Top Travel Headphones for Flights and Journeys

Find the perfect travel headphones with active noise cancellation and long battery life to make your flights and trips more enjoyable.

Why Good Travel Headphones Matter

Whether you're globetrotting or just commuting daily on the metro, a solid pair of travel headphones can totally transform your experience. Comfortable headphones with excellent noise cancellation not only make trips easier but also more enjoyable by shutting out the chaos around you.

When picking headphones for travel, you want them to be user-friendly—easy to grab when rushing for your gate or bus stop—and have enough battery life to last all day. While over-ear headphones often excel on long flights or train rides, earbuds are popular for their portability. Generally, headphones equipped with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) are best at muffling the deep drone of engines, but some earbuds can passively block much of the noise too.

Best Travel Headphones: In-Depth Reviews

Best Overall Travel Headphones

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Headphones

• Bass Level: Slightly enhanced (2 dB)
• Treble Level: Balanced (-1 dB)
• Sound Signature: Warm
• Type: Over-ear headphones
• Build: Closed-back
• Wireless: Yes
• Driver Type: Dynamic
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Microphone: Yes

Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Wireless stands out as the best travel headphones we've tested. These premium over-ear headphones deliver supreme comfort for long trips and pack powerful ANC that silences a broad range of noises—from the low rumble of bus and airplane engines to chatter around you. With ANC activated, the battery lasts a whopping 29 hours non-stop, so you won't fret about recharging mid-journey.

One catch: you need to power the headphones on to use them wired; however, you can connect to in-flight entertainment without turning off ANC. The warm sound profile offers boosted bass and rich tones in your favorite tracks straight out of the box. The companion app lets you tweak the sound with a graphic equalizer and presets, even offering head-tracking for immersive audio. Plus, you can pair simultaneously with two devices, perfect for juggling phone and laptop calls. A sturdy carrying case is included to keep them safe in your bag.

"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are incredibly comfortable and deliver powerful noise cancellation, perfect for long trips."

Note: Some users have reported distracting noises caused by bumps or vibrations in public transit interacting poorly with the ANC, though this was not observed during our tests.

Best Mid-Range Travel Headphones

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

• Travel/Commute Rating: 8.1
• Type: Over-ear headphones
• Build: Closed-back
• Wireless: Yes
• Driver Type: Dynamic
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Microphone: Yes

If you're after a premium model without the ultra-premium price, Sony’s WH-1000XM4 is a stellar choice. Though superseded by the WH-1000XM5 and becoming rarer to find, the XM4 still outperforms its successor in noise cancellation during long journeys. Its ANC excels at blocking low-frequency engine noise and background chatter. Battery life impresses with about 37 hours of continuous play, and you can even plug in without turning off ANC. It comes with a sturdy carrying case and airplane adapter.

These headphones are lightweight and fit well, though Bose's QuietComfort Ultra edges them out slightly in comfort. The rich bass-heavy sound adds warmth and depth, and you can customize audio via an app’s equalizer and presets.

For those needing excellent call quality on the move, the Razer Barracuda Pro Wireless is worth a look. Designed for daily use and gaming, its built-in microphone offers clearer voice transmission than Sony’s, though its noise cancellation isn’t quite as effective.

Best Affordable Travel Headphones

Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless

• Travel/Commute Rating: 7.8
• Type: Over-ear headphones
• Build: Closed-back
• Wireless: Yes
• Driver Type: Dynamic
• Noise Cancellation: Adaptive ANC
• Microphone: Yes

Travel can be costly, and premium headphones aren’t always in the budget. Enter the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless — the best value airplane headphones we tested in this price range. They offer adaptive ANC that adjusts to surrounding noise, blocking much of the engine roar. The overall noise isolation rivals Sony’s WH-1000XM4.

Their V-shaped sound profile boosts bass and treble for a vibrant, intense listening experience, though vocals and instruments can sometimes sound a bit sharp. You can tweak this via the companion app. Battery life clocks in at a solid 27 hours with ANC on. Plus, they include an audio cable for passive listening if you run out of juice.

Best Budget Travel Headphones

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless

• Travel/Commute Rating: 7.7
• Type: Over-ear headphones
• Build: Closed-back
• Wireless: Yes
• Driver Type: Dynamic
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Microphone: Yes

Looking for budget-friendly headphones? The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless offers great value under about $130. Anker dominates the mid-to-budget headphone market, especially when ANC matters during noisy flights or train rides.

Their noise cancellation isn’t adaptive but still effective at blocking engine sounds and voices. The default sound is bass-heavy and powerful, though mixes can feel a little muddy. A companion app lets you customize sound settings with presets and an equalizer.

They’re solidly built, comfy, and have an impressive 44-hour battery life. However, sound leakage is more noticeable than on the Q45, so others nearby might hear your music at high volumes. If leakage is a concern, consider the Wyze wireless ANC headphones as a budget alternative—they offer less bass isolation but strong overall noise reduction.

Best Compact Travel Headphones (Earbuds)

Technics EAH-AZ100 Truly Wireless Earbuds

• Bass Level: Very Loud (5 dB)
• Treble Level: Slightly Reduced (-3 dB)
• Sound Signature: Warm
• Type: In-ear wireless earbuds
• Build: Closed-back
• Wireless: True wireless
• Driver Type: Dynamic
• Noise Cancellation: Yes
• Microphone: Yes

Over-ear headphones can be bulky for travel and take up precious bag space. For a compact alternative, the Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds fit snugly and stay put while dashing through airports or stations. They feature a warm, flagship-style sound with mellowed mids and highs, lending a lo-fi smoothness. If that’s not your thing, you can adjust sound via an 8-band equalizer in the app.

Their excellent ANC blocks common transit noise like bus and train rumbles and general background sounds. Battery life is over 12 hours per charge, with an additional 1.5 charges in the case—enough for even long-haul flights. Connectivity is versatile, supporting three-way multipoint Bluetooth and a broad range of codecs including LDAC for Hi-Res audio.

Note that these earbuds fit deeply in the ear canal, so if you prefer a looser fit, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds might be comfier though with shorter battery life and less effective noise cancellation.

Also Worth Considering

• Apple AirPods Max: Premium design and amazing ANC but bulky and don’t fold for compact storage. Comes with a protective case that doesn’t fully shield the headphones.
• Bose 700 Wireless: Business-class headphones with excellent call quality but less low-frequency ANC compared to Sony.
• Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen): Seamless Apple ecosystem integration, strong noise cancellation, but shorter battery life.
• OnePlus Buds 3: Affordable ANC earbuds with stable fit and up to 7 hours battery life but less effective noise cancellation.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Top Android earbuds with great noise isolation and comfort but less iOS compatibility than Technics.

FAQs

• What makes headphones ideal for travel? Ideal travel headphones usually feature strong active noise cancellation, long battery life, comfort for extended wear, and portability.
• Are over-ear or earbuds better for flights? Over-ear headphones offer better noise isolation and comfort for long flights, while earbuds are more portable and convenient.
• How long should travel headphones last on a single charge? Look for at least 20+ hours with ANC on to avoid recharging during long trips.
• Can I use ANC headphones with in-flight entertainment systems? Many models allow wired use with ANC active, but check specifics before travel.
• Do budget ANC headphones perform well? Yes, some budget options like Anker Soundcore provide surprisingly good ANC and sound quality for the price.

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