The 6 Best Travel Headphones - Fall 2024

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 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.

For something premium at a cheaper 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 Even though they've been replaced by the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless and are getting harder to find in stock, these still provide the best noise cancelling performance for long journeys.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, as well as 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, the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless are worth considering. These hybrid headphones are designed for casual use and gaming but have a sleek design that doesn't stand out from the crowd. Their integrated mic offers 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.

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 almost as good as Sony's.

Out of the box, they have a V-shaped sound profile with extra emphasis on the bass and treble, which gives your audio 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.

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.

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.

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 Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 True Wireless are worth checking out. They're comfortable, and their ShakeGrip coating means they'll stay in your ears while you're rushing around airports or train stations. Their sound profile is well-balanced and generally flat, apart from a peak in the mid-treble that can make sibilants a bit piercing. The good news is that you can tweak their sound profile to your tastes using their companion app's EQ and presets. Their case can also act as a Bluetooth transmitter, so you can hook up your earbuds to the in-flight entertainment via a 3.5 mm jack or USB-C port.

The Jabra can block out a significant amount of ambient noise, thanks to their outstanding ANC system. They easily tackle common commuter noise like rumbly buses and trains as well as ambient chatter. While their almost eight-hour continuous playback time falls short compared to over-ear headphones, their carrying case holds an extra three charges if needed. The Jabra don't support Bluetooth codecs like aptX Adaptive or aptX Adaptive (Low Latency) support. If those are important to you, check out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. The Bose are a little more comfortable for most people than the Jabra, but their ANC isn't as good, and they have a slightly shorter continuous battery life.

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