Summer for me means lots of travel, and therefore lots of headphone use–on planes, on beaches, on my couch when I’ve finally gotten the kids to bed (darn late sunsets). With my cats having gnawed through two (!!) sets of earbuds lately, I have a new plan. Well, two if you include keeping my headphones out of my cats’ reach.

The Velodyne vPulse In-Ear Headphones are really a treat. In black, blue or pink, you’ll find they’re not just pretty; they’re comfy with three different ear bud sizes, and the audio quality is terrific. I also appreciate the endorsement from our friends at CNET that they’re tops for headphones under $100, which is getting increasingly hard to find these days as consumers demand more from their audio.

Plus I’m always happy to support yet another a woman-founded tech company, especially when the products are this good.

As far as the features, I’m not sure how much the flat wire design actually “reduces tangles.” Or maybe that’s just my bugaboo? And be aware that in-line controls are only for iOS users at this time, if that’s an important feature for you.

One big benefit is that the vPulse headphones are also great for phone calls, and these days I insist on headphones that do double-duty with decent mics. Plus? Protective case. And there’s no way my cats can open it, at least not without help from at least three other cats. –Liz

Find the the Velodyne vPulse In-Ear Headphones online at Velodyne for $99 or through our affiliate Amazon.