The purple version of the Beats Fit Pro in their case
This is the version I bought, and I love them so freakin’ much.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

I need my jams, that's one truth about me. There were no jams or runs. When I lose steam, the bass drops are timed to make me feel better. My headphones are the most important piece of running tech. A few weeks ago, my decade-long search for the perfect pair came to an end.

The gorgeous Beats Fit Pro is here.

You have to know about the headphones that didn't make the cut to understand why I'm gaga for these buds. Don't worry, I'll spare you a Dickensian-length novel about the dozens of earbuds that have failed me in my 10 year running journey.

Bose SoundSport earbuds are too large for my small ears, and I end up chasing them when they fall out. I tried one of Shokz headphones. I want to feel the sound of a bass drop in my head. Waluigi would be embarrassed by these. When the AirPods Pro came along and ruined me with their superior connection, I stanned my Jabra Elite Active 65t, but they still occasionally fell out of my ear. The AirPods Pro are not hardy enough for exercise. I have sweaty ears. I thought I found a compromise. They were comfortable and gave me a good amount of situational awareness. They failed me at the New York City Half Marathon. I ran out of steam at the 10th mile marker and had to stop at the finish line.

The purple and gray versions of the Beats Fit Pro in their cases.
Not gonna lie, I almost bought the gray ones because they’re also pretty stylish.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

Let's talk about why I love my Beats Fit Pro.

I dislike winged tips because they are not comfortable. That was the first thing that came to mind. During an hour-long run on a hot summer day, the Fit Pro fit securely in my ear. When I took the buds out, they didn't feel like they were going to fall out of my ear like my AirPods Pro. I thought I saw a metalhead headbanging after I got home. Since that first run, the buds have stayed put and dry. I don't know if it's the way the tips fit into my ear ridge, but I've never had this good of a fit with earbuds before

These aren't the best sounding earbuds I've ever used, but they're very good. My favorite K-pop singer sounds like an angel and I get my bass drops. The noise-canceling mode allows me to slip into the zone during workouts or while writing but not so silent that I can't hear a bus behind me. When noise cancellation is good, I don't like it. I feel safer when I have a good idea of what is happening. I am all set because the Beats Fit Pro block the yowls of my cat.

The Beats Fit Pro fit securely in my ear and stayed put during an hour-long run on a sweltering summer day

They can do triple duty with all the benefits of the AirPods Pro. I never had to manually pair them to my Macbook Air or iPad because I did not set them up. When I switch from my phone to a work call on my computer, I get an on-demand workout on my iPad. We love gadgets that can be used multiple times. I am a scatterbrained dodo and will inevitably lose these. Find My can be used to find out where I left them.

The $200 retail price of the Beats Fit Pro was too much for me. They were on sale. It is reasonable since I have already spent a lot on wireless earbuds. As I get older, I realize that investing in good quality can save you money in the long run. I think these fall into that category.

The last reason is silly, but I like that it's a purple color. Tech companies use pink on gadgets in a way that is borderline insulting. The majority of my earbuds are black and have no accents. When the news cycle is bad, a good pop of color increases my mood and makes me feel better. I feel fancy when I work out because this matches my waterbottle. I want all the small pockets of joy I can get.

For me, the Beats Fit Pro are the exact right mix of price, form, and function

Earbuds are a personal device. You may not like the way I do. The fit pro is the right mix of price, form, and function. Wireless charging is the only thing I wish it had. I avoided the Beats Fit Pro for a long time despite the recommendation of many friends and colleagues. I have been burned before by hype and returns are difficult to return. I love these so much that it shocks me. I don't recall the last time my earbuds made me excited for a run, but these do just that.