Suunto, traditionally celebrated for its high-end sports watches, has ventured into the audio space with the Suunto Wing, its debut pair of bone conduction headphones. These headphones sport a sleek design, blending silicone and titanium alloy for a lightweight yet durable build, weighing in at just 33g.
Are you an athlete or outdoor enthusiast who loves staying active but also wants to stay connected to your music or podcasts? Do you prioritize safety and situational awareness while running, cycling, or hiking? Then the Suunto Wing might be the perfect pair of headphones for you.
Here, I’ll delve into the key features of the Suunto Wing, keeping the active user in mind. I’ll explore how the open-ear design impacts comfort, safety, and sound quality. Additionally, I will touch on the Wing’s durability, battery life, and additional features.
Design and Comfort
They effortlessly rest over your ears, utilizing cheekbone pads to transmit sound through vibrations. This innovative approach ensures your ears remain open to ambient sounds, making them an ideal companion for outdoor enthusiasts who value situational awareness during their activities.
Despite their broad appeal, the Wing headphones exhibit a slight design oversight: the band extends beyond the head, posing a minor inconvenience during back-lying exercises. However, their IP67 water and dust resistance rating ensures they can withstand the elements, albeit without internal storage for swim use.
The Wing supports dual Bluetooth connections, allowing for seamless switching between devices—a feature that underscores their thoughtful engineering.
Performance and Sound Quality
The Suunto Wing stands out for its performance in the demanding arena of workout headphones, rivaling the best in the category.
Notably, it introduces unique features absent in other bone conduction models, such as a portable power bank for on-the-go charging and innovative LED lights for increased visibility during nighttime use.
While bone conduction technology inherently limits sound quality—particularly in terms of bass and volume—the Wing delivers satisfactory audio clarity for its intended use. It excels in providing a safer listening experience by keeping users aware of their surroundings, though it might not satisfy those seeking immersive soundscapes for casual listening.
Battery Life and Charging
The Wing headphones boast an impressive 10-hour battery life, significantly extended by an additional 20 hours through the included power bank. This charging solution is particularly appealing for endurance athletes, offering convenience and reliability unmatched by traditional charging methods.
The quick-charge feature, providing three hours of use with just a 10-minute charge, further emphasizes their utility for active lifestyles.
Setup and Usability
Setting up the Suunto Wing is straightforward, with a dual-button control for power and volume adjustments and a multi-function button for music and call management.
The headphones’ pairing process is intuitive, ensuring a hassle-free connection to your devices. Additionally, the motion control feature—allowing users to manage calls and music with head gestures—introduces a novel, albeit sometimes inconsistent, interaction method that adds a layer of convenience during workouts.
Value Proposition
Priced at $199.99/£169.99, the Suunto Wing positions itself as a premium option in the bone conduction headphones market. While its innovative features and robust design justify the cost to some extent, it faces stiff competition from more affordably priced alternatives like the Shokz OpenRun series.
The Wing’s unique offerings, such as the portable power bank and LED safety lights, cater to a niche market segment that values these specific benefits over cost savings.
Awarded to products with an average rating of 3.75 stars or higher, the AndroidGuys Smart Pick recognizes a balance of quality, performance, and value.
Products with this distinction deserve to be on your short list of purchase candidates.
Final Thoughts: A Worthy Consideration with Room for Improvement
The Suunto Wing introduces commendable innovations to the bone conduction headphones market, offering a blend of performance, comfort, and safety features that are particularly suited to outdoor athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
However, its value proposition might not resonate with all potential users, given the competitive landscape filled with more affordable alternatives.
If Suunto addresses the price point and refines the product based on user feedback, the Wing could soar higher in future iterations, potentially becoming a staple for sports and fitness aficionados seeking a balance between safety, performance, and convenience. That said, if you can catch these on sale, they’re an easy pair to recommend.
