Plantronics Backbeat Fit Bluetooth Headphones Review
Contents
The requirements for a set of wireless Bluetooth headphones for sports are pretty simple. They should stay in the ear, be comfortable, have good battery life, and sound good. However, I’ve found that most sets don’t even hit half of those goals. The Plantronics Backbeat FIT Bluetooth headphones fulfill all needs and offer additional functions for a good measure – and all for a very reasonable price.
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT Bluetooth headphone prioritizes the muscles over the brain because these headphones can withstand anything. While the FIT doesn’t offer the best audio quality or the best battery life, they make very good workout headphones. You can guide them through every training session: thanks to the IP57 protection rating and the flexible shape, they survive anything.
Plantronics is also breaking new ground with the new Boost Edition of the BackBeat FIT, which is supplied with a travel bag that doubles as a portable battery. The case provides an additional 16 hours of playtime, so you can fully charge the headphones twice. More likely, however, you’ll plug in the headphones every time you put them in the mesh case to keep them filled.
What Does the Plantronics Backbeat Fit Look Like?
The BackBeat FIT is the cockroach of the headphone world. They may not look like that, but they can withstand anything. Flexible silicone surrounds the back of the head and can be rotated in any direction.
The one-size-fits-all style will appeal to listeners with large skulls. If your head is average in size, the extra silicone may be a bit unsightly and uncomfortable. However, the headphone is safe: it has a reflective coating for nighttime visibility. Another security feature is the seamless design. The earbuds are specially designed to let outside noise through so you can keep an eye on your surroundings at all times.
The ear hooks are more stable than the headband and keep the buttons in place. However, if you have small ears, the hooks can fly over your ear. This makes it difficult to hold the headphones in place as the hooks on the end fly around all over the place. Plantronics offers a wristband for your phone, however, a few 2021 phones won’t fit into the group.
Plantronics Backbeat Fit Bluetooth Headphones Product Review
Connectivity and Design
The headset has controls for playing, pausing, and answering calls, the latter reducing battery life by a few hours. The strap is flexible and the entire Caboodle is waterproof, which speaks for its durability. A wide range of colors is available and the helmet also has reflective details.
The headphones are not designed to get stuck in the ear canal, which I found more comfortable than traditional in-ear headphones. I’ve used the FIT for runs all the way to marathons and these are my favorite running headphones because of their comfortable fit and the fact that they don’t completely block out the world around you – a definite plus for those looking to avoid the anger of the Hear marshals or the traffic while walking in busy streets.
Battery Life
The battery life is decent for training-minded buds. The headphones last seven hours on a single charge, which is below average, but will keep you exercising for a week. Allow two hours to fully charge the Plantronics BackBeat FIT.
Normal sleep mode lasts for 14 days, but like the Grizzly, the FIT also goes to sleep. This allows you to extend your deep sleep by six months. Hibernation is activated when the source device is turned on for more than 10 minutes but is not nearby.
Sound Quality
The FIT supports the A2DP standard subband coding (SBC). What does that mean? Your audio quality will be good. The 13mm drivers are loud at a measured 105dB, but the sound quality is poor due to the open fitting of the buds. Again, if you’re an avid outdoor athlete, it’s a sacrifice well worth it, but these headsets aren’t for audiophiles.
Unlike most training headphones, the bass is weak, or at least appears to be, due to the open fit. For those who may not know, the gasket is essential for a solid low-end. The FIT cannot deliver due to its unsealed form factor. I think that’s why Plantronics decided to make them too strong to compensate.
The lack of an airtight seal is a feature, Plantronics says, so runners can hear oncoming traffic. Overall, it’s a pretty flat sound with lots of basses, but nothing on beats here.
Durability
When it comes to longevity, the flexibility of the Backbeat Fit comes into play. Screwed into the pocket of a racing jacket, the test models endured a good beating without moaning. An included neoprene wristband secures your smartphone and flips over to store headphones, which is a nice touch.
The listening time is certainly close or equal, and the standby mode lasts indefinitely thanks to the DeepSleep which prevents the battery from evaporating in your gym bag. According to Plantronics, billed FITs are retained for up to six months.
Conclusion
If you are looking for wireless running headphones, these should be at the top of your wish list. They’re lightweight, easy to use, effortlessly stay in place, and have great battery life.
However, BackBeat FIT is very difficult to find these days as the company has moved on to more modern projects like the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 2100 and True Wireless offerings. If you like what you’ve seen of the Plantronics BackBeat FIT, you should buy the modern version, the BackBeat FIT 2100. These headsets have similar designs and the FIT 2100 maintains the same open fit. You can control the modern headset with the BackBeat app.
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