Bose SoundSport vs. Plantronics BackBeat Fit

In this article, I’ll review my two favorite wireless workout headphones for running and jogging: the Bose SoundSport wireless earbuds and the Plantronics Backbeat Fit Wireless headphones.

Until the summer of 2018, my workout routine consists of Crossfit-type exercises or running. When I run alone, I like to listen to music. Before I got the Apple Watch my running gear included the iPhone, Nike Distance Armband, and Bose Mobile In-Ear headphones.

The above setup worked, but it wasn’t ideal. There wasn’t a run where I didn’t yank the headphones out of my ears because I accidentally pulled on the cable.

The Bose headphones have ear-tips (Bose calls it StayHear) that offer a more comfortable and secure fit. But even that didn’t prevent them from coming loose every so often.

Since I originally wrote this article, I got a chance to test over two dozens of wireless workout headphones — see here for a complete roundup. Additionally, I stopped running in favor of CrossFit. But when I do go for a jog, I usually wear the recently released Apple AirPods Pro.

Wireless Workout Headphones For Running

When I upgraded to the iPhone 6S Plus in 2014, I realized that Nike didn’t make an armband for the larger phone. With the Apple Watch, I also have the option of not bringing my iPhone for running at all.

Those two factors prompted me to look for wireless workout headphones for running that I could connect via Bluetooth to either the iPhone or the Apple Watch.

After extensive research, I decided to give the Plantronics BackBeat Fit Wireless Headphones a shot. I have had a good experience with Plantronics at work, so I had high hopes for their wireless workout headphones.

Plantronics BackBeat Fit

I chose the Plantronics BackBeat Fit because they are waterproof, light-weight and they stay put. As a bonus, they have a microphone, so I could even answer calls while running if I had to.

What I Like About The BackBeat Fit

• Comfortable to wear: Even in combination with sunglasses.
• Waterproof: I can sweat on them and then just rinse them off afterward.
• Sound: They offer good sound quality, and they don’t block out ambient noise, so I can still hear what’s going on around me. Needless to say, they are not noise-canceling.

What I Don’t Like About The BackBeat Fit

• Controls: There is no tactile difference between the controls on either side of the headphones. So I always have to guess what side the play/pause button and volume controls are while running. Maybe that’s just a sign that I don’t use them often enough, but I wish I could more easily “feel” what button to push.
• Audio Quality & Apple Watch: When paired and connected to the Apple Watch, I noticed that audio was cutting out sometimes. Plantronics must have seen this issue as well because they released a firmware update that is supposed to fix this issue. I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but if the issue is fixed, I will take this bullet point off the list.

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Bose SoundSport

I’m a big fan of the Bose brand, and when they came out with fitness headphones, I could not resist but to give them a try. The black version was sold out, so I opted for a color that Bose calls “Citron.”

Bose has two versions of the SoundSport headphones: one with heart rate monitor and one without. I got the ones without the heart rate monitor because I have one on my Apple Watch.

One of the things I really liked about the Bose SoundSport was their excellent audio quality, as you would expect from Bose.

While the Bose wireless earbuds were comfortable to wear, they stuck out more than any other in-ear headphones I had tried before. However, that was more of a cosmetic issue than anything else.

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Bose vs. Plantronics – Side-by-Side Comparison

Comfort

One thing I like about the Bose SoundSport is that they seem to be less bulky because the cable connecting the two earpieces is rounded and thin, just like on wired headphones. The Plantronics BackBeat Fit, however, have a flat cable that’s a bit stiffer.

Also, the Bose headphones are securely held in place by their ear tips instead of relying on a loop that goes around your ear. I figured without the loop it would be a bit more comfortable to wear sunglasses.

But it turned out that both headphones are equally comfortable while running. If that is because I always push myself to my physical limit and thus don’t pay attention to such minor issues as the comfort of headphones, I don’t know.

Another thing I noticed is that the earpieces of the Bose look a bit bulky, but they don’t feel that way.

Volume Control

What I like about the Bose SoundSport are the volume control buttons that are built into the cable. I am much more familiar with the typical “volume up/down and pause/play in the middle” design than with the Plantronics controls, which are built into the earpieces.

While running, I could never remember what side the pause/play button was. To turn the volume up or down you only had one button. Press it once, and the volume goes up, press it long, and the volume goes down. Once you lose fine motor skills while running, it’s not easy to use those buttons.

Music Playback

Both headphones produce decent sound, but in my opinion, the Bose SoundSport have a slight edge as they offer a fuller sound and more bass. Connectivity between the headphones and the Apple Watch Series 2 has been flawless with the Bose and the Plantronics.

I did have some issues in the past with the Plantronics with my old Apple Watch, but that could have been a problem with watchOS. From a safety perspective, the Plantronics have an advantage because they let more noise in from your surroundings than the Bose, which fill out your entire ear canal.

So when you listen to music, you won’t hear much about what’s going on around you. It is worth noting that neither headphones are noise-canceling.

Water/Dust Resistance

The Plantronics headphones have a water-resistant rating of IP57. The first number (5) means protection from the amount of dust that would interfere with the operation of the equipment. The second number (7) means protection against immersion.

So you can rinse off the headphones after a run, and it won’t harm them. Additionally, the Plantronics have a nano-coating to protect against sweat. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy 7 has a water/dust resistance rating of IP68, and the Apple iPhone 7 has a rating of IP67.

The Bose SoundSport are only sweat-proof at a rating of IPX4.

Battery Life

The Plantronics win this category with 8 hours listening and 6 hours talking time. The Bose, on the other hand, top out at only 6 hours listening time.

Connectivity

The Bose SoundSport can be paired with two devices at the same time, whereas the Plantronics headphones have an eight-device memory. I’m only using the headphones for running with my Apple Watch, so I don’t have an issue with the two device limit. You can also use both headphones to make and receive calls.

Accessories

Both Bose and Plantronics come with a storage pouch and a micro-USB charging cable. The Plantronics storage bag takes up more space than that of the Bose headphones because it doubles as an armband.

Unfortunately, it only works for phones up the size of an iPhone 7. My iPhone 7 Plus doesn’t fit, making it useless for me. That’s why I prefer the smaller Bose pouch. Additionally, the Bose headphones come with extra ear tips of various sizes.

Comparison

Feature	Bose SoundSport	Plantronics BackBeat Fit
Water-resistance	IPX4	IP57
Batter life	6h	8h listening, 6h talking
Device memory	2	8
Make/Receive Calls	Yes	Yes
Noise-canceling	No	No
Accessories	Storage pouch, extra ear tips, charging cable	Storage pouch (doubles as armband), charging cable
Sound quality	★★★★★	★★★★☆
MSRP	$149.00	$130

Conclusion: Bose vs. Plantronics

Both the Plantronics Backbeat Fit as well as the Bose SoundSport are excellent wireless workout headphones for running and jogging. It boils down to personal preference which pair of headphones you prefer. I can highly recommend both!