Described as being discreet and ultra-light, the BackBeat FIT 350 wireless sports earbuds by Plantronics, consist of secure-fit ear-loops, patent-pending ear-tips and a 2-in-one stability clip, all targeted at helping them to stay in place during your most rigorous of training sessions.

The BackBeat FIT 350 is one of the three BackBeat FIT models that Plantronics has recently launched, the other two being the true wireless BackBeat FIT 3100 and the BackBeat FIT 2100, the newest version of the consumer favourite BackBeat FIT that people know and trust.

Sent a unit for review 

Plantronics recently sent me a unit of the BackBeat FIT 350 – for review.

The BackBeat FIT 350 earphones come in three colours and these are Black/Grey, Grey/Bone and Grey/Blue. 

The unit I received was the Grey/Bone colour combination. I thought that this colour looked pretty classic and that the tones are quite neutral and thus, easy to match with my clothes.

With Plantronics’ new Backbeat FIT earphones range.

The Build and Design 

For the build and design of the earbuds, this was quite interesting. The Backbeat FIT 350 consists of an in-ear design with behind-the-ear loops to hold it in place. 

As well, it is made with a woven fabric cable that bends easily and glides over sweat without getting sticky, together with a clip to hold it in place. And the ear hook is rubbery, flexible and quite light.

These earphones also come with a regular carrying case as well as three different sizes of ear-tips – so this means that you should be able to find one that fits you.

Pairing 

In terms of the pairing process, I found out that the Backbeat FIT 350 was quite fuss-free and the first time around, my iPhone had picked up a Bluetooth connection within minutes. 

And subsequently, it was also not an issue and I only needed to wait for a few seconds to get a connection before I started to run with the earbuds.

Using the BackBeat FIT 350

I thought that the BackBeat FIT 350 was not too difficult to put into my ears and I felt that generally, they stuck in my ears quite well and are also quite comfortable to run with.

I have tried it out on a few runs. One of these was a 5km run at a slightly faster pace than usual, and the earphones held firm, without bouncing or coming out at all. I thought that this was good.

However I also brought them out during a separate occasion, and that happened to be a particularly rainy day where I ran 10km. 

To my dismay, the BackBeat FIT 350 kept on slipping out of my ears several times during my run and I had to keep on putting it back and this spoiled my running rhythm as a result. 

I had wondered whether it was due to the slipperiness of the wet weather combined together with my sweat, had been causing the earphones to keep coming out because I must point out that this was the only time I had experienced this occurrence.

Withstands Rain

But the slipperiness aside, the BackBeat FIT 350 is built to withstand rain – and they are sweat-proof and IPX5-rated water-resistant, meaning that they can cope with rain and water splashes, but not if you dunk them into water.

Inline Remote Cable

Controlling the functions of the Backbeat FIT 350 with the inline remote cable during my runs was also a tad annoying at times because of the design and the fact that I have a small head. 

As a result of this, the remote cable ends up being located at the back of my head near my ears, making it not the most comfortable experience if I wish to change music tracks or the volume of my music.

But I guess that this is a small sacrifice to prevent the cable from moving around and annoying me in the middle of a workout.

Sound Quality 

In terms of the sound quality, I find the BackBeat FIT 350 to be the best out of Plantronics’ three new sports models, possibly thanks to the noise cancelling features present – the music sounds rich and deep, with the bass being more pronounced and the mids are clearer too. 

So as I am running, it is therefore easy to immerse myself in my music and lose myself in the rhythms of my favourite tunes. 

But I have to point out that this may be dangerous when you are running on the roads, but is usually not an issue when you run around a park, on a stadium track or a gym treadmill.

In this way too, the BackBeat FIT 350 is a model that is probably more suited to being used for indoor workouts such as in the gym, rather than outdoor ones.

Noise Isolation 

Possibly due to the noise isolation features present in this particular model, though, the sensation of picking up phone calls with the earphones, sounds rather strange.

This is because the voice of the person at the other end of the line tends to boom in my ears and my breathing also sounds magnified too, somewhat reminding me of Darth Vader from Star Wars.

Battery Life 

The battery life is advertised by Plantronics to be six hours at one stretch, which is more than enough for my long runs as well as my marathon races. And it takes less than two hours to charge them up, too.

Furthermore, the earphones will give you an indication of the battery levels when you turn them on to use as I found out, which is quite good.

In deep sleep mode, the battery level will hold for up to six months too, according to the electronics brand. 

So this means that if you store the earphones for a prolonged period of time, you may not need to charge them when you take them out to use again.

Where To Get These Earphones

The BackBeat FIT 350 is available at electronics retail stores across Singapore and they have a retail price of S$139.