Many Bluetooth headphones tout themselves as being workout-friendly, but they usually try to find balance between good performance at the gym and good performance everywhere else. The Plantronics BackBeat Fit ($129.99 at Amazon) , on the other hand, is a purely exercise-focused, not-quite-headphone, not-quite-earphone pair. Its rugged design and included armband phone holder make it ideal for jogging, biking, and lifting weights, and it offers a very satisfying sound profile similar to the Editors' Choice Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 ($28.99 at Amazon) . However, it's not as comfortable to wear outside of the gym, and its $129.99 price tag is a bit steep.
Design
The BackBeat Fit is available in neon green and electric blue, and is sweat-proof and ruggedized with the same P2i coating seen on the BackBeat Go 2. Although it looks like a pair of headphones, the eartips are actually in-ear style earbuds. They're large, forward-ported caps similar to Apple EarPods ($18.79 at Amazon) , but with an added rubber stabilizing ring around the back of each one to keep it secure in your ear. A large, rubberized ear hook loops around the outside of the ear to transition almost seamlessly to the flat, relatively thick, linguini-style cable that connects the two earbuds. The side of the headset facing your head is completely green or blue, while the side facing outwards is dark gray around the ear hooks and a combination of gray and the dominant color along the cable.
The right ear holds a large Call Answer/End button and a small nub-like Power/Bluetooth pairing button. A small rubber door on the underside of the earbud covers the micro USB charging port, which works with the included cable and wall adapter. The left ear holds a large Play/Pause button and a smaller Volume nub. The Volume control is finicky, because instead of a rocker to make your music louder or softer, you need to tap the button to increase volume and hold the button to decrease volume.
The BackBeat Fit comes with a soft neoprene zip-up carrying case that can be turned inside-out to become a high-visibility armband and phone pouch. While Plantronics includes the handy pouch, cable, and charger for the BackBeat Fit, it doesn't come with any extra eartips. The pair included on the headset itself is intended to be one-size-fits-all, but they can rotate 20 degrees up or down to improve the fit. I found the fit secure in my ear with minimal adjustment for over an hour, but after that I began to feel some discomfort along the insides of my ears from the pressure exerted by the loops and eartips. It can go the distance for your workout, but it won't feel very good if you wear it all day.
Similar Products
Plantronics BackBeat Go 2
JayBird BlueBuds X
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Performance
The BackBeat Fit isn't designed to isolate noise like many in-ear headphones, which is a good thing for any headset you might use while jogging, biking, or otherwise subject to potential dangers in your peripheral vision. Unfortunately, this also means the BackBeat Fit isn't the best headset to use to completely block out the horrible radio station in your gym (but hey, you can at least drown it out with your own music).
Because of the lack of noise isolation, the BackBeat Fit isn't the most bass-heavy headphone pair I've tried. It handled our standard bass test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout," with absolutely no distortion at maximum volume. However, even at maximum volume, the synth bass hits and kick drum didn't have much power to them. They're present, but they lack any sort of sub-bass thump that some other headphones can provide.
The upright bass in Miles Davis' "So What" doesn't have much rumbly force, but it gets just enough low-end response from the BackBeat Fit to sound warm and hold its own in the mix. It takes a backseat to the piano and horns, which sound bright and prominent, but it doesn't disappear from the track either.
The Heavy's "How You Like Me Now" gets enough low-end presence to make the bass and kick drum hits sound forceful while keeping the vocals, horns, and hi-hat in the forefront. With the BackBeat Fit, it's a pleasantly balanced mix that doesn't push anything to the background, and while the lack of significant low-end kick keeps it from sounding really exciting during the chorus, it stays engaging enough to keep you listening.
Conclusion
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit is an excellent, gym-friendly Bluetooth headphone pair that comes with a handy armband that can hold your phone while you run. It lacks a bit of low-end, but it doesn't distort, and lets just enough sound bleed through to maintain situational awareness. However, its $130 price tag should offer good performance and comfort outside of the gym, and while it's ideal for when you're working up a sweat, its rugged design and sound profile don't shine quite as bright when you're done with your workout. If you want a more flexible Bluetooth headset with powerful bass, the Editors' Choice JayBird BlueBuds X is worth your consideration despite being a bit pricier. The Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 is also a compelling alternative; while they aren't quite as rugged or exercise-focused as the BackBeat Fit, they have the same sweat-proof P2i coating and a similar sound profile for around two-thirds of the price.
The Plantronics BackBeat Fit headphones are just about ideal for the gym, but not quite as suited for day-to-day use.
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