- Suunto has released a new set of open-ear headphones, the Suunto Spark
- They look similar to the Shokz OpenFit 2+ at first glance, and weigh just 9g each
- But they also offer head movement control and neck health monitoring
Do you ever wish you had more metrics to worry about on your run? Well, you’re in luck: Suunto, makers of some of the best running watches and best running headphones, have released the Suunto Spark open-ear headphones.
The headphones weigh just 9g each, 1g less than the Shokz OpenFit 2+, offer 36 hours of listening time with the case, have a titanium ear hook and boast high-resolution LHDC 5.0 audio. They are IP55 water and sweat resistant, which means they can withstand driving rain and sweat, but you shouldn’t submerge them in water. They cost £129.99 / AU$309 (US prices TBC, but the UK price conversion puts it at around $175).
Preset or customizable sound EQ modes are available in the app, but the advantage of open-ear headphones is that you can hear the world around you while listening, helping you stay aware of traffic, pedestrians or office conversations. They are ideal for runners who may want to pay attention to the road while listening to long tunes. Usually, open-ear headphones are the only type allowed in official races, such as marathons.
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So far, they’re very much in line with the other entries in our best open-back earphones list in terms of specs and price. For reference, the Shokz OpenFit 2+ comes in at $199.95 / £179 (approx AU$370), so it’s nice to see the Suunto come in a little cheaper.
However, there are also a lot of extra features we need to talk about, specifically in relation to running.
For starters, the Suunto Spark headphones offer head movement control. Shake your head from side to side while you’re out for a run, and you’ll instantly skip the current song on your playlist. You can also use this feature to answer a call.
In a press release, Suunto said: ‘Spark extends beyond sound to become a training companion. Real-time insights help runners monitor cadence, stride and running mechanics, while voice guidance delivers pace, heart rate, distance and lap updates directly when connected to a Suunto watch.’
While voice guidance based on watch data is nothing new, the prospect of cadence and stride data just from the headphones’ gyroscope is undeniably interesting. I have contacted Suunto for more details on this and I expect to test it over time.
Finally, the Suunto Spark headphones also track ‘neck health’ by monitoring ‘flexibility, daily neck activity and fatigue, and send alerts to help users maintain better posture and avoid strain’. It’s new to me, but given how many of us go through the day with our necks bent looking at our phones, it’s likely to be useful.
Budget smart tech maker Amazfit actually made a pair of headphones with a similar feature way back in 2021 – but the idea apparently never caught on. It looks like Suunto is giving the concept another go.
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