Polk Audio UltraFit 1000 Headphones - White (ULTRAFIT 1000WHT)

I was looking for relatively cheap headphones that I could use for running. They needed to have a built-in so I can easily control the playback of music, be water-resistant, and cost around $50. There are a lot of choices that satisfied these requirements and I had a hard time making the decision to order Polk Audio UltraFit 1000.I have to disclose that I did not try to evaluate the headphones on the quality of the sound. If you care deeply about the sound, nothing in this price range will impress you.I primarily intended to use them for running long distances. My regular earbuds would start to slip out within half-hour, so I wanted something that would be secure for well over an hour or two. The design of UltraFit 1000 appealed to me as both the in-ear and over-the-ear parts are designed to stay put.What really separated this model from others I looked at were the three cable length options. When on the move, having extra cord flailing around can be a nuisance. UltraFit 1000 solved that problem. I thought I could have it all with these. Unfortunately, I was in for a major disappointment when I finally opened the box. The 3-button remote control and in-line microphone was a crucial feature for me. As it turns out, only the long cord has it. The shortest option is just long enough to reach the collar, so it can really be used with a tiny device like an iPod shuffle. Thus, it makes sense that there is no remote at that length. However, it was a huge disappointment that the middle cable length was missing the remote. That aspect is not mentioned anywhere and is difficult to figure out from the images.I had to return the headphones. They are well-built and seem like would do their job well, but the description is misleading. With UltraFit 1000, you can have the remote or you can have the variable cable lengths, but not both.

I've tried multiple under-$100 sports headphones. These are the best so far -- which is not to say that they're perfect. This is my 2nd pair (see below); first one w/ the phone/volume control, so I can't yet speak to the durability of that part.- Sound quality is about equal to Sennheiser sports models. Which is to say, not quite as good as Sennheiser mid-end non-sports earbuds. But to get better quality, as far as I can tell, you have to drop +$100. My budget doesn't allow that, for something I'm gonna wear for hours each week at gym. In the $20-70 price range, I think these are a front-runner.- I have small ears (apparently), so many models are uncomfortable for me. These are reasonably comfortable when outfitted with the smallest tips. The loop keeps them in place pretty well, unlike all simple (Apple-style) earbuds that fall out when I'm working out.- Comes with two different cord lengths. However, both lengths are stupidly chosen, as others have noted. One's too short, the other too long. I use the too-long one and wrap the excess.- Cords seem "average" in sturdiness. One side started glitching out after about a year, but that seems par for course given my level of usage.- Volume buttons work fine; I haven't taken calls at the gym so I don't know how well the phone function works. On the last pair it was pretty loud.- BIGGEST problem: the little silver band is a weak point. It's a bit of a design flaw. After about a year it broke on 1 side, exposing the wires, forcing me to buy a 2nd pair. On my new pair, I coated all around that silver band w/ a layer of crazy glue, to support that joint. We'll see how that works; hopefully it won't degrade the material.

The fit on these is decent, they are very secure and don't bother my ears at all. The sound is just ok, mids are over-emphasized, bass is lacking, treble is muted. The inline volume control is very unreliable with my iPhone 5S. A few times the volume has gone to zero as though the down volume button was held down when it wasn't. Other times, the volume buttons don't work at all. The feel on the buttons is awful, they're all one piece of plastic that flexes when you press part of it. It's very easy to hit play/pause when you intended to hit volume up or down (which i guess don't work half the time anyway). The flat cord doesn't tangle easily, but it's so wide that it ends up far more bulky than a normal cord.I originally was going to give these 3 stars, but now that i've gotten to the end, it sounds more like a 2 star review. I would not buy these again, and i would not recommend them to anyone. I already tossed the packaging, or i'd return them for a refund.Update after using them for a week or two: these are pretty terrible. The sound is mediocre at best, and the volume controls now engage randomly by themselves, turning the volume all the way down. Downgrading from 2 stars to 1. I'm going to be sending these to Polk if i can, they just seem very poorly made.

I go through headphones like no one's business while working out. I'm always catching on the cord and yanking them out of my ears. Eventually from the abuse, I get lots of crackle. These have two cord extensions for you to make the length best for you. I go straight from the headphones to my iPod nano attached to my jog bra. It works out great and I'm not catching on a long cord. However, when I do that, I can't use the extension cord with the Apple Remote on it. I did try that cord and not only was it LONG, it flops around when running even if you use the included wire clip. My only real complaint is that the piece that holds it firmly in your ear (you can see it sticking out in the photo) holds it so firmly in your ear that it make your ears sore after a little bit.