The Best Headphones For Travel Provide Rich Audio And Peaceful Journeys

Forbes

21-05-2025

From crying babies to ambient noise, long flights aren't always peaceful. The best headphones for travel can make even the most arduous trips pleasant by providing a rich audio experience that can drown out unnecessary sounds. After extensive research, our top overall recommendation is the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which offer pristine audio quality, effective noise cancellation and a comfortable fit. For a pair under $100, we recommend the Anker Soundcore Space One, which offers excellent sound quality for its price.
Some of the best headphones for travel include Sony, Bose, Apple and more.
From traditional over-the-ear headphones to small earbuds that tuck into your ear canal, choosing the right headphones for you depends on personal comfort. Other important considerations to keep in mind are durability and battery life, since you don't want to worry about recharging mid-flight. We selected the best choices across a variety of different styles and budgets. Below, the best headphones for travel.
Amazon
Battery life: 24 hours (with ANC) | Drivers: 35mm | Weight: 9 ounces | Storage: Comes with carrying case | Noise canceling: Yes
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The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones stand out from the competition for their impressive audio quality, effective active noise cancellation (ANC) and excellent battery life. 'I've taken them on multiple flights, including a 13-hour international flight, and they lasted me the whole time,' says Rebecca Isaacs, tech and electronic editor at Forbes Vetted. 'A quick 15-minute charge also gave me another two hours in a pinch.' There are customizable listening modes to help you focus, including quiet mode (maximum noise cancellation), aware mode (where you can still hear some background noise) and immersion mode (which combines noise cancellation with a three-dimensional soundscape).
The plush earcups are comfortable for long flights, and the controls on the earcups are easy to use, whether you're answering a call or skipping a track. One change from the earlier version is that users 'swipe' the earcups rather than use physical touch buttons to adjust volume. The Bose app also gives you complete control of your audio experience, as you can create custom modes with a specific amount of noise cancellation and adjust EQ settings.
Amazon
Battery life: 40 hours (with ANC) | Drivers: 40mm | Weight: 9.6 ounces | Storage: None | Noise canceling: Yes
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While this pair doesn't feel as luxurious as our best overall pick, the Anker Soundcore Space Ones are an excellent affordable option that don't compromise sound quality. The detailed audio offers an enjoyable listening experience, and the different EQ presets can be adjusted based on what you're listening to. 'The Space One headphones outshone some of the midrange options I tested,' says Isaacs. 'The bass feels strong without feeling overpowering, and it balances out the mids and trebles really well.'
These headphones last up to 40 hours with ANC turned on, they can pair with multiple devices simultaneously and built-in sensors automatically pause the music when you remove the headphones. Isaacs notes that the materials feel a bit cheaper than other options she tested and the ear cups aren't replaceable. But if you're looking for wireless headphones that don't cost a fortune, the adaptive noise-cancelling, multiple EQ presets and quality audio make these a great choice.
Amazon
Battery life: 10 hours (with ANC) | Drivers: 10mm | Weight: 1.8 ounces | Storage: Wireless charging case | Noise canceling: Yes
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If you prefer the look or feel of earbuds compared to over-ear headphones, we recommend the Technics EAH-AZ100s. They have a sturdy, durable build and a nice balance of battery life (10 hours with active noise cancellation, 12 hours without ANC) and audio quality. 'Underneath that durable build, each earbud sports a 10mm magnetic fluid driver,' says Isaacs. 'That helps make these earbuds sound great when I tested them across a slew of genres.' Isaacs also notes that you don't have to fuss with different settings—they sound great right out of the box.
The advanced spatial audio responds to head movements, so when you're watching a movie or video, you'll feel completely immersed in the experience. You can also pair with up to three devices at once, and the touch controls are intuitive to use. The wireless charging case is another helpful feature similar products don't have. 'They feature wireless charging, which came in handy on the rare occasions when I needed to charge them,' says Isaacs.
Amazon
Battery life: 76 hours | Drivers: 40mm | Weight: 7.8 ounces | Storage: Does not come with carrying case | Noise canceling: No
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If you travel frequently for work or use your headphones to listen to music and make calls throughout the day, the impressive 76-hour battery life of the JBL Tune 720BT headphones are a helpful feature. (A quick five-minute charge also gives you another three hours of playtime.) Like the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, the app lets you choose from several preset modes or adjust the EQ based on your preferences.
Online reviewers say the audio quality and clarity are excellent and enhance the entire experience when gaming or watching movies with a lot of dialogue. The bass is deep without being overpowering, with a balanced sound profile. The lightweight plastic construction doesn't feel as high-end as other picks on this list, but they're a good value for the price.
Amazon
Battery life: Up to 20 hours (including case) | Drivers: Custom high-excursion Apple driver | Weight: 0.1 ounces | Storage: Wireless charging case | Noise canceling: Yes
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For iPhone users who prefer the convenience of using Apple headphones, you can't go wrong with the Apple AirPods Pro 4 With ANC. The lightweight yet durable earbuds are comfortable for long journeys and feature active noise cancellation, allowing you to drown out the sounds of the airplane engine, loud passengers and more. 'One of my biggest surprises was just how good the audio quality is despite the modest price tag,' says Isaacs. 'I pitted them against two earbuds—the Denon PerL Pros and the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8s—and I struggled to hear any audio quality differences among the three. That speaks pretty well about the audio fidelity that these affordable AirPods can output.'
Transparency mode is also helpful when navigating unfamiliar areas, and you want to let the outside world in. Other thoughtful details include seamless integration with other Apple products, touch controls, personalized spatial audio and Siri Interactions. They don't offer ear tips, which may be frustrating for some, as those can help prevent these AirPods from falling out. If you absolutely need ear tips, you can opt for the Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Amazon
Battery life: 30 hours | Drivers: 30mm | Weight: 8.8 ounces | Storage: Comes with carrying case | Noise canceling: Yes
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The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are versatile, sleek and feature advanced noise cancellation, allowing you to stay focused, regardless of the noise level in your environment. They can be used as wired headphones, and when you start speaking to someone, the music automatically pauses (the music also pauses when you remove the headphones). If you hold your hand to the right ear cup, the headphones temporarily shift to transparency mode so you can order in a coffee shop, too.
The 30 hours of battery life, intuitive touch controls and multi-device pairing are additional features that can enhance your overall travel experience. 'There are a slew of other features, like spatial audio, scene analyzers (which can analyze your environment and make audio adjustments on the fly) and listening habits, the latter of which can help you maintain safe listening levels,' says Isaacs. While the app may be less intuitive than Bose's, it still offers multiple EQs. They also offer a custom EQ setting. If you're unsure how to set it to your preferred style, the Sony app also offers the option to blindly listen through a couple of different modes so you can find what sounds best to you.
The Forbes Vetted consumer tech team has researched, written and published dozens of in-depth roundups specifically for audio, including the best wireless headphones, best wireless earbuds and more.
We began researching the best headphones for Travel based on the recommendations of our seasoned Forbes Vetted team and expert insight.
There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best headphones for travel. Here's what to look for.
When you're traveling, you don't want to worry about recharging your headphones or running out of juice halfway through your flight. 'Headphones for travel should ideally offer 25 to 40 hours of battery life with ANC activated, while earbuds should provide at least 6 to 10 hours of continuous playtime, with additional charges from the case,' says Raghavendra. 'Features like quick charge (for example, 10 minutes of charge for several hours of use) are particularly helpful for travelers on the move.'
Whether you plan on taking work calls while you're on the road or catching up on your favorite TV show while taking a flight, having the ability to reduce background noise is important. 'ANC reduces low-frequency ambient sounds, like the hum of airplane engines or train noise, making your audio content clearer and reducing listening fatigue,' says Raghavendra. 'Look for headphones with hybrid ANC (using both feedforward and feedback microphones) for more effective noise suppression across a broader frequency range.' All of the headphones we highlight feature noise cancellation except for the JBL Tune 720BT.
Look for lightweight options made from comfortable materials that can be worn for extended periods. 'For long-haul flights or extended commutes, the ergonomics of the headphones are crucial,' says Raghavendra. 'Over-ear models with memory foam cushions distribute pressure evenly and reduce ear fatigue. For earbuds, look for models with multiple ear tip sizes and secure fit options, such as ear wings.' Foldable or collapsible designs, such as the JBL Tune 720BTs or the Sony WH-1000XM6s are helpful and can save valuable space in your luggage.
Over-ear headphones are typically best suited for airplane travel, as they offer longer battery life and superior active noise cancellation (ANC). 'They typically deliver richer sound with deeper bass and a wider soundstage, enhancing movie watching or immersive music sessions,' says Raghavendra.
Yes, noise-canceling headphones are worth it for flights because they can significantly enhance your overall travel experience. They can help you drown out the noise of an airplane engine, a crying baby, or over-talkative passengers, allowing you to sleep or focus on your in-flight entertainment.
We chose the Bose QuietComfort Ultras as the best headphones for travel. They feature stellar ANC, a long battery life and an impressive audio quality.