Plantronics Introduces First Rugged Headset

The Explorer 370 meets military standards for water, dust, and shock resistance, plus cuts down on wind noise.

For those cell phone addicts who just have to stay in touch while they’re fighting mountain lions, rafting down the Snake River, or stuck in a desert windstorm, Plantronics introduced a new ruggedized Bluetooth headset on Monday designed specifically to deal with the rigors of the great outdoors. The Explorer 370 is the company’s first fully rugged headset, built to resist water, dust, shock and wind.

“The Explorer 370 delivers a quality headset in a durable package that can withstand tough environments, including windy and dusty work conditions, rugged outdoor adventures or anything life throws at you,” said Ron Vitale, category director for Plantronics’ mobile products, in a statement. The device is even certified to meet the U.S. military’s MIL-STD-810 standard for field gear, which includes tests for resisting everything from salt fog to fungal growth. Plantronics also used a wind screen on the mic to filter out noise in windy locales.

Besides its above-average toughness, the Explorer 370 offers standard Bluetooth headset specs, including seven hours of talk time, eight days of standby time, and Plantronics’ QuickPair technology. It will roll out in March through major electronics retailers for $79.95.