Best Travel Headphones

Whether you are traveling solo or with family or friends, traveling can get a bit tedious. There are long hours of waiting, sitting, followed by some more waiting.

Cue in travel headphones. Headphones provide an outlet to help us pass the time in a fun, stylish way.

With new technologies and models popping up all the time, it can be difficult weeding out the good from the bad. So, we decided to bring you a list of the 10 best travel headphones on the market.

A good pair of headphones can turn a boring commute or flight fun and entertaining. These 10 come with features that make them stand out among other models and brands.

Earbuds

Earbuds are designed for people who move around a lot. It could be exercising or working out of your office. Earbuds offer portability, lightweight, and compact size.

Bose SoundSport Free Earbuds : Best Multipurpose

“Totally wireless, packed with technology”. That is how Bose describes these earbuds. They are weather and sweat-resistant, making them extremely functional.

They come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. All pairs are made of StayHear and Sport tips for optimal comfort and a perfect fit.

Designed for practicality, these buds have an integrated dual microphone only on the right side. During calls, the audio will only be heard on the right earbud.

You can use the SoundSport Free to activate voice assistants. If you misplace them, the Bose Connect app; Find My Buds, will help you locate them.

The battery needs two hours to fully charge. After that, it provides up to five hours of playtime. Their charging case provides two full charges or an additional 10 hours of battery life.

• ✓ Weather-resistant with an IPX4 rating
• ✓ Sweat-resistant
• ✓ Durable
• ✓ Multi-function
• ✓ Easy NFC pairing
• ✓ Come in 3 sizes
• ✓ Available in 4 bright colors
• ✓ Can be tracked via the app
• ✓ Comes with a charging case
• ‍
• ✗ Short battery life
• ✗ Left earbud experiences connectivity issues
• ✗ Expensive

1More Wireless Earbuds : Best Noise Cancellation

The 1More earbuds are wireless, come with four microphones, and have long battery life. But what makes these earbuds special is their high-quality noise cancellation, which is a rare feature in earbuds.

What’s even better is that it doesn’t have one, but two levels of active noise cancellation (ANC) systems! Add to that the built-in Wind Noise Resistance (WNR) mode, and you can effectively block out all distractions.

These buds deliver a well-balanced, clear sound quality. Even in the roughest of weather, you can make sure your earbuds will survive. They are both IPX5 waterproof and sweat-resistant.

The 1More has a long-lasting battery. After the full 2-hour charging time, these earbuds will last up to 20 hours with the ANC feature off, and 15 hours with the ANC on.

• ✓ Superior noise cancellation
• ✓ Wind Noise Resistance
• ✓ IPX5 water-resistant
• ✓ Sweat-resistant
• ✓ Functional
• ✓ Portable
• ✓ Lightweight
• ✓ Long battery life
• ‍
• ✗ Expensive
• ✗ The neckpiece is floppy and awkward

AUKEY Bluetooth Earbuds : Best Fit

The AUKEY earbuds offer great quality, without breaking your budget. They are breathable, compact, and portable.

While these earbuds do not have active noise cancellation, they are still able to isolate most noise. Plus, they do not leak sounds. So, you can listen as loud as you want, and you will not run the risk of bothering those around you.

One great feature is they are comfortable to wear and provide a secure fit. The AUKEY is wireless, with a decent battery life, which can last up to 7 hours.

• ✓ Great value for the price
• ✓ Multipurpose
• ✓ Comfortable fit
• ✓ Comes with 3 pairs of ear-tips and in-ear hooks
• ✓ Portable and comes with a carrying pouch
• ✓ No sound leakage
• ‍
• ✗ No noise cancellation feature
• ✗ Short battery life

Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds : Best Value

These Sony earbuds are well-designed, compact, and offer superior sound quality. They cost a bit more than other models. Yet, they are still a great value because of all the great features and functions.

With a simple touch of the button, you can access music, calls, information, and much more. You also have access to Alexa voice control

The battery has a long life, which can last up to 24 hours with the charging case. Even a 10-minute charging time in the case will give you 90 minutes of playtime.

• ✓ Great value for its price
• ✓ High-quality noise cancellation
• ✓ Multi-function
• ✓ Alexa built-in voice control
• ✓ Controls audio via Sony Headphones Connect app
• ✓ Comes with 2 sets of silicone rubber earbuds in 3 sizes (S, M, L)
• ✓ Comes with a charging case and USB-C cable
• ✓ Available in 2 colors
• ‍
• ✗ No volume controls
• ✗ Microphone quality is poor

Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones provide the best sound out of all the headphones. They are also more comfortable because they do not apply pressure to the inside of your ear. This is mainly why they have a slight edge when it comes to blocking outside noise because of how they are designed.

Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II : Best Rated

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II is comfortable and lightweight. These are two features rarely found in over-ear headphones. They are also durable and versatile.

Their noise cancellation system is top-notch. They have a well-balanced sound quality, which works perfectly for almost all music genres.

One of its best features is it can be connected to two devices at the same time. This can be a convenient feature to have while traveling.

These headphones are wireless. You can also use them wired, and you will find an audio cable included. The battery charges for 2 hours to give you up to 20 hours of non-stop listening.

• ✓ Comfortable
• ✓ Lightweight
• ✓ Connects to 2 devices simultaneously
• ✓ Easy NFC pairing
• ✓ Controls work great in all weather
• ✓ Long battery life
• ✓ Comes with a carrying pouch, USB and audio cables, and a microfiber cloth
• ‍
• ✗ No customization options
• ✗ Expensive

Sony WH-1000 XM3 Wireless Over-Ear Headset : Best Overall

The Sony WH-1000XM3 over-ear headphones come with many great features. Their padded earcups make them super comfortable to wear. Plus, you can fully customize the sound with the help of the Sony app.

One terrific feature is their noise cancellation. Also, the touch-sensitive controls offer a wide range of customizable options.

These headphones are Alexa-enabled for quick access to hands-free calls, music, information, and a whole lot more. The battery can last up to 30 hours. There is an auto-off timer to help save energy. If you prefer, or your battery runs out of juice, you can also use them wired.

• ✓ Alexa built-in voice control
• ✓ Comfortable
• ✓ Top-quality noise-cancellation
• ✓ Sound control via Sony app
• ✓ Customization options via the app
• ✓ Longer battery life than other models
• ✓ Comes with a case, charging and audio cables
• ‍
• ✗ Controls do not work properly in cold weather
• ✗ The auto-off timer does not work when Bluetooth is not connected
• ✗ Expensive

Bowers & Wilkins PX : Best Sound Quality

The Bowers & Wilkins PX gives you perfect sound quality with every use. You can customize its active noise cancellation (ANC) feature, sound, and functions via the PX app.

One of its great features is its long-lasting battery. It can run anywhere from 22 to an impressive 50 hours of playtime, depending on which functions you are using.

The PX has a smart, quick-response function to save battery life. To pause your music, lift one earcup. If you put your headphones down, it will go to sleep and enter power-saving mode. It continues playing once you pick it up again.

• ✓ Motion-sensitive controls
• ✓ Customizable functions
• ✓ Much longer battery life compared with other brands
• ✓ Connects via app
• ✓ Available in 2 colors
• ✓ Come with a soft carrying pouch, audio and USB-C cables
• ‍
• ✗ Are not foldable
• ✗ Headphones are heavy
• ✗ Expensive

On-Ear Headphones

On-ear headphones are a bit of a compromise between earbuds and over-ear headphones. They offer decent sound quality, while still being portable.

JLab Audio Studio : Best Play Time

Available in three colors, the JLab Audio Studio headphones do not just look good. They provide excellent sound quality.

There are three sound options: Balanced, Bass Boost, and JLab Signature modes. Besides sound customization, you can easily control all functions via the earcup. You can also activate voice assistant for easy on-the-go convenience.

The JLab are made with Cloud Foam earcups for added comfort. They are also foldable and compact. In addition to having a long-lasting battery, which can last for 30 hours.

• ✓ Long battery life
• ✓ Available in 3 colors
• ✓ 3 sound options
• ✓ Voice assistant
• ✓ Comfy design
• ✓ Foldable
• ✓ Budget-friendly price
• ‍
• ✗ No carrying bag
• ✗ Noise cancellation needs improvement

Mpow Thor Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones : Best Budget

Mpow Thor headphones have a decent 8-hour battery life. They also have a surprisingly good active noise-canceling system.

The Thor supports a 2-device connection. This is a handy feature to have, especially when you are using both your phone and laptop.

One of their best features is their standby mode. It is activated when the headphones are not being used to save power. You also have the option of using them wired.

These headphones are comfortable to wear, with soft memory foam wrapped with protein leather. Even though they are durable and can withstand drops and falls, they are still lightweight.

• ✓ Budget-friendly price
• ✓ Comfortable
• ✓ Foldable
• ✓ Comes with carrying pouch
• ✓ Decent noise cancellation
• ✓ Standby mode
• ‍
• ✗ May leak sound
• ✗ Folding feature is a bit flimsy

Jabra Elite : Best Battery Life

The Jabra Elite is a comfortable, well-designed set of headphones. The padded earcups easily accommodate all ear sizes, even if the headband does not give much of a stretch.

One of its outstanding features is its long-life battery. Simply charge for the full 2 hours, and they are set to play for 36 hours straight.

Activating Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant is a breeze. Making and receiving calls is also straightforward.

They work great at blocking out almost all ranges of noise, without compromising sound quality. At the same time, they do not leak noise, so anyone sitting close to you will not be listening in.

By using MySound, you can adjust the sound quality. There’s also the Jabra Sound+ app for even more tweaks and customizations.

• ✓ Comfortable design
• ✓ Portable
• ✓ Lightweight
• ✓ Foldable
• ✓ Access to voice command assistants
• ✓ Comes with a pouch and a USB cable
• ✓ Moderately priced
• ‍
• ✗ Noise cancellation feature could use a bit of improvement

Travel Headphones: A Buyer’s Guide

Now that you have an idea of the 10 best travel headphones, it is time for some buying tips.

What to Look For

First, decide which type of headphones you want. Then, figure out how much you are willing to spend. Many headsets have great features at an affordable price.

Here are some other features to think about.

Bluetooth

The aim of wireless Bluetooth headphones and earbuds is simplicity and convenience. But not all Bluetooth is created equal.

These are the three latest Bluetooth versions: Bluetooth 4.1, 4.2, and 5.0. The latter is the fastest, but it is not compatible with all devices.

Drive the Noise Out

This feature blocks out most sounds around you. Headphones with this feature make use of two methods:

Passive noise cancellation physically blocks outside noise via padded earcups or snug fit

Active noise cancellation uses built-in filters to create anti-noise frequencies

Get Comfortable

Most come with headbands and padded earcups. Some even have memory foam that takes the shape of your ears for maximum support and comfort.

In-ear headsets also come with certain features that make them more comfortable. Those that provide a snugger fit will reduce the stress on the inside of your ears and improve your listening experience.

A Viable Battery

Choose headsets with a long-lasting battery. The longer, the better. The whole point of being wireless is that they are portable, practical, and convenient.

Stay Dry

if you take your headphones with you wherever you go, it is nice knowing they are waterproof and sweat-resistant. They are designed to stay dry and moisture-free

Our Verdict

With these 10 best travel headphones, you can tune out the outside world. They will keep you entertained while you are traveling.

Our top pick is the Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II. These over-ear headphones have many great features for that perfect listening experience. With its superior sound quality and impressive noise cancellation, you will have no problem enjoying long hours of pure sound bliss.

If you prefer earbuds and want the most bang for your buck, then we recommend the AUKEY Bluetooth Earbuds. They are a perfect fit for all ears. You will also get high-quality sound performance without any leaks. The best part is that all these great features come at a budget-friendly cost.