Suunto Aqua Review: Waterproof Headphones for swim training

The Suunto Aqua comes from a brand many athletes already trust for its sports watches, and it brings that same focus on performance into the world of open-ear bone conduction headphones. Designed for swimmers, runners, and outdoor training, these bone conduction headphones bring together comfort, performance, and intelligence, all in one compact package.

With that foundation in mind, it's worth taking a closer look at what the Suunto Aqua can deliver in real use, and why it's drawing extra attention this Black Friday.

Lightweight and Made for Training

The first impression of this bone conduction headphone is its lightness. Weighing just 35 grams, it's barely noticeable on the head, whether you're swimming laps for kilometres, running for over an hour, or doing strength training, it never feels restrictive. This open-ear bone conduction design keeps the ear canals unobstructed and allows you to hear your surroundings, offering a sense of safety both poolside and on outdoor routes.

Waterproofing is another area where it performs reliably. The Aqua is IP68-rated and can operate continuously at a depth of 5 metres for up to 2 hours. When putting in serious training time in the pool or heading out for open-water sessions, you won't have to worry about water damage. From land-based workouts to full immersion, it stays steady even in demanding conditions.

The Aqua also includes a practical 32GB of internal storage, large enough for plenty of music, podcasts, or audiobooks. For anyone who prefers to leave their phone behind, you can simply wear the headphones and dive in while still enjoying a complete training rhythm.

Battery Life That Keeps Up

The battery performance is also reassuringly solid. The headphones themselves run for around 10 hours on a single charge, which is plenty for everyday training. With the portable charging case adding another 20 hours, the total reaches 30 hours, very handy if you exercise often or spend a lot of time outdoors.

Charging also keeps up. The Aqua reaches a full charge in under an hour, and a quick ten-minute top-up before heading out gives you roughly three hours of playback, which is perfect for fitting in a training session. The charging case can even top up other devices when needed, which adds a bit of extra convenience during longer days out.

Smart Controls and Training Insights

The Suunto Aqua is also thoughtfully designed when it comes to controls. With head-movement gestures built in, a simple nod or tilt lets you skip a track or take a call, so you don't need to fumble for buttons while moving.

Once connected to the Suunto app, the Aqua can track several key swimming metrics, including head angle, stroke posture, breathing frequency, and glide time. For anyone looking to refine their technique, these readings are genuinely useful and make it easy to spot small changes in your form.

It also detects movement range and signs of muscle fatigue, offering light feedback to help you stay in a comfortable rhythm. So beyond being a pair of music headphones, the Aqua feels more like a small training companion that stays with you and keeps an eye on your performance.

Black Friday Price Drop

The Suunto Aqua comes with a solid Black Friday discount this year. Its original price of $319.99 AUD has been reduced to $256 AUD. For more promotions, visit Suunto's Amazon store or Suunto official website to learn more, you can save up to $249.99 AUD.

For waterproof bone conduction headphones designed for swimming and outdoor training, this level of price drop is relatively uncommon this season. If you're looking for a reliable, durable, and feature-rich sports headphone, this offer is certainly worth noting.

Built for Active Lifestyles

From real-world use, the Suunto Aqua's features align closely with what athletes actually need, which also explains why it's attracting extra attention this Black Friday. Most bone conduction headphones on the market are only built to handle sweat or light rain.

Once they go underwater, Bluetooth signals are blocked almost immediately, and lower waterproof ratings make stable use in the pool nearly impossible. There aren't many options that combine IP68-level submersion protection with true offline music storage, Aqua happens to be one of the few that does.

For anyone who trains in the water, being able to listen to music is certainly a bonus, but Aqua goes further by tracking swim metrics and monitoring movement patterns, making it a device that genuinely contributes to your training rather than simply playing audio.

If you're looking for a sports headset that performs reliably both on land and underwater, it's worth checking the product page for the latest Black Friday offer and seeing whether it fits your training routine.