Suunto Wing Bone Conduction Headphones

Introduction

Bone conduction technology has long been seen as a niche option for headphones, often dismissed as a quirky alternative to traditional earbuds or over-ears. But in recent years, the tide has shifted. Brands are investing more in refining this technology, making it a serious contender in the sports and fitness audio space. As more companies enter the market, the competition is heating up, and with that comes the promise of real technological advancement. Gone are the days when bone conduction was just a novelty—today, it’s a key feature, offering a combination of safety, comfort, and practicality that many athletes and outdoor enthusiasts are embracing.

Suunto, a brand renowned for its performance-driven sports watches and equipment, is throwing its hat into this evolving ring with the Suunto Wing Bone Conduction Headphones. At a time when the market is being dominated by established players like SHOKZ, the question is whether Suunto can make waves with its offering, or if it’s simply jumping on a bandwagon. What’s exciting here isn’t just another pair of bone conduction headphones—it’s the evolution of a product that many once thought was a gimmick. With improvements in sound quality, design, and smart features, the Suunto Wing offers more than just a way to listen to music. It demonstrates that this technology has come a long way and has the potential to redefine how we think about wearable audio gear for fitness and outdoor activities.

The Suunto Wing represents a turning point in a growing category, and it’s worth paying attention to how it stacks up against the competition and where it fits into the broader landscape of sports-focused audio products.

Technical: A Look Under the Hood

Bone Conduction Technology

At the heart of the Suunto Wing’s design is bone conduction technology, a system that transmits sound vibrations directly through the bones in your skull, bypassing the eardrum altogether. This results in an open-ear experience, allowing users to stay aware of their environment, which is ideal for outdoor activities like running and cycling. Unlike traditional headphones that rely on the ear canal, bone conduction systems place transducers on the cheekbones or near the temples, sending vibrations to the inner ear.

Suunto Wing doesn’t offer any groundbreaking updates to bone conduction technology, but it doesn’t need to. The technology itself has seen incremental improvements over the years, with newer models like the Suunto Wing managing to strike a balance between adequate sound quality and the openness that makes bone conduction appealing. The Wing uses aptX codec for Bluetooth streaming, offering decent sound quality for the price, though it does lag behind traditional wired headphones in terms of clarity and bass depth.

Sound Quality

For a bone conduction headset, sound quality is always going to be the area that draws the most scepticism. These headphones don’t sit inside or around the ear canal, which results in a fundamentally different listening experience than what you’d get with high-fidelity over-ear or in-ear headphones. 

One standout feature here is wind resistance. While bone conduction headphones are known to have issues with wind noise—especially when cycling at higher speeds—the Wing minimises this problem. During my tests, even on windy days, the Wing performed well, and wind noise never overwhelmed the audio.

For the tech-savvy user, the Wing may not reach the high-fidelity standards set by some other brands. Still, it uses aptX for better streaming quality than basic codecs and avoids the usual muffled sound that many other bone conduction models struggle with. For general sports activities, this will be more than sufficient, and with a tighter fit, the sound quality improves significantly.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is always a crucial consideration for sports headphones, and the Suunto Wing holds its own in this area. The headphones provide up to 10 hours of continuous use, which is respectable for a device of this type. For those longer days, the additional 20-hour charge from the included rechargeable power bank ensures that the Wing won’t leave you high and dry during an extended session.

Charging is also convenient with the included charging power bank, which can juice up the headphones using a simple magnetic connection. While it’s not Qi wireless charging (a feature seen in some competitors), the setup is quick and easy. A quick 10-minute charge gives about 3 hours of playback time, which can be a lifesaver during tight schedules.

Smart Features

Suunto has integrated some smart functionality into the Wing headphones that make them stand out from the competition. One particularly interesting feature is the head gesture controls. The headphones are responsive to simple nods and shakes of the head. For example, nodding your head twice answers a call, and shaking your head twice skips a song. It’s a neat little feature that works surprisingly well, especially for runners or cyclists who can’t afford to take their hands off the handlebars or hold onto their phone while on the go.

Additionally, voice coaching can be enabled through Suunto’s RACE watch (which we didn’t test), allowing users to receive real-time feedback while training. This integration extends the use of the Wing as a training tool, making it a more connected, smart experience for athletes.

Fit and Comfort

Weighing in at just 32 grams, the Suunto Wing is lightweight and designed for comfort. The design fits snugly around your head without feeling tight or constricting, making them comfortable to wear for hours on end. However, the fit is critical. As with many bone conduction headsets, a tighter fit can improve sound quality by providing a more direct connection to the skull for the vibrations. The ergonomics of the Wing seem well-suited to a variety of head shapes, and its lightweight design ensures that it won’t cause discomfort, even during prolonged use.

Safety Features

An often-overlooked benefit of bone conduction technology is its ability to keep you safe while listening to music or taking calls. Since the ears remain unobstructed, you can hear external sounds like traffic, sirens, or people calling out to you. 

Suunto takes safety one step further with the inclusion of flashing red LEDs on the headphones. These LEDs are a helpful safety feature, especially for those running or cycling in low-light conditions. While the LEDs might not be visible if you’re wearing a beanie or have long hair, they can certainly catch the attention of other pedestrians or drivers, adding an extra layer of safety during night runs or rides.

Price

As for the price, the Suunto Wing sits in a competitive but slightly premium price range for bone conduction headphones. While not as inexpensive as some of the budget alternatives on the market (which can range from $50 to $100), it is priced sensibly when compared to other higher-end bone conduction models, like those from SHOKZ. The Wing is priced in the $130-$150 range, which positions it as a mid-to-premium offering in the bone conduction category.

When you compare it to SHOKZ, the main competitor, Suunto offers a similar level of performance, but the Wing adds a few extra features, such as the LED lights for added safety and the smart gesture controls, making it worth considering for those who value these elements.

Experience

The first thing that strikes you when you put on the Suunto Wing Bone Conduction Headphones is how comfortable they are. I’ve tested my fair share of bone conduction headphones, and what usually gets me is that feeling of the bone plates vibrating against my temples—a sensation that can quickly become annoying. Not with the Wing. The snug fit of the headband, coupled with the lightweight design, made them barely noticeable after the first few minutes, even when running.

Speaking of running, I tested these out on an early morning jog through the local park. The sun was just beginning to rise, and the cool morning air mingled with the sounds of distant traffic and chirping birds. This was my first real test of the Wing in a bustling, real-world environment. One of the key selling points of bone conduction headphones is the ability to stay aware of your surroundings, so I was curious to see how well the Suunto Wings would allow me to enjoy my music while still being able to hear cars approaching and people jogging by.

I started with music—first, I listened to Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia and then some Portishead, perfect for background noise during a run. The Wing’s audio quality is impressive for bone conduction technology, particularly when it comes to balance. While it won’t replace a high-end pair of wired headphones for audiophiles, the sound was more than adequate for my workout. The bass was noticeable without being overpowering, and the midrange was surprisingly clear, though I could tell that the higher frequencies suffered a bit. It didn’t matter much while I was moving; the general lack of wind noise (which often plagues bone conduction headphones) was a welcome bonus. 

Switching to podcasts, I ventured off the track and into a more urban environment—a few busy crossings and a neighbourhood with constant traffic noise. I fired up an episode of Crimetown, a true crime podcast I’ve been hooked on, and this is where the Wing started to show its true colours. Spoken word is a tricky thing for bone conduction headphones, especially in noisy environments. The beauty of podcasts lies in their clarity, but in the middle of a morning rush, I found myself straining to catch every word. The Wing does an admirable job of minimising the wind noise, but the chatter of traffic, honking horns, and people talking nearby created a challenge. While I could still hear the podcast, certain parts of it were muddled by the external sounds, and the full richness of the voice was lost. 

What’s interesting, though, is that it didn’t drown out the podcast entirely. You can still get the gist of the content, and in less busy areas, it worked fine. But in a more chaotic setting—like a bustling city sidewalk or near a construction site—you might find yourself rewinding a bit to catch what you missed. On the flip side, when I was at the park with less ambient noise, the podcast was easily audible.

On the flip side, my run through the city streets was a more telling test. Here, the Wing’s shortcomings began to show. The louder ambient sounds of traffic, construction, and crowds of people made it harder to focus on my podcast, and I found myself having to turn the volume up higher than I would’ve liked just to hear the spoken word clearly. Music still fared better in this context, but podcasts—especially those with subtle, nuanced dialogue—struggled a bit.

The smart features, like the head nods and shakes for call answering and skipping tracks, were a delight to use. As I jogged through the park, I didn’t need to break stride to adjust my music or answer a call. A quick nod of the head to answer and a shake to skip tracks was simple and effective. There’s something satisfying about not having to fumble for buttons or even touch your phone, especially when you’re in the middle of a run. But while these features are convenient, they didn’t feel revolutionary—they were just… nice. I didn’t find myself using them constantly, but they were a helpful addition that made the whole experience feel smoother.

Finally, let’s talk battery life. With 10 hours of playtime on a single charge, the Suunto Wing held up throughout my entire run—and then some. For anyone who enjoys long-distance running or cycling, this is a solid number. Additionally, the option to charge them quickly using the power bank was a plus. I never had to worry about them running out of juice mid-run, and knowing that a quick 10-minute charge could give me hours of use was reassuring. I did, however, notice a slight reduction in overall battery life when I had the smart features enabled, but nothing that would make me worry about them dying too quickly on longer workouts.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Investment?

The Suunto Wing Bone Conduction Headphones are an excellent choice for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who prioritise safety, comfort, and smart functionality. While the sound quality isn’t as immersive as that of traditional high-fidelity headphones, it’s more than sufficient for most sports applications, especially with the added benefits of bone conduction technology. The gesture controls and LED lights are thoughtful touches that elevate the product, making it a solid option for runners and cyclists.

Though Suunto has a strong brand presence in the sports industry, it may not yet have the same level of recognition in the headphone market as some of its competitors. Still, the Wing stands out for its comfort, safety features, and solid performance, making it a strong contender in the bone conduction space. Whether you’re looking for a reliable pair of headphones for your workouts or a way to stay connected while staying aware of your surroundings, the Suunto Wing offers a compelling mix of features, quality, and practicality.

Written by Amin Brodie

Photos by Valeryia Kalantayeva