The Pump-Up Songs Swimmers Listen to
Most people don't limit themselves to a single genre of music these days, and swimmers are no exception. Still, and especially when working out, everyone has their favorite genres. We asked 311 swimmers what type of music they liked best to listen to before or during a workout. Here are their answers, ranked from most to least popular.
Photo by Emily Rose on Pexels
1. The Best Music for a Workout, According to Swimmers: Hip Hop (41.8%)
By i am guilty - JAY-Z, original resolution, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
130 out of our 311 survey respondents said they preferred to listen to hip hop before or during a workout.
This checks out: we've all known tons of swimmers over the years who turn to hip hop when it's time to focus. And many swimmers over at the r/Swimming subreddit include mainly hip hop songs in their pump-up playlists; listed artists range from old-school names like Nas, DMX, and Eminem to somewhat more modern names like Machine Gun Kelly.
With its driving beats and focused vocal delivery, hip hop for sure offers some of the best swimming workout music. It's no surprise that 42% — almost a majority — of our respondents marked it as their favorite pump-up genre.
2. Rock (25.1%)
By David Gans - originally posted to Flickr as Carlos Santana 12/31/76, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
Rock has long been associated with athleticism, from crowd singalongs of classics like "We Are the Champions" at sporting events to WWE entrance music. Unsurprisingly, 25.1% of survey respondents named rock as the genre they prefer to work out to, making it the second most popular workout music choice for swimmers in our survey.
Swimming World Magazine includes Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Sum 41 in its "Ultimate Get Pumped" playlist suggestions. Your feelings for those specific artists may vary, but rock as a genre has a lot to offer when you need to get fired up. A nice crunchy guitar and a fast-paced drum beat pair well with athletic activity.
3. Pop (16.4%)
By Raph_PH - https://www.flickr.com/photos/69880995@N04/54379277725/, CC BY 2.0, Link
51 out of 311 survey respondents, or 16.4%, preferred pop music when they're working out. Pop is a wide-ranging genre, but it tends towards an upbeat sound that can put you in a positive mindset. Nothing like a positive mindset for pushing yourself in the water.
4. (tie) Punk/hardcore/metal (8.03%) and country (8.03%)
By Heinrich Klaffs - https://www.flickr.com/photos/heiner1947/4399081211/in/faves-24788065@N02/, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
Significant minorities of swimmers chose country or punk and metal as their favorite genres for working out. Country music can make you laugh, it can make you cry, and it can make you swim, too.
By Libertinus Yomango - originally posted to Flickr as Youth of Today @ SO36 (2), CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
And when it comes to punk, hardcore, or metal, if that's what you listen to when you swim, then you're among the exceptional few. (But you knew that already, didn't you.)
We make our preferences at Zero Breath Clothing no secret — this is the genre we land on. But the majority of swimmers prefer hip hop or good old rock and roll, and that's cool too.
Survey Results Summary: Most Popular Workout Music for Swimmers
| Rank | Genre | Percentage | Respondents out of 311 Surveyed* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hip Hop | 41.8% | 130 |
| 2 | Rock | 25.1% | 78 |
| 3 | Pop | 16.4% | 51 |
| 4 (tie) | Country | 8.03% | 25 |
| 4 (tie) | Punk/Hardcore/Metal | 8.03% | 25 |
*2 respondents said "None of the above."
Methodology
In August 2026, we surveyed 311 people who said they swim regularly for exercise, and who work out at least nine times per month.
We provided a multiple choice question: "What genre of music do you most often listen to before or during a workout?" Possible answers were hip hop, rock, pop, country, punk/hardcore/metal, and "None of the above."
We also asked respondents if they regularly surf, dive, or snorkel. We're going to present what data we have broken down by those water sports in a follow-up post. Stay tuned!
Who We Are
Zero Breath Clothing is a brand for those who swim, surf, dive, and love the water. We aim to honor your commitment to the water while also paying homage to and taking inspiration from punk and hardcore styles. It's a brand at the intersection of everything we love. If you love it too, check out our designs today.