How I Fell in Love with Swimming Again with the Aid of Finis’s SwiMP3v2 – Underwater MP3 Player
A Product review by Sean McKenzie
There’s a community pool around the corner, and I have been contemplating dusting off my swim trunks and getting in some exercise. Now it’s not just a little wading pool, it’s a large pool with divided lap lanes—at least 12 lanes. This wouldn’t be such a big deal if swimming wasn’t so boring. You see, here’s my dilemma. I love music, and my iPod is a permanent appendage attached to my ears. I never leave home without it. So the thought of me shedding my little headphones for more than a few minutes (to shower and shave) is simply not feasible. Imagine the sheer delight of discovering SwiMP3v2!
The SwiMP3v2 underwater MP3 player is amazing. All I did was plug the attached USB cable into my computer and loaded my favorite songs off iTunes. I charged the battery overnight and first thing in the morning, I was ready to go. Now mind you, I was very skeptical that this little gadget wouldn’t work. I wore myFinis Latex Swim Cap, placed my SwiMP3v2 player on my ears, and wrapped the cord on the back of my goggles. Just for added protection, I put on my nose clip and slid into the cold water at 7:00 in the morning. I pushed the on button, half expecting to hear nothing. But instead, the beautiful sonic quality of my favorite tunes blasted through. I did my laps while listening to music, and before I knew it, I had been swimming for over an hour.
The SwiMP3v2 has incredible underwater sound quality, unlike standard players that rely on the transmission of sound through air or water, delivering a muffled noise. The SwiMP3v2
uses bone conduction (the direct transfer of sound vibrations from the cheek bone to the inner ear) to provide the swimmer with exceptional sound clarity. It is fully waterproof and can be used with all levels of swim strokes.
I have been swimming 3-4 times a week, and with 256 megabytes of space on my new SwiMP3v2, I have continued to load even more songs. Oh yeah, and since swimming is a breeze now, I have progressed from my pathetic 13 laps my first time out to a whopping 35 laps per hourly routine.
Finis also puts out an outstanding goggle. My swim partner used to be a competitive swimmer in college, and she complained that none of her goggles kept the water out completely. After every session, she’d emerge from her workouts with bloodshot eyes. I offered her the Finis Crystal adult goggles for competitive swimmers, and for the first time, water didn’t seep in. The goggles, however, are tight and did leave an indentation around her eyes. This was a concern to her. She is a 40-something woman. If you are youthful with
elastic skin, I would recommend the Finis Crystal Goggles. But for those concerned about wrinkles, I would consider another kind—the suction is intense. But the goggles do serve their purpose, and they do keep that pool water out of your eyes with the added benefit of no fog! So you can swim and see clearly below and above water.
Lastly, my partner was also looking for a swim cap that could keep the water out. She complained that it was a hassle every time to have to wash and blow-dry her hair, especially because she swam before going into work. The Finis Latex Swim Cap could not keep the 
water out. Her hair was drenched every time. But she discovered if she put conditioner in her already wet hair and put the Finis Latex Swim Cap on, her hair managed to keep its luster. She would wash her hair out after her workouts and go about her day. So if you’re looking for a cap to keep the water out, the Finis Latex Swim Cap can’t do that. But it is good for protecting your hair from the extensive damage chlorine can cause.
SwiMP3v2 Additional Info:
PC and Mac Compatible
256 MB
Rechargeable Battery
Supported Formats: MP3 & WMA
Weighs Only 2 Ounces.
Plugs Directly into USB Port, No Cable Required.
The SwiMP3v2 retails for about $100.00.
Finis Silicone Caps are tear-resistant, offer maximum comfort, as well as come in a variety of colors, and retail for about $7.99
Finis Crystal Goggles retail for $9.99. There are a variety of goggles available, ranging in price and comfort. The prices range from $3.99 – $19.99.
To learn more about Finis products, visit their website:www.finisinc.com.
