You may not have heard of Suunto, but the navigation company has apparently been moonlighting in audio for five years now. Its fifth launch, the Suunto Spark, ditches bone conduction for the newer open-ear form factor - a move that turns out to be perfect for runners, bikers, and hikers who'd rather swap pavement for trails than deal with sweaty ear canals.
These are earbuds designed for people who might be tempted to let what's on their ears replace what's tracking their movements on their wrist or in their pocket. According to the review, the Suunto Spark open earbuds have quickly become the reviewer's favorite workout companion, which is high praise from someone who presumably has tried strapping an iPod to their bicep.
Fit is everything for earbuds, especially those destined for runs or long weekend rides. Suunto gets the weight right: each earbud weighs 0.3 ounces (9 grams) - not the lightest out there, but the mix of titanium and silicone distributes the load well from the speaker unit to the flexible ear hook. The fit is described as reassuring without ever feeling clamped to the outside of your ear. They even coexist peacefully with caps, regular glasses, and sunglasses, proving that not all gadgets have to fight for real estate on your head.