Bone conduction headphones have carved out a niche among athletes who prioritize situational awareness without sacrificing their audio experience. Suunto, a brand synonymous with robust sports technology, enters the second round of this arena with the Suunto Wing 2. This updated model aims to refine the formula established by its predecessor, offering improved sound, enhanced comfort, and increased functionality for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. This review will provide a detailed analysis of the Wing 2, exploring its features, performance, and overall value to help you determine if it’s the right audio companion for your activities. We will examine what makes it a significant upgrade, where it excels, and what areas could see further refinement.
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Product Features
The Suunto Wing 2 is engineered with the active user in mind, blending a lightweight design with practical features for training and outdoor adventures.
Open-Ear Design with Bone Conduction: The core technology of the Wing 2 is bone conduction, which transmits sound vibrations through your cheekbones directly to your inner ear. This leaves your ear canals open, allowing you to remain fully aware of your surroundings, such as traffic, fellow trail users, and environmental sounds.
Lightweight and Durable Construction: Weighing just 33 grams, the headphones are built on a flexible titanium alloy frame. This ensures a secure and comfortable fit during vigorous activities while providing durability. The device also boasts an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating, making it resilient against sweat, rain, and dust.
Enhanced Audio with Suunto's Active Bass: Suunto has focused on improving the audio experience with its "Active Bass" technology. This feature aims to deliver richer and deeper low-end frequencies, a common challenge for bone conduction headphones, providing a more balanced sound profile.
Intuitive Controls and Head Movement Gestures: The Wing 2 features three physical buttons for managing power, volume, and track selection. Additionally, it incorporates head movement controls, allowing you to answer or reject calls and skip tracks with a simple nod or shake of your head, offering a hands-free experience.
LED Safety Lights: Integrated into the sides of the device are bright red LED lights. These can be set to steady, blinking, or SOS modes through the Suunto app, enhancing your visibility to others during low-light conditions.
Dual-Device Connectivity and Battery Life: The headphones support multipoint Bluetooth 5.2 pairing, enabling you to connect to two devices simultaneously—for instance, your watch and phone. The battery provides up to 10 hours of playback on a single charge, and a quick 10-minute charge offers up to 3 hours of listening time. A portable power bank is also included, providing two additional full charges on the go.
What We Liked
The Suunto Wing 2 represents a significant and successful evolution from the first generation. The most noticeable improvement is in the audio quality. While bone conduction technology often compromises on bass, Suunto's Active Bass feature delivers a fuller and more present sound that makes music and podcasts more enjoyable during a workout. The audio is clearer and less prone to the tickling vibration at high volumes that can affect other models.
Comfort and fit are exceptional. The lightweight titanium frame provides just the right amount of clamping force to keep the headphones stable without causing pressure points, even during long runs or bumpy trail rides. The IP68 rating provides genuine peace of mind, as you never have to worry about sweat or a sudden downpour damaging the device.
The user experience is another high point. The physical buttons are tactile and easy to locate and operate without looking, which is a crucial advantage over less-responsive touch controls. The addition of head movement gestures is a clever and surprisingly practical feature, particularly when your hands are occupied. Furthermore, the inclusion of a portable charging case that extends the total battery life to 30 hours is a thoughtful touch that adds considerable value and convenience for multi-day events or travel.
Areas of Improvement
Despite its many strengths, the Suunto Wing 2 is not without areas where it could be improved. The most notable omission is the lack of onboard storage. The device relies entirely on a Bluetooth connection to a phone or watch for audio playback. For athletes who prefer to train without carrying an extra device, the inability to load music directly onto the headphones is a missed opportunity. Adding even a few gigabytes of internal memory would provide true phone-free freedom.
While the head movement controls are innovative, their sensitivity can sometimes be inconsistent. In certain situations, an accidental or sharp movement can trigger an unintended action, such as skipping a track. An option to adjust the sensitivity of these gestures within the Suunto app would be a welcome addition to customize the experience to the user's activity and preference.
Wrap Up
The Suunto Wing 2 is a well-executed and thoughtfully designed set of bone conduction headphones that stands as a considerable improvement over its predecessor. It successfully addresses key areas like audio fidelity and user comfort while introducing practical features like head-gesture controls and an included charging bank. For athletes who value situational awareness and need a durable, reliable audio solution for their training, the Wing 2 is an excellent choice that justifies its place among the top contenders in the market.
While the absence of onboard storage may be a drawback for some, the overall package of performance, durability, and thoughtful features makes it a compelling option. Priced at approximately $179, the Suunto Wing 2 delivers a premium experience and is a worthy investment for those seeking a balance of safety, comfort, and sound quality in their sports headphones.