Do you work out with Bluetooth wireless headphones?

If you’ve ever used your BlackBerry as a workout tool, then you know some of the drawbacks. One of the biggest nuisances is plugging headphones into your BlackBerry. This is a totally natural function, but when you’re in the gym it can be a pain. There are certain exercises where the cord just gets in the way no matter what you do (short of strapping your BlackBerry to your leg and running the wire all the way up your shirt). There is a solution, though. You could always go wireless with your headphones. Thanks to Bluetooth technology, we can easily find headphones that work with our BlackBerry devices. They work just like any other Bluetooth headset. The difference, of course, is that there are two ear buds, and that the sound quality is quite a deal stronger. That is, if you find the right pair. Here are a few options. Plantronics BackBeat 903 This model we offer in the BBGeeks Store, and it sure is a high quality one. The big deal here, as it will be with most Bluetooth headphone units, is sound quality. Plantronics used Altec Lansing, a company well regarded by audiophiles. It also contains a noise-canceling unit, which improves clarity. It won’t completely block out the noises around you — which is probably a good thing — but it will makes for a fuller, deeper sound. Bass boost helps with this, too. The No. 1 concern with any Bluetooth headphone unit is the sound quality. Instead of running sound through a static wire, it’s running through a wireless connection. There are endless ways for the sound quality to dissipate along the way, as anyone who owns a crappy Bluetooth headset can attest. But Plantronics brings the quality. Quality costs, though. You can get the Plantronics BackBeat 903 for $85.45. The hope, I guess, is that it’s the last set of Bluetooth headphones you buy. ARCTIC Sound The full title of this is a bit much to put in bold, but the full name is the ARTIC Sound ORACO-ERM28-GBA01. Yeah, it looks more like a serial number than a product name. But don’t let it fool you. For someone seeking something a little cheaper, these will go a long way. In fact, the sound quality is quite surprising, since cheaper units tend to skimp on this aspect. It’s definitely a surprise to see something good in this price range. The ARCTIC Sound Bluetooth headphones are great for people who don’t want something sticking inside their ears. Plenty of people prefer this, but it’s surely not the only way to enjoy your music at the gym. These headphones do clip around your ear, which helps secure them as you run and lift, but they stay completely on the outside. That feature, combined with the price, makes this a good buy for many people. My only caution here would be durability. I haven’t seen many reviews that mention them breaking for no good reason, but you never know. Whenever you see high-quality headphones for cheap it’s only natural to be skeptical. You won’t be putting too much on the line, though. You can get the ARCTIC Sound Bluetooth headphones for $26.92. GOgroove AudioACTIVE Why headphones have names full of capital letters, I’ll never know. But this is another one. Best of all, the GOgroove unit is made for sports, so you won’t have to worry about the units bouncing off your ears or getting filled with sweat. I’ve broken more than one pair of headphones that way. As with the Plantronics model, these are designed to stay in place. They clip around your ears and then around the back of your neck. This support keeps everything steady, in case you hit a few bumps in the road or make a really awkward lift. I like this pair when jogging, even better than my normal wired headphones. For some reason those always loosen from my ears. These stay in place all the time. They also provide some level of noise canceling, which is one key to high quality audio. This unit is also a bit cheaper than the Plantronics, though the Plantronics does deliver better audio. If you’re looking for a cheap model that delivers fine quality, I’d recommend these. The Plantronics ones are more for the fitness buff who needs her music loud and detailed. You can get the GOgroove AudioACTIVE unit for $34.99.

About the Author

Joe Pawlikowski is the Senior Editor at MobileMoo.com and has been covering the mobile industry full time since 2007. When he's not writing about the tech scene, he can be found discussing his personal love - baseball (and more specifically the New York Yankees) as well as writing on his personal blog.