As most of my friends and family know, I listen to music and podcasts—a lot. Whether I’m out on a run, working, or doing yardwork, I’m almost always plugged in. Over the years, I’ve gone through a wide range of headphones—both wired and wireless—each with their own pros and cons. So naturally, I was excited to get my hands on a new pair, especially from running watch stalwart Suunto—the Suunto Spark.
I, like Suunto, am no stranger to non–earbud headphones. For the past few years, I’ve been pretty loyal to over-ear/open-ear styles, including a few previous models from Suunto.
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With the Spark, they’re expanding beyond their already impressive lineup of bone conduction headphones. Instead, the Spark uses air-conduction technology to deliver a sport-ready, open-ear listening experience. It’s built with running in mind—but certainly not limited to it.
Looks:
The Suunto Spark comes in three color options: black, white, and coral orange. The coral is definitely the boldest of the bunch—but honestly, that might be a plus if you’re prone to misplacing gear like I am (literally right now trying to remember where I put my Beats headphones). Side note: Suunto has a “Find Your Suunto Spark” feature in their app!
The design is clean and straightforward. A curved frame wraps comfortably over the ear, connecting two small pods on either side—one housing the audio components and controls, and the other helping anchor the fit securely in place.
Fit:
The Spark headphones are light but still feels substantial and well-built. The fit is snug enough to stay in place without feeling overly tight or uncomfortable, and they hold up well during runs.
One note for sunglass wearers—especially with thicker frames—there can be a bit of a battle for space over the ear. That said, they can still be worn together without too much trouble.
Sound:
One notable aspect of these headphones is the audio quality. As I’ve come to expect from Suunto, the sound here is really solid. In fact, it feels fuller and richer than most all of my other open-ear pairs—likely by design. I’m not an audiophile by any means – nor do I care much about prime audio quality when I am sucking wind on hillwork day – but it’s easy to appreciate the balance and clarity.
Whether you’re out for an easy jog or pushing through a harder workout, the sound holds up well.
Between music, podcasts, phone calls—and even pace updates sent directly from your Suunto watch to the Spark—there’s the potential for a lot going on at once. Despite that, I’ve found (and confirmed by my wife and kids) that sound leakage is pretty minimal and doesn’t tend to disturb those nearby. That’s a big win, especially in shared spaces like airplanes or just around the house.
It’s not perfect—if you crank the volume all the way up, people can hear a little bit. But realistically, that’s not how most people are using these in social settings anyway. And honestly, outside of fully sealed, over-ear headphones, that’s going to be the case across the board.
Other Functions:
Head Movement Control
While the Spark is touch-based, one of the more interesting additions is head gesture control, which lets you nod or shake your head to answer or end calls—or even skip that one song in your playlist you’ve been meaning to delete but keep forgetting to. It’s a small touch, but a genuinely useful hands-free option when you’re in the middle of something.
Neck Mobility Assessment
Another unexpected feature is a built-in neck mobility and posture component. You can run a quick assessment to get a sense of your spine health, and even set reminders to stretch your neck if you’ve been idle too long. As someone in their 40s dealing with a little less mobility than I used to have, this is a surprisingly thoughtful addition.
Metronome
And for runners specifically, there’s even a built-in metronome. You can set a target cadence and match your steps to the rhythm—kind of like keeping time with a piano. It’s a feature that could come in handy late in a race when you’re chasing a PR and just trying to keep your legs turning over when they’d really rather not.
Run and Workout Tracking
There’s also a sport mode that allows you to track activities directly through the headphones. While most of us are probably using apps like Strava for runs, it’s a nice option for things like hikes, gym sessions, or other cross-training activities when you don’t want to rely on multiple devices.
Recharging
The standalone battery life of the Spark is impressive, offering up to seven hours of continuous music playback. That runtime extends significantly—up to 36 hours—when using the included rechargeable case – which is easily transportable in a running pack or belt. Of course, actual performance will vary depending on factors like volume levels and ambient temperature.
Even so, the battery longevity is more than enough to get through nearly any run or workout, providing a reliable, sustained audio experience. I’ve been keeping mine in the garage for treadmill sessions, cycling, strength training, and yoga, and – with the case – I haven’t had to charge them at all in a while when using the case. These headphones are clearly built for the long haul.
- Battery Life (Headphones): ~7 hours
- Battery Life (With Recharging Case): ~36 hours (at 50% volume and default settings)
If you’re in a pinch, a quick 10-minute charge provides about 2 hours of listening time—plenty to get through your run.
Overall
Whether you’re tackling a long-distance run or spending a full day on your feet, the Spark headphones—especially when paired with their rechargeable case—offer a dependable audio companion that can handle a variety of environments. On top of that, they cost roughly half as much as many competing options, which is a huge plus.
After a month of regular use, we’ve really grown to love these headphones.
