As an urban runner, I’ve never really thought about wearing noise-canceling headphones. I’ve tried open-back headphones in the past, but I mostly ran in well-lit parks where my biggest danger was dodging goose droppings. It’s different in the suburbs. I recently nearly got hit by a Range Rover that was going at least 10km over the speed limit. I never heard it coming, even though my headphones were on ambient mode.
That’s why I spent the last two months testing the $199 Suunto Wing and the $149 Suunto Sonic.
The Wing and Sonic are both bone conduction headphones, a category that has long been dominated by Shokz (formerly AfterShokz). The Sonic is the most basic entry-level device, while the Wing adds a few extra bells and whistles, namely LED lighting, a portable power bank, and head-motion controls. The Wing also has a slightly better IP67 water and dust resistance rating than the Sonic’s IP55 rating.
Bone conduction headphones vibrate sound waves through your skull. They help you stay more aware of your surroundings.
Bone conduction works by sending sound vibrations through your cheekbones instead of traveling through the air and into your ear canal. Some athletes swear by bone conduction because it keeps your ears open, meaning you’ll be more aware of your surroundings than any transparency mode. (As a bonus, it can help people with hearing loss listen to music.)
I’ve known all this for ages, but I have to admit that I never really paid much attention to bone conduction in the past. My old AfterShokz headphones weren’t comfortable at all, but the real problem was that I relied on bass-heavy running playlists. And bone conduction? It’s not the best for bass. Still, nearly getting flattened by a speeding Range Rover was as good a reason as any to give bone conduction another shot.
I don’t usually like wraparound headbands, but this one was more comfortable than I expected.
On that first point, I was pleasantly surprised to find that both the Sonic and the Wing were comfortable to wear. My previous AfterShokz headphones had a wraparound neckband that dug into my skin, hurt my small ears, and never stayed in place. These headphones also have a wraparound design, but I didn’t experience any discomfort. The earbuds felt stable and secure during my runs and walks. Additionally, the over-the-ear portion was thin enough that it didn’t cause any issues when wearing glasses or a headband—an issue I’ve had with other open-ear headphones like the chunky Bose Sport Open Earbuds.
The bass still isn’t amazing, but I was amazed at how much better it sounded on the Wing and Sonic compared to my first foray into bone conduction headphones. The rumbling intro to Stray Kids’ “Megaverse” wasn’t as cool as it would have been on my Beats Fit Pro, but it was enough to get me going. After a few weeks, I stopped noticing the difference. (It’s a plus that Suunto offers different sound profiles, including an outdoor mode that boosts the bass slightly.)
The power bank provides an additional 20 hours of charge. Kylo Ren would wear these if they could fit under his helmet.
But while the sound was better than I expected, these are still bone conduction headphones, which means they’re not great in noisy environments. I was hoping these would double as everyday and commuter headphones, but unfortunately, listening to audiobooks or podcasts on a noisy subway or passing honking taxis wasn’t a great experience. I had to turn the volume up, which in turn increased the vibrations until the front pieces were buzzing in my face. These also wouldn’t be the first headphones I’d reach for if I were running a race with a cheering crowd. That’s a bit of a shame, considering Suunto’s headphones are more expensive, at $149 and $199. For reference, Shokz’s headphones range from $80 to $180.
The price is also part of the reason why, of the two, I opted more often for the cheaper Sonic. Not only is the sound quality the same, but I wasn’t sold on the Wing’s extra features. The LED lights are neat, but I felt like they were hard to see in my hair. (I also didn’t like the Kylo Ren vibe of the Wing’s player.) As for the Wing’s head-motion controls, I never got them to work reliably. You’re supposed to be able to answer or reject calls, as well as skip tracks, by nodding or shaking your head. Instead, people would give me weird looks as I ran past, shaking my head furiously because I wanted to skip to the next song.
$200
Suunto Wing are bone conduction headphones with 10 hours of battery life, an additional power bank, head movement controls and LED lighting.
$149
Entry-level bone conduction headphones from Suunto. They are IP55 certified, have a 10-hour battery life, and pretty decent sound quality.
The Wing also didn’t impress me in terms of battery life. Both devices have an estimated 10 hours of battery life, but the Wing also has an external battery that allows for an additional 20 hours of charging. That’s nice, but is it really worth the extra $50? For me, not really. I generally stick to 30- to 45-minute runs three to four times a week. The Sonic lasts me about a month before needing a recharge. As for water resistance, the Sonic’s IP55 rating is good enough for sweat and showers, but the Wing’s IP67 rating isn’t good enough for the pool. (Another downside for swimmers: Neither has built-in storage, and Bluetooth doesn’t work underwater.)
Ultimately, my personal quest for a pair of open-ear workout headphones to replace my Beats Fit Pro continues. Don’t get me wrong: My time testing the Sonic and Wing has given me a deeper appreciation for bone conduction headphones and a better understanding of why so many people are fighting over them (so much so that I tapped the latest Shokz to give away them (one more try). I’m just too addicted to the bass drop to say my search ends here.
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