H2O Audio RIPT Lite Review – Open-fit sports earbuds

H20 Audio specialise in fitness focussed headphones and traditionally uses bone conduction such as the H20 Audio Snowpro, but more recently launched two new models included the over ear H2O Audio RIPT Ultra and the open-ear RIPT Lite I am reviewing today.

For transparency, I generally don’t like this style of earbud. I have big ears, they never fit in securely, and the open-fit design means that bass response is significantly impacted. However, I have been pleasantly surprised by these.

Features

100% Sweatproof

The RIPT Lite features a completely sweatproof design (IPX5), making it ideal for high-intensity workouts, sports and active lifestyles. These earbuds are engineered for both performance and comfort during exercise, though they’re not suitable for underwater use.

Premium Sound

The earbuds deliver excellent audio quality through specially developed 13mm composite drivers. These provide rich, immersive sound with powerful bass response that enhances your listening experience.

Bluetooth

The RIPT Lite offers both wireless and wired connectivity options, including compatibility with in-flight entertainment systems. It features Bluetooth 5.4 technology with intuitive touch controls for straightforward operation.

Enhanced Noise Cancelling

With Real Isolation Tech providing 30dB of active sound isolation, the RIPT Lite offers effective noise cancellation to help you maintain concentration during demanding activities.

Extra Battery Life

You’ll get a substantial 5 hours of continuous playback time from the RIPT Lite earbuds, extending to 30 hours when used with the charging case—enough power to last through your longest training sessions.

Beyond Gym

The RIPT Lite is built for the round-the-clock athlete lifestyle, proving equally useful during workouts, travel, recovery periods, office use, or when you need to concentrate before your next competition.

Design / Fit

With earbuds of this design, the fit is highly dependent on the person’s anatomy. Traditional earbuds have different-sized silicon ear tips to customise the fit based on your ear, whereas these are one size.

I have big ears, and I have never had a pair of open-fit earbuds like this fit comfortably in my ears. These are OK, the earbuds stay in and I can wobble my head, walk around and do light exercise without issues, but they don’t feel secure and vigorous exercise requires regular adjustments.

That being said, my partner prefers this style of earbud, and I have noticed women tend to favour this style (based on my limited sample size of friends and acquaintances). I think this style of earbuds typically works better with smaller ears.

The H2O Audio RIPT Lite earbuds are remarkably lightweight at just 3.7 grams each, which is lighter than a peanut. This ultra-light design makes them nearly unnoticeable during wear, which is a significant advantage for long listening sessions. The shorter stem gives them a more subtle look compared to many competitors, and the overall build quality feels premium with a mix of matte and glossy finishes that avoid the cheap plastic feel common in this price range.

The charging case deserves special mention for its thoughtful design. Rather than the typical vague LED indicators, it features a clear digital display showing the exact battery percentage for the case and indicators for each earbud. This practical addition removes the guesswork from battery management. The case itself is compact with rounded edges, easily fitting into pockets or gym bags, and has a secure magnetic mechanism that holds the earbuds firmly in place.

Sound Quality

Due to the design, earbuds like this tend to struggle with sound quality. The lack of a seal means that bass is typically much more subdued. While environmental awareness is a big selling point, it is also a downside, things like wind and traffic noise can drown out the sound.

These claim to have ANC, and it does seem to help, but again, due to the design, it will never compete with earbuds with a sealed design.

With all those caveats out of the way, I was pleasantly surprised at how good these sound. They do have very good bass while keeping plenty of detail in the mids. I’d say the highs struggle a little bit, but I am sensitive to highs and prefer them to be slightly recessed, so this is fine by me.

The 13mm composite drivers deliver a well-balanced sound profile that handles most music genres capably. The bass response is awe-inspiring for open-fit earbuds, offering more punch than you might expect from this design. Vocals come through with clarity, and there’s decent separation between instruments, though audiophiles might notice some limitations in the soundstage compared to higher-end models.

The active noise cancellation provides about 30dB of sound isolation, which helps reduce background noise without completely blocking it out. This makes the RIPT Lite suitable for gym environments or moderate street noise, though they won’t match the noise-cancelling performance of sealed in-ear designs during commutes on noisy public transport.

Battery Life

The earbuds provide approximately 5 hours of playback per charge, which is adequate but not exceptional by current standards. The charging case extends this to a total of 30 hours before requiring a power source, allowing for several days of moderate use without needing to plug in.

One nice feature is the LED display on the case that shows precise battery levels rather than the vague indicator lights found on most competitors.

Controls and Usability

The RIPT Lite features intuitive touch controls that work reliably once you’ve learned the system. On the right earbud, a single press plays or pauses music, a double press increases volume, and a long press skips to the next track. The left earbud handles noise cancellation toggling with a single press, volume reduction with a double press, and previous track selection with a long press. A triple press activates voice assistants like Siri.

The earbuds provide voice notifications announcing various actions such as power on, connection status, and ANC toggling. While helpful initially, these vocal prompts might become repetitive for some users over time.

Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity offers stable connections with multi-point support, allowing you to pair with multiple devices simultaneously. The pairing process is straightforward—simply open the case, and the earbuds enter pairing mode automatically if they haven’t been connected before.

Call quality is serviceable thanks to the six built-in microphones, which help reduce some background noise. However, in windy conditions or very noisy environments, voice clarity can still suffer compared to earbuds specifically designed for call performance.

Price and Alternative Options

The H2O Audio RIPT Lite earbuds have an RRP of £94.

Apple Airpods are the obvious alternative, the AirPods 4 are £129 and have an IP54 rating.

Huawei have the FreeBuds 5 which were around £140 but don’t seem to be available anymore or the FreeBuds SE 3 for £40.

SoundPeats have the Air3 for around £53

There are also a growing number of earbuds with newer earclip designs, such as the Soundpeats Pearl Clip and Soundcore c40i

Overall

I like the H2O Audio RIPT Lite earbuds much more than expected. They sound surprisingly good for open-fit earbuds, and if you have smaller ears, I am sure they will be great.

My main criticism is the price. If you are an iPhone user then the AirPods 4 are a much more sensible buy for £35 more and they have been as low as £115. While the IP rating is lower, it should be more than adequate for most users. My partner ran several marathons with hers and had no problems. You then also get all the advanced features of the Airpods.

For Android users, I can’t vouch for the above recommendations but the Huawei FreeBuds 4 sounded good, and I think most brands have figured out how to make this design sound reasonably good.

Overall, the H2O Audio RIPT Lite earbuds are a pleasant surprise in the open-fit category, offering better sound than expected and thoughtful design touches that enhance the user experience. They’re worth considering for active users who prioritise comfort and sweat resistance, though iPhone users might find more value in AirPods despite the higher price tag.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.