Wireless Microphone Systems for Fitness: Types and Tips
Anybody who has directed or participated in a group fitness class knows just how important it is to clearly hear the instructor’s directions. Group instructors are in charge of their class and have spent time developing the workout. Without their instruction and motivation, the class loses its structure and momentum.
If you’ve ever been in a group fitness class where the music is pumping, people around you are exercising intensely, you’re in the zone—and the instructor’s microphone suddenly stops working—you understand how frustrating that interruption can be.
Having a high-quality, fitness-rated headset microphone is essential for most group fitness instructors to communicate effectively and provide a great class experience.
Choosing the right fitness microphone matters.
The best option depends on how many classes you teach, how much you move, the amount of sweat and moisture the microphone is exposed to, and whether you prefer a traditional bodypack or a cableless system.
The best option depends on how many classes you teach, how much you move, the amount of sweat and moisture the microphone is exposed to, and whether you prefer a traditional bodypack or a cableless system.
Wireless Headset Microphone Systems
Headset microphones are far and away the preferred choice for fitness instruction. They provide greater freedom of movement than handheld microphones and generally offer better voice projection with less feedback than lapel microphones.
Fitness headset microphones are commonly used with two different transmitter configurations.
1. Bodypack Transmitters
As the name implies, the transmitter is housed in a bodypack that is typically carried in a sports pouch or mic belt worn around the instructor’s waist.
Shure BLX Bodypack Transmitter
A fitness-rated headset microphone and bodypack transmitter can be one of the most sweat-resistant wireless microphone configurations for fitness because the transmitter is generally protected from sweat inside the mic belt.
A mic belt also keeps the bodypack transmitter securely in place instead of allowing it to fall and hit the floor during class.
Because the headset microphone and bodypack transmitter are separate components, each part can also be individually repaired or replaced if needed.
Another advantage of a bodypack system:
You can often upgrade the headset microphone without replacing the entire wireless system.
You can often upgrade the headset microphone without replacing the entire wireless system.
Upgrade to a Fitness-Rated Headset Microphone
One major advantage of using a bodypack system is that you can usually upgrade the headset microphone to one designed specifically for fitness use.
Many headset microphones included with standard wireless systems are light-use headsets recommended for approximately one to two classes per day, or about 7–10 classes per week.
For instructors and facilities with heavier schedules, a fitness-rated replacement headset microphone can significantly improve durability.
The EMic Fitness Headset Microphone is a medium-use headset microphone fitness-rated for up to three non-consecutive fitness classes per day.
The AeroMic is designed for heavy-use fitness applications and is fitness-rated for up to 49 classes per week.
Both premium replacement headset microphones are available with connectors for most major wireless microphone brands.
AV Now also offers complete wireless systems from major wireless brands with an EMic or AeroMic upgrade built directly into the bundle. Fitness Audio wireless systems include an EMic as the standard headset with an option to upgrade to AeroMic.
Maintenance Tips for Bodypack Microphone Systems
Wear and tear on headset/bodypack wireless microphone systems commonly occurs around the connectors—where the headset microphone plugs into the bodypack transmitter .
You can help prolong connector life by regularly cleaning the connection with DeoxIT cleaner and applying Egloop electronic protectant to the connector pin holes.
Total Microphone Care Kit
Not recommended for Shure brand equipment.
The microphone element can also degrade over time as moisture, makeup, lipstick, and other debris reach the microphone capsule.
Simple tip: Always use a windscreen. It helps protect the microphone element from moisture and debris while also reducing unwanted breath and wind noise.
DeoxIT, Egloop, sports pouch microphone belts , and windscreens for popular headset microphones are available in our Microphone Accessories collection.
Transmitter-on-the-Headset Wireless Microphones
This style of wireless microphone has the transmitter mounted directly onto the headset.
These systems became popular with fitness instructors because of their cableless design. There is no cable running from the headset to a bodypack transmitter, giving instructors greater freedom of movement.
Removing the traditional bodypack also eliminates wear and tear on the bodypack connector and headset cable.
What About Sweat?
The primary drawback of early cableless headset microphone systems was sweat resistance.
By design, the transmitter is located directly on the instructor’s head—often in contact with sweaty hair. As a result, earlier headset-transmitter systems could require repair or replacement more frequently than traditional headset/bodypack systems.
Even with that tradeoff, many instructors and fitness facilities decided the freedom of a cableless, no-bodypack system was worth it.
In recent years, more sweat-resistant transmitter-on-the-headset designs have been developed, and some can now stand alongside the best fitness-rated headset/bodypack systems.
Choose the System for Your Weekly Class Load
Unlike a headset/bodypack system, you generally cannot upgrade only the headset portion of a transmitter-on-the-headset microphone. The headset and transmitter are integrated, so it is important to choose a model that is rated for the number of classes you expect it to handle each week.
If you prefer a cableless microphone rated for light use—about 7–10 classes per week—but your schedule requires 20 classes per week, consider purchasing an additional headset-transmitter and alternating between them.
For heavy-use schedules:
Spreading classes across multiple microphones gives each headset time to dry between uses, reduces wear, and gives your facility a built-in backup microphone.
Spreading classes across multiple microphones gives each headset time to dry between uses, reduces wear, and gives your facility a built-in backup microphone.
The same principle applies to both cableless headset-transmitter systems and traditional headset/bodypack microphone systems.
AV Now offers a variety of microphone system configurations designed for medium- and heavy-use class schedules.
Let Your Fitness Microphone Dry Between Classes
Allowing any headset microphone to thoroughly dry between uses is recommended.
This is especially important for transmitter-on-the-headset systems because the transmitter itself can be exposed to more moisture than a bodypack that is protected inside a mic belt.
Ideally, hang the headset microphone somewhere with plenty of ventilation after use. Avoid immediately storing a damp fitness microphone inside a drawer or enclosed case.
Best practice:
Give your microphone time to dry completely before the next class whenever possible.
Give your microphone time to dry completely before the next class whenever possible.
Looking for more maintenance advice? Read our fitness microphone cleaning and maintenance guide.
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