Everyone knows finding the perfect travel headphones is no easy task. When you’re on a long journey, having a selection of favorite music, films, or games to play on your laptop or tablet can be a great way to pass the time. Yes, your phone or other gadget comes with a set of bundled bud earphones, but chances are they don’t have the best sound quality and aren’t the most comfortable option when used over long periods. So, don’t be afraid to spend a little money on a better pair of headphones that you can use regularly. The question is, which best headphone for travel should you get? To help you figure that out, here’s our roundup of the best headphones for travel and working out that allow you to entertain yourself!
Table of contents
- Apple AirPods Max
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H4 2nd Generation Headphones
- Shure AONIC 50 Wireless Headphones
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i Wireless Headphones
- Jabra Elite 85H Wireless Headphones
- Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 Headphones
- Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Headphones
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
- Beats Studio 3 Wireless Headphones
- Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Over Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
- Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones
- How To Choose The Best Headphone for Travel
- Can I bring my headphones on a plane?
- Are noise cancelling headphones good for airplane travel?
- Does listening to headphones cause hearing loss?
Apple AirPods Max
13
The Apple AirPods Max is easily the best option for Apple users looking for the best headphone for travel. These popular headphones come with active noise cancellation, superb audio quality, and a design that sets them apart from most noise-canceling headphones on the market.
We also love the Transparency Mode that allows you to hear and interact with the world around you. Plus, the spatial audio with dynamic head tracking will provide a theater-like sound that surrounds you. Even better, they’re designed with a knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions for an exceptional fit.
- What We Love:
- The best options for those who’ve already bought into the Apple ecosystem and have a lot of money to burn.
- Pros:
- Stunning design
- Superb audio quality
- Amazing noise cancellation
- Transparency Mode
- Memory foam ear cushions
- Cons:
- Some people think these headphones are overpriced
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H4 2nd Generation Headphones
12
When it comes to the best headphone for travel, Bang & Olufsen has a lot of options that you can consider. One of them is the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H4 2nd Generation Headphones. These great-sounding headphones are noise-canceling and have incredibly soft ear cups, so your ears will never get sore or tired.
Available in black and a neutral limestone color, these headphones offer up to 19 hours of battery life on a single charge. Pretty amazing, right? Apart from that, there are also quick-touch controls located on the speakers for easy volume and play or pause control. Best of all, they’re reasonably priced!
- What We Love:
- Well-crafted headphones that offer an oasis of serenity in your mobile lifestyle.
- Pros:
- Up to 19 hours of battery life
- Premium materials
- Stunning design
- Soft ear cups
- Quick-touch controls
- Cons:
- No carrying case
Shure AONIC 50 Wireless Headphones
11
If you want to have the best headphone for travel that allows you to listen to music at its very best with good noise-canceling, the Shure AONIC 50 Wireless Headphones are an excellent pair of headphones. With no cords and wires, these headphones allow you to listen to whatever you want without any fuss!
Plus, their Bluetooth 5.0 offers enhanced stability and has a range of up to 30 feet. Not to mention, these headphones also offer uninterrupted audio for up to 20 hours! Built to withstand the rigors of the road, they fold flat for portability and come with a protective carrying case. Best of all, there’s quick access to answer calls, adjust volume, and activate voice assistants.
- What We Love:
- A relatively affordable option that allows you to listen to music without any interruption.
- Pros:
- Crisp, detailed sound
- Excellent build quality
- Have every audio codec you could ever need
- Can last up to 20 hours
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Cons:
- Lots of buttons
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i Wireless Headphones
10
For those who love to travel in style, then the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9i Wireless Headphones are an ideal option to get. The headband uses cowhide leather atop aluminum, while the ear cushions are wonderfully soft and designed for supreme comfort. Stylish and comfortable, how can one not like these best headphones for travel and working out?
Apart from that, this best headphone for travel also features Bang & Olufsen’s signature sound, excellent active noise cancellation, and an innovative touch interface. Plus, there’s a proximity sensor that pauses playback when the headphones are removed and resumes when placed back on! Best of all, they’re more affordable than some of the brand’s other headphones. For more wallet-friendly options, check out the best travel headphones under 100USD!
- What We Love:
- An ideal item for travelers who want to travel in style.
- Pros:
- Available in several color options
- Soft and comfortable
- Proximity sensor
- Lightweight
- Up to 18 hours of playtime
- Cons:
- For some people the ear cups are too warm
Jabra Elite 85H Wireless Headphones
9
Offering class-leading battery life, terrific style, and plenty of personalization when it comes to sound profiles, the Jabra Elite 85H Wireless Headphones are a highly recommended product. Considering they’re the company’s first attempt at premium wireless ANC headphones, we’re pretty impressed by what these headphones have to offer.
Like the best baby headphones for flying, this product can block unwanted background noise wherever you are. Plus, the revolutionary SmartSound Audio will analyze your sound environment and automatically apply your personalized audio to give you the sound you need. Not to mention, they can last up to 36 hours on a single charge!
- What We Love:
- They’re an ideal option for those looking for a customizable pair.
- Pros:
- Class-leading battery life
- Reasonable price
- Excellent noise-canceling performance
- Can last up to 36 hours on a single charge
- Eye-catching design
- Cons:
- Lack support for high-end codecs
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones
8
It’s no secret that wired headphones are usually less expensive than their wireless cousins, which is a huge plus if you don’t mind the physical connection between your ears and your device. With that in mind, we’d love to introduce you to the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Headphones. These affordable headphones are a solid pair that offers a bit of noise cancelation and crystal clear sound.
Loved by many people, including top audio reviewers, these best headphones for travel and working out offer exceptional clarity throughout an extended frequency range with deep, accurate bass response. Plus, the circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in loud environments. They also come with three different wire options, including one coiled and two straight wires of different lengths.
- What We Love:
- An affordable option that’s ideal for travelers who don’t mind using wired headphones.
- Pros:
- 90-degree swiveling ear cups
- Affordable
- Good noise cancelation
- Come with 3 different wire options
- Crystal clear sound
- Cons:
- The plastic ear cups aren’t the most durables
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 Headphones
7
Created to celebrate the brand’s 95th anniversary, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 Headphones are the perfect pick for you if you don’t mind spending your money. This stylish travel companion is the best headphone for travel that costs you more than 800USD! But don’t worry, this product has a lot of incredible features to offer.
Exceptional adaptive active noise cancellation, comfortable design, and outstanding sound performance make these headphones the go-to option for first-class globetrotters. They’re created from luxurious metal and fabrics to deliver an ultra-premium product in build-quality and long-lasting comfort. Plus, they’re equipped with high-quality titanium drivers tuned to Bang & Olufsen’s signature sound.
- What We Love:
- The best headphone for travel that moguls would kill to have.
- Pros:
- Up to 38 hours of playtime
- Powerful sound
- Luxurious design
- Comfortable to wear
- Come with a robust hard case
- Cons:
- The price tag will blow your mind and wallet
Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Headphones
6
Did you know that Sennheiser produced the first active noise-reduction headphones back in 1984 to be given a Technical Standard Order certification by the Federal Aviation Administration? Yep, you can be sure you’re getting the best headphones for travel and working out by relying on this brand. Designed with travelers in mind, this brand has made the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless Headphones a premium product to give you a first-class experience.
This best headphone for travel doesn’t only look good but also sounds great! We also love how lightweight this item is, and its collapsible design makes it super easy to store in your 22-inch carry-on luggage when you’re not wearing it. Plus, you’ll get everything you’ve come to expect in a high-end pair of headphones, like exceptional battery life, Bluetooth technology, touch controls, and more!
- What We Love:
- An easy choice for those looking for the best headphones for air travel.
- Pros:
- Collapsible design
- Lightweight
- Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology
- NoiseGard adaptive noise cancellation
- Affordable
- Cons:
- The touch control doesn’t perform well during phone calls
Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
5
By choosing the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, you get to decide how much outside noise you want to hear! How come? Well, that’s because they offer several different levels of noise-canceling. Considered the best headphone for travel, this item is also extremely popular! But aside from that, these headphones still have many features that make them more than worth the investment.
You can check in with Alexa to stay up-to-date on everything from your schedule to the news with voice assistant capabilities. Plus, the rechargeable lithium-ion battery can give you up to 20 hours of wireless power. When wired, you’ll get up to 40 hours! On top of that, the dual-microphone system is noise-rejecting. No matter where you are or how noisy your surrounding is, you’ll still be able to have clear phone calls.
- What We Love:
- An incredibly popular option that allows you to travel without any noise.
- Pros:
- Adjustable noise cancellation levels
- Hassle-free Bluetooth pairing
- Noise-rejecting microphone
- Up to 20 hours of wireless power
- Comfortable ear pads
- Cons:
- Not bass centric
Beats Studio 3 Wireless Headphones
4
Are the Beats Studio 3 Wireless Headphones the best headphone for travel Beats has ever produced? We think so! These headphones manage to impress us in so many ways. One of our favorite features is the anti-wind mode. Since a stiff breeze is often the nemesis of noise-canceling headphones, this item is made to fade out wind within a few seconds!
Even better, you won’t hear the noise cancellation process as much as you do with other headphones. Also handy is a Fast Fuel feature that gives 3 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge! On top of that, they’re the best sounding of the Studio range to date, with a detailed sonic signature throughout. Traveling with your friend and want to watch movies together from your laptop? Take a look at the best headphone to PC splitters!
- What We Love:
- They’re perhaps Beats’ best headphones with remarkable noise-canceling and impressive sound quality.
- Pros:
- Effective noise cancellation
- Fast Fuel feature
- Lightweight
- Relatively affordable
- Available in multiple stunning designs
- Cons:
- Some durability issues
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Over Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
3
The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 Over Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones are the kind of outstanding product that B&W built a global reputation on. These headphones combine all the brand’s hard-won expertise in audio manufacture with cutting-edge noise cancellation and look stunning as well. No matter where you go, these headphones will surely turn heads.
With B&W’s exciting and well-balanced signature sound, these headphones sound amazing. Some even think they’re better than other big-ticket noise-canceling headphones. Even better, they feature motion-sensing, which means if you lift a cup from your ear, the sound is paused! And if you take them off entirely, they’ll go into standby mode. This feature is super useful when traveling, as you’ll frequently need to remove them to talk to people!
- What We Love:
- Using decades of experience, this best headpjone for travel is made to give you the best mobile sound experience.
- Pros:
- Motion-sensing feature
- Stylish design
- Comfortable to wear
- Well-balanced sound quality
- Can last 30 hours
- Cutting-edge noise cancellation feature
- Cons:
- They don’t fold
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
2
Catch any rush-hour train and board any flight, and chances are you’ll see black and silver Bose headphones peaking out from the top of almost every headrest. If you’ve wanted to have the best headphone for travel, you should get the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700! These are lightweight and sleek headphones that’ll make your travel much better.
Behind the smart look, these headphones still pack 11 adjustable levels of top-potch noise cancellation, impressive audio quality, and up to 20 hours of wireless battery life. Like other best headphones for travel and working out available today, you can summon either Alexa or Google Assistant with a simple press of a button. Meanwhile, the stainless steel headband and padded, angled ear cups are designed to put comfort first.
- What We Love:
- They’re sleek and modern headphones that have all the features you’d expect from the best headphone for travel.
- Pros:
- Lightweight
- Sleek, modern look
- 20 hours of wireless battery life
- Comfy ear pads
- 11 adjustable levels of noise cancellation
- Highly popular
- Cons:
- On the pricier side
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones
1
Sony is no stranger to producing the best headphones for travel and working out. The newest of the lot is the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones. Travelers adore these noise-canceling headphones because of many reasons. Besides the fact that Sony produces them, these headphones also boast large, comfortable ear pads. Plus, they’re available in black and silver.
Inside, the XM4 gets Sony’s new DSEE Extreme audio processor for improved sound processing. We’re also impressed by how your music can automatically pause when you take the headphones off! Talk about innovations! These headphones can connect to 2 Bluetooth devices at once, adding to their wireless convenience. There’s also a feature called Speak to Chat that automatically lowers the volume when you start talking.
- What We Love:
- A nice all-rounder that’s packed with tons of convenient and futuristic features.
- Pros:
- DSEE Extreme audio processor
- High-quality noise-canceling
- Adapts to cabin pressure
- Can conenct to 2 Bluetooth devices at once
- Speak to Chat technology
- Large, comfortable ear pads
- Cons:
- A bit bulky
How To Choose The Best Headphone for Travel
A good pair of headphones can become just as vital to travel as your expandable luggage and other luggage essentials. That said, there are some important features that you should consider when getting the best headphones for travel and working out, which are:
Comfort
Chances are, you’ll be wearing your headphones for several hours at a time. So, they must sit comfortably on your ears and your head. That way, your ears aren’t hurting after watching your favorite series.
Noise cancellation
If you’re a frequent flyer, then good noise-canceling headphones are essential. Not only are they great for you because you won’t hear what’s going on around you, but they’re also great for your neighbors as they won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to either! It’s a win-win for both of you!
Battery life
If you plan to get a pair of wireless headphones, you should consider the battery life. Thankfully, most premium options will give you more than enough listening time to get through a day. But if the idea of having to charge your headphones annoys you, opt for wired headphones instead!
Price
The best headphones for travel and working out can range anywhere from a few dollars to several thousand dollars, and up to a certain point, you’ll get what you pay for. The headphones with many fancy features will cost the most money. However, keep in mind that once you get into the high hundreds and thousands, you’ll probably be paying more for features like diamonds or engraved materials that don’t improve the sound quality.
Can I bring my headphones on a plane?
Why not? According to the TSA website, you can bring your headphones in a carry-on bag or your checked luggage when you fly.
Are noise cancelling headphones good for airplane travel?
Yes, noise-canceling headphones are good for airplane travel and worth the price tag. By using them, the low hum of engine noise will be completely obliterated. And depending on your headphones’ quality, they might also block other sounds like crying babies and people’s voices.
Does listening to headphones cause hearing loss?
It depends on your ears. However, you never want to turn your volume up to the max for extended periods.
