Beats Fit Pro - True Wireless Noise Canceling Earbuds ($199)
Summer running is my favorite. I’ll take the heat over the cold any day. I’m obviously running with music in any season but in the summer, when sweat is a notable factor, I want a pair of headphones that stay snug in my ears no matter what. At this point, I’ve tested several pairs and while I do have a favorite in this group of five, I can’t help but wonder if there is a better choice when it comes to running in the heat. And, thus, my search for the perfect pair of wireless headphones continues. Which brings us to my sixth pair in this quest, the Beats Fit Pro - True Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones. The Beats were written up in both Runner’s World, where they were touted for their good sound quality, and the New York Times Wirecutter Newsletter, where they were picked as one of their four favorite choices for working out in general. Having never tried this brand, I was eager to give them a spin. A quick reminder that I have worn every pair I’ve tested for a minimum of 50 miles. I have made an effort to try them in as many different types of weather as possible and for multiple types of runs. I wasn’t able to try these out in the bitter cold or in a snowstorm, but thanks to the New England spring weather, I was able to test them in most other conditions including 40s and windy, pouring rain, and high heat and humidity. I have worn them for long runs, track work and on the trails. I will be honest and tell you that prior to testing the Beats, I thought I’d found my perfect pair with the Jabra Elite. But, alas, this is no longer the case. And here’s why.
QUALITY
I’m admittedly not a quality expert, but having now tried upwards of 10 pairs of headphones, I can honestly say that these are rock solid. They are neatly packaged in a lightweight, square-shaped case that I wouldn’t necessarily run with but will happily carry in a pocket when I’m on the go. They are IPX4 water resistant, meaning they can get pretty wet (think splashes and light rain) with no issues, which is extremely important for summer running as I’m a big sweater and also like to pour water over my head before workouts and races. I don’t want to be worrying if these are going to conk out if they get water in or on them, something that has indeed happened with other models. So far, the Beats Fit Pros have not let me down. Fully charged, they give you six hours of listening time on their own and an additional 24 when the case is charged up. This is more than most and another huge plus for me as I’m one of those people who often forgets to charge their devices. (I know, I’m working on it.) They were super easy to set up right out of the box and I was pretty smitten from my first time using them. They also come in a variety of colors which is a fun option for those who care about that stuff. Since I started testing these they have become the pair I reach for the most and their high quality has a lot to do with that.
SOUND
Overall sound quality is awesome and based on what I’ve read, it’s really what they’re most acclaimed for. Again, if you’ve checked out any of my other reviews you know that sound is not high on my list of make or break factors when making a choice for headphones. If they play music and I can hear it, I’m pretty much good to go. The Beats actually have three modes including Active Noise Canceling, Transparency Mode and Adaptive EQ. I have been using them in Transparency mode for running but the nice thing about these is that it is very easy to slide between the three modes as it is done with a single click of the button on the left earbud. This is something that wasn’t always the case in the other models that I’ve tried and I often found myself messing with the volume or the song choice in addition to picking my listening mode. Yes, that is likely because I did not read the instructions, but I do appreciate that I could figure the Beats out quickly and easily on my own. I don’t know what the difference is between Transparency and Adaptive EQ, so you’ll have to dig deeper on that if you’d like more info. I do know that if I’m traveling and I’m on a plane, when I put them in Active Noise Canceling mode I can’t hear the baby that’s crying in the seat behind me. And that is a wonderful thing.
CONNECTION
These connect easily and smoothly. Once you have set them up, they automatically connect and pair when you take them out of their case and then unpair and disconnect when you put them away. Honestly, why don’t they all work this way? Having to press an additional button or go into my phone to unpair seems totally unnecessary. It can also result in me blowing the charge when I forget to shut them down. And there is nothing worse than setting off for a run and getting a message that your battery is dead. With these, there are no worries. On or off. That’s it. I love it. As far as taking or making calls goes, these connect without issue and sound great. I don’t use my run headphones a lot for calls but it is nice to know that when I do, the person on the other end comes through sharp and clear.
FIT
For me, this is where the Beats really shine. They fit so well it’s almost too good to be true. As you may know from reading my other reviews, I have child-sized ears and most models I’ve tested do not stay in very well. These have three different ear tip sizes as well as flexible wingtips that twist and lock easily into your ears. Once they are in place, they are totally comfortable and almost unnoticeable which is pretty rare when there is a wingtip involved. I have worn these for a marathon, so for over three hours straight, and the wingtips didn’t bother me at all. For me this is a deal breaker.
OVERALL GRADE: A+
I have legitimately found nothing wrong with these headphones. I suppose this could change but I’m feeling pretty optimistic that these are a sure thing. At $199 they are on the higher end of the price spectrum but they are worth every penny as far as I’m concerned. So, yes, these are now at the top of my list. I’ll be shocked if I find a better pair. But then, I do love a good challenge.
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