I have accumulated over 1500 hours cycling on Zwift, the massive multiplayer online cycling and running training program. That translates to 63 days of cycling and during that time I have had some truly unique experiences, including riding together and interviewing Tour de France champion, Andy Schleck.
Zwift makes riding with friends from across the world the norm and chatting with them using various communication mediums like Discord or WhatsApp common place. However, one of the biggest challenges for me has always been hearing the conversation clearly. Over the years, I have tried a range of different earphones that, for various reasons, have failed to deliver the expected results, until now.
H2O Audio and Zwift
Zwift have partnered with H2O Audio to deliver a product that was launched during the recent edition of the Tour de France. It was debuted by Zwift Ambassador, Mathieu van der Poel, during his warmup routine in the Individual Time Trial. This product is called the RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones.
H2O Audio, a San Diego based company that develops innovative, high-performance audio solutions, collaborated with Zwift to launch the RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones.
“This partnership with Zwift is about more than sound; it’s about elevating the training experience,” said Kristian Rauhala, founder and CEO of H2O Audio. “From virtual climbs to real-world endurance sessions, RIPT Ultra delivers the motivation athletes need to stay focused, energized, and moving forward.”
H2O Audio worked with Zwift by taking one of their existing products and redesigning it to give it a feel that would appeal to a specific audience with a limited edition. As H20 Audio note, “this Tour de France Limited Edition bundle marks the most ambitious product release in H2O Audio’s history, reflecting the brand’s promise to take music and movement Below, Above & Beyond.”
I reached out to H2O Audio to better understand how this partnership developed and they explained that “The idea for the collaboration actually came from Kristian [Rauhala, Founder], who has been a Zwift user since 2016. Knowing firsthand how intense indoor training can get—and how central music is to motivation—he saw a unique opportunity to combine H2O Audio’s sweatproof audio technology with the immersive world of Zwift. The result is a product built specifically for athletes who train hard indoors, one that enhances both performance and the overall experience.”
About the RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones
The RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones are “designed for 24/7 athlete lifestyle; workout at the gym, isolate and focus for your race, travel, or recover at home.” They are packed with features, which include:
- RIPT (Real Isolation Performance Tech) Active Noise Cancellation of 30 decibels (dB).
- Ultra-long battery life of 50 hours.
- Wireless Bluetooth with a built-in microphone.
- AUX audio jack (3.5mm) and wire for external audio source.
- 100% Sweatproof design with removable and washable silicone ear cushions (Patent Pending).
- Powered by custom-developed 45mm drivers that deliver rich sound and deep bass, with a frequency range of 20Hz – 20kHz.
- Weight 299g.
H2O Audio explained that “developing the RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones took several rounds of refinement to ensure the product could stand up to the demands of high-sweat indoor workouts. H2O Audio focused heavily on optimizing their sweatproof technology and perfecting the interchangeable silicone ear cushions. Early prototypes were tested by Zwift CEO Eric Min and Steve Beckett, CMO, who both gave enthusiastic feedback. From there, the teams collaborated on finalizing the fit, colour scheme, and packaging—right down to special voiceovers by cycling commentator Matt Stephens—to make it feel authentically Zwift while staying true to H2O Audio’s performance roots.”
Cost and what you get
Priced at £228.00 / $249.99 USD for your money you get the following in a Zwift-styled box:
- RIPT Ultra headset
- Hardshell protective case
- Interchangeable ear cushions (black)
- Audio cable (to connect to devices)
- USB type A charging cable
- Instruction manual (in Zwift font)
Design
These are well-built, orange earphones with Zwift’s large white Z logo embossed on the side making the RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones standout from afar. There are also small details that Zwift users will appreciate.
Headphones – The headband is light grey in colour with “Ride On” written on the inside, which is the friendly encouragement given within the game and the top part of the headband is padded and sweat-repellent, ensuring the headset sits comfortably on your head and can be easily cleaned after use. For larger heads the headphones can be extended so they sit over your ears and the light grey colour compliments the orange earphones and silicone ear cushions, which are sweat-repellent and allow for easy maintenance.
The earphones rotate to sit on your head comfortably and the ear cushions can be replaced, with a black, non-silicone comfort pair, which is included. Inside the ear cushions are the letters “L” and “R.” This helps you put the headset on the correct way.
The headphones have 45mm drivers that deliver the sound, which is 5mm larger than some competitors. These are the major parts of the headphones that are responsible for transforming electrical signals into sound.
Buttons – There are only four buttons to be concerned with, making this a very simple product to use. There is one button on the left headphone which, when pressed, turns on the “Active Noise Cancellation” feature and on the right headphone are three buttons.
The three buttons on the right headphone are the power on / off button, and the volume up and volume down buttons. Each has raised icons to indicate what they are, such as a “+” and “-” sign to enable you to “feel” for the current button. The volume up and volume down can be used to skip through your tracks as well, if held down.
Packaging – Though not technically part of the product itself, it’s worth mentioning the packaging of the product. The box is bright orange which opens up to include an in-game graphic with a group climbing the famous Alpe Du Zwift climb, wearing the RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones. My only complaint is that they are not decked in Mountain Massif jerseys. Maybe next time.
To compliment the nice packaging, the instruction manual is written using Zwift’s font.
The consequence of these design details means that this really does feel like a Zwift-made product when it’s actually all H2O Audio’s brainchild.
Features explained
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) – One of the key features is the RIPT (Real Isolation Performance Tech) “Active Noise Cancellation” of 30dB. What this means is that microphones pick up surrounding noise and create an opposite sound wave, which the headphones play to cancel out the original noise, reducing what you hear by 30dB.
When this feature is activated, you won’t hear much other than the music. In the instruction manual, it is referred to as “Active Noise Cancellation mode.”
The other mode is “Transparency.” This is described as allowing you to “hear your surroundings clearly while enjoying stereo audio.”
When you cycle through these, there will be a voice that highlights your setting, but it does interrupt your song, if you are playing one.
Battery – The battery life is extensive, with one charge providing battery life of up to 50 hours. Consequently, you won’t need to charge the headphones too often.
Ear cushions – The headphones come with two sets of ear cushions. The orange pair is 100% sweatproof, made from silicone and is washable and is Patent Pending, ideally used for when you ride with them. The others are referred to as “lounge cushions” and are made from black leather. These are interchangeable by rotating the ear cushion clockwise.
Technical – Other technical details worth noting are that the headsets connect wirelessly, via Bluetooth and come with a built-in microphone. In addition, there is an AUX audio jack (3.5mm) and wire for an external audio source.
Sound quality
I have previously mentioned how there have been nice details included when creating this product, making it really feel like a Zwift product. One such detail is the voice used when the headphones are turned on and off.
When you turn on the headphones, you will be greeted with “Zwift and H2O Audio Ride on!” and equally, when you turn off the headphones, you are met with “Power off, catch you next time.” The voiceover for this has been provided by commentator and former professional cyclist Matt Stephens. Over the years, Matt has worked a lot with Zwift, including providing commentary at events such as the Arean Games and more recently was a group leader at Zwift’s first Community Live event in Mallorca.
Providing feedback about the quality of the sound is quite challenging as this is certainly more subjective than discussing functionality. What I can say, however, is that the sound was clear and provided an immersive experience, particularly when the ANC feature was activated and when used cycling indoors. Even with fans and trainers humming, you can still listen to your music with perfect clarity, and this surpasses my previous experiences with earbud-style headphones.
How do they feel?
Wearing these to ride indoors isn’t uncomfortable. Weighing 299 grams they are not heavy and there is not a lot of difference in comparison to wearing a helmet when you ride outdoors. The padded headband means they sit comfortably on your head and can be worn without issue for an extended period of time.
As expected, there is an accumulation of sweat around your ears when wearing these. However, silicone ear cushions don’t feel wet and are easily cleaned. They are slightly warmer than wearing earbuds. However, you don’t have the annoyance of having to adjust them to stop them falling out like you may do with earbuds and, in my case, having to stop and pick one off the floor as it slips out of your ear during periods of exertion.
If you don’t want to use the headphones for cycling or other exercise, but still want the Zwift pair, you can simply attach the other set of leather ear cushions that are supplied.
Do they work?
These are far larger than earbud headphones and I quickly got used to them and soon liked the fact that when the Active Noise Cancellation function was enabled, I could literally hear nothing, accept my music or the voice of the person I was speaking to. Previously, when I used earbud headphones, I struggled to hear the person I was talking with. This was because of the other noises associated with indoor training, such as the fan and trainer, drowning out what they are saying. When using Discord, with my fan on full and speaking to friends, people could hear me without a problem, which I was not expecting given my previous challenges with earbud headphones and similarly, when racing and make a huge effort, the headphones remained in place.
Summing up
The RIPT Ultra x Zwift headphones represent a significant advancement in audio tech for cycling indoors. They combine exceptional sound quality, comfort, and innovative features like Active Noise Cancellation that can enhance the indoor training experience. With thoughtful design and functionality, these headphones meet the needs of indoor training. The added bonus is that they come with a 1-year warranty. The only potential drawback is the price, which may be considered high, but if you ride indoors frequently, listening to music or speaking with friends, then this might be considered a good investment.
If you want to purchase a pair, click here and enter the code MOUNTAINMASSIF to receive a 20% discount code.
