The 8 Best Travel Headphones - Fall 2019
Reviews

The best travel headphones we've tested so far are the Sony WH-1000XM3. They have among the best ANC that we've tested on any headphones to date and have a well-built, premium design. Their 27-hour battery life should be more than enough for most trips, and they can be fully charged in just over two hours. Whether you use them for public transit or are a world traveler, these are unlikely to disappoint.

Their ANC is outstanding and is one of the best we have tested so far. They do a great job at blocking out low bass rumbles such as airplane or bus engines, which should help you get some rest on your next cross-country flight or just help you better hear your podcasts on the way to work. They also do a great job blocking out speech and have low sound leakage, meaning you can turn them up without bothering those around you. Out-of-the-box they're a little bass-heavy, though their sound can be easily fine-tuned to better suit your tastes through the excellent Sony | Headphones Connect app. They have soft ear pads and a relatively lightweight design which should be comfortable for a long flight without causing any fatigue or soreness.

Unfortunately, while they have a good control scheme, it's touch-activated and stops working in colder temperatures which may be an issue for those who live in or often travel to colder climates. If being able to control your music at all times from your headphones is important, you may want to consider the Jabra Elite 85h Wireless, though their ANC performance is significantly worse. All-in-all, these headphones are a fantastic choice for travelers thanks to their ANC, battery life, comfort, and customizability.

If you travel for extended periods and comfort is the most important thing to you, get the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They're one of the most comfortable pairs of headphones that we've tested so far and are a good choice for extra-long flights or car rides. They're an easy-to-use pair of over-ears with impressive ANC to give you some peace during long travel days.

They are lightweight headphones that don't fit too tight on the head and have well-padded ear cups made of dense plastic that should be able to withstand a few accidental drops and bumps without breaking. While they aren't the most breathable on the ears, this is common for all over-ear headphones and shouldn't be too bothersome for most people. Overall, they are very comfortable, and if you want a pair of headphones to wear for extended periods, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything better. They have a good, easy-to-use control scheme on the headphones which allows you to skip tracks, adjust volume, and take phone calls without having to get out your phone, which can be handy when in a cramped airplane seat. Their ANC is great for travel and does an impressive job at blocking out bus and plane engine noise as well as background chatter.

Unfortunately, they do leak a bit of sound, meaning those directly around you will likely be able to hear your music if you blast it. Luckily their ANC is good enough that you shouldn't need to have your volume too loud to block out background noises. Overall, if you want a good, well-rounded pair of ANC headphones for travel with an emphasis on comfort, the Bose QC35 II are your best bet.

The best portable headphones for travel that we’ve tested so far are the Jabra Elite Active 65t, thanks to their compact truly wireless design. They're not noise cancelling like the other recommendations on this list and their in-ear fit won’t be comfortable for everyone. However, their compact format makes them easy to carry around in your bag or pockets, which is convenient when commuting or traveling.

Once you get the right fit with the provided earbud tips, they block more noise passively than the ANC-enabled Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2. They sound decent and have a fairly balanced sound that you can adjust with the Jabra Sound+ app if you prefer different EQ settings. Also, their in-ear fit reduces sound leakage, so you can raise your listening volume a bit to block out more noise without disturbing those around you.

Like most truly wireless earbuds, they don’t have a very long-lasting battery. They provide about 5 hours of continuous playtime on a charge, which isn’t much, but come with a charging case that packs 2 additional charges. They’re a good choice for commuters who don’t mind taking breaks to charge their headphones now and then, especially in exchange for the convenience of the ultra-portable truly wireless design, making them some of the best headphones for airplanes.

If you have a noisy commute and are looking for headphones that will help bring some peace to your daily routine without putting a dent in your wallet, the best headphones for commuting in the budget category are the AUKEY Latitude. They have great passive noise isolation and are very portable, which makes them well-suited for daily use in the subway.

They sound decent for budget headphones and are especially well-suited to more bass-heavy genres of music like EDM, dubstep, or hip-hop. Their battery isn’t bad for wireless in-ears and provides about 7 hours of continuous playback on a charge, which should be enough for your morning and evening commutes. They also support multi-device pairing and have magnetic earbuds that clip together for easier cable management.

Although they have a couple of EQ presets built into their controls, they aren’t compatible with a companion app, so they can’t be customized in great detail. They’re also not as well-built as more premium in-ears like the Jabra Elite 65e, but that’s to be expected at this price point. They provide good value for budget headphones and are overall a good choice for commuters.