travel head phones

The best travel headphones 2024, chosen by our jet-setting reviewers

Mute airplanes, trains and automobiles

• Best overall
• Best budget
• Best premium
• Best for battery life
• Best earbuds for ANC
• Best earbuds for Apple
• Best mid-priced earbuds
• Best super-cheap earbuds
• Earbuds for in-flight movies
• How to choose
• How we test
• Latest updates

When looking for the best travel headphones, we're slightly adjusting our priorities compared to looking for more general headphones. We're looking for portability, battery life and, of course, active noise cancellation (ANC) more than we might otherwise. For those looking for the best airplane headphones, the option of a wired connection becomes crucial too, for those in-flight movies.

This list of the best travel headphones overlaps heavily with the best noise-cancelling headphones , but focusing more on their battery life, whether they have a folding lightweight design, and making sure they have a 3.5mm jack. Over-ear headphones are better at ANC than wireless earbuds, and wireless buds don't have wired connections, s headphones are our first pick – but best noise-cancelling earbuds have a huge portability advantage, so we've included those too (and one of them actually can handle a wired connection).

Our reviewers have tested all of these travel headphones on the exact kinds of transport we're talking about – our recommendations are based on real-world use for flights, trains, buses and even the occasional boat.

The quick list

Want a simple way to find the travel headphones with the features and price range you want? Use our quick list below – you can click to see a longer write-up of each product for more in-depth information.

The best travel headphones for most people

These headphones offer strong noise cancellation, great sound, good battery life, wired or wireless use, and a comfortable fit in a lightweight folding design. Ideal for travel at a superb price.

Read more below

The best cheaper travel headphones

These headphones can't cut out as much noise as higher-end models, but they're excellent for the price, and come with some useful smart features. They're light, and work wired or wireless.

The best premium travel headphones

The best noise cancellation we've used to date, elite sound quality, spatial audio, and a super-comfortable design that folds up. They're expensive, though, and the battery life is short.

The best travel headphones for battery life

You get glorious sound quality and solid noise-stopping here, with some super-smart features, and wired or wireless use. Oh, and 60 hours of battery life, which crushes everything else here.

The best noise-cancelling earbuds

These offer essentially the best noise cancellation of earbuds, with a solid and secure fit. Great sound quality, smart features, and very good value for premium-level earbuds.

The best earbuds for iPhone and iPad

With noise-blocking powers to challenge the Bose, amazing Spatial Audio for watching movies on iPhone or iPad, and glorious audio quality, these are ideal for Apple fans. 

Load the next products...

The best mid-priced earbuds for noise cancellation

Half the price of Bose headphones or AirPods, and more premium than the Earfun, these hit a perfect balance. You get astounding audio quality, great ANC, and good battery life.

Read more below  

The cheap earbuds with good noise cancellation

For this price, no other buds delivers better noise cancellation. And as an added bonus, they offer a long battery life of 7 hours with ANC on. They're very future-proof for features, too.

The best wireless earbuds for in-flight movie systems

Exquisite sound, decent ANC, weak battery life – but you can connect their case to a 3.5mm jack, and it beams sound to the buds. They're uniquely good for flights, but they'll cost you.

I've been reviewing tech for 14 years, and for pretty much all that time I've been testing headphones and speakers. As one of TechRadar's most frequent travellers, I've tested a ton of headphones and earbuds on flights and train rides, and I've used experience to choose the headphones that best fit the particular priorities of people flying or taking other long journeys.

Recent updates

April 11, 2024 Added the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones based on our review.

The best travel headphones 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

The best travel headphones overall

1. Sony WH-1000XM4

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Sony WH-1000 range has gone from strength to noise-cancelling strength with each iteration. While the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are now available, the 2020 XM4s still offer an incredible combination of brilliant ANC and enjoyably balanced audio quality from a lightweight set of folding cans. You could shell out the extra for the latest model but these are a significantly better buy for being slightly older. 

For travel especially, the noise cancelling here is exceptional. You’ll only realize just how loud that plane engine hum actually is when you take these off. This is thanks to Sony’s proprietary processor, which is constantly sampling the world around you and adjusting the noise cancellation accordingly. And not only will intrusive noises disappear but the pleather cups are cosy and comfortable even for long haul journeys, making the Sony WH-1000XM4s our top pick for the very best travel headphones, even though the newer Sony WH-1000XM5 is available – that model lacks the folding design, and is more expensive without being a big leap better.

Read our full Sony WH-1000XM4 review  

• ^ Back to the top

2. Sony WH-CH720N

Sony's more affordable counterpart to its flagship 'XM' model can be found for under $150/£100, but delivers very impressive audio quality regardless, especially when it comes to detail and overall balance. Instruments are crisp, treble and bass both get to shine in their own way, and the mid-range is warm and full.

The noise cancellation really helps clamp down on the volume of outside sounds so that you can hear dialog in a movie on a plane, in our experience, though it does leak in noticeably more sound overall than the higher-end options here (both in terms of over-ear headphones and earbuds), so we had to significantly turn up the volume on a quiet, speech-heavy movie on a plane compared to those options. But it's as good as anything else available for the price.

They're very lightweight and are generally comfortable to use for long periods, which means we can forgive them for not folding. They don't feel as premium as other options here, but again, that's fine. The wired option is very welcome for plane use, and the quoted 35-hour battery life is essentially on the money in our experience.

Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review

The best travel headphones for elite noise cancellation

3. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

These are, perhaps, the ultimate travel companion – with just one flaw that might put you off. They check so many boxes, with their best-in-class active noise cancellation at the center of the success. We found in our testing that nothing else stops the hubbub of a city or traffic around you so effectively – though we did find that they reacted oddly to extremely loud sounds (sitting by a bus engine on a hill, and during plane take-off) with some very robotic output. But we were happy to forgive these moments, since they're so good the rest of the time.

And on top of that, you get truly exceptional audio quality that's more exciting, precise and detailed than anything else in this list. They're capable of deep, velvety bass and delicate, elevated treble, with plenty of expression and clarity through the mid-range. And on top of this, they have a spatial audio mode that does a good job of feeling like the sound isn't being pumped right into your ears, from any source, which can help flights to feel less claustrophobic.

And they do all this in a fairly light design that folds up for travel, so they're great for your carry-on (and they come with a hard cases). The only real downside? The 24-hour battery life is lower than other over-ear headphones here, though it's still enough to make it through the vast majority of flights, of course. Just remember to charge when you land. All of this comes at a high price compared to the other headphones here, though we think it's well worthwhile if you can stretch to it. (If not, the non-Ultra Bose QuietComfort Headphones offer very nearly as good ANC for cheaper, and are still light and foldable).

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones review

The best travel headphones for huge battery life

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless cans were TechRadar’s favorite headphones of 2022 , the year they launched, and they're seriously impressive headphones that deliver on every level. 

You see, before we even get onto the excellent audio and brilliant ANC, let’s just take a moment to celebrate the 60-hour battery life. Yes, 60 hours , even with ANC and normal volume levels. That’s enough for five transatlantic flights without even having to think about going anywhere near a USB-C port. Oh, and if you do somehow run out of juice, there’s a 3.5mm jack for just that or plugging into a plane entertainment system.

While that battery life would be enough for us, Sennheiser has also managed to cram in wonderfully dynamic audio. No matter the music genre, the Momentum 4 Wireless deliver an ultra detailed and crisp aural performance. There’s a real depth here that is rare even in over-ear cans. Add in strong active noise cancellation (with genius adaptive features you can customize through the app) and you’ll very quickly forgive the slightly basic looks and mildly chunkier weight of these travel cans.

Read our full Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless review  

The best noise cancelling earbuds for travel

5. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

While some earbuds come with a selection of silicone tips to make sure you can personalize the fit of your buds, the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II go one better and customize audio specifically for your ear canals. Thanks to what Bose calls CustomTune, both ANC and audio in these buds are personalized to best suit your ears. And going by the clear and extra-detailed sound here, we can say it’s doing something right. Combined with Bose’s best-in-class noise cancellation, these buds sing with a vibrant soundstage even over the whirr of jet engines. 

The design has been overhauled from the previous generation, with a significantly more comfortable fit that’s ideal for long listening sessions. They aren’t the smallest buds, but they are lighter than the original Bose QC Earbuds, and the lozenges don’t look nearly as bulky in your ears. The downsides here are that there’s no hi-res audio support, no spatial audio, no multi-point pairing, and the chunky design may not suit everyone, though they fit very securely.

And while the active noise cancellation is effectively the best you can get for earbuds (the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are arguably better, but not much better, and they're notably more expensive, though they do also bring spatial audio support), the high-end over-ear stuff is even more effective. But then, they don't slip in your pocket wherever you go, like these do.

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 review  

The best ANC earbuds for iPhone and iPad

6. Apple AirPods Pro 2

The AirPods Pro 2 were huge leap forward for the AirPods line, delivering not just a super-convenient experience for Apple users, but audio quality and noise cancellation that's up there with the best in the class. There’s an expansive soundscape that we’ve just not heard on previous AirPods, with incredibly layered audio. Vocals, bass, and even individual instruments all get their chance to shine. 

Add in excellent ANC that's only a hair behind the Bose at #5 on this list , plus a lighter weight and smaller case than almost all similar rivals, and Apple's Find My functionality in case you leave them somewhere, and the AirPods Pro 2 are the perfect travel companions.

The final cherry on the icing for traveling is Spatial Audio, however. Use them with an iPhone or iPad to watch movies and they recreate the feeling of being in a movie theater surrounded by speakers, rather then feeling the sound is pumping right in your ears. It's nice to feel less confined when traveling, and nothing does that more effectively than these.

But this all really applies if you're deep into Apple tech; the functionality is very limited on Android. And note that the six hours of battery life per charge is very average – the Sony WF-C700N at #6 on the list offer 7.5 hours, by comparison.

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

The best mid-priced earbuds for ANC

7. Sony WF-C700N

It's not many products that leads us to say that a pair of earbuds "just ripped our notions on what is achievable at this level to smithereens" in a review, but these did. If you want to spend less than $100/£100 on a pair of earbuds while getting the best possible sound and noise cancellation from them, read no further. Nothing beats these.

It's not just the energetic, accurate, detailed audio quality, but that the effective (and customizable) noise cancellation that makes it easy to hear. Yes, the Bose earbuds or over-ear headphones do it better, but you pay a ton more to get there.

Throw in support for Sony's 360 Reality Audio tech for positional sound, plus generally great app support, a super-light and secure fit, and long battery life from the buds, and you've got a winning package. That you only get one additional charge from the case is a bit of an issue for traveling, but not a dealbreaker. It's the same with the lack of auto-pause when you remove them, or hi-res support – again, we're not concerned for the price. We love them.

Read our full Sony WF-C700N review

Best super-cheap earbuds with good ANC

8. Earfun Air Pro 3

We called these "the best cheap noise-cancelling earbuds you can get" in our review, and that's the long and short of it. Do they block noise as well as the Bose, AirPods, or Sony earbuds also in this list? No – but they're way less expensive (and often discounted further), and they do it as well as anything else at the same kind of price.

And when you then factor in the fantastic nine-hour battery life, and that they're future-proofed with features such as Bluetooth 5.3 and LE Audio support, they're even more of a bargain. The sound is good for the price, with no obvious weaknesses, even it isn't as rich as more elite models – it's still fun and compelling to listen to.

The design is not very svelte, but we don't mind too much considering what's been packed in there. These are such good all-rounders, and the quality of the sound for the cost makes them our cheapest pick.

Read our full Earfun Air Pro 3 review

Best true wireless earbuds for in-flight movie systems

9. Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2

When it comes to sound quality, few earbuds can match these. We said "you're in for a sonic masterclass" in our review, and raved that dynamic elements are delivered with "more zeal and energy than we've heard from any set of true wireless earbuds to date". When it comes to audio quality, they're second to none.

That's sadly not true when it comes to the quality of the noise cancellation (which let's through far more low-frequency rumble than we expect from something so premium), and the battery life, which is the lowest of anything in this list.

But they have an ace up their sleeve. Unlike basically all other true wireless earbuds, these can be used wired. The case comes with a couple of cables (one USB-C to USB-C, one 3.5mm jack to USB-C), so that you can connect the case to an audio source such as an in-flight entertainment system. The sound is beamed from the case to the earbuds over aptX high-quality streaming.

All of the over-ear headphones we've featured in this list have a wired options, but none of the earbuds does. That's the nature of going true wireless. You get the best of both worlds here. Well, most of the best – if only the noise cancellation was better. They're also very large – those with small ears should give them a test before committing.

Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 review

How to choose the best travel headphones for you

When it comes to choosing the best travel headphones, all of the important decisions are fully subjective. This is about finding the best travel headphones for  you  and not anybody else, so there are a few things to consider. 

The first one is an easy choice. Do you prefer over-ear cans or earbuds? We all have very different preferences, and there’s no right or wrong answer. Some people find in-ear buds invasive or worry about finding exactly the right fit. Thankfully if you’re fretting about the latter, most earbuds now come with a collection of silicone tips to ensure that the buds are snug enough for you not to worry about them tumbling out. Active noise cancelling depends on a good seal, so most ANC pairs have a good selection. Earbuds are also handy for travelling thanks to their compact cases that can slide into an inside pocket. 

But if you’re happy to carry something a little bigger and want some added audio oomph, there are plenty of over-ear options explicitly designed to press the mute button on airports and crowded train carriages. Brands like Sony and Bose have long reigned over the travel crowd, purely for their ultra-comfortable over-ear fit, excellent noise cancellation and satisfying audio chops.

They also fit snugly even when you’re cosied into your neck pillow on the plane, which is incredibly satisfying as you drift off. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for over-ears that come with a 3.5mm cable in the case so you can plug into the airplane entertainment system without having to resort to the free foamy monstrosities so you can watch a movie.

True wireless earbuds won't have a cable option (mostly), so if you're taking them on a flight, make sure you've filled your tablet or phone with entertainment.

Once you’ve decided on a fit, it’s time to think about your budget. If you fly regularly or want to silence a noisy metro train daily, you might want to invest in a high-end pair of ANC cans. If you’re just heading onto one short flight and don’t want to spend as much as the ticket on a pair of headphones, plenty of ANC options are available that won’t break the bank. You’ll sacrifice some bells and whistles, but audio quality doesn’t always have to suffer.

Speaking of ANC, you'll want to consider just how much you want to block out the world around you. As we said above, the more you pay the better the ANC tends to be. But that isn't always the case, so be sure to read our first-hand reviews. All of the options in this guide have some level of ANC – we consider it essential for a pair of the best travel headphones – but we also have a guide dedicated to the best noise cancelling headphones and best noise cancelling earbuds specifically if wrapping yourself up in an immersive cocoon of sound is your number one priority.

Higher-end headphones also may come with a system to adjust the air pressure between the seal and your eardrum, which is obviously nice on airplanes, when the pressure changes. Sony's WH-1000XM4 at #1 on this list feature 'Atmospheric Pressure Optimizing' tech, for example, while AirPods Pro 2 at #7 on this list also feature a pressure-balancing system.

How we test the best travel headphones

When we review headphones with active noise cancellation, we always test them for travel as much as possible anyway, since that's usually the hardest test for their noise blocking powers! We listen to them in cities among traffic, on public transport including trains and buses, and we've tested most of these options on flights, to find the best headphones for airplanes.

For audio fidelity, we test headphones from a range of sources, but mainly the best music streaming services . Our tests range from very high-quality tracks on Tidal to the very basic quality of Spotify's app, plus we'll test podcasts, YouTube , movie streams and other common ways to listen. 

We always test out the apps that most modern headphones have, to see how they can affect the experience (for better or worse), plus any features that are enabled by the apps, such as customizable noise cancellation, EQ settings, or spatial audio.

And we'll test the battery claims with actual use – and we'll use them for a long time to test the comfort, while we're at it.

We're comparing our verdicts in all these areas against other products at the same kind of price to arrive at our conclusion of not only whether something sounds good or blocks noise well, but whether it achieves good value while doing that.

Latest updates to the best travel headphones

December 6, 2023 Checked rankings against recent product launches and added in a new lead image.  

June 25, 2023 This guide launches for the first time! All entries were chosen by our team, based on our own reviews and opinions of the products.

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Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Entertainment, meaning he's in charge of persuading our team of writers and reviewers to watch the latest TV shows and movies on gorgeous TVs and listen to fantastic speakers and headphones. It's a tough task, as you can imagine. Matt has over a decade of experience in tech publishing, and previously ran the TV & audio coverage for our colleagues at T3.com, and before that he edited T3 magazine. During his career, he's also contributed to places as varied as Creative Bloq, PC Gamer, PetsRadar, MacLife, and Edge. TV and movie nerdism is his speciality, and he goes to the cinema three times a week. He's always happy to explain the virtues of Dolby Vision over a drink, but he might need to use props, like he's explaining the offside rule.

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Notable Mentions

Recent updates, all reviews, the 6 best travel headphones - spring 2024 reviews.

Whether you're a jet setter or just taking the subway to work every day, a good pair of travel headphones can be a total game-changer. Having something comfortable with great noise isolation can make your travels much easier to endure and even enjoyable at times.

When looking for travel headphones, you'll want something easy to use when hunting down your gate or running to catch a bus, with a long enough battery life to last you throughout the day. While many prefer over-ear headphones for long flights or train rides, earbuds or in-ear headphones are popular for their portability. Usually, models with active noise cancelling (ANC) do the best job at reducing the deep rumbling noises of bus or plane engines, but some in-ear headphones block out lots of noise passively.

We've tested over 775 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones for airplane use, traveling, and commuting. Also, make sure to check out our recommendations for the  best headphones , the  best noise cancelling headphones , and the best budget noise cancelling headphones .

Best Travel Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are the best travel headphones we've tested. These top-of-the-line over-ears have a very comfortable fit and are suitable for long trips. They are equipped with powerful ANC and can block out a wide array of sounds, including the low rumble of bus and plane engines. And with their ANC on, they last 29 hours continuously, so you don't need to worry about running out of battery life. Unfortunately, the headphones need to be powered on if you want to use them wired, but at least you can plug them into in-flight entertainment without losing ANC.

These well-built over-ears have a bass-rich sound out of the box, delivering extra thump, rumble, and boom to your favorite tracks. You can adjust their sound to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. You can even access a head-tracking feature for a more dimensional audio experience. Additionally, you can connect these headphones with up to two devices at a time, so you can stay connected to your smartphone and laptop simultaneously, and they come with a sturdy, durable carrying case to keep them safe in your bag.

See our review

Best Upper Mid-Range Travel Headphones

For something premium at a less steep price, try the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. Even though they've been replaced by the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless and are getting harder to find in stock, these still provide the best noise cancelling performance for long journeys. Their fantastic ANC feature blocks bass-range noises like bus and plane engines and passenger chit-chat. They also last about 37 hours continuously, so you won't need to recharge them during a long trip. You can even use them wired while keeping ANC on, and they come with an airplane adapter, all of which you can safely store in their sturdy carrying case.

They have a lightweight and well-padded fit, though the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless still have the edge regarding comfort. However, you can wear them during long trips without experiencing too much fatigue. Their bass-heavy sound profile adds extra thump and rumble to your audio, and if you prefer a different sound, you can also tweak them via their app's graphic EQ and presets.

If you need to take calls on the go, it's worth considering the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless . They're hybrid headphones designed for casual use as well as gaming but have a sleek design that doesn't stand out from the crowd. Their integrated mic offers a better overall performance, so your voice sounds clear and natural. However, their ANC system doesn't block out quite as much ambient noise as that of the Sony.

Best Mid-Range Travel Headphones

Travel is expensive enough without adding the cost of premium headphones. Fortunately, if you're looking for something more affordable, check out the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless, the best headphones for airplane trips we've tested at this price point. They have a shorter battery life than the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless and aren't quite as comfortable or well-built. However, they have an adaptive ANC system that adjusts itself to the noise around you and can block out a remarkable amount of ambient sound, including rumbling engines. Their overall noise isolation performance is even almost as good as the Sony.

Out of the box, they have a V-shaped sound profile with extra emphasis in the bass and treble, which lends your audio with intense rumble and punch, while instruments and vocals are bright and somewhat harsh. There's a companion app with graphic EQ and presets if you prefer a different sound. They last for around 27 hours continuously with their ANC on, and in a pinch, you can always plug the included audio cable into your phone or laptop to listen to audio passively.

Best Budget Travel Headphones

If you're looking for a cheaper option, the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are the best commuter headphones under $100 we've tested. Anker tends to dominate the mid-to-budget price range for over-ear headphones, especially when noise cancelling is important for use on a noisy plane or train. These headphones are significantly cheaper than the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless , but their ANC performs similarly, even though it's standard ANC and not adaptive. It does a fantastic job of blocking out the low rumble of engines and effectively reduces higher-pitched sounds like voices. Out of the box, their sound packs a lot of extra bass into your audio, so music has intense thump, rumble, and punch, but mixes can also sound muddy or cluttered. Like the previous pick, they have companion app support, including a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.

These headphones are well-built and comfortable and have a long continuous battery life of around 44 hours. Unfortunately, they leak much more audio than the Q45, so your music is more likely to be audible to people nearby, especially if you like to listen at louder volumes. The Wyze Noise-Cancelling Headphones Wireless are also a good option if you want budget-friendly headphones with less leakage. They don't isolate from bass-range noise, like rumbling engines, as well as the Q30, but they still have a great overall noise isolation performance.

Best Cheap Travel Headphones

If you're on a tighter budget, the best cheap travel headphones we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. These are an earlier version of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless that are still available. Like their successor, they outshine similarly priced headphones from other brands in noise cancelling. Their ANC system doesn't block out as much bass-range noise as the previous picks but still does a decent job of reducing engine noise. It also does a great job of reducing higher-pitched sounds like background conversations.

They have a V-shaped sound profile out of the box, with intense rumble and punch in the bass, bright and sparkly instruments, and lead vocals in the treble. This sound suits bass-heavy genres like EDM, hip-hop, pop, and rock. However, sibilants like S and T sounds can seem harsh, and they don't have sound customization features, unlike the Q30. That said, they have a similarly comfortable fit and a decently sturdy build quality, although they feel plasticky and only come with a cloth pouch instead of a rigid protective case like the Q30.

Best Travel Earbuds

Over-ears can be bulky and take up precious space in your bag or carry-on. If you're looking for something smaller and more portable, earbuds like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless are worth checking out. They're comfortable and come with a selection of ear tips and stability fins to help you find the best fit for your needs. Their compact design also makes it easy to toss them into your pocket. If their bass-heavy default sound profile isn't to your tastes, you can revamp it using their companion app's EQ and presets.

Like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless , they can block out a significant amount of ambient noise, thanks to their ANC system. They easily tackle common commuter noise like rumbly buses and trains as well as ambient chatter. While their seven-hour continuous playback time falls short compared to over-ear headphones, their carrying case holds an extra three charges if needed. They don't support multi-device pairing, so if you want to stay connected to your smartphone while working on your laptop, try the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless . They aren't quite as comfortable, though.

If you're looking for more earbuds, check out our recommendations for the best noise cancelling earbuds !

• Apple AirPods Max Wireless: The Apple AirPods Max Wireless headphones have a premium design and a remarkably effective ANC feature, but they don't fold into a more compact design. Unlike the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless, they come with a carrying sleeve, which doesn't completely cover the headphones and won't protect them from significant damage. See our review
• Bose 700 Headphones Wireless: The Bose 700 Headphones Wireless are premium ANC headphones designed for business professionals. If you care about call quality, their mic offers significantly better overall performance than the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. However, their ANC doesn't block out as much bass-range noise, but they still do an excellent job of reducing ambient noise around you overall. See our review
• Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3: The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 are wireless earbuds with a longer continuous battery life than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. They're cheaper but less comfortable, and their ANC isn't as effective, particularly when blocking out low-pitched noise like rumbling engines. See our review
• Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless: The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless have a more premium build than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless, which you might appreciate, considering the price of either pair. They have an excellent noise isolation performance but don't block out as much noise as the Bose, and they have an even shorter battery life. See our review

Mar 04, 2024: As the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless are the same price as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, we've removed the Razer as a separate pick and added them as a comparison to the Sony since they can be a viable choice if you care about call quality. We've also renamed the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless as the 'Best Mid-Range Travel Headphones' we've tested.

Jan 08, 2024: We've made the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless our top pick as they have a versatile performance and slightly outperform the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. We also replaced the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless with the next generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless.

Nov 02, 2023: Confirmed accuracy and availability of our picks. Some minor text edits for clarity.

Sep 06, 2023: Added the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless as an alternative to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II Truly Wireless. Moved the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless to Notable Mentions.

Jul 13, 2023: We've made minor changes to the text of this article to improve its clarity, but our picks have remained the same.

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best noise cancelling headphones for travel for most people to buy. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for headphones, ranked by their suitability for commuting and traveling. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection, especially if you listen to audio at high enough volumes to drown out the ambient noise of your travels.

Article updated on March 28, 2024 at 12:05 PM PDT

Best Travel Headphones for 2024

Looking for the best headphones to take on a trip? We've rounded up the best noise-canceling headphones for road warriors.

Our Experts

• Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

What to consider

Value can reflect quality. Consider your needs and what your budget allows.

Fit (Comfort)

Ensuring the headphones you choose fit your head help minimize any discomfort from extended wear.

Sturdy quality helps ensure your headphones hold up well over time.

What are the best overall travel headphones?

When people talk about buying headphones to use for traveling, they tend to be looking for noise-canceling headphones that do a good job muffling noise on planes, trains and in other noisy environments. There are a lot of great noise-canceling headphones to pick from, and we have a more expansive list of the best noise-canceling headphones that you may also want to check out.

I've tested and used a lot of headphones during my travels over the last 10 years, and it's tough to pick just one model as the absolute best overall travel headphones. For full-size models, I like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones , the Sony WH-1000XM5 and even the lightweight and more affordable Sony CH-720N (lighter is better when it comes to travel headphones). All these models are wireless headphones but they include a cord so you can plug into an in-flight entertainment system. They feature active noise canceling and are also good for making voice calls.

There are also plenty of great noise-canceling earbud options, including the highly-rated Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds , Apple's AirPods Pro 2 and Sony's WF-1000XM5 . True-wireless earbuds are easier to carry around and can be stored in your pocket. The downside is they don't have a wired option and won't connect to an in-flight entertainment system unless you buy a Bluetooth transceiver like Twelve South's AirFly Pro (around $50) and other similar products you can find on Amazon . (Read our full review of the AirFly Pro .)

I've tested all the headphones on this list and will update the list as new travel-friendly headphones are released.

Best travel headphones of 2024

• Design is an upgrade
• Lightweight and very comfortable
• Excellent sound and great noise canceling
• Voice-calling performance is top-notch
• Immersive Audio mode offers some sound-quality enhancements
• Higher price than the previous model
• No USB-C audio
• Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life

Best new noise-canceling headphones

Bose quietcomfort ultra headphones.

While Bose's new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones may not be a huge upgrade over the company's Noise Cancelling 700 headphones, they feature a more premium design along with Bose's new Immersive Audio feature, which delivers some sound-quality enhancements. Along with excellent sound and great noise canceling, the QC Ultra Headphones are also superb for making calls, with top-notch background noise reduction. All that adds up to the best new noise-canceling headphones of 2024 and a worthy adversary to Sony's highly rated WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max.

• More refined sound and even better noise canceling
• Slightly more comfortable
• Best-in-class voice call quality
• Robust feature set
• Higher price tag than the previous model
• Larger carrying case (headphones fold flat but not up)

Best noise-canceling headphones from Sony

Sony wh-1000xm5.

When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony's WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they've improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it's done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher price tag, most of those changes are good, and Sony's made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound.

• New smaller design
• Improved sound, noise canceling and voice calling
• Upgraded processors and drivers
• No Find My feature integrated into app

Best Sony earbuds

Sony wf-1000xm5.

When Sony's  WF-1000XM4  earbuds came out in 2021, we awarded them a CNET Editors' Choice. And while they're excellent, we had some quibbles -- they're on the large side and aren't a good match for certain ears. Clearly, Sony took those gripes to heart when it set out to design its next-generation WF-1000XM5 flagship noise-canceling earbuds. Not only are the XM5s smaller, but they also offer improved performance pretty much across the board, with better noise canceling, sound quality and voice calling. Are the XM5s perfect? Not quite. At $300 -- $20 more than their predecessor -- they're costly too. Overall they're really impressive; among the very top earbuds on the market.

• Excellent sound and best-in-class noise canceling
• Fit Kit ear tips and stabilizer system gets you a secure, comfortable fit
• Immersive Audio creates a different listening experience
• Slightly improved voice-calling
• No wireless charging or multipoint Bluetooth

Best for noise-canceling

Bose quietcomfort ultra earbuds.

While the QC Ultra Earbuds aren't a major upgrade over Bose's excellent QC Earbuds 2 that were released in 2022, they're a little better. They should fit most ears very well, and they feature superb noise canceling, arguably the best out there. A natural-sounding transparency mode with a new ActiveSense feature kicks in some ANC should the sound get too loud around you (it's sort of similar to the AirPods Pro's Adaptive Audio feature). They also sound slightly better overall, with a touch more clarity, and their new Immersive Audio feature opens up the sound a bit.

• Comfortable fit
• Good sound for their low price
• Decent noise-canceling and voice-calling performance
• ANC disabled when in wired mode
• Lacking a bit of clarity

Top new budget noise-canceling headphones

Earfun wave pro.

Earfun has made some very solid budget earbuds and now it's entered the full-size ANC headphone space with its new-for-2024 Wave Pro headphones. They list for $80, but click the $10 instant coupon on their product page and add the code EWPROCNET at checkout and the price drops to $56 . While they may not sound as good as premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose, Sony, they're comfortable to wear, feature decent sound with punchy bass (they're a bit lacking in clarity and bass definition compared to more expensive models) and offer respectable noise canceling and voice-calling performance. I found them to be a step up from the Soundpeats Space headphones, which sometimes cost a little less.

They're rated for up to 80 hours of battery life with noise-canceling off and 55 hours with it on and support multipoint Bluetooth pairing as well as Sony's LDAC audio codec for Android smartphones and other devices that support that protocol. I also like that they come with a hard case and a cable for wired listening (though noise-canceling is disabled when you go wired, which is a bit of a bummer).

• Significantly improved sound and noise canceling
• Better battery life and upgraded microphones
• Powered by Apple's new H2 chip
• Basically the same design as previous model
• No high-resolution audio

Best Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds

Apple airpods pro 2 (usb-c).

The AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are powered by Apple's new H2 chip, which delivers more processing power while being more energy efficient, according to Apple. The new chip, combined with new low-distortion drivers, allows for improved sound that offers better clarity and depth. The noise canceling is also improved -- Apple says the new AirPods have "double" the noise canceling of the original AirPods Pro. Additionally, the new AirPods add an extra hour of battery life, up from five to six hours with noise canceling on. Plus, a speaker in the case that emits a sound that helps locate your buds via Find My should they decide to hide from you.

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Good sound with very good noise canceling
• Good voice-calling performance
• 35 hours of battery life
• No carrying case
• No ear-detection sensors
• No LDAC audio codec support

Top midrange noise-canceling headphones

Sony ch-720n.

Sony's improved entry-level noise-canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a bit of a plasticky budget vibe, but they're lightweight and very comfortable. Part of me was expecting them to sound pretty mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. No, they don't sound as good as the WH-1000XM5s. They sound more premium than they look (and feel), and their overall performance is a step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they worth $150? Maybe -- or maybe not. The good news is that, like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 before them, these should see significant discounts in the not-so-distant future, which is what you may want to wait for.

• Well-designed and comfortable to wear
• Good sound quality and noise-canceling performance
• Strong feature set
• Strong battery life
• Voice-calling suffers in windy environments

New mid-range JBL noise-canceling headphones

Jbl live 770nc.

The well-designed and comfortable JBL Live 770NC offers some modest improvements over its predecessor, including better battery life (up to 65 hours with ANC off and 50 hours with ANC on) and Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio (via a future firmware upgrade). Equipped with 40mm drivers, you get bold, nicely defined sound with powerful bass that's relatively tight. JBL's Ambient Aware and TalkThru features are on board along with multipoint Bluetooth pairing (the one feature that's missing is ear-detection sensors that pause your music when you take the headphones off). I thought the headphones' noise muffling capabilities were good and callers said they could hear me well even in noisier environments except when the wind picked up around me. The headphones fold up and a simple carrying pouch (no hard case) is included along with a cable for wired listening.

• Improved sound quality, noise canceling and ear pad design
• Very good voice-calling performance
• Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users
• USB-C audio
• No Apple H2 chip
• No major design changes except for case

Best Beats over-ear headphones

Beats studio pro.

Love 'em or hate 'em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as wired headphones back in 2008. This is the fourth generation version, and they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I'm tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. That's not quite accurate due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. Read our full review to find out what makes this a very good headphone with some caveats.

Best Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones

Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless.

Sennheiser's previous-generation Momentum Wireless headphones have always had a pretty distinct look that was part retro, part modern, and stood out for the exposed metal on their headband. For better or worse, that's all gone now, and the new Momentum 4 Wireless, Sennheiser's flagship noise-canceling headphones, look a bit more subdued and also a bit more like some of their competitors.

The Momentum 4 Wireless offers superior performance over the Momentum 3 Wireless in every regard, although the biggest gains are with noise canceling and voice-calling performance as well as battery life, which is outstanding (up to 60 hours at moderate volume levels). Transparency mode allows ambient sound in, and they can create a custom sound profile in the Smart Control app for iOS and Android using the built-in EQ, sound modes and a new Sound Personalization feature that "assesses the user's listening preferences and adjusts the listening experience according to their taste." 

Equipped with 42mm drivers, Sennheiser says the Momentum 4 Wireless offers "best-in-class" sound, which is debatable. I'd say the Momentum 4's sound quality is right there with other models in this price range. They sound excellent, with the requisite well-defined, punchy bass, relatively wide soundstage (they sound pretty open) and smooth treble that brings out some of the finer details in well-recorded tracks. They're a pleasure to listen to.

• Very good sound and noise canceling
• Headphone cable now has integrated microphone
• Mostly the same as previous model but costs $50 more

Slightly upgraded Bose noise-canceling headphones

Bose quietcomfort headphones.

When Bose released its new flagship QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, it also replaced the QuietComfort 45s with a new, slightly updated model simply called the QuietComfort Headphones. Like the QC 45s, this model carries on the very comfortable tried-and-true legacy QuietComfort design that's been around for a few generations and that people continue to love. The QC Ultra Headphones add Bose's new Immersive Audio feature and have a more refined design with some metal parts (they also have Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.1). The QuietComfort Headphones still feature very good sound (the Ultras offer a small step up in sound quality), excellent noise canceling and strong voice-calling performance.

As for differences between these and the QC45s, Bose says it adjusted some of the electronics to improve battery life (now 24 hours vs. 22 hours) and adjusted the logos to make the products "visually distinguishable and more in line with its latest design language." It also added an inline microphone to the auxiliary cable to "help with some users who may prefer a plug-and-play solution rather than Bluetooth pairing." There's also a Wind Block feature and some additional small performance improvements due to software upgrades. Finally, the headphones come in new color options, including green and a light blue version that's only available at bose.com.

While the QuietComfort Headphones carry a $350 list price that's $50 higher than that of the QC 45s, we expect them to be regularly discounted to $250 and possibly less than that in 2024 -- so look to buy them when they're on sale. You can read our review of the QuietComfort 45 to get a good take on the QuietComfort Headphones.

'Noise canceling' vs. 'noise cancelling': Different spelling, same technology

Either spelling is correct, as "canceling" is more common in American English while "cancelling" is more common in British English. CNET uses "noise canceling" since the company is based in the US, but the noise is canceled just the same, regardless of spelling. If you're looking to see what different noise-impacting technology is out there for headphones, check out our article on noise-canceling versus noise-isolating headphones , which highlights differences in function (and not just a difference in spelling).

Other travel headphones we tested

JBL Live 670NC : The JBL Live 670NC is one of a relatively small number of on-ear headphones to offer active noise canceling. It's something of a value model -- no carrying case is included -- but it does have memory foam ear pads that get you a comfortable fit for an on-ear headphone. Deliver clear sound with punch bass, it has 32mm drivers and improves on its predecessor's battery life, offering up to an impressive 70 hours (or 44 hours with ANC on), and an extra three hours of battery with just five minutes of charge. This model includes the latest Bluetooth 5.3 (with LE Audio) and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. It also has JBL's Ambient Aware (transparency mode) and TalkThru features. It's available in black, white and blue and comes with a cord for wired listening.

Master & Dynamic MW75 : The MW75 are Master & Dynamic's best full-size headphones yet. Needless to say, they're pricey at $599; most people will be quite satisfied with the $400 Sony WH-1000XM5, which is lighter and more comfortable and delivers best-in-class voice calling and noise canceling. The MW75's build quality is hard to beat and they offer top-notch sound for a wireless model (I thought they sounded better than Apple's AirPods Max headphones), plus strong voice-calling and noise-canceling performance. With their support for aptX Adaptive, they have additional appeal for Android users, who can get a touch better sound quality with the right setup. I was also quite happy streaming music with my iPhone 13 Pro using the AAC codec.

Master & Dynamic MW09 : Master & Dynamic headphones and earbuds have always featured unique, eye-catching designs that include premium materials like aluminum, sapphire glass and Kevlar. Its latest MW09 flagship earbuds look pretty similar to its earlier MW08 buds, but have some upgrades on the inside that deliver better performance, particularly when it comes to battery life and noise canceling (it's now very close to what Bose and Sony offer, although not quite at their level for ANC).

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro : The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers improved noise canceling along with very good sound and voice-calling performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you're a Galaxy device owner with the right setup. Their biggest upgrade may be their new design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears. Aside from their somewhat high price tag, their only drawback is that some of their key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices.

Beats Studio Buds Plus : Alas, for those of you who bought the original Beats Studio Buds, which remain on the market for now, I'm sorry to report that these new Plus buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise canceling and battery life. Additionally, they now deliver top-notch voice-calling performance.

Beats Fit Pro : While the Beats Fit Pro technically aren't AirPods, they're built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro (yes, Apple owns Beats). Unlike Beats' earlier and less expensive  Studio Buds  and new-for-2023 Studio Buds Plus , the Beats Fit Pro include Apple's H1 chip and have most of the  AirPods Pro's  features, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I'd venture to call them the sports AirPods you've always wanted.

Google Pixel Buds Pro : The Pixel Buds Pro are Google's first earbuds to feature active noise canceling. While it's nice that they finally have a feature that most true-wireless earbuds have had for a while, what ultimately sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart and makes them worth considering -- particularly for Android users -- is their distinct design and winning fit. That helps enhance their performance on both the sound quality and noise-canceling fronts. While not quite elite for voice-calling, they also performed well as a headset for making calls. Read our  Google Pixel Buds Pro review . 

Factors to consider when choosing travel headphones

Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new travel headphones. The quality of value-priced noise-canceling headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable headphones for less than $100. The premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost $200 or more -- sometimes much more. 

Fit (comfort)

It's key that the travel headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that's snug yet not too snug. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear over a day with minimal breaks.

You want travel headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.

Maximize performance and features for your budget

You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise-canceling, call quality and features for whatever fits your budget.

Return policy

It's critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer's remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days and then return one.

How we test travel headphones and earbuds

We test travel headphones and earbuds based on six key criteria. These criteria include  design ,  sound quality , noise-canceling performance ,  voice-calling performance, features  and  value . 

• Design : Evaluating design, we assess not only how comfortable the headphones and earbuds fit (their ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. When it comes to earbuds, we also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings. 
• Sound quality : We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
• Noise-canceling performance : We evaluate noise-canceling performance by wearing headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out to the streets of New York to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they do at muffling not only street noise but people's voices. 
• Extra features : Some great-sounding noise-canceling headphones and earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is. 
• Voice-calling : When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices.
• Value : We determine value after evaluating the strength of the headphones and earbuds against all these criteria and what they're able to deliver compared to other models in their price class. 

Travel headphone FAQs

Are noise-canceling headphones worth it.

A few years ago, you had to pay significantly more money for active noise-canceling headphones. The feature has become pretty common and while the best noise-canceling headphones (by that I mean the headphones that offer the best noise-canceling) tend to be fairly expensive, you can find cheaper models that offer decent noise cancellation. I do think that if noise canceling is important to you, it's better to spend more money on the best pair of noise-canceling headphones you can afford. It's worth noting that many of the premium models get discounted sporadically during the year so you can often save $50 or more on many top headphones if you time your purchase right. 

Does noise cancellation block all noise?

Noise-canceling headphones have traditionally been good at blocking out lower frequency sounds such as the rumbling you hear while traveling on a plane. They haven't been so good at muffling higher frequencies (a baby screaming, for example) and even people talking around you. Companies like Bose, Sony and Apple have improved the technology in the last year or two so their noise canceling works across a wider range of frequencies. It still can't muffle all noise but top noise canceling is now doing a better job tamping down more noises that live in midrange and higher frequencies.

Does noise canceling drain the headphones' battery?

When noise canceling is engaged, it does tend to have an impact on battery life. This is more of a factor with earbuds, which tend to offer anywhere from five to eight hours of battery life with noise canceling on and seven to 12 hours with it off. Full-size headphones can offer 25 to 30 hours of battery life with noise canceling on and up to 40 to 50 hours with it off.

Does noise canceling impact sound quality?

Active noise canceling does hurt sound quality, especially if the noise canceling isn't all that good (noise canceling can create a faint background hiss). It can mess with the purity of the sound quality so it's tricky to create a noise-canceling headphone that sounds really good. As a result, often high-end noise-canceling headphones that tout fantastic sound quality don't have as powerful noise canceling (the noise canceling feels lighter). 

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Home » Gear » best travel headphones

The 8 Top Travel Headphones in 2024

These days a good pair of headphones is as important a travel essential as a decent travel bag or travel wallet. Travel headphones are a great way of keeping you entertained while traveling, with many of the best also offering the fantastic added extra of noise-cancelling functionality – which is always appreciated on a plane, train, or hotel with noisy air conditioning! What’s more, travel headphones are lightweight and compact too.

But which of the 250 travel headphones on the market should you spend your hard-earned money on? Check out our detailed reviews of the very best available now!

We’ve covered things like best headphones for hiking, best noise cancelling headphone, most compact, in ear, over ear, good travel headphones on a budget. You get the idea, we’ve got them all!

Quick Answer: The Best Travel Games

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• Top Travel Headphones – Bose QuietComfort 35 II
• Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Under $100 – Silensys E7
• Best Wireless Travel Headphones – Sony WI 1000X
• Best travel headphones for iPhone – Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Apple Devices
• Best Travel Headphones with Microphone – Skullcandy Crusher
• Best Over-ear Travel Headphones – Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones
• Best Travel Earbuds – Skullcandy Earbuds
• BONUS! Best Travel Pillow to use with Headphones – Trtl Pillow Plus

Bose QuietComfort 35 II

• > Wired and wireless
• > Noise-cancelling

Silensys E7

• > Great price
• > Active noise-cancelling

Sony WI 1000X

• > Users can adjust the sound profile

Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Apple Devices

• > Specifically made for Apple devices
• > Built-in microphone

Skullcandy Crusher

• > 40 hours battery life
• > Full range audio drivers plus subwoofer drivers

Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones

• > Lightweight
• > Can be used for fitness routines

Skullcandy Earbuds

• > Made for movement
• > Sweat-resistant

Trtl Pillow Plus

• > Comfortable
• > Perfect for travel headphones!

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These over-ear style closed-back headphones are incredibly comfortable to wear, feel sturdy in the hand, and are simple to set up and use. The QuietComfort 35 II by Bose can be used either wired or wireless and can be connected to two different devices at the same time.

These headphones also offer noise-cancelling functionality, capable of removing a large array of background sounds to create a well-balanced timbre that fits well whatever the music or podcasts you enjoy listening too, although they lack the ability to alter the sound to your own personal likes. The battery life for the QuietComfort 35 IIs is around 20 hours, with charging taking roughly two hours to fully charge.

• Wired and wireless
• Noise-cancelling
• Long battery life
• The over-ear style might not suit every user
• Cannot adjust timbre to personal choice
• Bose AR app only available for iOS users
• Quite bulky

Are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones for me?

If you’re looking for a pair of over-ear headphones that are going to serve you well during your travels – being comfortable, well-made, and featuring noise-cancelling – then the QuietComfort 35 II by Bose are certainly a very good buy!

The team were super impressed by these headphones, especially those that wanted a superior level of noise cancellation for things like noisy flights or hostel dorms. They love the control they have over the noise cancellation with the 3 levels which is super useful for different travel situations. The addition of alexa, music sharing and the connect app not only adds extra functionality but added levels of control too. They also found the headphones to be pretty light too given their high quality feel.

A pair of travel headphones don’t have to cost hundreds of dollars. Even if you’re on a tight budget as a student or backpacker there are some fantastic pairs of travel headphones on the market to consider. The Silensys E7 active noise-cancelling headphones are one such pair! Though they might lack some of the all-round styling of the Bose QuietComfort 35 II headphones, Silensys E7 do come in five cool colors as well as a glossy black.

More importantly perhaps for those on a budget, these headphones come in at a penny under $70, while still offering active noise-cancelling capabilities in both wired and wireless modes. A built-in microphone allows you to make hands-free calls from your smartphone, while the good-quality sound means you’ll always enjoy using your Silensys E7s.

• Great price
• Good color range
• Active noise-cancelling
• Over-ear style
• Weight of close to 1.5 lbs
• Batteries not included
• Not as sturdy as more expensive models

Are the Silensys E7 active noise-cancelling headphones for me?

Not only do the Silensys E7 headphones offer an excellent price point for anyone traveling on a budget in the need for a good pair of headphones, but also come in some cool color choices if plain black or white isn’t quite your look. Despite the price, these headphones also offer wired and wireless modes and hands-free call taking!

The team were really impressed by the levels of noise cancellation offered for such a great price. They felt that for those that don’t want to spend a few hundred $ on something that could potentially get broken, stolen or lost pretty easy on the road, these were a great solution. Another thing they liked was the cool range of colours which many other brands don’t offer.

Available in black and gold, the Sony WI 1000X are much more exciting than their name might suggest. These in-ear headphones are another closed-back form with a neckband that is both well-made and looks good. These headphones also offer some good noise cancellation despite not being an over-ear form of travel headphone.

Their basic set-up is pretty well-balanced to suit any genre of music, however, the WI 1000X also connect to Sony’s Headphones Connect app (on Android and iOS), from where users can adjust the sound profile to your exact personal tastes! These headphones provide the option of hands-free calling with vibration notifications on the neckband and have ten-hour battery life.

• Users can adjust the sound profile
• In-ear headphone
• Neckband might feel strange to some
• Only black and gold options
• Ten-hour battery life

Are the Sony WI 1000X headphones for me?

Although they are compact and lightweight, this doesn’t stop the Sony WI 1000Xs being wireless headphones with noise-cancelling functionality. They also boast the ability to receive hands-free calls, while true music lovers will adore the ability to adjust the headphones’ sound profile to exactly your preferred settings via the smartphone app.

Our team felt these were the best travel earphones for those looking for a compact in-ear configuration. They loved the deep base and clearer range of frequencies these Sony headphones offer them. They were also impressed by the fact that such a small, light and in ear headphone offers noise cancellation abilities and they felt they were very effective too.

If you have a more recent edition of an iPhone then Apple’s decision to do away with the standard 3.5mm audio jack a few years ago means you’ll be searching for travel headphones which use a lightning connector instead. Those fine folk at Bose have come to the rescue with the Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphone for Apple devices.

These wired in-ear travel headphones have added StayHear+ tips to ensure the best and most comfortable fit possible, while a built-in microphone, neck-line controls and clothing clip make it incredibly easy to switch between listening to music and making calls on your iPhone.

• Specifically made for Apple devices
• No lightning adapters required
• Built-in microphone
• In-ear headphones
• 16-hour battery life
• Only in black

Are the Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Apple Devices for me?

Apple product users are limited in their choice of headphones to some extent, however, that doesn’t mean they have to settle for second best. The Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Apple devices provide all the features you’d expect from a good pair of travel headphones at this price point while being specifically made for iPhone and other Apple devices!

Our team rate these as their best travel earphones for Apple users due to their superb sound quality and the awesome effectiveness of the noise cancellation for such small headphones. They felt being so small they were pretty much perfect for travellers, especially those who spend heaps of time flying. They also remarked how comfortable these were too.

The Skullcandy Crusher travel headphones are a simply phenomenal pair of headphones all around. Their sleek look – in black, maroon, olive green, and white – make these over-ear closed-back headphones very attractive and street worthy. But more than just looking great, these headphones do their job extraordinarily well too. The use of two full-range audio drivers in addition to two subwoofer drivers creates a strongly immersive experience with adjustable bass levels.

They are also wireless, with up to 40 hours of Bluetooth battery life after a full charge of 2.5 hours, while just ten minutes of charging promises to deliver three hours of functionality. On-ear buttons together with the built-in microphone allow you to answer calls, and adjust sound settings without the need to ever reach for your smartphone!

• Full-range audio drivers plus subwoofer drivers
• 40 hours of battery life
• Over-ear headphones
• Weight of 0.6 lbs
• No horizontal or vertical swivel
• Soft packing bag supplied

Are the Skullcandy Crusher Travel Headphones for me?

Anyone looking for a good pair of travel headphones with a built-in microphone should be drawn towards the Skullcandy Crusher headphones. They have a nice look and excellent audio and subwoofer drivers, while Skullcandy seems to have upped the build quality from previous headphone models! Fully wireless, they also boast an impressive 40-hour battery life.

The team love the Skullcandy headphones for many reasons, but the main one has to be how cool they look! Ok, they’re not that shallow, they also told us just how comfortable these headphones are, in fact, possibly the most comfortable they’ve ever used. They are also great in warmer weather too with the material not being as “sticky” when sweating! They also found the battery level to be almost unbeatable too and perfect for long travel stints and times when recharging is difficult.

We’ve already given you some great examples of over-ear travel headphones in our other categories, but the Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones make the cut as our best over-ear travel headphones for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are incredibly lightweight, weighing in at an almost unbelievable 0.9 ounces! Then there’s the fact these travel headphones are waterproof and sturdy enough in their fit that they can be used for athletic events such as jogging or other fitness routines.

When it comes to tech, the Aeropex Headphones are wireless, and have a built-in microphone and volume control, while fitting snuggly behind the head/neck, allowing bone conduction technology to deliver sound through the skull so you’re still able to capture ambient sounds around you that you might need to hear!

• Lightweight
• Can be used for fitness routines
• Neckbrace style fitting
• 8-hour battery life
• Imported into the US

Are the Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones for me?

If you need a lightweight pair of headphones that aren’t going to fall off as soon as you take a couple of steps jogging, you really should consider the Aftershokz Aeropex Headphones. Weighing less than an ounce, these headphones are waterproof too, meaning you don’t have to stop training with them if and when the weather turns. Additionally, these headphones have built-in volume control and microphone for taking calls!

The team feel these are the best headphones for hiking due to the way in which the design allows you to still be very aware of your surroundings whilst listening to music or a podcast. The design is also perfect for those who want to still be able to hold conversations with their headphones on. The style is also pretty low key and they found they stayed in place well whilst hiking or running and wern’t big enough to get hot or sweaty too.

The Skullcandy Method travel earbuds, or in-ear travel headphones, are also designed with sport and movement in mind and are sweat-resistant as a result. DualLock technology, together with the neck brace or ‘collar’ mean these travel headphones are easy to keep in place even when active.

They have Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in microphone for answering any calls you might receive while out and about, while you’ll find further controls within easy reach on the collar. The battery for the Skullcandy Method Earbuds charges in just 2.5 hours, giving users nine hours of music – enough for a double marathon!

• Made for movement
• Sweat-resistant
• Controls on neck collar
• Neck collar might be uncomfortable to some
• 9-hour battery life
• Not fully wireless

Are the Skullcandy Method Earbuds for me?

Using headphones while doing heavy exercise can be difficult, but the Skullcandy Method Earbuds have DualLock technology and a neck collar to prevent the buds slipping or falling out. What’s more, the collar incorporates a whole load of useful controls alongside a built-in microphone for taking calls and wireless Bluetooth connectivity so you don’t get tangled up in wires as you break those personal training records!

The team were really impressed by the sheer range of features and functions on such a small and lightweight pair of headphones. They felt in terms of travel headphones, there size and weight makes them perfect. In terms of battery life, for their size they were again suitably impressed.

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Ok, so you’ve got some good travel headphones, but you want to use a travel pillow. Hmm, what to do!?

You’re on a plane, or train, or bus, and want to while away the time with music and podcasts but also want to be comfortable throughout by using a travel pillow. What do you do? You need a travel pillow that won’t interfere with your headphones, with the Trtl Pillow Plus a great example of its kind.

Being scarf-like wrap rather than a traditional travel pillow it is soft to the touch, lightweight and unbulky while providing all the support you need to rest well thanks to a in-built plastic headrest. Leaving the ears and lower head free, the Trtl Pillow Plus doesn’t clash with headphones, whether you prefer to use over-ear or in-ear versions, making it the perfect addition to your travel must-haves!

• Comfortable
• Perfect for travel headphones!
• In-built support limits you to one sleeping position
• One-size only
• Not a traditional travel pillow
• No direct connectivity to travel headphones

Is the Trtl Pillow Plus Travel Headphone Pillow for me?

Offering a great combination of features that are easily useable in collaboration with a pair of travel headphones makes the Trtl Pillow Plus a great choice for any traveler. Lightweight, and much less bulky than a traditional travel pillow, it provides comfortable support for those looking to rest that doesn’t get in the way of headphone use.

Our team love this new style solution to that age old problem, sleeping whilst sat upright! The neck support allows them to avoid waking up stiff and sore and the low profile and lightweight construction makes it easier to carry than a conventional pillow/ neck pilow. Most importantly for this post, they love that the design doesn’t cover the ears allowing them to wear pretty much any kind of headphones with ease.

Plantronics Backbeat

The Plantronics Backbeat over-ear headphones have an attractive vintage look of black and tan that provides up to 24 hours of wireless music before having to connect up to a cable or charge. Its Bluetooth connectivity extends to a very healthy 100 meters with the ability to be connected to two different devices at the same time, while these headphones are also great for travel because they can be twisted flat and kept in a protective travel sleeve.

On top of that, the Plantronics Backbeat headphones have active noise-cancelling that massively reduces ambient noise while providing top quality audio with powerful audio drivers which create a sound that is rich right across the sound spectrum.

• Stylish look
• Travel-friendly design
• 100m Bluetooth connectivity
• Very specific style
• 6 lb in weight
• No built-in microphone

Are the Plantronics Backbeat headphones for me?

When it comes to headphones that look the part as well as sounding the part, the Plantronics Backbeat over-ear headphones are another fine choice! Not only do they offer great sound quality, but have a battery life that lasts an entire day on one charge, and twist flat so they can be safely packed away without taking up huge amounts of space.

The team love the classic look of these headphone and for those wanting something that they can wear in professional settings, these worked perfectly. The placement of the controls is also pretty unique and the team felt that they were easier to use than many others on this list. They also loved how bassy these headphones were, especially for those favouring heavy metal and dance music.

Sennheiser HD 4.50

Although the Sennheiser brand may not be as well known as Sony, Bose, or Skullcandy, we think these over-ear headphones deserve looking at! Although wireless, the use of Bluetooth 4.0 and aptx technologies ensures a fine sound quality can still be enjoyed. Users of these headphones can also enjoy NoiseGard active noise-cancelling, removing all that irritating ambient background noise that are frequently found in offices, and on various forms of transport.

Ear-mounted buttons make it really easy and simple to stay in control, while the built-in microphone ensures you can make and take calls without reaching for your smartphone. These headphones also come with a very good battery life of 19 hours after a full charge!

• High-quality sound
• NoiseGard active noise-cancelling
• Ear-mounted buttons and built-in microphone
• Over-ear design
• No protective carry case supplied
• Weight of 8 ounces
• Not great for those larger in stature

Are the Sennheiser HD 4.50 headphones for me?

If branding isn’t all important to you, lesser-known Sennheiser has been creating noise-cancelling headphones since 1984, giving them an incredible pedigree and heritage in this sort of technology. The HD 4.50 headphones also offer wireless listening for up to 19 hours in one go, alongside a built-in microphone for making wireless calls, and ear-mounted buttons for easy control.

The Sennheiser brand is well known throughout our team and they just love the high build quality which gives them a real sense on longevity. Another plus point is the superb and accurate sound levels that really blow other options out of the water.

Jabra Elite 85h

One of the chunkier over-ear headphones on our list, the Jabra Elite 85h are fully wireless headphones with smart active noise cancellation that kicks in automatically if it detects background noise such as the hum of an aircraft. Their very clever SmartSound technology means that you’re always guaranteed the best quality sound for your environment, while even with active noise-cancelling switched on they offer a battery life of 36 hours on a single charging.

Users can also get five hours of action with just 15 minutes of charging – perfect if you’re never in the same place for very long! The Jabra Elite 85h headphones also have eight built-in microphones for the very best call quality whatever the noise coming from your background surroundings.

• Fully wireless
• Smart active noise cancellation
• 36-hour battery life
• Multiple built-in microphones for making calls
• Quite bulky to wear
• Water resistant but not waterproof
• Short charging cable

Are the Jabra Elite 85h headphones for me?

These over-ear headphones are impressive all-rounders in an ever-busier marketplace. With active noise-cancelling that is triggered automatically when it picks up background noise, and SmartSound tech that guarantees top-quality sound whatever that background, users can be sure never to miss a beat. And with 8 different microphones built-in, those you talk to wireless won’t have any problem picking up what you’re saying either!

The team felt these were a great option for those on a budget wanting headphones which offer great noise cancellation, a range of features and functionality as well as looking good too. They also felt the sound quality and the base levels were also pretty damn good too for such well priced headphones.

Bose QuietControl30

The little brother or sister of the Bose QuietControl 35 II (already reviewed above), the Bose QuietControl30 wireless headphones offer great sound despite their lightweight nature! These in-ear headphones and next collar incorporate controls on the wire connecting earbud with collar, while these headphones are otherwise wireless.

These headphones also offer the ability to alter the level of noise cancellation to your immediate surroundings, while offering both Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. A dual microphone system makes calls clearer than with headphones using a single built-in microphone and can be used for up to 10 hours on a single full charge.

• Easy access controls at ear level
• Adaptive noise cancellation technology
• Dual microphone system for clear calls
• Neck collar may be awkward for some
• Do not allow Bose music sharing
• 10-hour battery life

Are the Bose QuietControl 30 headphones for me?

If you like the sound of the Bose QuietControl 35 II but are after something a little lighter and less bulky then the BoseQuietControl 30 are the ideal alternative. With Bluetooth and NFC wireless connectivity and two in-built microphones, you can listen to music and make calls without having to reach for your smartphone, with these headphones having enough battery life to keep you entertained on the move for up to 10 hours.

Our team felt these were a close second when it comes to the best headphones for hiking given how well they stayed in their ears. More than that though they were super impressed by the levels of noise cancellation offered by headphones that are so small and light. They also loved that the Bluetooth transmitter could fit inside a planes standard jack and so connect with the inflight entertainment system easily.

Philips PH805

Folding in on themselves to reduce the amount of space they take up in a bag, these over-ear headphones by Philips have a luxurious-feeling memory foam cover than rests over or on top of your ears, to make sure they remain comfortable throughout the day! There’s in-line control and a microphone switch for moving effortlessly between listening to music and taking or making a call, while the specially-designed standalone acoustic chambers and optimized 40mm neodymium drivers ensure good sound quality. The Philips PH805 headphones also feature noise-cancellation technology, and come in at just 8 ounces in weight!

• Folding to reduce storage space
• Memory foam covers
• Great quality sound
• Noise-cancelling tech
• Lack some style
• Over/on-ear headphones
• Not wireless
• Imported to US

Are the Philips PH805 headphones for me?

These Philips PH805 headphones provide a good balance between cost, sound quality, usability, and size. Ear comfort is protected through the use of memory foam covers, while the drivers and acoustic chambers used to create a wonderful sound. Further, the Philips PH805 have noise-cancelling technology built-in, so however noisy the surrounding environment you find yourself in, you’ll still be able to enjoy music as it should be heard.

For what are a super cheap pair of headphones, the team were pretty impressed by what they offered. For less than 40 quid you get decent noise cancellation, good portability and a lightweight design. The wires might be a drawback but for those wanting to switch between their phone, laptop and the entertainment system on the plane, they know it will be quick and easy.

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

How to choose the best travel headphones for you

Over-ear versus in-ear headphones

One of the first questions you should ask yourself when you’re thinking of splashing out on a new pair of travel headphones is which sort of headphone do you prefer? Are you a fan of over-ear headphones that make it much easier to become fully immersed in what you’re listening to, or in-ear headphones which tend to be lighter but have slightly reduced sound qualities as a result? Do you like the feel of the neck collars/braces that accompany many modern in-ear choices?

Also, bear in mind what activity or activities you plan to use these headphones for! For example, if you intend to primarily use your new headphones for exercise or activities with a lot of movement, be sure to pick a pair that are specifically built for the purpose. That way, you’ll be sure that your headphones will last, and resist the rigours of running, for instance.

In general, if you’re going to be running or you’re looking for as an example, the best headphones for hiking, you’re going to want ones that will stay in whilst you’re being active too. So, looking for the best travel earphones, ones that go inside your actual ear, is perfect.

Wired, wireless, and true wireless

For most people, deciding between wired, wireless, and true wireless travel headphones is a pretty easy choice coming down to personal preference and what you’re used to. We’d say doing away with wires is definitely the way to go, especially when traveling, when there are already ten different things to get tangled up in! As for the difference between wireless and true wireless, a wireless travel headphone will connect to your smartphone or device through Bluetooth but might have a wire between earbud and neck brace, while you’ll find no wires on any sort in a truly wireless travel headphone.

Other features to consider

While most brands of headphone in the same price bracket will have similar features, its worth noting down exactly what you are looking for in your pair of travel headphones. We’d say finding a pair with good noise-cancelling functionality is all important when traveling – given the amount of noisy downtime you’re likely to face on planes, trains, and elsewhere. The so-called ‘ambient’ noise on a plane can hit 60 decibels for example, which explains why its always so difficult to fully hear films using the airline’s free headphones.

In addition, are you also looking for compact size, so that your travel headphones pack down really small (another reason to opt for in-ear headphones perhaps)? Maybe it’s sound quality which is more important to you.

You will also want to decide whether or not you’re going to want a built-in microphone system, enabling you to make hands-free calls. Frankly we say that if you’re going to be using your smartphone to listen to music, why not also have that hands-free capability!

There is no perfect or exact science when it comes to testing out travel gear, but here at The Broke Backpackers, we’ve got enough experience to have gotten pretty good at it!

When we set about testing a piece of gear, we start by handing each item out to various members of our team spread around the world. This means we always get different opinions and experiences when it comes to feedback.

Our testing revolves around a series of parameters we use for each item to fairly compare them to one another. We look at how well each piece fulfils its primary purpose. So when it comes to picking out good travel headphones that are things like portability, weight, size, noise cancellations, battery life and durability as well as sound quality.

Finally, we also take into account how an item is priced – So more expensive headphones that performed poorly were treated more harshly when it came to doling out points. On the other hand, cheaper headphones were given a bit more leeway.

Still have some questions? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

Are bluetooth headphones better than wired headphones?

That depends on your personal preference. Bluetooth headphones are definitely handier but they also need to be charged which can get a bit annoying. However, the wire connected with your headphones can get tangled in your clothes and other objects.

Can you wear bluetooth headphones on a plane?

Yes, you can wear bluetooth headphones on a plane. If you’re worried, keep them disconnected during landing and take-off.

Are noise-cancelling headphones any good?

Noise-cancelling headphones are great for people that need to work on their laptop in a busy environment. There is no disadvantage of noice cancelling, unless you need to be aware of your surroundings.

What are the best budget travel headphones?

The Silensys E7 are the best noise-cancelling headphones that are not just high in quality, but also pretty affordable.

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A final point for all those iPhone and iPad users out there

Don’t forget that if you’re a user of Apple iOS products you’re going to need to take the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack into consideration for wired headphones, or you’ll also be faced with needing to add a lightning adapter to your kit list!

When you’re thinking about travel headphones there’s a lot to consider – as you’ve probably already discovered! However, the good news is that we’ve done much of the hard graft for you guys, and we’ve cast our eyes across the 250 different travel headphones out there to bring you only the very best! What’s more, our links make it really easy to make that purchase a reality – so get clicking!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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The 10 Best Travel Headphones of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

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TripSavvy / Jhett Thompson

Travel headphones come in handy when you want to listen to music to soothe your flying anxiety or need to talk to loved ones back home with your hands-free. But what makes a great travel headphone? We wanted to find travel earbuds that could handle an arid Big Bend National Park hike and weather-resistant headphones that would let you explore Seattle on a rainy day. And we wanted to seek out the best travel headphones for noise cancellation—because who wants to deal with those annoying noises on a plane or train?  

To find the best travel headphones, we had several people test 26 different ones. They considered everything from sound quality to comfort, ease of use, and noise cancellation. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 was our top choice. With a battery life of 20 hours, crisp sound quality, and fantastic noise-cancellation capabilities, we can confidently say that you should add them to your packing list. 

Now read on to discover more travel headphone favorites and how they can benefit your travels.

Other Travel Headphones We Tested

How we tested.

• What to Look For

Why Trust TripSavvy

Best overall, bose noise cancelling headphones.

20-hours battery life and Bluetooth range of 30 feet

Pair to two devices at once

Spotify Tap Playback feature and connects to Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant

Intuitive touch control on the ear cups

Choose among 11 different levels of noise cancellation

Very expensive

They don’t stay in place with excessive movement

It’s no surprise that headphones by Bose would be our top pick. The brand is well known for its high-quality sound systems, and that ingenuity has made its way into the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. These over-the-head travel headphones come in black and silver and have such a crisp sound that our testers said it mimics hearing a band live. 

The headphones feature 11 different levels of noise cancellation, which you can change according to your preference. The tester said it could feel a little odd to be unable to hear your own voice, but at least you get a sense of how phenomenal the noise cancellation really is. When taking a voice call, you’ll be glad to know that the headphones have ten mics that work to remove background noise and capture only your voice—no need to worry about talking on a windy day or in a crowded airport. 

Our tester said that setting up the Bose headphones is super easy, thanks to the Bose app. The app also provides insight into using intuitive touch controls on the ear cups. For instance, by touching the right earcup, the headphones will open the last Spotify playlist you listened to and immediately start playing the next song. Other movements raise the volume and change songs. 

The headphones may be expensive, but it’s well worth the price to have headphones that can last 20 hours on a single charge and have a Bluetooth range of 30 feet. Remember that these are not the best headphones for rapid movements, like working out. They’re comfortable, but they’re unlikely to stay on your head if you’re doing a rigorous activity.  

Price at time of publish: $379

Dimensions: 2 x 6.5 x 8 inches | Bluetooth range: 30 feet | Battery Life: 20 hours

TripSavvy / Vicky Wasik

Best Budget

Anker soundcore life p3.

Water-resistant

Three noise-canceling modes

Increase bass with BassUp mode

The app lets you customize sound and find missing earbuds

Charging case with wireless charging capabilities and 35 hours of battery life

Bluetooth range is not provided

Sound quality during phone calls could be better

At nearly $75, the Anker Soundcore Life P3 headphones are not necessarily ‘cheap,’ but you get a high-quality product at a price that’s more affordable than others—and that’s ultimately why it’s our budget pick. The Anker Soundcore Life P3 earbuds have a seven-hour battery life on a single charge, but you can get an additional 35 hours of playback time by placing the earbuds into a fully-charged case. Ten minutes of charging provides two more hours of playback.  

As for the sound quality, our tester described it as ‘vibrant’ when listening to music. The BassUp mode, which increases the bass, is a nice touch. The earbuds have three noise cancellation modes—Transport, Outdoor, and Indoor—which remove noise based on your environment. Our tester couldn’t hear other noises when music played, even at low volume. They added that some sound came through when music wasn’t playing. 

Our tester was not impressed by how the sound quality of a voice call differed from the sound quality of music. They also noted that the noise cancellation features didn’t work well when on a call and that they could hear background noises on their end, as could the person on the other end of the phone call. 

There are plenty of features our tester didn’t mention that we find incredibly interesting, like how you can adjust the sound quality through the Soundcore app and choose preset modes like Game mode, which creates an immersive audio experience when playing mobile games. And if you ever lose an earbud, just hit “Find My Headset” in the app, and the earbud will emit a loud noise until you find it. 

Price at time of publish: $80

Dimensions: 2.56 x 1.97 x 1.18 inches | Bluetooth range: Unknown | Battery Life: 7 hours

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

Water-resistant and blocks the sound of wind during calls

Touch control and voice commands

Track lost earbuds through the SmartThings app

Automatically turns off noise cancelation when you speak

Connection switches between devices automatically

Bluetooth frequency range is unknown

Only 5 hours of playtime when noise cancelation is on

Although Samsung makes these Buds Pro earbuds, you don't need an Android device to use them. In fact, our tester connected these earbuds to their iPhone and was blown away by the sound quality. They described the sound as "crisp and clear" and said they could hear each instrument that made up a song. 

Samsung designed these earbuds to block the sound of wind during calls and allow you to control the level of noise cancelation. So, if you want to hear no surrounding sounds, that's an option, but if you need ambient sound for safety purposes, like when walking around a city, you can have that too. Plus, the noise cancellation turns off automatically when it detects your voice so that you can converse with a flight attendant without taking out your earbuds or turning them off. 

We are a little disappointed by the earbuds' battery capabilities. You'll only get four hours of battery life when talking on the phone with noise cancelation on. Unfortunately, battery life is not much better when watching movies or listening to music—5 hours with noise cancelation on and 8 hours with it off. The case does hold an additional 13 to 20 hours of playback. Thankfully it only takes 5 minutes in the charging case for the earbuds to store up another hour of playtime. 

Lastly, these headphones are water resistant, can be tracked through the SmartThings app, and will automatically switch between devices. 

Price at time of publish: $200

Dimensions: The case is 4.75 x 3.5 x 1.75 inches, and the earbud is 20.8 x 19.5 millimeters | Bluetooth range: Unknown | Battery Life: 4 to 8 hours on a single charge, depending on whether noise cancelation is on and whether you're playing music or talking

Best Comfort

Sony wh-1000xm4 noise canceling headphones.

Noise cancelation capabilities and pauses music when you speak

Touch sensor controls and Alexa, Google, and Siri enabled

Can be paired to two different devices at the same time

Music automatically paused when the headphones are removed

30 hours of battery life with quick charging capabilities

Set up is a little cumbersome

Noise cancellation could be better for the price

The Sony WH-1000XM4 are over-the-head travel headphones with plush cushioning around the ears and enough flexibility to fit most heads comfortably. Where they shine brightest is in the battery life—30 hours! Plus, it only takes 10 minutes of charging to get five more hours of playback. Our tester didn’t like how confusing the setup was or that they had to create a Sony account, but once it was all said and done, they really enjoyed the sound quality of these headphones. 

Our tester said the sound was great, whether playing music or listening to podcasts. They mentioned an equalizer menu allowing users to adjust the sound however they see fit or use preset sound settings labeled “mellow” and “excited.” Noise cancelation seemed decent, and while our tester noted that they didn’t hear any other sounds when playing music, some sounds did come through when the music wasn’t playing. 

Users control the headphones through touch activation, though a few features are automatic. For instance, removing the headphones while playing music will automatically pause the song and then play from that exact spot when you put the headphones back on. The headphones also automatically pause your TV show or song when you speak.  

One of the most surprising things about the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones is that they have a Bluetooth range of 400 meters or 1,312 feet—a considerably large distance. Of course, people, objects, walls, and electromagnetic fields can affect this, so we imagine that the Bluetooth frequency range is quiet unless you’re in an open area.    

Price at time of publish: $350

Dimensions: 7.27 x 3.03 x 9.94 inches | Bluetooth range: 1312 feet | Battery Life: 30 hours

Best Overhead

Bose quietcomfort 35 ii headphones.

Alexa and Google Assistant-enabled

Three noise cancelation settings

Up to 20 hours of battery life

Connect to two devices at a time

Voice prompt about battery life each time you turn headphones on

If you prefer over-the-head headphones when traveling, consider the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Whether walking around a city or running on a treadmill, you shouldn’t have any issues—at least our tester didn’t. In our review of these headphones, we found the sound quality was excellent, especially when speaking to others on the phone. As for songs, the vocals are sharp and crisp, and while the bass is strong, the tester said it could be a little stronger. 

These headphones have three noise cancelation levels—low, high, and off. When noise cancelation is on and music plays, all other noise is effectively snuffed out. You will likely hear ambient noise without music or a TV show playing. 

For the price, we were pretty surprised that these headphones don’t have touch activation controls. You’ll have to push buttons on the side of the headphones to adjust the volume or turn on Bluetooth. However, they can be paired with Alexa and Google Assistant, though it seems that Alexa is better integrated and offers more voice control options than Google Assistant (which won’t work with Apple products anyways). 

Take note that the battery life is up to 20 hours—not firmly 20 hours. It’s likely that noise cancelation and whether you’re talking or watching a movie will affect the battery life. At least it only takes 2 hours to recharge these headphones completely. When you put these headphones on, a voice prompt informs users of the battery life and signals when the battery life is low. 

Price at time of publish: $299

Dimensions: 3.2 x 6.7 x 7.1 inches | Bluetooth range: 30 feet | Battery Life: 20 hours

Best Splurge

Apple airpods max.

Mesh canopy for a comfortable fit

Aware mode lets you hear noise around you

Automatically switches Bluetooth to other devices

Pauses and resumes music when taking headphones on and off

Designed to create 3-D audio and cinema-like audio experiences

Not water resistant

Unknown Bluetooth range

Not all features will work with Android devices

If you have the cash lying about, the Apple AirPods Max will make excellent travel headphones. They’re designed with a unique mesh canopy that offers a comfortable fit on your head for most activities though if you’re doing something rigorous, they could fall off. While these headphones will connect to Android and Mac devices, overall, they’re better designed for Apple users. Set up is easy with an Apple phone, and Siri is integrated, meaning Siri will read your text messages and announce other notifications automatically. The headphones can pair with multiple Apple devices and switch over automatically from, say, an iPad to an iPhone when you receive a call. 

In our testing, we found that the sound quality was superb. Expect sharp and clear sounds and even some instruments that you probably wouldn’t have noticed with lesser headphones. Noise cancelation is equally fantastic, even in “Aware” mode. Our tester said that when using “Aware” mode, they had to be close to someone to know they were speaking to them. 

While these headphones are not water resistant, and we do not know the Bluetooth range, you’ll be glad to know that the buttons are easy to use and that the headphones automatically pause music when you take them off and continues playing the song when you put the headphones back on. 

Price at time of publish: $549

Dimensions: 6.64 x 3.28 x 7.37 inches | Bluetooth range: unknown | Battery Life: 20 hours

Best Weather Resistant

Jabra elite 85h.

Water-resistant and smart active noise cancelation

Works with Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant

Thirty-six hours of battery life on a single charge

Personalize sound settings and find headphones via the app

Automatically stops and starts sound when removing and putting on headphones

Not particularly lightweight

The sound quality could be better

Whether you get caught in the rain in London or want to listen to music at the beach, you’ll be glad to know that the Jabra Elite 85H headphones are water-resistant. We love that these headphones offer 36 hours of battery life when noise cancelation is on and 41 hours when it’s turned off. It doesn’t hurt that the headphones will automatically pause a song when you remove them from your head and then start the song up from the same spot when you put them back on. 

Our tester noted that these headphones were a bit heavy and that the sound quality was “average.” Perhaps by adjusting the sound settings through the app, you can create a more favorable sound quality. The app also helps you find the headphones if they’re lost. 

As for noise cancelation, it’s a smart model, which means that the headphones automatically adjust the noise cancelation depending on your environment. Our tester found that it worked decently well and suggests these headphones would be a good option for plane travel. 

Price at time of publish: $250

Dimensions: 9.25 x 7.64 x 3.31 inches | Bluetooth range: 33 feet | Battery Life: 36 to 41 hours, depending on noise cancelation being on or off

Best for Tech Newbies

Apple airpods pro.

Touch control and Siri enabled

Impressive noise cancelation

Sweat and water-resistant

Transparency mode with a single touch

Stops and starts sound when headphones are taken on and off—at least for Apple users

Only up to 4.5 hours of battery life on a single charge

Android users can’t use all the Airpods Pro features

Airpods were a game changer when they were released, and it’s no surprise that people still love to travel with them today. These simple earbuds have three different tips to fit different ear sizes and are sweat and water-resistant. By simply touching or pressing the Airpods Pro earbuds a few times, you can change songs, pause, play, or turn on Transparency mode to hear the world around you. 

The sound quality of these earbuds is pretty good, though or tester noted, “It didn’t knock it out of the park for me.” The noise cancelation, on the other hand, was impressive to the tester, so much so that it made them nervous to walk around outside with the noise cancellation on because it was difficult to hear traffic and other people. 

Regarding battery life, the Airpods Pro can hold up to 4.5 hours of listening time on a single charge and only 3.5 hours if you’re talking the entire time—and that’s with active noise cancelation and transparency off. Comparable to others on this list, that’s not a lot of battery life. However, with the wireless charging case, you can get 18 additional hours of talk time and 24 hours of listening time, but you’ll need to charge the pods a few times. Five minutes in the case provides an hour of battery life. 

While we chose the Airpods Pro earbuds for “tech newbies,” that’s really only the case if you have an Apple device. Connecting is super simple for Apple users, and Siri can help with notifications, making calls, or even changing songs. Android users won’t be able to use Siri, and they’ll need to take a few more steps to connect the earbuds to their device. 

Price at time of publish: $249

Dimensions: each: 0.94 x 0.86 x 1.22 inches, Wireless Charging Case: 1.78 x 0.85 x 2.39 inches  | Bluetooth range: unknown | Battery Life: 3.5 hours of talk time on a single charge, 4.5 hours of music/video playback on one charge, 24 hours of additional charge via a fully-charged case

Best Multi-Use

Beats fit pro noise canceling earbuds.

Flexible wingtips for a secure fit

Can wear a single earbud at a time

Android and Apple users enjoy different but equal features

Active noise cancelation, Transparency mode, and Adaptive EQ mode

Call sound quality isn’t as good as music sound quality

Only 6 hours of listening time on a single charge

These Beats Fit Pro earbuds are super stylish and offer a lot of value for the price. With the flexible wingtips, enjoy a super secure fit. The sweat and water-resistant feature means you can safely wear them while working out. Using these earbuds is simple, too. Just tap or press the earbuds to pause, skip a song, or even turn noise cancelation on and off. You can even wear one earbud at a time. 

When talking about the sound quality, our tester said that the “base and rhythms of the music translate very well on different octaves.” However, they added that although the noise cancelation does an excellent job of removing all background noise, the sound quality felt more powerful and louder when not using the noise cancellation. They also felt like the audio on voice calls could be better. 

Perhaps our favorite aspect of the Beats Fit Pro earbuds is how it’s designed for Apple and Android users, and they each get their own features that work with their systems. Both have one-touch pairing, with Apple users also getting features like automatic switching between devices, audio sharing, and access to Siri. Apple users can also find an earbud on the Find My App. On the other hand, Android users can use the Beats App to customize the earbud controls, receive notifications about the battery level, and conduct a Fit Test to get the best sound and fit. 

As with most of the earbuds on this list, the battery life could be better. You only get 6 hours of listening time on a single charge, but with a fully charged case, you can get an additional 18 hours. Thankfully, it only takes five minutes of charge time to get one hour of playback. 

Dimensions: Bud: 1.18 x .94 x .75 inches, case: 2.44 x 2.44 x 1.12 inches | Bluetooth range: unknown | Battery Life: 6 hours of listening time on a single charge, up to 18 hours with the charging case

Best Earbuds

Jabra elite 85t earbuds.

Rain resistant and wind protection for better calls

Can use right earbud alone

Works with Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa

11 levels of noise cancellation and Hear Through mode

Hearing test that adjusts the sound to your hearing profile

Only 5.5 hours of battery life on a single charge with noise cancellation on

The Jabra Elite 85t earbuds are rain resistant, work with Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa, and should help to relieve pressure in your ear canal. Once you set up these earbuds, we encourage you to do the hearing test within the app, as it tests your hearing in both ears and adjusts the sound to your specific hearing profile. There is even a test that lets you know if you’re wearing the right ear tip for the best fit. Within the app, you can also adjust the noise cancellation and Hear Through mode and then turn it off and on by pressing a button on the earbud itself. 

While the bass could be better, the sound quality is fantastic. In fact, our tester thought that the sound quality was better for music and TV shows with the Jabra Elite 85t than with the Airpod Pros. (They do admit that Airpod Pros have better sound quality in talk mode.) No matter the volume of your music, when you have the noise cancellation on with these headphones, you can’t hear anything, even when outside. Hear Through mode can be toggled on and off with the push of a button. 

Keep in mind that the battery only lasts 5.5 hours on a single charge when noise cancelation is turned on; you might get 7 hours of battery life with it turned off. The charging case holds between 20-24 more hours of battery life.

Price at time of publish: $230

Dimensions: 5.12 x 4.41 x 1.65 inches | Bluetooth range: 33 feet | Battery Life: 5.5-7 hours on a single charge depending on whether noise cancellation is on or off, 20-24 more hours in charging case

Here are the other travel headphones we tested:

Beats Solo Pro , EarFun Airpro 2 , OnePlus Buds Pro Wireless , Master & Dynamic MW08 , Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 , Bose QuietComfort Earbuds , Sony WF-1000XM4 , Anker SoundCore Life Q20 , Anker SoundCore Life Q30 , Sennheiser 450BT , Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX , Bowers & Wilkins PX7 wireless , Shure Aonic 50 , and Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 .

We tested travel headphones in our New York testing lab and then sent them to testers for real-world testing. The initial lab testing involved testing and rating each headphone for the following attributes: setup, comfort, sound quality, noise cancelation, functionality, and user interface. Each attribute was rated on a five-point scale, and those scores were averaged to give each pair of headphones an overall score. 

What to Look for When Buying Travel Headphones

Headphone prices can range from $10 to $500, but we’ve found that the best headphones for traveling tend to cost over $100. The higher the price, the more likely you’ll be investing in more technologically-advanced headphones with fantastic sound quality and a wider variety of features. 

Audio Quality

Audio quality is perhaps the most important thing to consider when buying travel headphones. Sometimes “you know it when you hear it,” and the only way to do that is to test the headphones yourself. Keep in mind that voice and music sound quality often differ—at least, that was what many of our testers experienced with different headphones. 

Buyers may find it helpful to test the audio quality of headphones at tech stores like Best Buy, but what do you do if you want to buy a pair of headphones online? RTings.com tested 697 headphones for their sound quality, focusing on everything from bass accuracy to frequency response consistency. Their goal was to test headphones and rate them according to whether or not they produced a more neutral, crisp, clear sound, the kind you’d hear if something was mixed in a studio. They’ve done a deep dive into the audio quality in a way that would be difficult to do on your own, making this a fantastic resource for any buyer. 

Just as we all have different bodies, our ear shape and head shape differ too, which can impact our headphones choice. If you have the option of testing a pair of headphones before you buy them, do so! At the least, ensure you can return them if they are uncomfortable. 

When it comes to earbuds, you may have to change the earbud tip to a bigger or smaller size to ensure that it fits in your ears properly. Headphones that go over your head should provide a firm fit without causing too much pressure on your ears or cranium. Finally, test out the fit by doing different movements. Do the headphones shift when you walk? Do you want to wear them for a morning run at the hotel? Over-the-head headphones are not the best option for rigorous activities; earbuds may be better for those who like to exercise. 

Keep your headphones clean by occasionally wiping them down with a soft cloth slightly dampened with water or an anti-bacterial towelette (just don’t let too much liquid sit on the headphones for too long). It’s especially important to remove earwax from the earbud units so that it doesn’t harden and create issues. Always store your headphones properly; if they have wires, don’t let them tangle or twist. While you don’t have to worry about this with wireless travel headphones , those with wired headphones need to keep the headphone jack free of debris, dust, and dirt. Clean it out with a gas duster on occasion. 

Headphones can cause hearing loss over time if not used properly. Try to lower the volume to prevent hearing loss. Noise-canceling headphones can remove background noise and assist in keeping the volume lowered. Earbuds might be slightly worse than headphones in the long run. No matter which type of headphones you have, take consistent breaks from using them. Your hearing will thank you. 

Bluetooth frequency range is the distance between your headphones and the device it connects to. So, for instance, if you are playing music on your phone and you walk to the bathroom, will the headphones stay connected, or will it have gone out of range and the music will cut out? Bluetooth frequency ranges can vary, though we prefer those over 30 feet as it prevents you from carrying your device or phone with you wherever you go. 

Many planes these days have moved their in-flight entertainment from screens on the back of the seats to your personal Wi-Fi-enabled device. In that case, you only need to plug the headphones into your device or use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly. 

Many long-haul planes still come with screens in the back of the headrest, which can make your wireless headphones useless. The wired headphones that flight attendants pass out have poor audio quality, so you’ll need to come prepared with a Bluetooth adapter that you plug into the headphone socket on your seat. From there, it’s as simple as connecting the adapter to your wireless headphones, allowing you to hear the audio from the headrest screen.

Author  Alex Temblador  is an outdoor and travel journalist who lives in Texas. In addition to working out–running, lifting, hiking, kayaking, and more–at least five days a week, Alex seeks out adventurous travels all around the world. Throughout her career as an outdoor and travel journalist, she has rappelled in Mexico, kayaked in Puerto Rico and Thailand, skied in Telluride and Montana, surfed in Zihuatanejo, scuba dived in Bonaire, hiked in Peru and Switzerland, and completed a one-day, 100-mile cycling event in 100-degree weather in North Texas.

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Sound On, Noise Off: The 7 Best Travel Headphones to Take on Your Next Trip

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At a Glance: The Best Travel Headphones

• Best Overall: Sony WH-1000MX5
• Best Noise-Cancelling: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
• Best Sound: Bang & Olufsen Px8
• Best Under $150: Soundcore by Anker Space Q45
• Most Durable: Sennheiser Momentum 3
• Best Audiophile Sound: Bowers & Wilkins Px8
• Most Compatible: Shure AONIC 50 (Gen 2)

Traveling and daily commutes can be stressful, to say the least. Often, the culprit is noise — be it a plane engine, crying babies, or loud road-trip companions. But with a pair of the best travel headphones , flights, road trips, and train rides can quickly become a peaceful time with your favorite music, podcasts, and movies.

Related: Tune Out to Jet Off: These Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Earbuds for Travel

Because so many people are now finding tranquility with a pair of noise-reducing headphones , dozens of brands are making solid options with travelers in mind. But only a handful of these headphones can offer the crispness, full bass, and effective noise-reduction that audiophiles and frequent flyers are looking for.

The Best Travel Headphones to Buy Right Now

1. sony wh-1000mx5.

BEST OVERALL

Sony’s WH1000MX5s aren’t just the best headphones for travel – they’re also our number one pick for some of the best noise-cancelling headphones in general. Their predecessor, the WH-1000XM4s, were great, but the WH-1000MX5s introduce some slight improvements to make them the best in the business.

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Noise-cancellation was central in the WH-1000MX5s development, as the headphones boast industry-leading noise cancellation, now with the Auto NC Optimizer. Eight microphones pick up ambient noise, run it through a Noise-Cancelling Processor — we’ve been on several flights wearing these, and there’s truly minimal outside sound whether you’re in a busy airport or on a road trip .

These stellar headphones also offer multipoint pairing, which lets you connect to multiple devices at once. This means you can seamlessly switch between, say, Netflix on your laptop and a call on your phone. This is just one of the WH-1000MX5s several convenient features, which also includes auto-pausing when you speak. Plus, the headphones feature incredible 30-hour battery life, plus three hours of battery with a quick three minute charge.

2. Bose QuietComfort Ultra

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As expected from premium headphones, sound quality with the QuietComfort Ultras is crisp and deep thanks to active EQ. You also get plenty of customizability with the sound through the Bose app. In terms of comfort, the QuietComfort Ultras get top marks as well with a lightweight, half-pound build and enough padding for hours of use while catching a long flight or grinding in the office (and with a pricey piece of tech, this is a major plus). Plus, they’ve got a stellar 24-hour battery life (18 with immersive audio turned on), so they’ll last through the longest hauls of your travels.

3. Bowers & Wilkins Px8

When celebrated audio companies try their hand at high-end headphones, it doesn’t always work. With Bowers & Wilkins , it did, and their latest PX8 headphones are the proof.

Soft earcups and a large, cushy headpiece make the Px8s comfortable enough for long-period usage, but the headphones’ real strength is audio quality. Beefy 40mm drivers and tuning by the B&W experts provide seriously good sound — no matter what type of music or movie you’re watching.

The Px8s are also very impressive technology-wise with a six-microphone setup for capturing and adapting to outside noise. They have what B&W calls “Ambient Pass-Through,” which is meant to relay the important stuff like conversational noises (so the plane engine will be silenced but you might catch the flight attendant’s drink offer). Plus, the headphones feature multipoint pairing for connecting to multiple devices at once.

For their sound quality alone, we recommend these headphones, but the added ANC and lengthy battery life makes these a great choice for travel .

4. Soundcore by Anker Space Q45

Traveling is pricey, but the best travel headphones don’t have to be. Case in point is these Soundcore Q45 headphones from Anker . At $150, the headphones are much more affordable than our other picks, but their sound quality and noise cancellation powers punch far above their price point.

In an effort to communicate better with your audio streaming device, the Q45s use LDAC technology to enhance Bluetooth files. Inside the cans are 40mm silk-diaphragm drivers, which lend enough bass for thumping hip-hop and full orchestral riffs. Noise cancellation, meantime, comes from two microphones on each earcup that pick up sound and adapt to block it out.

Other features we like about the Q45s are wearer detection (which turns off audio when you take off the headphones) and an exceptionally lightweight build. This lightness is both comfortable for long sessions and helpful when it comes to keeping luggage weight to a minimum. Overall, the headphones offer perhaps the best value of any travel headphones.

5. Sennheiser Momentum 3

Don’t get us wrong, the comfort factor is still there thanks to a headband made from genuine sheepskin leather and soft ear cushions with plush memory foam. Compared to Sennhesier’s newer Momentum 4s, we prefer the hard plastic and metal design of these headphones , especially with their sturdy frame and matte steel arms that can withstand being tossed around any carry-on bag.

Instead of plastic toggles, the Momentum 3s feature a rubberized material three-button interface that lets you quickly switch between listening to music and making phone calls, activating voice assistance, and adjusting the volume.

Sound performance is also stellar under the hood as well , with a 42-millimeter dynamic driver and an internal audio equalizer you can adjust from the Sennheiser app. Active noise cancellation and transparency mode also make it easy to wear these headphones out into the world and not worry about being interrupted while you’re playing your tunes or missing an important announcement in a train station or airport.

6. Bang & Olufsen H95

If you’re looking for a pair of luxury headphones fit for first class, check out these Bang & Olufsen H95s . The real upgrade with the H95s is in design quality, with the headphones sporting memory foam earcups, a leather headpiece, and anodized aluminum discs on the earcup exterior. These upgrades translate to more comfort (from the memory foam), an extremely elegant look, and lasting quality.

But the H95s aren’t all looks. Bang & Olufsen has equipped the headphones with Advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) which discerns and effectively blocks outside noises of different frequencies using eight microphones. And when you feel like hearing the world around you again, swipe the left earcup to activate transparency mode. The earcups also feature intuitive touch controls for pause/play, switching tracks, and so on. Further sound customization is available via the Bang & Olufsen app.

7. Shure AONIC 50 (Gen 2)

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Sound quality is very impressive with the Aonic 50s , largely thanks to the headphone’s 50mm drivers (hence the name). What’s more, the Shure headphones sound good with almost any input music as they support a very wide range of codecs. No matter what you’re listening to, expect balanced, full sound at every frequency.

Thanks to memory foam earcups, the Anoic 50s are prepared to sit comfortably on your head for long flights, road trips, and work sessions. The headpiece is also nice and chunky to avoid discomfort up top. Plus, since the design is foldable it makes it easy to carry them on the go.

You get two settings — “active noise-cancellation” and “environment mode” — but the latter (which lets in some outside noise) features multiple levels ranging from minimal noise to essentially transparent. This can be controlled via the ShurePlus PLAY app, while onboard buttons offer basic controls. You’ll also get up to 45 hours battery life with quick charge capabilities, more than doubling its runtime from the prior generation.

Buying Guide: How We Picked the Best Travel Headphones

Even top-of-the-line headphones have some variation in features and quality. Here are a few considerations we kept in mind while choosing the best travel headphones for your needs.

Noise-Cancellation : Not all noise-reduction systems are made equal. The headphones in our roundup all boast the maximum level of noise-cancellation, but some have more adjustability. This will allow you to customize noise reduction to your setting and needs (for example, transparency mode while walking down a busy street).

Comfort : The best travel headphones should be comfortable enough to wear for hours. But not all cans have the same level of comfort: some have softer ear cups and headpieces, while others are more lightweight. We’ve chosen brands that have taken extra steps to make their headphones as comfortable as possible, like adding memory foam or leather padding to the headset.

Battery : We’ve picked headphones with industry-leading battery life of at least 24 hours (or, about enough for two long-haul flights). Still, there’s some variation, and if you’re constantly on the go, a large battery of up to 40-50 hours is a must-have.

Microphone : All the headphones above have mics for making calls or talking to virtual assistants (i.e. Alexa, Siri, etc), but some have engineered their mics to block out ambient noise as well. This means your call recipient will actually hear your voice — and not the loud airport chatter around you.

Durability : Sadly, your new headphones are bound to be dropped, bumped, or caught in the rain while traveling. For this reason, we picked travel headphones with at least an IPX4-5 water resistance and a somewhat rugged build.

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5 Best Pairs of Travel Headphones in 2024: Tested by Our Gear Experts

Enjoy your entertainment everywhere you go.

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?

In order to find a pair of cans built for everything from road trips to long haul flights, the Men's Health tech team tested and reviewed over 20 pairs of headphones and found 5 pairs that performed exceptionally well in travel settings. Want to know our favorite pair of travel headphones? That would be the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 , and you'll find out more below as to why every traveler should consider buying them for the rest of their trips in 2023.

Best Travel Headphones Overall

Bose noise canceling headphones 700.

The Close Second, Best Overall

Sony wh-1000xm4.

Best Value Travel Headphones

Soundcore anker space q45.

Best Audio Quality

Bowers & wilkins px8.

Most Stylish

Apple airpods max.

Read more: How Men's Health Tests Products

Our testing methods for our best travel headphones involve taking the pairs out into real world first, whether it be in an Uber on the way to the airport to the actual plane ride itself. We also took headphones on trains, walks, and car rides. Next, we brought the headphones back to our office in New York City for a deeper review on potential flaws and unique features that we might find worthy to bring to light.

Ahead, you'll discover the top headphones for all types of travel. Outside of naming the Bose 700s our best pair overall, we also named headphones that are best suited for long haul flights and business travelers, as well as headphones for those on the hunt for a great deal. Let's get to the list.

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Lightweight, durable, and driven by performance, the Bose 700 showcases what has made the brand such a staple in travel bags for years. For starters, the 700 has a seriously good level of noise cancellation (11 different levels!) that can drown out everything from crowd noise in a cafe to jet engines roaring on an airplane. You also get 20 hours of battery life, which is long enough to run all the way through long haul flights.

It's true the performance of the 700 can be compared several other pairs of headphones on this list (there's actually one or two pairs that has them beat on sound quality alone), however what the 700 does exceptionally well is comfort. The band that sits on the head is thin and lightweight, which helps prevent fatigue when wearing for hours watching movies on the plane or listening to podcasts in the car. The ear pads also have what feels like the perfect shape and cushioning on the ear. Second, the 700 has actual button controls, making the headphones user friendly in the times you don't want to use its touch controls. And last, the 700 comes in a price point that packs a ton of value. Now, we realize $400 is no number to call "affordable" but the fact these headphones outperform many of the top-of-the-market headphones that are north of $500 gives assurances you're getting your monies worth.

Travel headphones should be approached as an investment if you want smoother, more comfortable travels. Going all-in on a noise cancelling pair like these will give you hours-long comfort so you can enjoy all your entertainment.

Read more: Best Travel Pillows

In many ways, the XM4 from Sony stands toe-to-toe with the Bose 700. The noise cancellation on the XM4 is about that same as the 700, blocking out deep bass and loud muffling from cars, planes, and more. The sound quality of the XM4 is also elite, with clear audio for music, movies, and podcasts.

But what the XM4 does better than the Bose 700 is in sound quality is bass. The XM4 just bumps in a bass-heavy way that makes listening to certain genres of music much more enjoyable—like hip-hop and pop. The XM4 also beats the Bose 700 is battery life with a steady 30 hours of run time, compared to the the 700's 20 hours.

So why is the XM4 a close second? Well, the Bose 700 is frankly more comfortable thanks to it's thin build and gentle positioning of the headband and ear pads. But if you are willing to sacrifice comfort for a bit better performance and a longer battery life, then the XM4 is the choice for you. Just be aware you might need to pop the headphones off after a couple hours of wearing to give your head and ears a rest.

Read more: Best Workout Headphones

You can save some money on your travel gear and get quality performance by buying a pair of Anker Space Q45 headphones. The Q45 packs an impressive level of noise cancellation that performs well on planes, and they have a great battery life of up to 50 hours with noise canceling on. Other features on the Q45 includes an accompanying app you can control the EQ on and an ability to choose between five noise canceling levels.

What we love the most is the sturdy build and friendly price point of the Q45. They are a little bulky and the sound quality is not as supreme as the other headphones on this list, but they nonetheless provide solid noise cancellation and perform much better over any other headphone you can find for $150.

These are also a great buy if you have a premium set of earbuds but have yet to get a pair of over-ear headphones to partner them with.

Read more: Best Outdoor Speakers

Bowers & Wilkins Px8

If you're looking for a Rolls Royce level of performance and comfort, then you've come to the right place. The Px8 over-ear headphones are widely regarded as having some of the best audio quality around, and we can confirm that is in fact true. Inside the headphones is a 24-bit DSP (digital signal processing) chip that helps create elite noise cancelation for music, movies, podcasts, and more. The Px8 also offers a unique addition of carbon fiber to its drivers (called a Carbon Cone) to make the sound much more rigid and help create crystal clear audio to the highest frequencies. The Carbon Cones can therefore help capture every single droplet of sound for a fully immersed experience.

To have this kind of listening while traveling is, well, pretty dang awesome. The Active Noise Cancellation performs like a champ too and can be controlled via your phone through the B&W app. We haven't even got to mention the aluminum frame and cushioned ear pads, which are comfortable and sturdy enough to handle constant long-haul wear. The last detail to point out is the awesome battery life of up to 30 hours; an impressive feature that's hard to find on headphones like these with such a high level of performance.

The glaring downside to these headphones are the price point. The Px8 is the most expensive offering from B&W and the most expensive headphones on this list, yet we believe because of how high they achieve in performance and luxury they deserve recommendation. Ultimately, we see the Px8 fit for audiophiles who are passionate about their music and for business travelers who are on the road often.

Read more: Best Travel Shoes

The most stylish and most seamless headphones for iPhone users, the AirPods Max combine high design with performance in a way that's almost unique in-and-of-itself. With the AirPods Max you get Active Noise Cancellation that drowns out plane engines and locks you into your deep and rich tunes. We found the AirPods Max work well for watching TV shows and movies on your phone, as well as for listening to music and podcasts when going for morning walks to explore a new city you're trying to get familiar with.

In many ways the AirPods Max provide similar audio performance to most of the headphones on this list. What they do exceptionally well is they blend right into the Apple ecosystem and will immediately pair with your phone when put over your ears. You have the Transparency Mode button you can press to let in surrounding sounds in (great for keeping awareness when walking), and you also have the nice little volume toggle button that makes it easy to turn your volume up or down. The magnetic ear pads have a nice airy comfort other headphones do not have, and they can be swapped out over time with ease as they wear down. The metal mesh on the headband is a good design note in the way it allows air in to keep your head cool too.

One major downside is the AirPods Max is inherently heavy due to the materials used. Apple tried to compensate for this by adding the metal mesh on the headband but the fact is if you wear these headphones for more than a couple hours at a time your head and neck can start getting tired. The headphones are also tight on the heads of people who have larger domes, which is really bothering when trying to watch movies on a flight. The price point is more elevated than one would like too.

However, if you can deal with the discomfort after long periods of wear, and you can buy-in on the price or get these headphones on sale, then the AirPods Max are a nice investment for travel. They really do have solid performance, and they have the best pairing for iPhone users and the best style of all the headphones on this list.

.css-1c42clk{font-family:Knockout,Knockout-roboto,Knockout-local,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.625rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1c42clk{font-size:3rem;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0.06rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1c42clk{font-size:3.125rem;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0.06rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1c42clk{font-size:3.75rem;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0.075rem;}}.css-1c42clk b,.css-1c42clk strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;}.css-1c42clk em,.css-1c42clk i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;}.css-1c42clk a{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#FFF200;text-decoration-thickness:0.19rem;}.css-1c42clk a:hover{color:#D2232E;} What to Consider When Buying Travel Headphones

• Noise Cancellation: All travel headphones should have some level of noise cancellation. Buying a pair of headphones without the tech is just going to be a pain to use for hours on end, plus the fact you'll be turning up the volume to try and drown out noise around you is not good at all for your ears. Some headphones have multiple levels of noise cancellation you can switch over to, while others have special active noise cancellation that will adjust to the environments around you in real time. It's worth mentioning once you start hitting that headphone price point of around $400 that most of the noise cancellation is at a premium level that won't be drastically improved further unless you buy headphones that are for professional use—which would not be the case in the instance of buying for travel.
• Weight: Travel headphones should obviously be comfortable, but a key detail on travel headphones that can make or break their overall comfort is weight. Even the slightest bit of weight can quicken fatigue and create discomfort, and so when you're planning on wearing headphones for long periods of time its essential to stick to a pair that's not going to make your head or neck tired after an hour or two of use.
• Battery Life: The more battery life, the better. However we believe you can sacrifice some battery life when traveling to gain in areas of comfort and performance just because you're likely going to be so close to outlets/power banks for quick charging—if you ever need to do so.
• Microphone: Most over-ear headphones have decent microphones for video calls and phone calls these days, but some of them combine their noise cancellation in with the microphone to produce an excellent mic quality. The travel headphones with the best microphone quality on our list would be the Bose 700, the Sony XM4, and the AirPods Max,

Why Trust Us

The MH tech and gear team is constantly testing all of the latest headphones to keep up with new new headphone innovations and releases. We test and review our headphones by taking them out into real world environments first, followed by a hands-on inspection here at our office in New York City. Through the entire process, we rate performance and material quality, while also looking for potential flaws and unique features we find worthy of bringing to buyers attention.

In the past three years, we have tested and reviewed well over 50 pairs of headphones and published our very best recommendations in our evergreen roundups. We also highlight our favorite new headphone releases in our annual Fitness Awards , Tech Awards , and Outdoor Awards .

How We Selected

Our MH commerce team thoroughly researched and tested 20 pairs of headphones ranging in all different price points. We evaluated headphones based on design, durability, special features, style, and price point. We also considered how each pair of headphones performed in all types of travel settings, from flying to driving, to taking the train to walking.

The list above represents our honest picks for the best travel headphones in 2023.

.css-1fpt53b{height:1.25rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1fpt53b{overflow:unset;line-height:1.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1fpt53b{line-height:1.25rem;}}.css-1fpt53b:before{background-color:#D2232E;color:#fff;margin-right:0.625rem;width:1.25rem;height:1.25rem;content:'';display:block;} Technology & Gear

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We tested the 6 best noise-canceling headphones for travel

I can't fly anywhere without a pair of noise-canceling headphones.

Even if I'm not actively listening to music or enjoying a TV show, I often use noise-canceling headphones to drown out background noise.

If you've traveled recently, I probably don't need to convince you of the value of a pair of these headphones. These days, there are more distractions than ever in airports and on planes — there are only so many times I can hear the same canned pitch for a cobranded airline credit card.

However, if you really want to drown out everything, which pair of headphones or earphones does it best? Here's a guide to my current favorites based on portability, sound experience, comfort, battery life and, of course, how well their noise-canceling abilities fare in the TPG hair dryer test.

Apple AirPods Pro

How portable are they.

Since their introduction in 2019, Apple's AirPods Pro have been my go-to travel headphones, thanks in no small part to their portability.

AirPods Pro have two components: a charging case and the earbuds. The charging case is where the AirPods sit when they're not in your ears, and there's even a built-in speaker to help you find the case if you misplace it.

The actual earbuds are much smaller than Apple's entry-level AirPods, and they're much less bulky and unwieldy than some other earbuds on the market.

How is the sound?

Apple recently introduced the second-generation AirPods Pro with a claim of double the active noise cancellation of the legacy model. If you were on the fence about these earbuds before, this updated model should make them a no-brainer for most travelers who use an iPhone.

With the second-generation buds, I am disturbed by fewer announcements and chatty passengers than with the original model. The sound quality is also noticeably better, thanks to a more powerful audio driver.

How comfortable are they?

Aside from the portability, the AirPods Pro also excel in terms of comfort.

As you decide which headphones are right for you, you'll need to choose between in-ear and over-ear models. Back in the day, in-ear headphones didn't offer great noise cancellation. However, Apple and its competitors have since introduced earbuds that feature this travel must-have.

That's great news since I find earbuds are generally more comfortable than over-ear headphones. Also, with four tip sizes included with the AirPods Pro, you're bound to find the right fit.

How is the battery?

The second-generation AirPods Pro offer up to six hours of listening time with a single charge. The charging case offers 30 hours of listening time, and just five minutes in the case provides about one additional hour of listening time.

The hair-dryer test

To simulate the background noise on an airplane, I borrowed my wife's Dyson hair dryer and blasted it at full force next to my ears while listening to the same song (Taylor Swift's "Enchanted") through each of the following six pairs of headphones (set at the same 80% volume level).

The verdict? I could hear the blow dryer when it was at the highest setting, but only just.

Are they worth it?

The fact that the AirPods Pro fit in my pocket makes them a game changer for travel. I used to lug around bulky over-ear headphones, but why bother when you can get great sound quality in a pair of earbuds that fit in the palm of your hand?

Sure, there are headphones that offer better noise cancellation, but the AirPods Pro pack the best mix of sound, noise cancellation and portability that an iPhone user will find in a small package.

Additionally, with multiple microphones, they double as a great set of headphones for those who make phone calls while on the road.

Buy now for $199.00 and save 20% on the standard price of $249.00

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

Bose's Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are the company's sleekest over-ear headphones, but you'll still need to tote around a nearly 1-pound pouch when the headphones are stowed safely in your bag.

Aside from Bluetooth wireless connectivity, I love that you can also use the provided 3.5-millimeter audio cable to plug the headphones into seatback entertainment systems that don't yet support Bluetooth.

Bose is renowned for its best-in-class noise-canceling headphones, and the 700 series builds on that legacy with some of the best sound and noise cancellation you'll get in a pair of headphones.

I always feel immersed in my music when I listen to these headphones, and the noise cancellation is among the best I've experienced.

I also love that you can adjust the noise-cancellation levels to control how much of the outside world you want to hear.

These headphones are much more comfortable than some of Bose's older models, but they aren't for everyone.

During long-haul flights, I find that my ears sometimes start feeling numb after wearing these headphones for prolonged periods (something that hasn't bothered me with other over-ear headphones like the AirPods Max).

Bose's top-of-the-line headphones offer up to 20 hours of nonstop listening. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to fully recharge the headphones, and a quick 15-minute charge will provide up to 3 1/2 additional hours of battery life.

I couldn't hear the faintest sound from the hair dryer, even when it was blasting at full force.

Back in the day, Bose was No. 1 when it came to noise-canceling headphones. The company now has some formidable competitors, but Bose builds on a very strong foundation with the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

These are among the world's best over-ear noise-canceling headphones, and you certainly can't go wrong with them. I just wish they were a tiny bit more comfortable for prolonged periods of use.

Buy now for $299.00 and save 21% on the standard price of $379.00

Sony WH-1000XM5

Like any over-ear noise-canceling headphones, you'll need to make room in your bag for Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones, though they only weigh around 250 grams and shouldn't add too much weight to your luggage. They come with a carrying case to keep them in tip-top shape while you're on the move — just note that the ear cups don't fold in for a more compact carrying experience.

Like the Bose headphones, Sony's top-of-the-line model can connect directly to seatback entertainment systems using a 3.5-millimeter audio cable.

These headphones pack some serious active noise-cancellation chops, building on the company's already industry-leading noise-canceling technology.

Unlike the Bose offering, you can't adjust the level of noise cancellation, but you'll have no issue tuning out your surroundings when listening to music with these headphones.

I find these headphones to be perfectly comfortable for long-haul flights. They aren't too heavy on the head and ears, and the padded headband helps keep them in place throughout the journey.

Sony's headphones offer some of the best battery life you'll find. The company advertises up to 30 hours of nonstop use, with the ability to quickly charge the headphones for three minutes to unlock an additional three hours of music playback.

Just like the Bose 700s, I couldn't hear any noise from the hair dryer while listening to music with these headphones. To test them further, I blasted some music at 100% volume on my home speaker, and I could still barely hear any distractions with the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones are about as good as you can get in the roughly $400 range. They've got great sound in a (somewhat) portable package with top-notch battery life.

In my experience, the Sony WH-1000XM5s slightly outperform the similarly priced Bose headphones in terms of noise cancellation — I am usually less distracted when wearing Sony's headphones on a plane.

Buy now for $328.00 and save 18% on the standard price of $399.99

Apple AirPods Max

There's no denying that these are among the sleekest headphones on the market, though that comes at the expense of some portability.

The AirPods Max include a magnetic smart carrying case, but it only protects the actual earpieces themselves. The headphones can't be folded to create a more compact configuration, so you'll need to make room in your bag for them.

While you might think that the AirPods Max only connect via Bluetooth, there's some great news. You can actually plug them directly into seatback entertainment systems using a Lightning to 3.5-millimeter Audio Cable, sold separately for $35.

As the most expensive headphones in this guide, you might not be surprised to learn that they offer the best noise cancellation I've experienced yet.

You can't control the level of noise cancellation, but when flying around with these headphones, you won't want to. With the AirPods Max, I had no trouble drowning out a crying baby sitting three rows behind me.

Combine this impressive noise cancellation with immersive sound, and these headphones offer travelers the best listening experience.

The AirPods Max aren't just sleek — they also boast an incredibly snug fit on the ear.

Apple did a great job designing the AirPods Max for inflight use, and for most domestic and transatlantic flights, your ears should stay cool and comfortable while using these headphones.

That said, some friends have complained about them getting a bit uncomfortable during the longest flights, something experts call "eardrum suck."

The AirPods Max offer up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge, and five minutes of charging provides roughly an additional hour and a half of listening.

These numbers mean that you're set for all but the longest flight in the world (nearly 20 hours from pushback in New York to landing in Singapore).

As you might expect, the AirPods Max passed the hair-dryer test with flying colors.

The AirPods Max combine a best-in-class audio experience with top-notch noise cancellation in a modern and sleek package.

As the most expensive headphones in this guide, the AirPods Max are most definitely a splurge. However, if you're already in Apple's ecosystem and looking for the best travel headphones, these are it.

Buy now for $449.00 and save 18% on the standard price of $549.00

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Much like the AirPods Pro, these earbuds are among the most portable noise-canceling headphones you'll find. They also magnetically snap into a separate charging case, which is longer and narrower than the AirPods Pro case.

The buds themselves are small and sleek and should fit into your ear without any issues — more on that below.

What sets these earbuds apart is the noise cancellation. They're just as good, if not a tiny bit better, than Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro.

That said, I find the overall listening experience on AirPods Pro to be more immersive — I don't feel nearly as engrossed with my music when using the Bose earbuds.

Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds II are very comfortable. There are three different size options for the tips and ear bands.

With nine different possible combinations, you shouldn't have a problem finding a very stable fit, no matter the shape of your ear.

Bose advertises up to six hours of battery life on a single charge, but I was able to beat that estimate by about 30 minutes on a recent flight.

The charging case offers 18 additional hours of battery life, and just 20 minutes of charging in the case should deliver up to two additional hours of listening time from the earbuds.

Bose's earbuds outperformed the AirPods Pro on the hair-dryer test. They blocked slightly more noise, but both sets of in-ear headphones should do the trick on most flights.

For most travelers, these earbuds will compete head-to-head against the AirPods Pro. If you aren't in the Apple ecosystem, the Bose buds may be the right choice for you.

For everyone else, the choice is much trickier. AirPods integrate seamlessly into the entire iPhone (and Apple product) experience. Coupled with a quick setup and familiar controls, the AirPods will certainly do the trick for many.

However, if you're looking for best-in-class noise cancellation, I'd consider the $50 splurge over the AirPods Pro for Bose's earbuds.

Buy now for $236.55 and save 21% on the standard price of $299.00

Soundcore by Anker Life Q20

One of the best travel features of the Life Q20 headphones is that they swivel inward for increased portability. They come with a drawstring travel pouch, and they won't take up as much space as the other over-ear headphones in this guide.

Aside from Bluetooth wireless connectivity, you can use the provided 3.5-millimeter audio cable to plug the headphones into seatback entertainment systems that don't yet support Bluetooth.

As you might expect for a sub-$60 pair of headphones, the Life Q20s aren't going to beat the likes of Apple, Bose or Sony.

That said, given the price tag, they offer an impressive amount of active noise cancellation. I find that the sound quality is better than expected for such an inexpensive pair of noise-canceling headphones.

With memory foam ear cups, these headphones do a pretty good job of molding to your ears. They're a bit bulkier than some of the other over-ear models, but that's a trade-off you have to make, given the price.

Of all the headphones in this guide, the cheapest ones also pack the longest battery life. Anker advertises 40 hours of wireless playback on a single charge.

If you're pressed for time, you can quickly charge these headphones for five minutes to add four hours of listening time.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, these headphones did the worst job of blocking out the background noise from the hair dryer. At the highest setting, I could definitely hear the noise from the Dyson.

If you aren't a super-frequent traveler, the Life Q20s may be a great starter option for you. The active noise cancellation and sound quality aren't as impressive as with the other, more expensive brands, but you're saving around $300 with these headphones.

Several other features may feel quite basic, including the outdated micro USB charging port. However, that's not stopping nearly 50,000 customers from leaving five-star Amazon reviews for these headphones.

Buy now for $59.99

I test headphones for a living and these are the best for travel

These long-lasting headphones are great options for work commutes, business trips and vacations

Best for business trips

Best for weekend trips, best for work commutes, best for vacations.

Having to regularly top off the battery on your wireless headphones can be a chore, right? Even the best wireless headphones I've tried don't yet support wireless charging, meaning I have to remember to hunt down the charging cable and USB-C power adapter every time my headphones need a boost. 

The last thing I want to be concerned with on a lengthy work commute, business trip, or while away on a vacation, is refilling the battery on my headphones. Just as Sod's (or Murphy's) law states 'anything that can go wrong will go wrong,' so it is highly probable that my headphones will run out of battery right while I'm in the middle of catching up on a favorite TV show, listening to a music playlist, or enjoying a podcast.

So a robust and reliable pair of headphones with great sound and practical battery life are always at the top of my travel bag wherever I go. 

As wireless headphones get more and more adaptive processing tech on board to help block out the noise of our surroundings and personalize the sound to our ears, the drain on the battery life when these features are enabled can happen more rapidly.

Thankfully, many of the latest headphone designs have managed to significantly increase their battery life, and also come with fast charging that can achieve several hours of playback time from just a 10-minute quick charge. 

So what are the best wireless headphones models for battery life? Read on to discover my recommendations for the best models I've tried that allow you to listen for longer.

1. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless  

At 60 hours with ANC fully enabled, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones have the longest battery life of any pair of noise-cancelling headphones we've ever encountered. This is exceptionally high for a headphone of its type, and by comparison outperforms the Sony WH-1000XM4 (below) by some 30 hours. 

This is a considerable step up on playback time over Sennheiser's Momentum 3 Wireless that claims 17 hours, but gave less when ANC was enabled. How the company has managed to increase battery life so dramatically hasn't been discussed, but the possibility of only ever neededing to charge these headphones every couple of weeks at most (or once a month if you listen for just two hours a day) makes them very desirable for work commutes, business travelers and the perfect model to take on a vacation. What's more, with battery life this good you may not need to take the charging cable and USB power adapter with you.   

Even when you do need to recharge it's pretty rapid, taking just 2 hours from empty to fully charged, while a 5 minute charge claims to give up to 4 hours of playback time.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless: was $349 now $276 @ Amazon The 60-hour battery life is a real crowd pleaser and the ANC model to beat. Add in the easy-going Sennheiser sound and effective noise cancelling, and the Momentum 4 is one the most practical ANC headphones we've seen, perfectly built for a life on the road.

2. Cleer Enduro ANC

The Cleer Enduro ANC headphones are an incredible value for money. Battery life claims to match the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless above, and combined with an easy going fit aided by an easily adjustable headband and earcups that can both rotate and pivot in a foldable design, these are particularly good for travelers.   

Is the battery life too good to be true? As it turns out, yes, though the Enduro ANC is anything but a letdown. With ANC enabled, the volume at 50% and connected via Bluetooth, it gave over 50 hours from a single charge in our tests. Many of our  best over-ear headphones  don’t come close to that, with or without noise cancellation. 

We originally tested the Cleer Enduro ANC headphones in 2021, and back then these were easily the longest-lasting pair of noise-cancelling headphones Tom’s Guide had reviewed. Battery life may have been bettered by Sennheiser (above), but the Cleer Enduro ANC continue to be the best cheap noise-cancelling headphones overall. 

The only downside is a lengthy empty-to-full recharging time of 3 hours, though you can get 2 hours of playback time from a quick 10-minute charge. 

Cleer Enduro ANC: was $149 now $129 @ Amazon The Enduro ANC may have been around for a while but they are still by far the best pair of cheap noise-cancelling headphones we've tested, especially when it comes to battery life. The modern, feature-rich design is backed up by great sound quality and effective ANC. The transparent ambient mode works well, fit is decent, and Bluetooth supports aptX Adaptive. 

3. Sony WH-1000XM4

As I mentioned when making previous travel headphone recommendations , I feel slightly guilty that I don't prefer Sony's newer  WH-1000XM5 headphones, which replaced the XM4 last year. But there are solid reasons for making the XM4 my best travel headphones for work commutes. 

Firstly, they're foldable, which makes them so much more practical for sliding into my work or travel bag, and the protective case is a lot smaller too. And judging by the number of fellow travelers on my work commutes also sporting the older version of Sony's XM-series headphones on their head, I'm not alone.

Battery life may only run to half the time of the models mentioned above, but at around 30 hours with ANC-enabled it is similar to the new XM5 version, and long enough for most travelers. Do the math and it is enough juice to keep you entertained on a round-trip flight to Tokyo, with some power left to binge YouTube clips on Uber rides to and from the airports.   

Based on our testing, the rated time was about an hour off, as our pair lasted around 29 hours when listening with ANC on. High volume, heavy streaming, and extra features barely affected playtimes, so we have to commend Sony for its admirable job with battery management. Quick charging eases any low battery anxiety by generating 5 hours of playtime from a 10-minute boost.

4. Anker Soundcore Space Q45 

Like the Cleer Enduro ANC (above), Anker's Soundcore Space Q45 are quite the bargain with remarkable battery life, features and effective ANC performance. Anker’s never been one to cheat their consumers out of battery life. After all, they built their legacy on selling high-powered portable chargers. It should come as no surprise that the Space Q45 has some of the lengthiest playtimes in the category, no matter how you use the headphones.

A full charge gets you 50 hours with ANC on and up to 65 hours with ANC off, placing them in the same company as the Sennheiser Momentum 4 (60 hours). It's worth pointing out that these aren’t accurate playtimes, though, as high volume and features such as high-quality audio LDAC support brings them down to around between 37 to 45 hours. Anyone who uses the Space Q45 moderately can get about a month of use. Music lovers like myself should get around two weeks of ANC listening before needing a recharge, making them an ideal choice for a vacation.

If that’s not enough, Anker’s quick-charging technology helps get you 4 hours of listening time in 5 minutes, which is very impressive indeed. These are a great value travel companion and worthy of tracking down.

Anker Soundcore Space Q45: was $149 now $129 @ Best Buy The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 delivers quality ANC, lively sound and a comfortable design along with extra long battery life. The sonic soundstage is wide and immersive, and the high-quality audio LDAC support makes the Soundcore Space Q45 a versatile travel option for sound aficionados.

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As a former editor of the U.K.'s Hi-Fi Choice magazine, Lee is passionate about all kinds of audio tech and has been providing sound advice to enable consumers to make informed buying decisions since he joined Which? magazine as a product tester in the 1990s. Lee covers all things audio for Tom's Guide, including headphones, wireless speakers and soundbars and loves to connect and share the mindfulness benefits that listening to music in the very best quality can bring.

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The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Travel (And Everything Else)

By Sebastian Modak , Elaheh Nozari , and Dan Q. Dao

We’ve all had an in-flight experience where we wished we’d invested in noise-canceling headphones. Maybe it was a podcast drowned out by the blood-curdling cry of a baby , or sleepytime music rendered useless by the chatter of your intoxicated neighbors. If either of those scenarios brings back a painfully vivid memory, perhaps the time has come for you to find a pair of noise-canceling headphones that work for you. Of course, while you’re traveling less often than usual, you can still put these sets to good use during a meditative cleaning session or when you need an escape from the sound of your housemates (or family).

There are plenty of quality noise-canceling headphones on the market, with Sony's recently-upgraded WH-1000XM4's and Apple’s AirPods Pro ranking among the most exciting new releases in the last couple of years. So how do you choose? Beyond price, you’ll want to take into consideration how effective the noise-canceling capability really is, battery life, portability, and comfort—all of which will be especially important when those long-haul flights resume. From earbuds to over-the-ear headphones, here are our picks for the best noise-canceling headphones for 2020.

All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise-Canceling Headphones

When we reviewed the Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise-Canceling Headphones upon their release in 2018, we wrote, “it's actually hard to imagine this technology getting any better.” “Challenge accepted,” said Sony. The next generation of their industry-leading headphones, the WH-1000XM4s, take everything that made their predecessors so incredible, and added a handful of very useful bells and whistles. Unchanged are the whopping 30 hours of battery life, comfort that lends itself well to long-haul listening sessions, and noise-canceling technology that will drown out even the loudest seat neighbor on a flight. New features include the ability to pair to two devices at once, an auto-pause capability when the headphones are removed, and a “Speak-to-Pause” feature that will pause the music when you start talking to someone. The mic array has been updated too, making for clearer phone calls. Most importantly of course, the headphones still sound incredible, rendering music the way musicians wanted you to hear it. The best did, in fact, get better. — Sebastian Modak

Battery life: 30 hours

Hits: Superlative comfort, sound quality, and noise-canceling technology; USB-C charging; customizable ambient sound control and noise-canceling settings; multi-device Bluetooth pairing; intuitive touch controls

Misses: Expensive, especially if you’re just upgrading from the previous generation

Buy now: $348, amazon.com

Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700

We haven't tested these yet, but the reviews are promising, with some tech critics suggesting they're good enough to take the best noise-canceling headphones crown from Sony. We do know they look sleeker than Bose's QuietComforts, have a four-microphone system that simultaneously isolates your voices for calls while blocking out the noise around you, and feature 11 levels of noise cancellation. If you're loyal to all things Bose, you likely won't be disappointed by the 700—even if they're $50 more  than the brand's previous iteration of noise-canceling headphones. — Elaheh Nozari

Battery life : 20 hours

Hits : Intuitive touch controls; sleeker looking than the QuietComfort 35 II

Misses : Notably higher price point

Buy now: $399, amazon.com or $380, bose.com

Marshall Monitor II A.N.C.

Sure, there are less expensive and more effective noise-canceling headphones. But there aren't any that look as cool as these. There’s a reason why Marshall has become such an iconic badge brand: You know exactly what to expect when it comes to design. Released in March 2020, the Marshall Monitor II A.N.C. arrives in a black drawstring denim bag and features a familiar minimal black colorway accented with a leather grain texture and that familiar white, cursive logo on the ear cups, plus a useful gold-accented playback knob. In terms of functionality, these headphones represent the best of Marshall’s offerings by a long shot: unlike older A.N.C. models, they come with over-the-ear rather than on-ear earcups. They’re great for playing music in any setting, built with custom-tuned 40mm dynamic drivers for quality depth of sound plus an adjustable transparency mode that allows in just the right amount of sound when you need to be aware of your surroundings. —Dan Dao

Battery life : 30 hours

Hits : Unique design that makes an immediate statement; solid active noise-canceling capabilities; a useful transparency mode for workouts or commutes; long-lasting battery life; USB-C charging

Misses : Lacks some advanced features offered by other models in a similar price range; microphone isn’t as powerful as it could be

Buy now : $320, marshallheadphones.com

Beats Studio3 Wireless

Apple's Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones deserve a spot on this list because when they're unleashed to their full potential, they're really spectacular: great sound, especially when bumping something bass-heavy; easy-to-use controls; all-encompassing noise-canceling paired with the noise isolation of their tight fit; and, when paired with an Apple device, a seamless, super-solid connection courtesy of Apple's proprietary W1 chip (the same one that makes AirPods so good ). But that last feature is where things get complicated. While these work brilliantly if you live in an all-Apple ecosystem, the system really starts to break down when working with basically any other device. Bluetooth initial pairing and the connection is frustrating and spotty with a Chromebook or non-Apple phone, and the headphones’ battery life also suffers when not being used in conjunction with Apple products. For the collector who swears by Apple, these are a good option simply because they are so damn easy to pair and use with iPhones, Macbooks, and iPads—for anyone else, look further up the list. — S.M.

Battery life: 22 hours

Hits: Comfy fit; great for bass-heavy music; wide array of colors to choose from

Misses: Tech starts breaking down when paired with anything outside of the Apple ecosystem; can get a little gross around the ears in hot weather

Buy now: $300, amazon.com or $350, bestbuy.com

Shannon McMahon

CNT Editors

Hannah Towey

Sennheiser MOMENTUM Wireless

Luxurious sheepskin leather earpads, three different noise-cancellation settings, and top-of-the-line bluetooth functionality are some of the defining features of this recent release from Sennheiser. Clearly meant to compete with offerings from Sony and Bose, these sleek, modern headphones are best-in-class when it comes to comfort and sound: music is lush and crystal-clear, offering studio-quality depth and precision. The experience is fully customizable, too: You can use the Sennheiser Smart Control app to adjust the level of noise cancellation, or switch to anti-wind mode when you’re outside. If you’ve got sensitive ears, the anti-pressure mode relieves some of the physical pressure applied by noise-canceling headphones for a slightly more comfortable listening experience. And lastly, a transparent hearing mode allows you to hear just the right amount of ambient sound, like car horns or metro announcements, to be present in the world. The headphones are perfect for folks on the go, with handy features like a built-in Tile tracking device and one-touch access to your Google voice assistant. —D.D.  

Battery life : 17 hours

Hits : Three different noise cancellation settings controlled through a mobile app; advanced bluetooth capability; a built-in Tile tracker and a simultaneously luxurious and ergonomic design

Misses : A surprisingly short battery life coupled with a higher price point

Buy now : $400, sennheiser.com

Microsoft Surface Headphones

While most of the brands on this list follow a similar system when it comes to controls—a combination of finger-tap commands or buttons to stop and start music, answer calls, and activate digital assistants—Microsoft took a refreshingly new approach with its Surface headphones. While you tap on either earcup to start and stop music, there are also two dials, one around each earcup, to control volume and the level of noise-canceling. It's precise and easy to use. The noise-canceling dial on the left side runs through 13 different levels, from full-on isolation that comes within striking distance of the best in the business, to audio transparency that picks up every sound around you. Still, a discouragingly low battery life, some issues with comfort, and the continuing disappointment of Cortana, Microsoft's voice assistant (although they work great with Google Assistant and Siri), means the next generation of these will likely be even better. — S.M.

Battery life: 15 hours

Hits: Intuitive dial controls; good-quality sound and noise-canceling; sleek, minimalist design

Misses: Can get a little uncomfortable over long periods; battery life lags behind the competition

Buy now: $179, amazon.com or $180, bhphotovideo.com

Apple AirPods Pro

Signaling a shift toward high-end earbuds or “hearables,” as the industry is calling them, Apple debuted these “pro” AirPods that are vastly superior to the previous model. For just 50 bucks more, you get a snug, ergonomic in-ear fit plus active noise-canceling capabilities. Released in the fall of 2019, the AirPods Pro became an instant must-have for owners of the old AirPods. They’re just that much better. No, they don’t deliver the same level of noise-canceling as their much larger over-ear cousins, but they fit in your pocket and do the trick for day-to-day use. This is especially true for gym sessions, phone calls, and commuting, where having a pair of bulky headphones can be annoying. If you’re willing to skimp on features like a built-in equalizer or an ambient listening mode, we recommend getting a pair. —D.D.

Battery life : 4.5 hours with active noise canceling on, 24 hours factoring in the charging case

Hits : Lightweight and portable; powerful sound quality given the size; useful transparency mode setting; affordable cost; wireless charging; works well with iPhones

Misses : Won’t fully block out sound on a plane or train; comparatively low battery life; impossible to replace batteries, meaning these won’t last as long as others

Buy now : $249, apple.com or $235, bestbuy.com

Jabra Elite 85H

Jabra made a name for itself in the earphone market with its Elite 65T wireless earbuds , and it entered the noise-canceling arena with the Elite 85H on-ear headphones in 2019. They have a Smart Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology that responds to your environment—if it detects too much background noise, the ANC will switch on. I tested these both in our office and on a plane, and while I couldn't hear my co-workers' desk-side conversations at work, let's just say I had a hard time blocking out the sound of my seatmate shelling pistachios on a flight to Utah. Other than that, they are a comfortable, minimalist-looking headphones that come in a sleek leather carrying case with both an Aux and a USB-C cable, and travel adapter. — E.N.

Battery life: 36 hours

Hits: Comfortable headband and great sound quality

Misses: They're on the heavier side, and are better suited for an office environment than a plane

Buy now: $250, amazon.com

Ausounds AU-Stream ANC

Launched in 2019, the startup headphone company Ausounds has debuted true wireless hybrid active noise canceling earbuds that can hold their own against Apple’s Airpods—at a far lower price. There are plenty of similarities between the two: a stick-like design, roughly five hours of battery life, and an automatic phone connection when you take them out of the case. But unlike the white design of the Airpods, these come in a (in my opinion) more pleasant matte black finish. They’ve got USB-C charging, which is useful for charging in transit, and feature 13mm drivers and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. If you’re not married to Apple, these are the next best bet for earpods. — D.D.

Battery life : 5 hours

Hits : Super-affordable; premium look and feel; not an Apple product

Misses : Audiophiles will find something to be desired in audio quality; the ANC functionality isn’t quite as advanced as those on pricier options

Buy now : $150, ausounds.com

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 3rd Gen

At $500, the flagship wireless offering from high-end Danish audio producer Bang and Olufsen is the priciest on this list by a long shot. But technophiles and devotees of the brand alike swear by its pitch-perfect finesse—balancing a nuanced true-to-life musical sound quality with technical noise-canceling performance; reconciling the appeal of analog feel with modern sensibilities. Compared to its competitors, the product offers a more sensitive microphone that eliminates noise in real-time as you speak. Design though, may be the biggest plus here: the sturdy headphones boast a stitched-leather headband, memory foam pads, and ear cups with touch controls. Luxury technology, this is. — D.D.  

Battery life : 25 hours

Hits : Unmatched ergonomic design; Danish minimalist craftsmanship; easily accessible Google voice assistant; above average battery life

Misses : A splurge-level price; less technically-advanced active noise cancellation

Buy now : $500, bang-olufsen.com

This entrant from Samsung-owned AKG was clearly meant to take on Bose and Sony's dominance over the noise-canceling market—and it puts up a decent fight. The N700NCs are fantastic headphones: sound characterized by punchy bass and clearly defined treble; all the features beyond just great noise-canceling that we've come to expect, including customizable ambient sound enhancement (in this case called “Ambient Aware”); and a comfortable fit for long listening sessions. Unlike their subdued Bose and Sony competitors, these headphones also look pretty wild thanks to a headband with an extra curve and a double-layered design over the ears. Still, the N700NCs don't quite measure up to competitors’ overall balance between performance and comfort, even if the actual sound quality comes pretty darn close—and the carrying case is a little too bulky to just slip into a backpack and go. — S.M.

Battery life: 20 hours

Hits: Cool design; snug fit (if that's what you're into); high-quality sound and noise-canceling; accessories include two-prong plug adapter

Misses: Carrying case is bulkier than it needs to be; the play/pause button is tiny and hard to find on-the-go

Buy now: $82, amazon.com

Best headphones for travel 2024: noise-cancelling for holidays and work travel

It's time to grab a pair of the best headphones for travel, for long flights, train journeys, and car rides

If you’re not travelling with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, you’re not doing it properly. Sure, you could travel with the same earphones you use on your 30-minute commute, but don’t be surprised when they’re uncomfortable and you can’t even hear your movie, audiobook or podcast.

Buses and trains are loud. Aircraft cabins are louder. In fact, at take-off and landing noise levels inside the cabin can reach 105 decibels (dB). At cruising altitudes, it’s about 85 dB. This is why pilots have for decades been wearing headphones that produce sound waves to physically cancel out ambient noise.

Now you can, too.

For frequent long-haul flyers, noise-cancelling headphones are standard issue or, at least, they ought to be. That white noise a big aircraft’s engines and air-con systems produce is a killer. Cue a precise arrangement of microphones inside and outside the ear-cups of noise-cancelling headphones that continuously measure, compare and react to the sound waves they detect.

Essentially creating sound waves to cancel out the low frequencies, the latest trend is for noise-cancelling headphones to go wireless. However, a lot of models are both bulky and expensive, which means that you do have to shop around if you want something more compact or more affordable.

Luckily, noise-cancelling earphones are now coming of age, with some great quality products to pick from across the price range.

If you're looking to fully update your travel kit, then you'll need to make sure your headphones are packed inside the best suitcase or best carry-on luggage and you'll want to read T3's ultimate travel guide . And if you want something that'll let you drop off en route, you might want to also consult our guide to the best sleep headphones .

The best headphones for travel

Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

We've found two companies dominate wireless noise-cancelling headphones; Bose and Sony . When it comes to bulky wireless noise-cancelling headphones aimed at business travellers, for every benchmark Bose, there's a Sony lurking in the shadows. 

The newest of the lot, Sony's WH-1000XM5 – announced in 2022 – come with a number of useful upgrades over the XM4 that we think are perfect for travellers. They still boast market-leading noise-cancelling, but now also have Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity, and USC-PD (‘power delivery’) charging, so a mere three minutes of charging is good for three hours of playback. That's perfect if you're just about to get on a long haul flight and need a quick juice up.

The ANC itself is adaptive relative to your circumstances. The XM5 will learn (or can be told) about your most commonly visited locations and can (if you wish) adapt itself to suit.

While the Sony WH-1000XM5 don’t come cheap, in our review, we found the combination of sonic fidelity, top-tier active noise-cancellation, flawless ergonomics, competitive battery life and impeccable eco-credentials, these are hands-down the best headphones for travel.

2. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The Bose QC35 and QC35 II were an icon of travel headphones – catch any rush-hour train and board any flight, and you will see black and silver Bose headphones peaking out from the top of almost every headrest.

Now, there's a new model in town. The literally-named Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 introduce a sleek new design that is both lightweight and elegant. Behind the smart look, the headphones still pack 11 adjustable levels of top-notch noice cancellation, impressive audio quality, and up to 20 hours of wireless battery life.

Like with many of today's headphones, either Alexa or Google Assistant can be summoned with the press of a button, while the stainless steel headband and padded, angled ear cups are designed to put comfort first.

To bag a great deal check our Bose discount codes . 

3. Bowers & Wilkins PX7

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 is the kind of outstanding product that B&W built a global reputation on. It combines all their hard-won expertise in audio manufacture with cutting-edge noise cancellation and looks stunning as well

We think the headphones sound great, with B&W's usual exciting, but well balanced, signature sound. In fact, we'd say they sound slightly better than the other big-ticket noise-cancelling headphones. 

The PX7 also features motion-sensing, which means if you lift a cup from your ear, the sound is paused, and if you take them off entirely, they go into standby mode. We found that's very useful when travelling, as you'll frequently need to remove them to talk to people.

4. Sony WF-1000XM4

If you're a Sony fan but need portability from your carry-on earphones, then the WF-1000XM4 are for you. Sony claims these tiny earphones offer improvements in every area, including noise cancellation, over their predecessors, while maintaining a compact design and pocket-sized charge case.

Battery life is eight hours for the earphones themselves, that's longer than Apple 's AirPods Pro, and up to 24 hours when you top them up using the charge case.

In our review, we said 'while the QuietComfort Earbuds may have them beaten for noise cancelling, Sony’s buds sound a fair bit better than Bose’s overall. Sony WF-1000XM4 are the complete package.'

5. Apple AirPods Pro

When Apple launched its AirPods Pro we couldn't believe white how good their active noise cancelling was. Despite their tiny size, they block out plenty of ambient sound passively with a good, comfortable fit, then create near-silence when the active noice cancelling is switched on.

Their touch controls are easy to use and if you are a fully paid-up member of the Apple ecosystem you can enjoy the AirPods' ability to automatically switch between your iPhone , iPad and Mac, depending on how you use them.

Battery life is 4.5 hours for the earphones themselves, with a further 24 hours of playback possible by popping them into the charging case every few hours. That can be a bit fo a drag on a long-hawk flight, but their pocket-friendly convenience more than makes up for it.

6. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95

Created to celebrate the brand's 95th anniversary, the Beoplay H95 might just be the most luxe and stylish travel headphones on this list. A combination of exceptional adaptive active noise cancellation, incredible comfort, sleek design, and outstanding sound performance makes H95 the perfect travel companion for first-class globetrotters. 

The headphones have been created from luxurious metal and fabrics to deliver an ultra-premium product in both build-quality and long-lasting comfort. They're equipped with high-quality titanium drivers tuned to Bang & Olufsen’s signature sound.

7. Shure Aonic 50

If you want to listen to music at its very best on your next trip away, with good noice cancelling too, the Shure Aonic 50 are an excellent pair of headphones. Shure took its time to get into the headphone market, but not it's fear we are big fans, and this year awarded the Aonic 50 our Platinum Award and have them the full five-star treatment.

The headphones have a wide range of audio codecs to get the best out of your music, and have superb build quality and great design. The only drawback here is how the Shure's have a tendency to highlight the shortcomings of older and lesser-quality audio. But feed them with quality sound and you'll be in for a treat.

8. Cleer Flow II

These noise-cancelling, Bluetooth headphones from Cleer are fantastic value. For less than £250 / $300 you get a pair of great-sounding headphones with a long list of premium features. The Flow II's boast up-to 20 hours playback with noise-cancelling enabled (that's most flights around the world covered). As for the quality of noise-cancelling? That's up there with the best from Sony and Bose. 

Our two favourite features (other than the excellent sound quality) is Google Fast Pair, which makes pairing with Android phones a breeze, and Conversation Mode, which temporarily disengages ANC and automatically lowers the volume of whatever you're listening to when you place your hand over the left ear cup.

9. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Sport

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Sport won’t fit into many people’s budget, especially those who are looking for a dedicated pair of earbuds to work out in. It’s hard to justify the price since there are a lot of solid, cheaper options that are just as feature-rich. There’s also the fact that the E8 Sports may not provide the kind of sound signature you like. You’ll find most of the competition to be brighter than these.

However, if the price doesn’t scare you off and you prefer warmer audio, then you would be hard-pressed to find a better pair. Not only do the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Sport earbuds sound terrific, but they’re also beautifully designed from the customizable tips and fins down to their intuitive UI. Considering all that, its price starts to make a lot more sense and therefore, is justifiable. 

The effort and thought that B&O put into these are apparent. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 Sport are not just another set of earbuds. They're a work of art. 

10. Beats Studio 3 Wireless

Are these the best Beats ever? These wireless noise-cancelling headphones’ killer feature is the way noise control can adapt to the ambient noise around you, whether that's aircraft engine noise, wind, or the jibber-jabber of other travellers. 

The anti-wind mode is impressive since a stiff breeze is often the nemesis of noise-cancelling headphones because of the way they use microphones to monitor ambient sound. However, an algorithm in the Beats Studio3 fades-out wind within a few seconds. In fact, it’s a silky noise-cancelling performance all-round because these are one of the rare pairs of headphones where you just don't 'hear' the noise cancellation process as much as you do with other really good ANC cans. 

Happily, the Beats Studio3 are also the best sounding of the Studio range to date, with a detailed sonic signature throughout. Also handy is a ‘fast fuel' feature that gives three hours of playback from a 10-minute charge, and easy pairing and device switching as found on Apple’s AirPods.

How we test the best headphones for travel

We spend a lot of time reviewing the latest headphones, so when it comes to recommending which are the best headphones for travel to buy, you can be safe in the knowledge that we'll recommend the best options for you.

We'll usually spend a week or longer testing the latest noise-cancelling headphones. We try out the very latest features to see if they work and if they're useful. This might be a noise-cancelling feature, a new app function, or a voice assistant. We test everything in-depth, with audio experts reviewing each pair thoroughly. 

All of these new features also get tested alongside everything a pair of headphones should be classically good at, such as sound quality, noise-cancelling ability, how long the battery lasts, and how comfortable they are to wear for long periods of time.

Once the initial review period is complete we'll publish a full review, give the headphones a star rating, and add an abridged review to this guide.

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As the Style and Travel Editor at T3, Spencer covers everything from clothes to cars and watches to hotels. Everything that's cool, stylish, and interesting, basically. He's been a part of T3 for over seven years, and in that time covered every industry event known to man, from CES and MWC to the Geneva Motorshow and Baselworld. When he's driving up and down the country in search of the greatest driving roads, he can be found messing around on an electric scooter, playing with luxury watches, or testing the latest fragrances.

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The 12 Best Noise-canceling Headphones To Buy for Travel [2024]

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How Do Noise-canceling Headphones Work?

Active noise cancellation explained, 1. for those who like big brand names and crave extra gadgets, 2. best for serious music enthusiasts with deep pockets, 3. older noise-canceling headphones (but still competitive), 4. for minimalist apple lovers, 5. award-winning superior quality (and perfect for anyone who really appreciates music), 6. entry-level anc headphones (that compete with the bigger boys), 7. bose-brand brilliance for budget-conscious music lovers, 8. noise-canceling headphones for those who don’t follow the crowd, 9. lightweight, enjoyable anc audio for those on a budget, 10. efficient  sennheiser headphones for those on a budget, 11. semi-noise-canceling headphones for those who like their beats on a budget, 12. acceptable noise-canceling capabilities with plenty of customizable options, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Noise-canceling headphones use fancy technology that helps eliminate annoying external noises, allowing us to concentrate only on what we want to hear.

Perfect for busy commuter trains, noisy subways, and even to drown out the sound of fellow air passengers, noise-canceling headphones are the way forward for anyone who wants to be alone, even in public.

Of course, these wonders of modern technology come with an elevated price tag to match. But if you really want to enjoy uninterrupted tunes — or simply tune out from the world while you listen to your latest audiobook — these beauties can achieve levels of peace and quiet that leave regular headphones in the shade.

Noise-canceling headphones work by creating a noise-canceling wave that is 180 degrees out of phase with the ambient noise around you.

This wave acts like a noise eraser and cancels out any surrounding sounds that diminish the audio you really want to hear. Noise-canceling headphones aren’t magic, but they can feel like something close to it in the right situations.

The clever processes that cancel out intruding sound waves only work really well at blocking out certain frequencies. On an airplane, for example, the low hum of engine noise is almost completely obliterated. But higher or transient sounds like crying babies and people’s voices may still be able to seep in depending on the quality of your headphones.

There are 2 commonly accepted forms of noise-canceling headphones available on the market. Passive noise cancellation relates more to the make and design of the headphones, which reflects the amount of noise cancellation offered by the physical device — or how well the headset works like an earplug.

But active noise cancellation is where the really clever stuff happens, as unique technological processes block out the bad sounds and emphasize the good ones.

With active noise cancellation (or ANC) technology, the headphone features a chip that “listens” to noise and generates audio that is opposite to it in nature (also known as pink noise), thus canceling it out.

Using simple physics, we know that sound travels in waves. So by firing out a sound wave that is the opposite phase and amplitude as an audio wave, you can cancel the original wave out.

Still with us? Just think of ANC technology as the antidote to unwanted sound — the unseen hero that takes care of distracting, annoying, and unwanted sounds and actively erases lower-frequency sound waves by using additional powered instruments.

ANC headphones work better when worn on your head instead of stuffed inside your ear canal. There can also be an element of decreased sound quality with ANC headphones, and a slight background hiss may be detectable over your music.

But, you win some, you lose some, right? ANC headphones still beat other types hands-down for a completely immersive listening experience.

The 12 Best Active Noise-canceling Headphones

Bose quietcomfort 45 wireless anc headphones.

Weight: 8.5 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 22 hours wirelessly, 40 hours wired

Cable Length: 3.9 feet

When is a pair of headphones not just a pair of headphones? When it can seamlessly interact with your other favorite technology, of course.

Bose doesn’t just bring the noise better than the competition — they are also world leaders when it comes to bringing the internet of things right to you, courtesy of your earholes.

These ergonomic, good-looking headphones don’t just offer fully balanced audio, hassle-free Bluetooth pairing, and noise-rejecting microphones for crystal clear sound. They now also allow you to ask Alexa to play your music or provide you with information whenever you need it. Bravo Bose, Bravo!

Of course, the biggest reason to choose Bose is the solid sound quality and future-proof technology. With the QuietComfort 45 series you can enjoy personalized settings as well as access to all future updates using the very smart and efficient Bose Connect App.

What We Like

• Alexa-enabled to control playback with your voice

What We Don’t Like

• Bluetooth connection can be intermittent

Sony WH1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Over Ear Headphones

Weight: 8.8 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 30 hours

Cable Length: N/A

These industry-leading noise-canceling headphones bring you the very best and nothing less when it comes to total musical immersion. With premium sound quality, you’ll never miss a beat thanks to the 40-millimeter liquid crystal polymer drivers, and the 30-hour battery life will keep you tapping your toes on even the longest of flights.

For those who don’t want to be left out even when listening hard, the Sony Speak-To-Chat and Quick Attention mode allows effortless conversation with those around you — without ever taking your headphones off.

A touch sensor control also allows the user to pause/play/skip tracks, control the volume, activate the voice assistant, and even answer phone calls effortlessly.

As you would fully expect from Sony, these are solidly built and include everything they promise and more. Excellent sound quality, 30-hour battery life (with a quick charge for an extra few hours when you need it), and smart auto-settings to optimize listening automatically based on your own behavior make these babies worth every last cent.

• Quick attention mode for conversations without removing the headphones
• Microphone can be sensitive to external noises when on the phone

Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM4

Weight: 9 ounces

Fly high with these awesome noise-canceling headphones from global giant Sony. With an ergonomic design that wouldn’t look out of place on the coolest of cats, these ANC headphones offer punchy bass, refined treble, and brilliant noise-canceling capabilities.

Being the 2021 model in this range, you should be able to pick these up cheaper than the Sony WH1000XM5 .

The touchpad built into the surface of the right earpiece makes it simple to control the volume of your music or come back to reality for a moment using the Quick Attention Mode. You can also easily pause/play/skip tracks, control the volume, activate the voice assistant, and even answer phone calls.

Sony’s patented Smart Listening is the piste de resistance in these cans, as the headphones cleverly detect your activity to automatically adjust the ambient sounds you hear. Genius!

Up to 30 hours of battery life with quick charging capability (10 minutes of charging for 5 hours of playback) means these headphones allow you to be as engaged with the real world as you want to be — or not!

• Quick charging for hours of playback
• Headband can break easily

Apple AirPods Pro

Weight:  0.19 ounces

Battery Life:  At least 24 hours of listening time, up to 11 hours of talk time

Cable Length:  N/A

Following the success of the first generation of Apple AirPods, the newly released AirPods Pro bring even more adaptive sound quality and high-tech features to the table.

Light as a feather, and incredibly easy to use, the new and improved AirPods Pro are designed to sync super quickly to your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple devices. They are also more comfortable than ever before, coming complete with a selection of different-sized ear tips to enable you, the user, to tailor the fit of the pod to your ear shape and size.

As a bonus, there is also a small pressure valve on the inside to help reduce the pressure inside your ear, making them feel more comfortable for longer.

To appeal to those that like to listen to music while they work out, the AirPods Pro are water-resistant and have an IPX4 rating that makes them far more resilient to sweat and water than ever before. Take note though, water-resistant is not the same as waterproof , and drenching them with water will inevitably ruin them.

Probably the most noteworthy addition to the AirPods Pro is the introduction of the active noise cancellation function that can be fully customized by the listener. Shut out the ambient sounds around you and lose yourself in the music, or set to transparency mode to allow you to hear what is happening around you at all times.

• Wireless charging case for on-the-go charging
• Speakers are very sensitive when cleaning

Sennheiser Momentum 4.0 Wireless with Active Noise Cancellation

Weight: 10.3 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 60 hours

These fourth-generation award-winning headphones from Sennheiser remain the #1 choice for hip and fashion-conscious music lovers . Thick leather ear pads, new padded headband, and foldable design make them easy to love before you’ve even started listening to them.

When it comes to sound quality, Sennheiser certainly does it well. The exciting blend of strong bass and subtle higher notes makes for a rich overall performance that’s so impressive you’ll want to close your eyes and just enjoy it.

To keep unwanted sounds at bay, these little beauties do an awesome job of lowering the external hubbub in an incredibly natural way.

With up to 60 hours of wireless play, intuitive controls, stylish looks, and awesome sound quality, you may even forget that these are some of the pricier ANC headphones on the market. Worth it? You decide.

• Exceptionally good sound quality
• Bluetooth range could be better

Sennheiser PXC 550-II Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

Weight: 8.0 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 30 hours wirelessly

Always serious about sound, Sennheiser developed these handsome (and surprisingly slim) cans that are as clever as they are attractive. Say goodbye to traffic noises and office hum — the PXC 550s hit each note with perfect clarity every time.

Intuitive user control means you can benefit from voice prompts, touch controls, NFC pairing, smart pause, and automatic on/off. Or go full space-age and use the Sennheiser CapTune App to manage the music player, check your battery status indicator, and adjust your EQ settings.

Its Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology works seamlessly, and the lightweight design (paired with the clever way they collapse for storage) makes these a great choice for travel. With just one touch you can activate your voice assistant Alexa, Google, or Siri, to help you on your travels or play music.

Small enough to pack away into a compact ball but big enough to eliminate all the background noise you never want to hear, these are a smart pair of headphones for the serious music lover who wants to look cool.

• Small and compact, perfect for travel
• Battery life can reduce over time

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones

Weight: 8.3 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 20 hours wirelessly, 40 hours wired

Perfect for those who want all the quality of Bose on a smaller budget, these noise-canceling headphones are a great entry-level pair. First launched in 2017, they still stand strong against the competition and will diminish most background noise to let you hear your tunes with clarity.

The lightweight and comfortable ergonomic design means you’ll never tire of wearing these little beauties, and the music, EQ, call-answer features, and other extras can be controlled simply by using your smartphone.

Designed to reduce unwanted noises while still producing powerful sounds, these headphones are comfortable enough to wear all day. And with a battery life of up to 40 hours on a single charge, there is literally nothing stopping you from doing just that.

• Has an option cable connection as well as Bluetooth
• Noise cancellation can turn off by itself

Bowers & Wilkins PX Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones

Weight: 11.8 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 22 hours wirelessly, 50 hours wired

Cable Length: 4 feet

Looking for something a little different? Bowers & Wilkins have proven their place as David against the Goliath of big brands like Sony and Bose with these really great noise-canceling headphones.

Offering a satisfying user experience, reliable Bluetooth connection, and easy-to-control audio playback, these headphones will cut out the drone of your daily commute and let you concentrate on your music.

B&W made a serious effort to ensure no noticeable drop in sound quality — even including the same drive units found in the revered P9 headphones by the same brand. It has also subtly angled the drivers to provide a natural, all-encompassing stereo sound every time you use them.

The PX is as smart as they are beautiful, too. Want to stop listening? Simply raise an ear cup — and when you’re done for the day, the PX stops playing when you put them away.

With an impressive 22-hour battery life, an instant power-saving sleep mode, and a dedicated Bowers & Wilkins headphone app, these are definitely the real deal.

• Easy to pause playback by lifting an ear cup
• Takes some time to get used to wearing them

AKG Noise Canceling Headphone Black (N60)

Weight: 5.3 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 15 hours wirelessly, 30 hours wired

Perfect for those on the go, these budget-friendly headphones can give you over 15 hours of listening pleasure using aptX Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. Better still, the wireless connectivity automatically turns on the active noise cancellation , making them a safe bet for those who like to listen while they run, walk, or travel.

Lightweight and easy to wear, these headphones remain well secured to your head, meaning you can bounce in them without them slipping off. The 3D folding mechanism and carry case also make it super easy to listen when you need to and store them when you don’t.

Sound quality is also impressive — beats are delivered with detail and precision, while the mid-range and treble remain crisp and delicate in every song. If you want great quality ANC headphones at a bargain price, the AKG N60 is a major contender that really can hold its own against the might of the bigger brands.

• Lightweight and comfortable to wear on the go
• Noise cancellation could be better

Sennheiser HD 4.50 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation

Weight: 8.4 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 20 hours

A futuristic-looking and ergonomic design is the first thing you’ll notice about these headphones. How cool will you look wearing them?

But the delight doesn’t end there: good sound quality comes in an affordable package, as the well-tuned mid-range and deep, throaty bass will have you nodding along wherever you are.

As you would expect from Sennheiser, the Bluetooth 4.0 and aptX technologies deliver seamless connectivity, while the NoiseGard active noise cancellation does its important job of reducing ambient noise levels and improving your overall listening experience.

With a 19-hour battery life, you should be all set for most long journeys — if you need to listen longer, use the connection cable for battery-free listening that still sounds great .

Ear-cup mounted controls offer intuitive options for changing tracks, upping the volume, or even making calls to tell someone how much you really love your new Sennheiser headphones. A great pair for anyone on a budget.

• Great value mid-range headphones
• You can’t charge and listen at the same time

Plantronics Voyager 8200 – Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

Weight: 10.2 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 24 hours

While these may not be the prettiest things to look at, they are certainly worth considering if you want more bass for your buck. A solid choice for fans of rock music and EDM, these produce heavy, thumping low notes while keeping the mid-range crisp and clear.

Class 1 Bluetooth enabling means you can stream your favorite tunes from 98 feet (30 meters) away , and enjoy wireless connectivity for those moments when the air guitar solo comes calling.

The design of the Voyager 8200 is lightweight and practical, but not as chic as some of its main competitors. That said, the sound quality more than makes up for any loss in looks — so take your pick on which factor is more important to you.

Finally, this set’s 24-hour battery life will give you weeks of traveling joy, and you can recharge using a cable or USB.

• Great value headphones with superior sound
• The noise canceling could be improved

JBL Everest Elite 750NC Wireless Headphones

Weight: 9.88 ounces

Battery Life: Up to 20 hours wireless and up to 15 hours with noise cancellation activated

These JBLs are a solid choice for music enthusiasts looking for all-around performance paired with customizable options and an affordable price tag.

Offering Bluetooth 4.0 technology, it’s simple to stream your tunes from a variety of Bluetooth-enabled devices. The My JBL Headphones App offers simple controls and further customizable options.

End-user satisfaction is guaranteed if you don’t expect these to sound like a $400 pair of headphones . However, reliably good quality sound will come pouring into your ears, while annoying external noise will be muted for the most part. The adaptive noise-canceling technology means that you can control how much ambient noise you want to let in.

The rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery offers 15 hours of playback, and you can reach a full charge in just 3 hours.

• Handy app for checking the charge level
• Can’t use the headphones while charging

If you’re looking for an awesome pair of noise-canceling headphones that will keep the world out and the music in, there are a lot of choices out there.

For jaw-dropping sound quality that will keep you utterly immersed for hours on end, the Sennheiser Momentum 4.0 really is one of the best of the bunch . That said, the Sony WH1000MX5 is certainly on par performance-wise, and choosing a clear winner between them can only really come down to personal taste. The Bose QuietComfort 45 is also well worth considering.

However, any of these options have an investment-worthy price tag and should be treated as such. You’ll want to look after your new headphones carefully, as they may well cost more than the device you choose to stream from!

For a more affordable option, the Plantronics Voyager 8200 offers decent noise elimination and good throaty bass lines for those looking to enjoy proper tunes while they travel, while keeping those looking to drown out their daily commute perfectly happy.

If the brand is important to you or you want your headphones to look pretty, the Sennheiser PXC 550-II will give you the logo you’re looking for — but it won’t necessarily thrill you as much as the signature Momentum headphones. Alternatively, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II will give you good sound quality and a premium badge.

Are you interested in more top products to help you get the most out of your travels? Check out these other articles we’ve published:

• The Best Travel Cameras – Compact, DSLR, and Mirrorless Camera Guide
• The Best Camera Bags for Travel
• What Are the Best GoPro Alternatives? [We Found Several Options]
• The Best Laptop Backpacks to Buy for Travel
• All Our Best Travel Product Reviews – In One Place

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth buying noise-canceling headphones.

If you are prepared to invest in a quality listening experience and the added benefit of blocking external noise when you’re in noisy situations, noise-canceling headphones are worth buying.

Can noise-canceling headphones cause hearing loss?

Noise-canceling headphones do not emit low-level radiation as phones do, so the risk is minimal. However, listening to music loud on any device, not just noise-canceling headphones, may be hazardous to your hearing.

What are the best noise-canceling headphones for travel?

These are some of our favorite noise-canceling headphones:

• Bose QuietComfort 45
• Bowers & Wilkins PX Active
• Sennheiser Momentum 4.0
• Sony WH1000XM5

Are noise-canceling headphones worth it for flying?

Noise-canceling headphones are worth the price tag, especially when flying. On an airplane, the low hum of engine noise is almost completely obliterated. But higher or transient sounds like crying babies and people’s voices may still be able to seep in depending on the quality of your headphones.

How do noise-canceling headphones work?

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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The best over-ear headphones of 2024

Almost everyone I see on my morning commute is wearing wireless earbuds (mostly AirPods ). Despite their ubiquity, they are not what I grab when I want to watch a show on my tablet or pack a weekend bag . When I want superior sound quality, long battery life and strong automated noise cancellation, I reach for a pair of over-ear headphones. 

I’ve tested dozens of headphones for NBC Select, including wireless earbuds, workout headphones , open-ear headphones and more. We combined my experience with the rest of the NBC Select team to pick the best over-ear headphones for you, with different options for different needs.

SKIP AHEAD Staff-favorite over-ear headphones in 2024 | How to use over-ear headphones

Selected. Our top picks

How we picked the best over-ear headphones

Almost everyone at NBC Select has a pair of over-ear headphones they love. Combining their experience with my time testing dozens of headphones, we selected options keeping the following qualities in mind:

• Comfort: We highlighted headphones that are comfortable to wear for hours at a time, with an adjustable fit, cushioned earpads, a comfortable headband and an even distribution of weight across your head.
• Ease of use: We picked headphones that were easy to control using the buttons or touch options on the earcups. We also tried each brand’s companion app, looking into the extra features, useful settings and more in our decision.
• Battery life: A good pair of headphones should keep you entertained through your commute, international flight or weekend trip, without having to worry about recharging. We preferred headphones with over 24 hours of battery life.
• Noise-canceling: All of our top picks have active noise cancellation , or ANC. This technology detects incoming noise and cancels it out — a must-have for hearing your music clearly in a noisy environment, without having to crank up the volume.

select These earbuds stayed in our ears, no matter what exercises we did

Staff-favorite over-ear headphones in 2024.

Most of our top picks come from well-known audio brands like Sony and Bose. All of our picks have ANC, transparency and some kind of travel case included. With the exception of the Apple AirPods Pro Max, all of our top picks work equally well on all kinds of devices —- Android phones, Apple laptops, Samsung tablets, you name it.

Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Great sound quality
• Good battery life

NBC Select editor Jordan Bowman and I are huge fans of the WH-1000XM5 (aside from the clunky name). They are good at just about everything, with great sound quality, powerful active noise cancellation, intuitive touch controls and excellent battery life. We’ve used them at work, commuting, relaxing at home and on international vacations with no issue.

These headphones have a slightly bass-forward sound profile, but not so heavy that it drowns out mid or high end instrumentation. They convey rumbling guitar and sweeping vocals with proper gravitas. Detailed jazz arrangements also come in with layered detail and energy. 

I typically have complaints about touch-controlled headsets, but Sony is one brand that nails it. The right earcup is essentially a touchpad — you can pause and play, adjust volume, skip and repeat tracks and more, all with swipes and taps. If you cover the entire right earcup with your palm, the headphones instantly switch to hear-through mode, a quick way to hear someone talking to you without taking off the headset. The two physical buttons on the left earcup act as the power button and mode switch.

The headphones do not fold, so the included hard case is bulky. If you like Sony’s great touch controls and battery life, but are looking for something a little more portable, the previous Sony WH-1000XM4s are still excellent, and fold down to a smaller size. 

Weight: 8.82 oz | Battery life: Up to 30 hours with ANC on, up to 40 hours with ANC off | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 (up to 2 devices), wired | Noise cancellation: Yes | Transparency: Yes | Carrying case: Hard case included | App: Sony Headphones Connect (iPhone and Android)

Best budget: Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones

Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless Headphones

• Great value
• Excellent battery life
• Plastic-feeling build
• No ANC over wired connection

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a pair of full-featured over-ear headphones. The Soundcore Life Q30 costs under $100 but has most of the same features as our other picks, (ANC, transparency mode, a folding design, a hard case, long battery life and fast charging).

They are comfortable, if a bit flimsy, especially in the control buttons. The sound isolation is decent, with ANC adding a little extra noise-canceling to the mix. Transparency mode is a little lacking, common in this sub-$100 price range. But the battery life is stellar with 60 hours of power with ANC turned off and 40 hours with ANC turned on.

These headphones lack some of the detail and clarity of higher priced options, especially for instrumental and orchestral music.

Weight: 9.17 oz | Battery life: Up to 40 hours with ANC on, up to 60 hours with ANC off | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 (up to 2 devices), wired | Noise cancellation: Yes | Transparency: Yes | Carrying case: Hard case included | App: Soundcore (iPhone and Android)

Best noise-canceling: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Headphones

• Best in class ANC
• Very comfortable fit
• Great build quality
• Finicky controls

If you want to hear your music and nothing else, these headphones have the strongest noise-canceling I’ve heard. I gravitate towards this headset when I want to focus in the office — chatter around my desk becomes barely audible, even with the volume level low. The sound profile also sounds more neutral and balanced when compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5.

They are well-built and very adjustable, with metal along the hinges and plush padding around the earcups and headband. They fold down into the included hard case and show no signs of wear and tear even after a few months of consistent use

The headphones have a mix of physical and touch controls on the earcups — both could use some improvement, considering the price point. The volume slider is easy to accidentally adjust when putting on or taking off the headphones, says Bowman. The on-off button also has a bit of a delay — it can take a few seconds to know if you’ve turned the headset on or off.

Weight: 8.96 oz | Battery life: Rated up to 24 hours with ANC on | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 (up to 2 devices), wired | Noise cancellation: Yes | Transparency: Yes | Carrying case: Hard case included | App: Bose Music (iPhone and Android)

Best for Apple: Apple AirPods Pro Max Wireless Headphones

Apple AirPods Pro Max Wireless Headphones

• Smooth use with Apple devices
• Easily replaceable earcups
• Very pricey
• Awkward carrying case

NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez has had AirPods Pro Max for about two years. She uses them for everything: working out, commuting, travel, focusing in the office and anything in between. They are the best headphones she’s ever had, but work best with Apple devices — many of their connectivity features do not function on Windows and Android. 

These headphones are comfortable and have ample padding without too much clamping force against your head, says Rodriguez. The earcups attach magnetically to the headset, and are far easier to remove and clean than our other top picks. The headset is also much heavier than our other top picks, but Rodriguez never found it uncomfortable to wear.

They have excellent ANC and one of the best transparency modes on the market, in our experience. In transparency, noise and conversations come in clearly, making it easier to leave the headset on for hours at a time.

For travel, the largely metal build is durable, but the included soft case is lacking, in our experience. It only protects the earcups, and leaves the metal and mesh headband completely exposed.

Weight: 13.6 oz | Battery life: Rated up to 20 hours with ANC on | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 | Noise cancellation: Yes | Transparency: Yes | Carrying case: Soft headphone cover | App: No

Best for bass-lovers: Sony Ult Wear Wireless Headphones

Sony Ult Wear Wireless Headphones

• Competitive price
• Great battery life
• Robust on-ear controls
• Ult mode can distort audio

These headphones share much of the design and features of Sony’s flagship models, but at a more affordable price point. The main difference is sound: these headphones pump up the bass.

The Ult Wear looks a lot like Sony’s WH-1000XM4s, with a nondescript, folding design. Like the XM4s, you can tap and swipe the right earcup to control media, adjust volume and more. You have three physical buttons: power, mode switch and Ult. Click the Ult button once for a bit of extra bass, click it twice for a deep bass party-vibe.

Weight: 8.99 oz | Battery life: Up to 30 hours with ANC on, up to 50 hours with ANC off | Connectivity: Bluetooth (up to 2 devices), wired | Noise cancellation: Yes | Transparency: Yes | Carrying case: Hard case | App: Sony Headphones Connect (iPhone and Android)

Best for travel: Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones

• Great noise cancellation
• No ANC off mode

If you’re a frequent flier, you are probably familiar with these Bose QuietComfort headphones. They nail the must-haves for long-distance travel: excellent ANC, a light and compact design, good battery life and a durable carrying case.

On my most recent flight (about 4.5 hours), the headphones’ relatively neutral sound profile made for easy listening — I never felt the need to take the headphones off for a break.

It is easy to control using the physical buttons and on-off switch on the earcup. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones have a slightly more plush and premium build, but cost significantly more than these.

Something to note: you cannot turn ANC off with these headphones, you can mix ANC with transparency, but cannot turn both off to extend the battery life.

Weight: 8.32 oz | Battery life: Rated up to 24 hours with ANC on | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, wired | Noise cancellation: Yes | Transparency: Yes | Carrying case: Hard case | App: Bose Music (iPhone and Android)

select How to find the perfect long-lasting work tote

How to use over-ear headphones.

Over-ear headphones create an enclosed space around your ear that naturally isolates you from outside noise. They are larger than earbuds and on-ear headphones. This extra size generally allows for the biggest and best audio quality, microphones, ANC and controls, in our experience. As with all headphones, there are a few things you should keep in mind to get the most out of them:

Use the different noise cancellation modes

All of our recommended headphones have some form of active noise cancellation and hear-through technology.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) detects incoming noise and generates signals internally to cancel out that noise. Good ANC allows you to clearly hear your music even when there is a lot of background noise, without having to turn your volume to uncomfortably high levels.

Hear-through, passthrough or transparency modes do the opposite: they detect incoming noise and amplify it. This allows you to better hear what is going on around you, despite the natural noise isolation over-ear headphones create.

With most headphones, you can turn both of these modes off, and simply listen to audio without any outside noise dampening or amplification.

I switch between ANC and hear-through often during work, and typically turn both off when I am relaxing at home. Experiment with all the modes available on your headset, and learn what works best for you.

Download the headphone’s app

Most of the headphones on our list have a companion app you can download on your smartphone. These apps typically let you change the audio balance (equalizer) on your headphones, manage which device you are connected to and download software updates to improve your headphones. For many brands, you can also turn on an immersive listening mode though these are universally disliked by the NBC Select team. We list the name of each headphone’s app in the specs line.

Take breaks

Some over-ear headphones can have a squeezing effect on your head over time. If you suffer from tension headaches, earbuds may be a better option, says Allen Conrad, a chiropractor at Montgomery County Chiropractic Center . Wearing over-ear headphones for six to eight hours while sitting at your computer can also have an accumulative effect on neck pain and posture, says Conrad. Consider how heavy your headphones are or swap to earbuds for long work days.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Dr. Allen Conrad is a chiropractor and owner of Montgomery County Chiropractic Center in North Wales, Pennsylvania.

Why trust NBC Select?

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including guides to fitness trackers , streaming devices , and workout headphones . For this piece, he tried over a dozen over-ear headphones while working, commuting and relaxing indoors. He also spoke with other NBC Select staffers about their experiences with over-ear headphones they use.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter for Select on NBC News.

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I Spent Hours Reading Shopper Reviews to Find the 10 Best Travel Accessories at Amazon — From $10

Who better to trust than travelers in the real world?

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Daisy Rodriguez

As a travel writer, it’s important that I have the right travel essentials to match my on-the-go lifestyle. I rely on accessories that are durable enough to go the distance and can make my adventures as seamless as possible. And one of my go-to methods for finding them is checking out the trending and top-rated Amazon items recommended by fellow travelers and shoppers — because who better to trust than those actively testing products like luggage and comfortable clothing in the real world? 

And because it’s my full-time job to know the best deals on the internet, I spent hours combing through Amazon’s shopper review section to curate a list of the 10 most-loved, highly-sought-after products from the retailer. These items range from a travel backpack that one shopper dubbed as a “traveler’s dream come true” to a surprisingly spacious $10 carry-on duffel bag with thousands of perfect ratings. What's even more exciting is that many of these highly-rated items are currently up to 70 percent off, making now the perfect time to grab them and enhance your spring travels.

Samsonite Freeform Hardside Expandable Double Spinner Carry-on

Need a luggage upgrade? Look no further than this Samsonite carry-on, which has not only earned a spot on Amazon’s best-selling carry-on list , but has also received over 9,000 perfect ratings from reviewers. In fact, even a former full-time traveler has praised this bag : “After years of flying to four to five different cities every week (most of which had connecting flights and drives involved), I know my suitcases, and this one is the best.” That same shopper also highlighted their favorite features of the bag: its four 360-degree wheels that glide smoothly over everything from “carpet, regular floors, and sidewalks,” its spacious interior, and its stunning look that remained intact despite years of travel.  

Even more, this bag has earned high marks from Travel + Leisure editors, who dubbed it the best overall choice in their hardside luggage test . According to testers, “Earning perfect scores across the board, this standout suitcase is compact yet spacious, with a high-strength thermoplastic shell and smooth-gliding wheels.” It also happens to be on sale for $150 this week.

Apple AirTag 4-pack

Garnering nearly 100,000 five-star ratings, Apple AirTags have been called everything from a “ lifesaver ” and “ the best invention ever ” to “ the ultimate tracking device ” by Amazon shoppers. It’s clear that travelers can’t get enough of these Bluetooth tracking devices, as they effortlessly sync with the Find My app on Apple devices to provide precise, real-time tracking of your belongings. And, with this pack of four (that happens to be $20 off), you can head out with the peace of mind that all of your personal belongings are accounted for. 

Narwey Foldable Duffel Bag

After reading through dozens of duffel bag reviews, I’ve come to the conclusion that this one is the best of the best. At a mere 18 inches by 13 inches by 6.3 inches, the bag has a reputation for fitting “ a week’s worth of clothes, plus toiletries and shoes ,” — all while meeting the requirements for a personal item on Spirit and Frontier flights. It’s on sale for $10 and available in 42 different hues and prints, so you might as well snag one for you and your travel mates. 

Bagail Packing Cube Set

Packing cubes are an essential travel accessory for efficient and space-saving organization in your suitcase. And while there are plenty of packs to choose from, I’m particularly enchanted by this set that one reviewer claimed “changed [their] life” thanks to its ability to keep your items separated, compressed, and properly stored. Plus, you can get them double discounted for $16 thanks to an on-site coupon. 

Asenlin Travel Backpack 40L

If you’ve never traveled with a backpack, then let this be your sign to start. With their ergonomic design, backpacks serve as a roomy yet compact option to transport your belongings, all while helping you skew past unnecessary bag fees. This Aselin Travel Backpack comes with a 40-liter carrying capacity that one customer called “a traveler’s dream come true” because of its “spacious and thoughtful design” and water-resistant material. 

She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

As important as it is to enjoy your trip, it’s just as vital to stay alert and vigilant no matter where you go. I like to keep a plethora of safety devices in my travel bag, but if I were to prioritize one, I’d recommend this Amazon best-selling personal alarm that reviewers say gives them “ peace of mind ” while they travel. And as a cherry on top? It’s 20 percent off. 

Anlmz Store 3-in-1 Charging Station

Keeping a full charge on your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods can be challenging. And that's before you factor in keeping track of a bunch of their different charging cables in your carry-on. Fortunately, Amazon has a three-in-one solution that charges your tech together in one convenient spot. And, one shopper loved it so much during a recent trip that they are “buying another one just to keep in [their] carry-on so they always have it for traveling.” Be sure to clip the on-site coupon so you can score an extra 30 percent off. 

JBL Tune 710BT Wireless Over-ear Headphones

To me, entertainment ranks high on my list of must-haves for a comfortable journey, and that typically begins with a great pair of headphones. But contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars for a high-quality pair. I personally love this pair of over-ear noise-canceling headphones for its stellar sound quality and comfortable fit — but don’t just take my word for it; take it from the thousands of five-star shopper reviews they've earned, each one highlighting their long-lasting battery and design that does not “fall or slip off” during transit. Snag a pair to try out for yourself, considering that they’re 25 percent off today. 

Talena Belt Bag

With spring in full swing (and summer just around the corner), the key to staying cool and comfortable is by traveling as lightweight as possible. And while this means wearing garments like breezy tanks and flowy pants, this tidbit of advice also applies to the bags that we carry. So what are Amazon travelers loving this season? This versatile $10 bag that can be worn as a belt bag, crossbody, or shoulder bag. Shoppers say that it “holds a lot” of stuff and that they can “fit a small wallet, notepad, travel-sized make-up, sunglasses, readers, and so much more into this bag.” Even more, its straightforward design can be styled up, down, and be worn virtually anywhere. 

Napfun Travel Neck Pillow

As a frequent traveler, I know the importance of getting good rest while on the go. That's why one of my priorities when I first embarked on my mission to find the best Amazon travel accessories was to track down a great, shopper-loved neck pillow. And let me tell you, I hit the jackpot with this incredible $15 one from Napfun. It is designed with memory foam and chin support for unbelievable, next-level comfort, and is regarded by one shopper as a “great pillow for travel,” a title that they gave it after they were able to rest comfortably on a 20-hour flight to Alaska. They added that flying with the pillow “was optimal in my ability to sleep on my longest connection flight, which was six hours.”

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A trip to Moscow

I'm going to organize a trip this summer. I want to plan everything. I’ll fly from London to Moscow, and I also want to visit St. Petersburg. Could you, please, advise me what places I should visit? I’ll stay in Moscow for about 10 days before going to St. Petersburg. Thank you!

Not a country I’d be spending my money in at the moment.

Ditto. Ditto!

I don't really see the point of shunning a country because you don't agree with its leader and/or its government. Would you go to Italy? China? Tourist dollars are more likely to get into the hands of the people rather than any corrupt bureaucracy and meeting friendly tourists might just change the locals opinions of foreigners and even give them some information they don't get from local news media.

Hopefully , I won't be starting a war here , but I must say I agree with Chani's comments . Having taken three year visas in 2015 , we have been to Moscow and St; Petersburg ( once to Moscow , and twice to St Petersburg ) . The History , Art , Music ( I am a classically trained musician ) and Culture , fascinate us . Much to experience there and advance preparation is essential , To get a good grounding for your visit , read this lavish and detailed book by Suzanne Massie , it's one of the best ways to immerse yourself in what you will experience - https://www.amazon.com/Land-Firebird-Beauty-Old-Russia/dp/096441841X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521652009&sr=8-1&keywords=land+of+the+firebird+massie&dpID=51CPK13XKGL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

And while leaders of such countries can point to foreign visitor numbers as a sign of support ? I also believe that personal safety for certain travellers, especially obvious minorities, cannot be guaranteed, as fervent nationalism increases, and tolerance levels evaporate. Just as I may decide against a purchase at the supermarket because of a company’s behaviour, ethics will always be a consideration.

Well, I'd argue supermarket ethics does not readily translate to travel ethics - the latter is far more complex. Personally, I see the whole "vote with my hard-earned travel dollar" approach as overly simplistic, but if it's your position - I totally respect it.

What I don't understand is members volunteering ethical guidance in response to what seems an innocuous request for travel-related information.

Note a discussion on ethics hosted a year ago by the Webmaster of this very forum.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/travel-ethics-612334a0-0ca1-4128-b088-c13d1d8a91c3

I appreciate Rick Steves' point of view in his "Travel As A Political Act". That said, Putin's Russia is not a place I would support. But, to each his or her own....

From a practical point of view, travel between the two countries can be difficult. I understand the Russians who traveled in the US this past winter had to go to the US Embassy in the country of Georgia to get visas because the Russians expelled American embassy personnel. If you do travel to Russia, you may be on your own. See the American travel advisory: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/russia-travel-advisory.html

Travel Advisory January 10, 2018 Russia – Level 3: Reconsider travel Reconsider travel to Russia due to terrorism and harassment. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory U.S. citizens are often victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion by law-enforcement and other officials. U.S. consular assistance to detained individuals is often unreasonably delayed by Russian officials. Russia also enforces special restrictions on dual U.S.-Russian nationals. Due to the Russian government-imposed reduction on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, the U.S. government has reduced ability to provide services to U.S. citizens.

We have traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg over the past few years. As in the US, most of the people we encountered helpful and not particularly political. In Moscow, we stayed at The Garden Ring Hotel which was a close walk to the metro. The hotel was very comfortable and quiet for being in the city. We loved the art museums and the Georgian restaurants. In St. Petersburg, we stayed at both The 3Mosta hotel near the Hermitage and the Art Hotel Demetra.. In St. Petersburg, we especially liked the Hermitage and Russian museum. Learning the Cyrillic alphabet and having a good map is a must.

As I think the point about ethical considerations has been made, please keep future replies more specific to the question at hand. Thanks.

Either read a good travel book or book a guide who can personally take you to the best places that interest you and tell about the sights you're seeing. We used Dan Petrov on 2 different trips to Moscow and found him to be wonderfully friendly and witty not to mention super knowledgeable.

Latest advice, Australian Governmemt, 1 April 2018. “Due to heightened political tensions, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-Western sentiment or harassment. While the Australian Government is not aware of any increased difficulties for Australians travelling in Russia at this time, you should follow the security and political situation closely and keep up to date with this travel advice. Remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments.”

We very much enjoyed our group trip to Moscow and St Petersburg last year. excellent guides and accommodations. While Steven who has replied here has excellent advice, ( and we took advantage of it), we felt an organized tour really facilitated our enjoyment of the country. You may want to consider a combination of an organized tour and than adding independent days . Some of the Australians on the tour had arrived a couple of days earlier than the tour stated and then some stayed later. If we were to go again (which I would), that"s how I would do it. And I must say , it was enlightening to have conversations with the Russian tour guides and the non Americans about the current world situation. Not that we went into any great depth, but I think we all went away with a little more understanding. Top places: allow lots of time in St Petersburg at the Hermitage- take a separate day for the Impressionist building. In Moscow, the Russian Art Museum was amazing.

Solid advice from Australian government quoted above, especially the keeping up to date part.

I checked the current version (Sep 18) of that advisory - and it hasn't been updated much. In fact, some sections don't seem to have changed since 2005 - their recommendations for importing/exporting currency and financial instruments, for example, are at least five years behind.

I do like reading governmental travel advisories for entertainment purposes - for instance, up until very recently the US one sternly advised potential travelers that Moscow was largely a cash-based economy (couldn't be further from the truth) and warned about intrinsic dangers of gypsy cabs (which had all but disappeared by 2015).

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