The 7 Best Travel Headphones - Winter 2022 Reviews

The best travel headphones that we've tested are the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. These comfortable, well-built over-ears have an ANC feature that does an outstanding job blocking background noises like bus and plane engines. Thanks to their over 37-hour continuous battery life, they're well-suited for the longest international flights.

They have a bass-heavy default sound profile that adds an extra thump and rumble to your favorite tracks. If you prefer a different sound, there's a graphic EQ and presets available in the Sony|Headphones Connect app to help you customize your listening experience. They allow for multi-device pairing, making it easy to switch your audio source from your laptop to your phone when you're on the go.

Unfortunately, like most over-ears, they have a slightly bulky design that isn't very portable. Fortunately, they fold down into a more compact format, and they come with a carrying case to help protect them from falls and scrapes. Overall, they have a decently versatile performance that should please many different listeners, making them among the best headphones for airplane, bus, and car trips.

The best in-ear headphones for travel we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless. These headphones have a great ANC system that can block out the rumbles from bus and plane engines, as well as commuter chatter. Thanks to a firmware update, you can also find a variety of ANC preset modes in their companion app if you prefer a different amount of noise isolation.

These headphones have a very neutral sound profile that's versatile enough for most kinds of audio content. That said, if you prefer a different sound, their app offers a graphic EQ and some EQ presets so that you can customize their sound to suit your tastes. They have over seven hours of continuous playback time, and their carrying case holds roughly two additional charges, which is handy in a pinch.

Unfortunately, they lack track skipping controls, so you need to pull out your device if you want to change a song, and they have a fairly bulky design that sticks out of your ear. However, they still feel lightweight and decently comfortable, making them a suitable choice for long trips or days on the road.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are the best commuter headphones under $100 that we've tested. These well-built headphones have an ANC feature you can set to three different levels in the companion app. When set to 'Transport' mode, it does an outstanding job of blocking out ambient sound, especially noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines.

They have good onboard controls that you can use to control your music, change the volume, and cycle through ANC modes. The earcups swivel to lay flat, which makes it easier to carry them around your neck, and they come with a hard case to protect them when you're on the go. These headphones also have a very long, 44-hour continuous battery life, which is great for long trips.

Unfortunately, while they have a comfortable fit, the padding on the headband is a bit thin, which may cause some discomfort if you wear them for a long time. Their bass-heavy sound profile isn't for everyone, but you can adjust it with a graphic EQ and presets in their app. Overall, if you're looking for noise cancelling headphones for your next trip, these are a solid, affordable option.

The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are the best budget travel headphones that we've tested. These wallet-friendly in-ears have an ANC system that does an excellent job of cutting down the bassy rumbles of bus and plane engines. They also don't leak a lot of audio, even at high volumes, so you shouldn't disturb others around you.

They have over eight hours of continuous battery life, which should last through long days on the go. If you need it, their sturdy carrying case also holds two additional charges, which is handy in a pinch. These buds have a decently comfortable and well-built design too. Their v-shaped sound profile delivers extra thump and boom while sibilants like cymbals are bright, making them especially suitable for genres like rock and pop.

Unfortunately, they don't have a companion app and lack customization features like an EQ to help you adjust their sound to suit your tastes. If you need to take a call while commuting, their integrated mic also offers a disappointing noise handling performance. As a result, your voice can be drowned out by moderate ambient sound. That said, their great noise isolation performance makes them a solid choice at this price point.