Suunto’s new headphones finally made me appreciate bone conduction

As a metropolis runner, I ne'er thought excessively difficult astir wearing noise-canceling earbuds. I’d dabbled pinch open-ear buds successful nan past but mostly ran successful well-lit parks wherever my biggest threat was dodging goose poop. It’s different successful nan suburbs. Recently, I was astir pancaked by a Range Rover going astatine slightest 10 complete nan velocity limit. I ne'er heard it coming, moreover though my headphones were successful ambient mode.

Which is why I’ve spent nan past 2 months testing nan $199 Suunto Wing and $149 Suunto Sonic.

Both nan Wing and Sonic are bony conduction headphones — a class that’s agelong been dominated by Shokz (formerly AfterShokz). The Sonic is nan much basic, entry-level device, while nan Wing adds a fewer much flourishes — namely, LED lighting, a portable powerfulness bank, and caput mobility controls. The Wing besides has somewhat amended IP67 h2o and particulate guidance compared to nan Sonic’s IP55 rating.

Bone conduction useful by sending sound vibrations done your cheekbones alternatively of walking done nan aerial and into your receptor canal. Some athletes committedness by bony conduction because it keeps your ears open, meaning you’ll enactment much clued into your surroundings compared to immoderate transparency mode. (As a bonus, it tin thief group pinch proceeding nonaccomplishment perceive to audio.)

I’ve known each that for ages, but I’ll admit — I’ve ne'er cared overmuch for bony conduction successful nan past. My aged AfterShokz headphones weren’t comfortable astatine all, but nan existent problem was that I trust connected bass-heavy moving playlists. And bony conduction? It’s not nan champion astatine bass. Even so, almost getting flattened by a speeding Range Rover was arsenic a bully logic arsenic immoderate to springiness bony conduction different go.

On that first point, I was pleasantly amazed that nan Sonic and Wing were some comfy to wear. My aged AfterShokz headphones had a wraparound neckband that dug into my skin, wounded my smallish ears, and ne'er sat rather right. These headphones besides person a wraparound design, but I felt nary discomfort. The headphones were unchangeable and unafraid during my runs and walks. Plus, nan portion that sits complete nan receptor was bladed capable that it didn’t origin issues erstwhile wearing glasses aliases headbands — a problem I’ve had pinch different open-ear headphones for illustration nan chunky Bose Sport Open Earbuds.

Bass still isn’t amazing, but I was stunned astatine really overmuch amended it sounded connected nan Wing and Sonic compared to my first foray into bony conduction headphones. The rumbly intro connected Stray Kids’ “Megaverse” didn’t sound astir arsenic cool arsenic it would’ve connected my Beats Fit Pro, but it was bully capable to support maine pumped. After a fewer weeks, I stopped noticing nan difference. (It helps that Suunto offers various sound profiles, including an extracurricular mode that boosts bass a bit.)

But while nan audio was amended than I expected, these are still bony conduction headphones, which intends they’re not awesome successful large environments. I was hoping these would double arsenic passable everyday, commuter headphones, but unfortunately, listening to audiobooks aliases podcasts while connected a large subway aliases stepping past honking taxis wasn’t a awesome experience. I had to crank up nan volume, which, successful turn, cranked up nan vibrations until nan beforehand pieces were buzzing connected my face. These wouldn’t beryllium nan first headphones I scope for if I were to tally a title pinch cheering crowds, either. That’s a spot of a bummer, fixed that Suunto’s headphones are connected nan pricier broadside astatine $149 and $199. For reference, Shokz’s headphones scope from $80–$180.

Price is besides partially why, of nan two, I reached for nan cheaper Sonic much often. Not only is sound value nan same, but I wasn’t sold connected nan Wing’s other features. The LED lights are neat, but I felt they were difficult to spot against my hair. (Plus, I didn’t emotion nan Wing’s gamer Kylo Ren vibes.) As for nan Wing’s caput mobility controls, I could ne'er get them to activity reliably. You’re expected to beryllium capable to reply aliases disregard calls, arsenic good arsenic skip tracks, by either nodding aliases shaking your head. Instead, group looked astatine maine funny erstwhile I’d tally past, furiously shaking my caput because I wanted to skip to nan adjacent song.

The Wing didn’t triumph maine complete pinch artillery life, either. Both devices person an estimated 10 hours, but nan Wing besides has a powerfulness slope that holds an other 20 hours of charge. It’s nice, but is it $50 other nice? For me, not really. I mostly instrumentality to 30–45 infinitesimal runs, 3 to 4 times a week. The Sonic lasts maine astir a period earlier needing a charge. As for h2o resistance, nan Sonic’s IP55 is bully capable for sweat and getting caught successful nan rain, but nan Wing’s IP67 standing isn’t bully capable for nan pool. (Another bummer for swimmers — neither has onboard storage, and Bluetooth doesn’t activity underwater.)

Ultimately, my individual hunt for a brace of open-ear workout headphones to switch my Beats Fit Pro continues. Don’t get maine incorrect — my clip testing nan Sonic and Wing has fixed maine a greater appreciation for bony conduction headphones and why truthful galore group spell to bat for them (to nan constituent wherever I called successful nan latest Shokz to springiness them different go, too). I’m conscionable excessively addicted to nan bass driblet to opportunity my hunt ends here.