It is a beautiful day and you are jogging when suddenly the weather changes.
Rain quickly turns from a light drizzle to a full-blown downpour. The hood of your hood is pulling up over your head, but the Bluetooth headphones are already soaked.
Are those headphones likely to be affected by this?
Will they be able to withstand a rain splash?
Are Bluetooth headphones suitable for use in the rain?
Your Bluetooth headphones will have an IPX rating which will determine whether or not they can be used in the rain. Rain is probably not an appropriate application for those with IPX1-3 ratings. A higher IPX rating indicates that the headphones will perform better against splashes of water and resist damage.
Your choice of Bluetooth headphones has a great deal to do with the sound quality.
Rain is generally not a problem for them.
Bluetooth headphones contain a small magnet, but it is not powerful enough to attract lightning.
The possibility of electrocution is not a concern, however what about damage to the headphones themselves?
You probably won’t damage your headphones if you wear them for a few hours during a downpour, but do not make this a habit.
Having your Bluetooth headphones on while running in the rain could cause water damage if done repeatedly.
Again, this will depend upon the type of headphones you own.
The IPX rating will be assigned to each set.
A Bluetooth headphone’s water resistance varies from IPX1 (withstanding a few drops of water for 10 minutes) to IPX9K (withstanding high temperatures and strong jets of water).
Wearing Bluetooth headphones in the rain is not recommended if the headphones have a lower IPX rating.
The higher IPX-rated sets can however be worn without any significant concern.
Which Bluetooth headphones are the most durable in the rain?
Let’s talk about whether or not you should wear your particular set in the rain and which set is best for consistent use during severe weather conditions.
How IPX Ratings Work
Let me explain what IPX ratings are all about.
IPX refers to international protection, but can also be referred to as ingress protection.
The term is generally used to describe a device’s level of resistance to water, dust, fluids, etc.
According to IPX, there are nine levels:
- A device with this rating can withstand a drop of water falling vertically onto it for no more than 10 minutes. Rainfall of one millimeter per minute can also be tolerated.
- IPX2: An IPX2 rating demonstrates that the device can withstand drops of water if it is tilted upward at a 15-degree angle. A rainfall of three millimeters per minute is no problem.
- The device should be able to withstand water sprays if it is IPX3 rated.
- A device can withstand splashes of water coming from any direction at the IPX4 level. Furthermore, this device is more resistant to being submerged in water than the previous three levels.
- An IPX5 device can withstand a small water jet coming from any direction with a 6.3mm nozzle. In addition, its water resistance should be ideally 12.5 liters per minute.
- A product that has been rated IPX6 is capable of withstanding a strong water jet traveling at it from any angle with a 12.5mm nozzle as well as surviving 100 litres of water per minute.
- A device rated as IPX7 is able to withstand immersion in water for up to 30 minutes without becoming damaged. A device rated as IPX7 is capable of withstanding water immersion for 30 minutes without becoming damaged.
- An IPX8-rated device is capable of withstanding immersion in even deeper water. It should be capable of withstanding submersion in water for at least 30 minutes. Therefore, it can be considered to be water resistant.
- Water-resistant devices meeting the IPX9K standard are able to survive powerful jets of water with no problem. In addition, it can withstand high water temperatures and high water pressure. Including this, it offers the highest level of waterproofing of any device on the market.
Wearing Bluetooth headphones while it is raining is it dangerous?
Bluetooth headphones are generally safe to wear in wet conditions.
It should be noted, however, that rain is acidic in nature, which means that if it seeps into your headphones, it may damage their internal components.
Even though you can buy headphones that are water-resistant, none of them are actually waterproof.
It’s still likely that your headphones won’t catch fire in a storm unless you are wearing an excessive amount of electrostatic charges on your body.
In a thunderstorm, should I refrain from wearing Bluetooth headphones?
Lightning has been reported to strike people wearing Bluetooth headphones during thunderstorms.
Despite the fact that a lightning bolt is unlikely to directly strike the headphones, it may indirectly affect them.
However, these situations are extremely rare, so you should be in no danger.
Even if your headphones are able to resist splashes of water emanating from any direction, you may still suffer internal damage.
High IPX-rated Bluetooth headphones
Bluetooth headphone sets with high IPX ratings are available on the market.
On-ear headphones that provide up to 18 hours of battery life, the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 500 are designed by Plantronics.
The devices are equipped with SBC Bluetooth codecs.
These headphones are lightweight and sturdy enough to withstand a walk in the rain.
In addition, you may wish to consider the IPX7-rated Mpow Flame Waterproof Headphones.
The headphones are protected against immersion in water by a coating of nanotech materials.
They fit comfortably around the ear and provide a 9-hour battery life. These headphones feature a heavy midrange and bass component.
In the event that your Bluetooth headphones become wet, what should you do?
The following steps can be taken if your Bluetooth headphones become wet, but you must take action quickly.
To avoid water damage to your headphones, I recommend taking the following steps:
- Dry the headphones thoroughly using a clean, soft towel.
- It is recommended that all removable parts be removed so that they can be air dried.
- In order to remove the water droplets, gently shake the headphone.
- Do not try to reassemble your headphones before they have been air dried for 48 hours.
Conclusions
If your Bluetooth headphones have an IPX rating of 4 or above, you may be able to wear them in a light downpour. IPX ratings of 4 or above are considered more water-resistant. Once inside, you should immediately air-dry your headphones if they become wet. This will prevent permanent damage to the headphones.
