Photo: Spencer Higgins

Swimming can be a real drag. Literally. Water is almost 800 times denser than air. Which is why you might need a little Kanye to get you through your morning laps.

Regardless of whether you’re a triathlete or a casual freestyler, this walnut-sized MP3 player is a potential boon. The gasketed headphones screw tight into the jack to prevent leakage.

Tracks can be quickly dragged and dropped via USB cable. The sound quality isn’t stellar; actually, it’s quite tinny. But we’ll trade a little fidelity for the comfort and versatility of a a 0.74-ounce, backstroke-proof player. The tiny G2 disappeared when we affixed it to a set of goggles or the included elastic arm/headband.

One easy-to-locate button allows simple toggling between shuffle and regular play. The other controls are obvious and no-nonsense, too.

So what’s not to like? For starters, those play-skip-volume buttons are tiny. Not such a problem when you’re holding the device in your hand, but frustrating when you’re fumbling blind with the device strapped to your head. Plus, the headphone jack is 2.5 mm, so you can’t swap in a standard pair of running headphones if, say, you plan to use the G2 at the gym (we did). Otherwise, your stuck toting the bundled extension cable (which isn’t waterproof).

Lastly, the backside clip isn’t nearly as secure as small nonwaterproof devices like the Shuffle. For tunes in the pool or sea, this is the best player we’ve found. But take this little fish out of water, and it mostly flails.

WIRED Up to 4 GB of memory. Plug-and-play USB is Mac and PC compatible. Six-hour battery life. Clip features a slot you can weave a goggle strap through for a more secure fit. Soft mesh carrying case for headband and spare earbuds.

TIRED Spare extension cable isn’t waterproof. (Yes, really!) Clip is too flimsy for, say, mounting to shorts for jogging. Skip swimming the English Channel: It’s not supposed to stay in the water for longer than 30 minutes. Not recommended for divers, either, as it’s only rated to 10 feet. 2.5-mm headphone jack limits versatility.