As you already know I love reviewing headphones that are fit for the gym and / or working out. The trend this year is wireless earbuds. Today I am checking out the Plantronics BackBeat Fit Bluetooth wireless earbuds.
We loved what they did the Plantronics BackBeat Pro over-ear headphones, so I was anxious to see what Plantronics did with the BackBeat Fit. I am aware that I am doing this backwards since the Fit came out before the Pro.
Design
When you see the BackBeat Fit headphones they look like your typical fitness headphones. I have the neon green color. Looks like a bright yellow with black. The band is flexible, but once it gets closer to the earbudss themselves, the cable is hardened to shape your ear. They are meant to be worn behind your head and over your ear. The earbuds aren’t meant to go into your ear canal like other in-ear headphones. There’s a tip over the earbud that swivels a bit to give you a snug fit.This is so some ambient noise can get in. They are pretty light which is key when looking for workout headphones.
The right side of the BackBeat Fit has the micro-USB charging port. You will notice the large flat button with the phone sign on it. If you feel around you will notice the much smaller power button. It sticks out so you can feel for it. The left earbud also has a large flat button that allows you to play/ pause the music. It also has a smaller button that allows you to control the volume
Experience
Setup
Setting up the BackBeat Fit was super easy. Just hold down the power button, it will turn blue and then will blink blue and red until it pairs. That’s it! If you use iOS you will be prompted to download an over-the-air update for the headphones. If you use an Android device. you can download the app to update the headphones.
Listening Experience
As usual I don’t expect heavy full sound from bluetooth earbuds. When looking for gym headphones, I mainly go for loud sound and comfort. I want to be able to block out the most of the noise at the gym and I want to be comfortable doing it.
The BackBeat Fit aren’t as loud as I’d like, but they do have a nice balanced sound. There’s enough bass and no distortion. As with most workout / fitness headphones, I test them out with pop, fast-paced music. The Fit can handle the music well for a decent listening experience at the gym.
Comfort
Comfort is key when putting in a good workout or going for a long run. The BackBeat Fit are great for long sessions. I even used them during my commute a few times. Sometimes you don’t want heavy headphones, and you don’t want earbuds jammed all the way in your ears. They are so light as well. They are one of the most comfortable headphones I own.
The headphones come with an zippered armband / carrying case. Unfortunately the armband is so small it’s obviously for iPhones. I used it with my iPhone 5, but was unable to use the armband with any of my Android phones. It won’t fit the new iPhone 6.
Battery Life
Since I mainly used the BackBeat Fit for the gym, battery life wasn’t an issue. I did try and drain the battery out. Plantronics says these earbuds can go for 8 hours of listening time (6 of talking). They do last nearly 8 hours at about 70% volume. They do have incredible standby time. Great for me since I often forget to charge them up. The Fit have a deep sleep mode for those times that you forget to turn the headset off.
Plantronics BackBeat Fit For Your Workout?
If you’re looking for lightweight, non-intrusive headphones, take a look at the Plantronics BackBeat Fit. The lightweight over-ear yet in-ear design bring a great fit along with comfort. You may not like the fact that there isn’t a clip to manage the excess cable that hangs behind your head. Runners may be annoyed when they hear the constant tapping. I personally don’t think it’s a deal breaker, but others may feel differently. What I like most about these is the secure fit without it being too intrusive to my ear canal and comfort. Sometimes tapping the correct button is difficult due to the small size of one and large flat size of the other. I remember trying to push the earbuds in and ended up pausing the track by mistake, just because the flat button is so large.
Starting at $95, the BackBeat Fit are quite the investment. But you will get comfort, style and durability in return. These are a great fit on so many levels. Check out more information from Plantronics official website.
