This is our review of the Nank Runner Diver2 headphones, a combo set of Bluetooth 5.3 bone and MP3 headphones. The Nank Runner Diver2 are optimized for triathletes, and for those of us who share their passions: cycling, swimming, and running. They are also an excellent pick to keep you entertained while you are working out, walking, or gardening. Or, if you are like me, riding transit, accompanying your partner on shopping trips, or trying to stay calm and patient while you walk a very old dog. Basically, they are a discreet way to keep yourself entertained while still staying fully in touch with your surroundings, and not annoying other people with intrusive sound.
Six-month Update: These headphones have turned out to be my top pick for swim/cycle headphones, because they have outlasted my Shokz and other headphones. They just keep on working well, despite the fact that I swim about 50 laps almost every day. Check out the current price on Amazon here.
First Impressions of the Nank Runner Diver2 Headphones
From the moment you open the sleek box you can see that these are premium headphones. I liked the shape, which subtly mimic dolphins. Of course, I am biased because dolphins are pretty much my favorite animals (tied with dogs).
The headphones arrive precharged, and pair instantly and effortlessly the first time you use them (and every subsequent time).
When you do have to charge them, it takes just 1.5 hours of fast charging to get them fully charged, after which you can expect to enjoy 10 hours at 60% volume.
Charging the Nank Runner Diver2 Headphones
That brings me to charging. I notice that some reviewers complain about proprietary headphones. I guess this is because most reviewers are under 40 years old, and have no problem seeing which way up to plug in a micro-USB plug. I am not that fortunate, so I actually prefer proprietary charges. They are simply so much easier to plug in.
In this case, they are super easy. The charger is magnetized (like Apple but without the annoying software restrictions that are designed to protect your device from theft but in reality just drive you crazy). So provided you line the charger up the right way, it will snap smartly into place. If you line it up backwards, the magnetism will repel the charges. So, it is pretty hard to do it wrong.
In fact, you would have to be fiercely determined to mess them up to do it wrong. And then you would succeed in your mission, because they would short circuit. Luckily, this is close to impossible to do because … well … magnetic attraction versus magnetic repulsion.
Quality of Sound of the Nank Runner Diver2 Headphones
This is always the first question from people who are more accustomed to regular headphones than bone conduction headphones. “Yes, but what is the sound like?” In those situations, I always offer to let them hear. Unlike regular headphones, you can share bone conduction headphones, because they don’t have the ick factor of ever being plugged into your ears. Every time, they get that awed look, and say something like: “Wow, awesome!”
The same is true for these Nank Runner Diver2 headphones. Nank (formerly Naenka, but they have rebranded) have done an awesome job on the sound quality. Honestly, it’s hard to believe that this level of sound is possible with bone conduction. The technology has come incredibly far in the years that I have been reviewing them.
Using Nank Runner Diver2 Headphones while Cycling
These headphones fit neatly and comfortably under a cycling helmet. They provide me with high quality, audible entertainment while cycling. At the same time, of course my ears are left wide open, so I feel safe because I can hear traffic around me. This is the beauty of bone conduction headphones. Because the sound gets to you via vibrations on your cheekbones, your ears are left open to keep in touch with your surroundings.
Bone conduction open ear headphones are really the only way to go while cycling, in my opinion. It just does not make sense to plug up your ears while cycling. I know that some people think that the safest way of all is not to use headphones at all. But for those of us who spend many hours a week on a bike, that can get boring.
The same applies to running. If you are fit enough to run for hours every week, you deserve to be able to be entertained while you are doing it, in my opinion. Bone conduction open ear headphones are a great compromise, in that you get great sound quality, but you can still hear any noises around you (cars, cougars, bears, etc.).
Quality of Sound in the Water
The Nank Runner Diver2 headphones are not just Bluetooth headphones for your cycling or other land-based activities. They also have an integrated hard drive so that you can use them in the water. In the water, the quality of sound is excellent, and they work well for me on long training swims.
Of course, this means that the Nank Runner Diver2 have an impressive rating for waterproofness – IP68. The IP stands for Ingress Protection. IP68 is the highest possible level of protection from the elements. The 6 means that they can withstand a dust storm for 6 hours, and the 8 means that they can withstand immersion under water, under pressure, for long periods of time. Longer than I can withstand, for sure.
Transferring Files on the Nank Runner Diver2 Headphones
Transferring files is dead easy. You don’t have to deal with any annoying apps (yes, I’m talking about Apple again). Instead, you just use your regular file management software on your computer to transfer any files you want to.
As other reviewers have noted, these headphones inexplicably ship with three slightly strange files already loaded. Two of them are .flac files, and I don’t know what those are, so I just deleted them. One was an amusing pirate shanty. I listened to that to evaluate the sound, and then deleted it as well.
With any MP3 headphones that you use while swimming, moving between tracks can be tricky. Think about it – you are in the water, focused on swimming instead of drowning. You are already the only person in the water wearing headphones. You need your arms to continue swimming, rather than drowning. How much time do you want to spend trying to push one of three tiny buttons two times to advance tracks?
For that reason, I like to preload my swimming headphones with only the tracks I plan to listen to, nothing else.
That said, it is simple to switch to MP3 mode once you are in the water. Three firm clicks on the power button, and a melodious woman’s voice will tell you that you are now in MP3 mode. The sound quality in the water is almost as good as on land, and will help you through the monotony of a long swimming workout.
Note that the small print in the instructions cautions that you should not exceed 40 minutes in the water, you should be careful of soapy suds, and you must dry the headphones after use. This is all to prevent long-term degradation and corrosion of the microphone. Fair enough. I am still impressed that it is even possible to swim with headphones. So are most of my fellow swimmers.
I have to add that I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could actually read the small print on the included instructions. Yes, it was still too small (as aways), but at least it was black type on a white background. I wish other manufacturers would do this. It’s not rocket science. Black type on a white background is simply the easiest way for human beings to read. Just because we have the technology to print lime green on pale yellow does not mean that you should do it. Ever.
Microphone on the Nank Runner Diver2 Headphones
The Nank Runner Diver2 headphones have a built-in noise-cancelling microphone – which is essential if you want to make calls while you are wearing them. They work really well. The first generation of Nank Runner Diver2 headphones had a tiny cord to plug the hole of the microphone. I have not tried those, but it looks very precarious to me. With this upgrade, Nank has improved the technology with a better waterproof structure, so you don’t have to worry about protecting the microphone hole. For that reason, if you plan to swim with these, I advise getting the Nank 2, not the Nank first generation.
I have not tried to make a phone call while swimming, because that would be kind of silly. However, you could definitely make calls while floating on an inflatable in the pool. Provided your phone was pool-side. As soon as your head is out of the water, you can use Bluetooth to make calls. However, that does bring me to my one suggestion for improvement for these headphones.
One Software Issue
One thing that did annoy me when I was swimming with these headphones was that although I was in MP3 mode, the headphones still kept trying to connect with Bluetooth. So, as I was leaving the edge of the pool, I would get a voice saying pleasantly “Bluetooth disconnected. Pairing.” Then she would shut up until I completed my two laps there and back. As I returned to my starting point, I would again have my music interrupted by her saying “Bluetooth connected.” Flip turn, swim two strokes, and hear her say again “Bluetooth disconnected. Pairing.” Yes, that did annoy me. I am not a saint. No matter how sweet her voice was, I did not want to hear her giving me useless information every time I completed a lap.
If I wanted Bluetooth, I would not have changed to MP3 mode. I have not had this annoying experience with the (very few) other manufacturers who make combo MP3 and Bluetooth headphones. The workaround for now is simply to disable your Bluetooth on your phone before you start swimming. But in the long term, I hope Nank will hear this criticism and update the software so that the headphones stop trying to pair with Bluetooth while they are in MP3 mode.
Most people are either swimming or cycling or running – not any of these at the same time. The only time this would be useful would be if you were doing a triathlon, and the headphones would pair up with your phone again automatically, once you finished your swim and were athletically leaping onto your bike. Come to think of it, that would be really cool. But seeing as I have no triathlons in my future, it is just never going to come in handy for me. Plus, to be realistic, if I was doing a triathlon, I would need to keep every iota of my attention focused on the event, not on listening to podcasts.
Bottom Line on the Nank Runner Diver2 Headphones
These headphones will make an excellent companion for you for pretty much any sport or activity that you like to do. All this while still leaving you in touch with your surroundings, so that you are not sacrificing safety for entertainment. The quality and sound are premium, and they are so light you won’t even notice them on your head. All in all, we highly recommend the Nank Runner Diver2.
Get 15% off a pair of Nank Runner Diver2 headphones
For a limited time, use this link to get your own pair of Nank Runner Diver2 headphones, with 15% off. Just use the code Cyclist at checkout.
Alternatively, check them out on Amazon. Right now they are available at 20% off.
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