Gadget review: Plantronics Backbeat Fit is great for runs and workouts
Once you get used to the functions, the Fit is a great pair of headphones both for runs and the gym
Quick Specs
What: Plantronics Backbeat Fit
At a glance: Bluetooth wireless headphones, great for runs and gym workouts
Best price: ₹5,499 (amazon.in)
USP: Convenient fitness partner, waterproof
Rating: 4/5
Wireless headphones have quickly become a must-have, and with good reason. They are fuss-free and convenient, and you won’t spend valuable time detangling them before use. For those looking to ditch the wires for the first time, the Plantronics Backbeat Fit is a good bet. And it’s especially convenient for runners and gym rats.
What’s good: The Backbeat Fit is comfortable. It goes over the ears and sits snug, and doesn’t keep falling off during a run. It’s also capable of withstanding the sweat in our hot, humid conditions. The audio has good bass, enough to retain all the pump from your workout music. The cable is thick compared to other wireless headsets, but also ensures that it never tangles — even when carelessly thrown into a bag. The Bluetooth connectivity is smooth and we encountered no glitches in transmission. The Fit is also convenient when it comes to answering calls, and using Google voice commands to make calls and control other functions. It helps you to control basic phone functions without having to fish your phone out of your pocket.
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What’s not: Even if you like devouring the instruction manual before using a gadget, it takes a while to get a hang of what button to press for which function — including something as basic as the power switch. The controls are on the ear buds itself — while this makes it compact, it also means one button serves many functions. A single push for volume up, push and hold for volume down, double push for track forward, triple push to go back, press and hold to switch between music and call modes… you get the idea. What saves the Fit, though, is a voice guide that tells you what you’ve just done.
Verdict: Once you get used to the functions, the Fit is a great fitness partner. An added plus: In a city like Mumbai, the Fit is also a terrific music partner when you’re running to catch a bus or struggling for arm-space in a crowded train. On the whole, the Plantronics Backbeat Fit is a reasonable buy and a good investment for fitness freaks.
