Plantronics BackBeat FIT Review
When you lead an active lifestyle you need a pair of headphones to match. The Plantronics BackBeat FIT is just that pair! Made with Always Aware™ ear tips that keep you connected with your surrounding, this is a safer choice than most. The BackBeat app lets you customize your experience by establishing all sorts of commands that are controlled with a tap on the earbud.
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT is sweat/water-resistant which is ideal for intensive routines that work up a good sweat. Its wireless connectivity gives you up to 33ft/10m of wireless range so you don’t have to deal with tangled wires. The battery life is fairly impressive and gives you up to eight hours of playtime off a single charge. While there are options that do outlast the BackBeat FIT, this is still a good amount of playtime off just one charge. A feature that really stands out is the Quick Charge technology which gives an hour playtime in a 15-minute charge.
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
- Sweat/Waterproof
- Always Aware™ Eartips
- 8 Hour Battery Life
- Customized Experience
- Plantronics Signature Audio
Cons
- Loose Charging Port
Design
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT has a flexible design that is ideal for all levels of athletic activities. This innovative style results in more stable earbuds that don’t slip or slide around no matter which way you bend or stride. Constructed with Always Aware™ ear tips, these earphones won’t isolate you from your surroundings so will be safer while you train.
If you can’t hear what’s going on around you it puts you a greater risk for injury because you will be unaware of traffic and other passersby. The modern design this pair offers keeps you connected with the world around you so you will able to act quickly when faced with potential threats.
If you can’t hear what’s going on around you it puts you a greater risk for injury because you will be unaware of traffic and other passersby. The modern design this pair offers keeps you connected with the world around you so you will able to act quickly when faced with potential threats.
Sweat/Waterproof
When you enjoy exercising outdoors you need a pair of earphones that are able to withstand all types of weather including rain or snow. The Plantronics BackBeat FIT withstands rain and sweat which makes it the perfect choice for year-round athletics. This is important because rain will ruin your headphones if they don’t have waterproof materials.
Sweat is another area of concern because it will make your earphones smell or ruin them altogether. Earbud style headphones stop working with continuous moisture unless they prevent sweat from penetrating the material.
This option will work perfectly no matter how much you sweat while wearing it. It’s the perfect choice for wearing while you workout and can be worn rain or shine thanks to its waterproof design.
Sweat is another area of concern because it will make your earphones smell or ruin them altogether. Earbud style headphones stop working with continuous moisture unless they prevent sweat from penetrating the material.
This option will work perfectly no matter how much you sweat while wearing it. It’s the perfect choice for wearing while you workout and can be worn rain or shine thanks to its waterproof design.
Comfort/Stability
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT feels super comfortable while you wear it. It offers secure-fitting ear tips that won’t slide out when you’re on the move. This is ideal for high impact exercises like running, cycling, or even hiking. The flexible neckband is very enjoyable to wear and is nice and lightweight so it doesn’t get uncomfortable even after long periods of wear.
The neckband has an innovative shape that makes it stay in place better than other similar designs. Having a stable neckband is a must while exercising otherwise you will have to fidget with the fit the whole time that you’re on the go. With the Plantronics BackBeat FIT, you get uninterrupted workouts so you can push it to the limit all the time, every time.
The neckband has an innovative shape that makes it stay in place better than other similar designs. Having a stable neckband is a must while exercising otherwise you will have to fidget with the fit the whole time that you’re on the go. With the Plantronics BackBeat FIT, you get uninterrupted workouts so you can push it to the limit all the time, every time.
Battery Life
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT offers a wireless design with a rechargeable battery rather than through the headphone jack like we see with other styles. This will be a positive for some people and irritation for others. Many people love having a wireless pair because it eliminates the hassle of tangled wires while you exercise. But. the downside is that you only get a limited amount of playtime from every charge. While Plantronics has done a nice job of lessening the impact of having to charge your earphones separately it still gets tiresome for certain people.
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT gives you up to eight hours of continuous playtime which is fairly standard with this type of equipment. Though, if you strictly use your earphones for working out you could literally exercise the entire week of one charge. There are other options available, like the Beats PowerBeats3, that give you longer playback off a single charge and have a convenient FastFuel charge for quick charging on the go. The Plantronics BackBeat Fit does include Quick Charge technology that gives you a full hour of playtime from 15-minutes charge time.
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT gives you up to eight hours of continuous playtime which is fairly standard with this type of equipment. Though, if you strictly use your earphones for working out you could literally exercise the entire week of one charge. There are other options available, like the Beats PowerBeats3, that give you longer playback off a single charge and have a convenient FastFuel charge for quick charging on the go. The Plantronics BackBeat Fit does include Quick Charge technology that gives you a full hour of playtime from 15-minutes charge time.
Always Aware™ Eartips
When you wear earphones you often can’t hear the world around you. The earbuds isolate you from any other noises which aren’t necessarily the safest way to exercise. The Plantronics BackBeat FIT is all about increased safety and even offer a reflective ear tip that increases visibility. This innovative tip doesn’t fully block the ear canal like most which mean you can still hear ambient sounds around you.
Being in tune with the ambient noises lets you listen to music and hear your surroundings at the same time. Doing so keeps you much safer than if you’re fully tuned out. This is especially important for exercising outdoors because it's dangerous being around traffic and other passersby.
Being in tune with the ambient noises lets you listen to music and hear your surroundings at the same time. Doing so keeps you much safer than if you’re fully tuned out. This is especially important for exercising outdoors because it's dangerous being around traffic and other passersby.
Customized Experience
Don’t you just hate having to stop right in the middle of your workout just to change the song?! Well, the good news is that the Plantronics BackBeat FIT earphones make it so that you don’t have to. They offer a customized experience through the BackBeat app that puts you in total control while you train.
The app includes the My Tap feature which lets you customize various commands for an experience that’s completely your own. Once you’ve plugged in your commands you can use all sorts of features with a simple one or two tap sequence. By tapping on the earbud in a pre-set pattern it will send a command signal to the app that will perform all sorts of actions hands-free. You can change songs, play playlists, start or stop a timer, and many more awesome things too!
The app includes the My Tap feature which lets you customize various commands for an experience that’s completely your own. Once you’ve plugged in your commands you can use all sorts of features with a simple one or two tap sequence. By tapping on the earbud in a pre-set pattern it will send a command signal to the app that will perform all sorts of actions hands-free. You can change songs, play playlists, start or stop a timer, and many more awesome things too!
Sound
The Plantronics BackBeat FIT comes complete with Plantronics Signature Audio that delivers crisp powerful playback. 13.5 mm drivers give you full-range audio with detailed sharp high notes and natural mid-tones that keep you pumped and ready to tackle any workout.
Having high-quality sound while you exercise is a must in order to perform your best and this pair really delivers on the playback end. Most wearers are very satisfied with the overall performance and quality of sound that sets these headphones apart from similar products on the market today,
Having high-quality sound while you exercise is a must in order to perform your best and this pair really delivers on the playback end. Most wearers are very satisfied with the overall performance and quality of sound that sets these headphones apart from similar products on the market today,
Connectivity
When you’re working out wireless headphones are a must! Otherwise, you’re going to end up with tangled wires and cables in your way and will feel restricted when you try to move. The Plantronics BackBeat FIT offers up to 33ft/10m of wireless range making it the perfect choice for athletic lifestyles. With this kind of range, you can enjoy hassle-free exercise wherever you go and will be able to keep your phones safely hidden away. A super convenient way to carry your cell-phone and other valuables is by using an armband like the Nike Ventilated or Sprigs Armband. This style of gear gives you a safe place to keep your valuables that is ideal for all sorts of intensive activities.
Wireless connectivity is a must for working out because it frees you up to move whichever way you choose. Trying to run with wired headphones is a real drag and cycling is even worse! I personally can’t manage to run with a wired pair but there are some great options available for those of you who can.
Wireless connectivity is a must for working out because it frees you up to move whichever way you choose. Trying to run with wired headphones is a real drag and cycling is even worse! I personally can’t manage to run with a wired pair but there are some great options available for those of you who can.
Design Flaws
As with any product, the Plantronics BackBeat FIT is not without flaws. Several wearers had issues with the overall quality and replaced theirs in less than 90-days of use. Other people noticed issues with the charging port and claimed that it’s too loose to properly charge the headphones. This is a big issue because without a proper charge you will end up with no music halfway through your workout. Plantronics does offer a 90-day warranty so you get a replacement pair if you notice any defects with your original purchase.
Volume
While the sound quality is good with the Plantronics BackBeat FIT the volume just isn’t high enough for some people. Because of the Always Aware™ ear tips, you don’t get that booming kind of volume that most people look for. While this isn’t a big issue for most people it is a pain for others. It does take some adjusting because you can still hear the background noises around you while you listen to your music.
The Always Aware™ ear tips are safer than the kind that isolate you and block out all of the background sounds. If you can’t hear what's going on around you it is dangerous, especially if you’re out and about in the city. There will be all sorts of traffic and passersby that pose a danger when you can’t hear.
The Always Aware™ ear tips are safer than the kind that isolate you and block out all of the background sounds. If you can’t hear what's going on around you it is dangerous, especially if you’re out and about in the city. There will be all sorts of traffic and passersby that pose a danger when you can’t hear.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Plantronics BackBeat FIT is a good pair of athletic headphones. They don’t offer super loud audio because of the Always Aware™ ear tips that keep you connected to the environment around you. This is better for safety but will be an issue for people who prefer louder tunes while they exercise. The sound quality is quite impressive despite the limited volume range and will get you pumped up enough to power through any routine.
In terms of battery life, the Plantronics Backbeat FIT offers up to eight hours of playback, which is good for this kind of equipment. If you forget to charge them you can get an hour of playtime from just 15 minutes charging. This is a handy feature for anyone who forgets to charge their equipment too often and will save you loads of hassle.
The wireless connectivity is a great aspect and will really make your workouts that much easier. The Plantronics BackBeat FIT has an ergonomic design that is both flexible and lightweight, making it an ideal choice for fitness-related wear.
In terms of battery life, the Plantronics Backbeat FIT offers up to eight hours of playback, which is good for this kind of equipment. If you forget to charge them you can get an hour of playtime from just 15 minutes charging. This is a handy feature for anyone who forgets to charge their equipment too often and will save you loads of hassle.
The wireless connectivity is a great aspect and will really make your workouts that much easier. The Plantronics BackBeat FIT has an ergonomic design that is both flexible and lightweight, making it an ideal choice for fitness-related wear.
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