With so many different Bluetooth headsets available, how would you design one to stand out from the others? Here’s an idea. How about building it to withstand the rigors of an active outdoor lifestyle?
That’s the reasoning behind the Plantronics Explorer 370 Ruggedized. If you’re fashion conscious, the bulky appearance could be a non-starter, but if you’re fashion agnostic, you’ll likely appreciate that it doesn’t call attention to itself.
The 370 is manufactured to the MIL-STD 810 military-grade standards issued by the United States Army’s Developmental Test Command. Besides being water, dust, and shock resistant, it filters out wind noise, so you should be heard clearly even from a mountaintop or speeding bike (signal coverage permitting). I found the call quality be very good (I didn’t try it from a mountaintop or speeding bike, however).
Though it’s quite a bit larger than the smallest headsets, it does weigh less than an ounce. It felt reasonably comfortable for hours at a time. If you’re especially sensitive to the weight of a headset, it may take some getting used to. I didn’t try dropping it onto concrete or rocks, but it was clear from examining the unit that it should be able to take more than its fair share of abuse.
The Plantronics Explorer 370 Ruggedized has a list price of $79.95.