7 Best Travel Headphones [2024]: Top Comfort & Quality!

Planes can be noisy places with people talking, crying babies, or a snoring passenger in your row. So, when traveling on a plane, you'll want to bring travel headphones since it's nice to have the option to pop in some headphones and tune everything out. 

The best headphones for travel are comfortable to wear for long periods and offer noise reduction without compromising on sound quality. Ideally, they should be compact in size or folded for convenient packing in your carry-on bag. 

Bluetooth headphones are the best airplane headphones because they don't have a cord that can easily be tugged and fall out or break. They allow you to have a peaceful tug-free ride. Most flights will allow you to bring Bluetooth headphones and use them in-flight, but some airlines ask you to turn them off for take-off and landing.

If you're looking for other travel-related gear, we've previously reviewed traveler favorites brands, such as Osprey and Outdoor Voices.

Let's get started with a list of the 7 best headphones for travel and what makes each of them a great option!

Best Travel Headphones To Bring On Your Trip

Here are the 6 best travel headphones frequently used and loved by travelers around the world. Keep in mind that this list is not in order and are just amazing top products we think you'll love as well!

1. Beats Studio³ Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

Our Rating: 4.6/5

The Beats Studio³ headphones are sleek, stylish, and comfortable, so you ride in style. Their ability to fold and adjust head sizes makes them perfect for anyone. 

Pure ANC actively blocks external noise, so you won't have to worry about a noisy person (or people) in your row. 

And not only do they fold down for convenient carrying, but they also come with a case to ensure they stay safe in your bag.

The Beats Studio³ headphones are great for travel because of their battery life and the available options. They have up to 22 hours of playback on a regular charge, and you have the choice to turn off the Pure ANC which provides up to 40 hours of battery life.

If you forgot to charge before you leave, they got your back with a quick 10-minute charge you can get 3 hours of playback.

2. Apple AirPods Pro

Our Rating: 4.7/5

It's hard to beat Apple when it comes to electronics, and headphones are no different. 

For those frequent flyers who want to ditch their headphone jack and the big bulky over-the-ear headphones, the Apple AirPods Pro is the best option. Their interchangeable earpieces allow for a seamless fit and comfort, and the active noise cancellation will allow you to drift into your own world for the whole flight. 

Airpods work using Bluetooth, so there are no pesky cords involved, and their cases are small, sleek, and allow for customization, making them the ideal travel headphones. 

Contrary to what you might think, you can use AirPods with an Android phone, so don't fret if you don't have an iPhone already. The only downside to using AirPods with an android is that you cant take advantage of the Find My iPhone, which allows you to track them using if you happen to lose them if they are registered.

AirPods have 24 hours of use with each charge and are water and sweat-resistant, so whether you are running to catch your flight or hitting the treadmill at the gym, you won't miss a beat!

3. Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700

Our Rating: 4.5/5

The Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700 are lightweight, over-ear headphones and have over 20 hours of battery life on a single charge. The capacitive touch controls make them easy for anyone to use. 

With a tap or swipe, you can change the song and volume or use your phone's voice assistant with ease. A fast 15-minute charge can allow for an extra 2 hours of listening time.

Their commitment to call quality sets these headphones above the rest. Don't worry about missing important calls on your way to the airport or calling home from a busy cafe in Paris. 

These headphones have 6 mics that cancel the noise around you, allowing you to hear the call better, and an extra 4 mics that suppress the noise around you so your caller can hear you clearly. 

4.  Bose Soundsport Wireless Headphones

Our Rating: 4.3/5

The Bose Soundsport Wireless headphones are minimalistic and perfect for traveling! They easily pack down into their case, which has a convenient carabiner to clip to your bag. These headphones have high-quality audio and the StayHear+ Sport tips ensure your headphones stay in place while wearing.

These headphones are equipped with Tile, an app you can download on your phone to help find your headphones in case they are lost or misplaced. Lasting 6 hours on a single charge these headphones are a great option for shorter flights or can be charged mid-flight if needed.

5. Sony WF-1000XM4 

Our Rating: 4.6/5

Sony has been an industry-leading company since its founding and one of the best choices for headphones since 1964. 

The Sony WF-1000XM4, or short for the Sony XM4, is indeed the best noise-canceling headphones for travel. Their advanced noise-canceling technology ensures your music, podcast, movie, or tv show are crisp and clear, and no outside noise can disrupt you (even high and mid-frequency sounds, AKA no crying babies here). 

These headphones can transmit data at 3x the speed of Bluetooth, allowing for high-resolution audio. It's like taking the movie theatre with you in your carry-on bag. The Speak to Chat function pauses your music and allows you to have conversations when needed without removing your headphones! 

With 30 hours of battery life, they can keep you going through multiple legs of your journey, but if you forget to charge them, just 10 minutes will give you an extra 5 hours of listening time. Although these headphones are the most expensive ones on the list, they are well worth it.

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6. Urbanista Miami Wireless Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

Our Rating: 4.0/5

The Urbanista Miami Wireless Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones are stylish travel headphones perfect for someone with a mid-range budget. 

Don't compromise on features and travel in style! The comfortable and adjustable headset makes them ideal for long-haul trips or short flights, and you can't beat 50 hours of playback time!

Use the convenient buttons to change tracks or simply take them off to pause your tunes. They will automatically resume when you put them back on. Their ambient sound mode can filter important messages from the outside world, ensuring you don't miss your boarding announcement. The active noise-canceling technology gives you fabulous audio while minimizing the outside noise.

Choose from four colors: Teal, Pearl, Midnight Black, and Ruby Red, and stand out in a crowd with these headphones.

7. TaoTronics SoundSurge 85 ANC Wireless

Our Rating: 4.2/5

The TaoTronics SoundSurge 85 ANC Wireless headphones are perfect for travelers on a budget while still making sure you get the quality you need for travel.

Although they are the least expensive headphones on this list, they don't skip a beat when it comes to the features, having almost all of the same features as their more expensive counterparts.  

The 40-hour battery life means you can go out and have many adventures before you need to worry about charging again, and the Active Noise Canceling will ensure all your travels are peaceful. They are flexible and soft for long-term wear and will conveniently fold down for easy storage. These headphones offer the ability to use the 35mm jack or Bluetooth!

Edit: Unfortunately, the product page is not currently available on both Amazon and TaoTronics. We'll keep you updated as the product becomes available again!

Plan with Pilot!

No matter which headphones you choose to buy, you can be sure to find some of the best headphones for traveling on this list to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable flight.

Now that you've got your travel headphones, it's time to make a plan for your trip with Pilot!