually used them this morning at my local school pool. They store music on an internal memory similar to an iPod shuffle (not blue tooth as that doesn’t seem to work well if at all through water). They can be used out of the water of course. Being water submersible they are great for drenching runs in the rain.
For reference… I’ve tried the Finis Duo and the Underwater Audio waterproof iPod shuffle. Both of those I could only swim a few laps before they needed to be readjusted, get water out of my ear to hear the darn music again, etc. Very frustrating and gave up on them quickly. The Xtrainerz are awesome. Expensive - but a great product. The battery lasts like 6-7 hours. Running in cold temps (like 10 degrees F or lower) drains the battery more quickly. Sound quality is dampened slightly under water but is still quite impressive. *For reference, I have mild-mid hearing loss and I can still hear individual words under the water.
I do not use ear plugs. Sound might be better with them but I just don’t. They stay on very well and in the proper place (even during flip turns). I prefer wearing a swim cap with them as it presses the disc speaker things to my cheek bones slightly. Just a bit better overall sound that way.
Ultimately, it was a great purchase for me since I don’t really care for lap swimming to be honest. It adds some extra enjoyment.
As far as the Tayogo Force… I have no experience with that.
Help me understand the feedback here on Finis Duo. Personally, I am not a super big fan of the company, sometimes I hate the company, but this Finis Duo works the same way was as the Xtrainers, except they have been around for about 15 years. I am not understanding how water in your ears would affect sound quality in your ears when it is bone conduction too. Wouldn’t water in the ears affect the Xtrainers as well? And the fact that the Finis Duo attaches to the goggle would make it not shift, and if you are using a cap, then it is definitely not going to shift. Now, I will say that the type of goggle is crucial for a pleasant experience with the Duo and ear plugs make for a better experience.
I saw that you posted on another thread before the Xtrainerz ever came out that you were waiting for it to come out so I can’t tell if your feedback comes as a Aftershok superfan or whether this is part of a Aftershok Gorilla marketing campaign. I would like to try the Xtrainerz too and give them an honest chance so I have more experience but as it stands I would be just as skeptical. In addition, part of why I haven’t like the Finis is they always break eventually. It has gotten better as of late, but the product has been made to endure swimming and chlorine for years.
The water in ear comment was meant just for the iPod shuffle device because that actually goes in the ears. I should have been more clear on that. The little tree plugs with that device came in various sizes. I never could get the fit to reduce the problem no matter which size I used. The Finis Duo as you mentioned is bone conduction like the Xtrainerz. The Finis Duo just didn’t sit tight to my cheek bones. With my hearing limitations, the sound quality was still garbled. It might have been better if I wore the swim cap over my goggles to press the device down. But I wear my goggles over my swim cap. The Finis Duo also felt sort of cheap in quality. I didn’t use them long enough to have them fail so that’s just my perception. Maybe they last, not sure.
As far as an Aftershokz superfan… nope. I have never owned any of their stuff before the Xtrainerz. My wife had a regular Bluetooth pair years ago. Yes, i made a post prior to the public release of the Xtrainerz that I wanted to get one because I was excited to try the new product. I had read a couple pre-release reviews that seemed promising. I’m just someone who doesn’t care for lap swimming and have long wanted something as a music distraction that worked. I bought the Xtrainerz the day they were released, and have used it quite a few times since. I don’t think I’ve even made another post about them until this question came up. It’s not like i started this thread or something. Just answering another person’s questions. Not sure I like being alleged as a marketing poser. Dig further into my past Slowtwitch comments; you’ll find that I’m a mid-40s, middle pack athlete at best, and don’t post very often on this site.
Finis Duo = 2 pods that kinda hang off your goggle straps… I guess its your google straps that are holding them tight to your cheek.
Afreshokz have a metal band( same one they use in the other headphones) to keep the bone conduction part in contact with you
I periodically use the Finis Duo and have a love/hate relationship with the device. I always swim with silicone ear plugs, so the sound quality is actually very good. The issue I found with them are that you need to find just the right “sweet spot” to put them on your goggle straps. They have a tendency (at least with my head) to start sliding forward, and then one goggle or the other with start to leak in water. The other thing is the goggle straps need to be loosened a bit, as the device goes under the goggle straps. Goggles will be too tight otherwise.
I got the Aftershokz as a Xmas gift and really like them. I’ve been using them in an Endless Pool (with the included ear plugs) and while running. So far so good. Battery life has been at least 6 hours, maybe more.
Is there a headset out there that allows to listen to streamed music (spotify or other)? I understand bluetooth does not work in water but it could still exist to connect to a smartphone (although I guess wifi would also be required to get the music, like on music-compatible watches…)
Anyone use the Aftershokz Xtrainers or Tayogo Force?
I have 3 of the aftershokz products including the xtrainerz and will NEVER EVER purchase another. They completely ghosted me on a warranty claim. Paperwork submitted, emails, calls, text messages, chats, and no response. So, 2 work and 1 is a paperweight.
I got a pair of the Aftershokz Trainers and have used them several times. The only thing I would say is that after some time in the water, my swim cap gets to feeling tight over my ears where the piece rests. Could just be my pony tail in the cap and the goggle straps and the over the ear headphones. The sounds is awesome. I really enjoy them for running as well. They are more comfortable running than swimming.
Have you guys figured out how to get audible books or podcasts copied onto the Xtrainerz?
Anyone use the Aftershokz Xtrainers or Tayogo Force?
I have 3 of the aftershokz products including the xtrainerz and will NEVER EVER purchase another. They completely ghosted me on a warranty claim. Paperwork submitted, emails, calls, text messages, chats, and no response. So, 2 work and 1 is a paperweight.
Anecdote the other direction - I managed to kill a pair of the titanium ones and got a warranty replacement within a week (this was September 2019, so no idea what things are like now). They do send their emails from a nonexistent inbox (support1@warranty.aftershokz.com), so didn’t get a response to checking my address, but they arrived so I didn’t need about further contact.
Anyone use the Aftershokz Xtrainers or Tayogo Force?
I have 3 of the aftershokz products including the xtrainerz and will NEVER EVER purchase another. They completely ghosted me on a warranty claim. Paperwork submitted, emails, calls, text messages, chats, and no response. So, 2 work and 1 is a paperweight.
Anecdote the other direction - I managed to kill a pair of the titanium ones and got a warranty replacement within a week (this was September 2019, so no idea what things are like now). They do send their emails from a nonexistent inbox (support1@warranty.aftershokz.com), so didn’t get a response to checking my address, but they arrived so I didn’t need about further contact.
Interesting timing on your response. My titanium headphones failed last week. It seems their warranty process is now outsourced and I received the return shipping label without hassle and mailed them back last week. No word yet on a replacement but I’ll remain guardedly optimistic for the time being.
Interesting timing on your response. My titanium headphones failed last week. It seems their warranty process is now outsourced and I received the return shipping label without hassle and mailed them back last week. No word yet on a replacement but I’ll remain guardedly optimistic for the time being.
Interesting - they didn’t even ask for my failed pair back. Hope the process is smooth for you from here out!
I have the Xtrainerz; they work great in the pool. The sound is def. louder if you use earplugs, but you can hear them fine without (FWIW, I use earplugs regardless). Stay in place during turns and don’t become uncomfortable during long sessions.
I would be nice if it had BT for non-swimming use, but it’s a first gen product that is fairly purpose-built.
Just ordered.
Do you think I need to wear a cap…or can I just put the goggle straps on top?
I’m using these and absolutely love them so far. Lasts about 3 hours using the FM radio, and about 5 hours playing music files. I run and swim with them. If you put the back of the headset in the rear split of your goggle strap, it stays in place great in the pool. FM reception can be dicey in the pool, and only picks up really strong stations, but FM out running is great. As for sound quality, it’s certainly not high fidelity, but it’s great in the water… and louder under water than above water. In fact I’ve had to turn it down, as it gets loud enough to hurt my ears… which I find hard to explain, because its not even going through my ears. Heck, it works better with ear plugs in. I hope these last, as I’ve gone through countless other “pod” type radios with wired ear buds… and they never last more than a few months. I’ll probably never go back to ear buds or wires… the bone conduction is awesome, simple, and hassle free, and you can hear outside noise, and even carry on a conversation while still jamming.
Just saw this and wanted to add, that I got the above for Christmas in 2019. I just got back from the pool this morning. They are still going strong, over 13 months later, of daily hard use and abuse. Best headphones I’ve ever had, and the first ever, that have lasted more than a year.
I’ve used the H2O audio with the ipod in the box and ear pieces which have always worked and I tend to go back to. I’ve also tried the Finis Duo and really liked that you can stream music vs. having to download to the ipod or the Xtrainerz which I’ve also used. Listening to the same 10 songs that you download gets old after a while and it was nice to stream music with the Finis. Only problem was keeping them in place and stuffing them under the goggle strap which I’ve broken a few straps in the process. Ordered the Zygo over a month ago and just got them in today. They are similar to the Xtrainerz, just a bit more bulky, but you can stream music vs. downloading. Hope to try them out tonight when I get home and get in the pool and will let you know.