Whether you're trying to block out the hum of an airplane or immerse yourself in a podcast, the best travel headphones are a necessity. Here are our top picks for 2024.
T The Best Travel Headphones
The best travel headphones are more than just a luxury—they’re a necessity. Whether you're trying to block out the hum of an airplane, immerse yourself in a podcast during a long train ride, or simply listen to your favorite tunes while exploring a new city, a comfortable pair of headphones with long battery life and clear sound can transform your travel experience. Whether you're trying to block out the hum of an airplane or tune into your favorite tunes, quality headphones can transform your travel experience.
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After extensive research and firsthand experience, we determined the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones as the best travel headphones overall thanks to sound quality, comfort, and easy portability. Meanwhile, we found the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 best suited for pairing with in-flight entertainment, and the JBL Tune 720BT best for long battery life. Below, the best travel headphones of 2024.
Best Travel Headphones of 2024
- Best Travel Headphones Overall: Sennheiser Momentum 4
- Best Premium Travel Headphones: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95
- Best Budget Travel Headphones: JBL TUNE 670NC
- Best Earbuds For Travel: Poly Voyager Free 60+ UC
- Best Headphones For In-Flight Entertainment: Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
- Best Travel Headphones For Battery Life: JBL Tune 720BT
- Best Apple Headphones For Travel: Apple AirPods Pro
- Best Sony Headphones For Travel: Sony WH-1000XM5
- Best Bose Headphones For Travel: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Best Travel Headphones For Comfort: Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Best Travel Headphones Overall For When You Want To (Literally) Go The Distance
Amazon Sennheiser Momentum 4
- Battery Life: 60 hours
- Drive Size: 40mm
- Weight: 11.36 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Lightweight design, Impressive 60-hour battery life, Comfortable fit
Cons: Expensive
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones stand out as the best overall option for travel due to their exceptional combination of sound quality, comfort, and features tailored for on-the-go use. With their advanced adaptive noise cancellation, these headphones effectively block out ambient noise, making them ideal for flights, trains, or busy city streets. The Momentum 4’s long battery life of up to 60 hours ensures you can binge-watch movies on long-haul international flights without worrying about recharging mid-trip. Comfort is another key strength, thanks to the wide ear cups, plush cushions, and lightweight design, allowing for hours of wear without discomfort. Perhaps most importantly, these headphones deliver a well-balanced audio experience (which is also adjustable through the app), ensuring your music, podcasts, or calls sound great no matter where you are.
Best Premium Travel Headphones For Luxury And Performance On The Move
AMAZON Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95
- Battery Life: 38 hours
- Drive Size: 42mm
- Weight: 10.3 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Luxurious design, Excellent sound clarity, Durable construction
Cons: Expensive, Leather makes them unsuitable for vegan travelers
Even if you’re seated in basic economy, Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay H95 will make the experience feel luxurious. These over-the-ear headphones offer five levels of superb active noise cancellation, making them ideal for blocking out the constant hum of airplanes or the crying baby one row up. The sound profile is refined, while the 38-hour battery life ensures uninterrupted playback for much of your trip. Intuitive ear cup controls make it easy to adjust the volume, pause and play music, and skip or replay tracks. The H95’s design is another standout, with premium materials like memory foam ear cushions, lambskin leather, and anodized aluminum. The foldable design and high-quality hard-shell carrying case (which also holds a USB-C cable, a microfiber cleaning cloth, a 3.5mm audio cable, and a flight adaptor) further enhance their portability.
Best Budget Travel Headphones Light On The Wallet
Amazon JBL TUNE 670NC
- Battery Life: 70 hours
- Drive Size: 32mm
- Weight: 6.1 ounces
- Storage: Does not come with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Foldable design, Incredible battery life, Comfortable fit
Cons: Not as durable as other options
While JBL’s Tune 670NC headphones are budget-friendly, they don’t look cheap, thanks to a sleek matte finish and subtle branding. And with JBL’s signature Pure Bass sound, these headphones deliver rich audio that punches above its weight. The 70-hour battery life is great for those with extended travel plans, and the lightweight design and plush ear cushion ensure that you can wear them until they need to be recharged (though, hopefully, your transit time is shorter than that). Despite not coming with a carrying case, the headphones’ foldable design makes them easy to pack. They also have an adaptive noise-canceling feature that helps block out noisy environments.
Best Earbuds For Travel Enjoy Your Music In Peace
Amazon Poly Voyager Free 60+ UC
- Battery Life: 16 hours
- Drive Size: 10mm
- Weight: 0.21 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Touchscreen charging case, Superior sound quality, Water-resistant
Cons: Expensive
What makes these earbuds so handy is the Bluetooth transmitter inside the carrying case, allowing you to pair them with in-flight entertainment systems. When you need to change the volume, pause the music or television show, or check the battery life on the go, you can do so on the charging case’s touchscreen. That screen also allows you to switch between noise-canceling and transparency modes without touching your phone (though the app helps customize and fine-tune the audio). The headphones feature hybrid active noise cancellation, effectively blocking out ambient sounds (and tuning out your overly chatty neighbor), while the six microphones (three per earbud) triangulate your voice and the surrounding noise so you can be heard clearly when on a call.
Best Headphones For In-Flight Entertainment
Tune Out Airplane Noises To Tune Into Movies
Amazon Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
- Battery Life: 6.5 hours for earbuds (plus an additional 13.5 hours from charging case)
- Drive Size: 12mm
- Weight: 0.25 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Stylish, Pairs with in-flight entertainment easily, Comfortable fit
Cons: Less battery life than other options
You may notice that the Pi8 is shaped differently from other in-ear headphones. That’s because Bowers & Wilkins engineers studied how human ears can vary depending on gender and ethnicity and worked to create an ergonomic fit that would produce the best possible passive noise cancellation for the most number of people. Not only do these headphones have superior sound quality, but they also work seamlessly with the in-flight entertainment systems by connecting with Bluetooth, allowing you to listen to movies, TV shows, and music without cords. Plus, the adaptive noise-cancellation technology intelligently adjusts to block out cabin noise while preserving the clarity of your content. Their long battery life makes them perfect for long-haul flights.
Best Travel Headphones For Battery Life
A Battery That Goes The Distance
Amazon JBL Tune 720BT
- Battery Life: 76 hours
- Drive Size: 40mm
- Weight: 7.8 ounces
- Storage: Does not come with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: No
Pros: Foldable design, Incredible battery life, Comfortable fit
Cons: Not noise canceling
If you’re a road warrior who constantly uses headphones to make phone calls in crowded airport lounges or block out airplane noise while you finish a brief, you’ll want something with a long battery life. While 30 to 50 hours would be considered good battery life, the JBL Tune 720BT can go a staggering 76 hours between charges. When they need more juice, you can get three hours of listening after being plugged in for just five minutes. The lightweight design and plush ear cushion ensure you can wear them for a long time, and the multipoint connectivity allows you to easily switch between devices—a useful feature when juggling your phone and laptop. While it lacks some nice-to-have features like noise cancellation and a carrying case, the often sub-$75 price tag makes up for it.
Best Apple Headphones For Travel
Excellent Audio For Apple Loyalists
Amazon Apple AirPods Pro
- Battery Life: 6 hours for earbuds (plus an additional 24 with charging case)
- Drive Size: 11mm
- Weight: 0.4 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Compact and portable, Water and sweat-resistant, Solid battery life
Cons: No multi-device audio streaming, Limited customization
The AirPods Pro have some serious Goldilocks qualities that make them the best of Apple’s options for travel. Their lightweight, compact design makes them easy to slip into a pocket or bag, and the comfortable in-ear fit allows you to comfortably wear them during long journeys. The standout feature for travelers is the active noise cancellation, which uses advanced algorithms to block out background noise. When situational awareness is needed, the transparency mode can be quickly activated, letting in outside sound without removing the earbuds, which is particularly useful when navigating unfamiliar environments or making announcements clearer. Additionally, the long battery life, quick charging, and seamless integration with Apple devices enhance their overall convenience.
Best Sony Headphones For Travel
Enhanced Usability And A Long Battery Life
Amazon Sony WH-1000XM5
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Drive Size: 30mm
- Weight: 8.82 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Excellent sound quality, Advanced features, Comfortable design
Cons: Doesn't fold up as compactly as other options
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 offers industry-leading noise cancellation as well as adaptive sound control, making them versatile for various travel scenarios. Their ultra-comfortable memory foam earcups provide a secure yet cozy fit, which is crucial for long flights or extended wear. Battery life is another travel-friendly aspect, offering up to 30 hours on a single charge, and several hours of playtime with just a quick 10-minute charge. Plus, the WH-1000XM5’s intuitive touch controls and seamless connectivity, including multi-device pairing, mean you can effortlessly switch between your phone, tablet, or laptop, streamlining your travel experience.
Best Bose Headphones For Travel
Bose's Best For Road Warriors
Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Battery Life: 24 hours
- Drive Size: 35mm
- Weight: 9 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Great noise canceling, Elevated design, Comfortable fit
Cons: Immersive audio mode kills battery life
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra, the brand’s most premium offering, includes spatial audio and custom-tuned EQ settings that adjust to your listening environment, delivering rich, high-fidelity sound. Though the headphones block out a lot of sound without the noise canceling on, with it, you’ll hear nothing. That noise-stopping power, paired with large, comfortable ear cups, makes it easy to sleep through red-eye flights. And with up to 24 hours of battery life, you can make it through multiple legs of air travel without scrambling for a charger (though if you're in a pinch, a 15-minute top-up gets you 3 more hours). They're also surprisingly lightweight, and thanks to a dual-hinge design, they can fold flat, making it easier to stick in a carry-on bag.
Best Travel Headphones For Comfort
Good For Big Ears And Heads
Amazon Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- Battery Life: 30 hours
- Drive Size: 40mm
- Weight: 11.3 ounces
- Storage: Comes with carrying case
- Noise Cancelling: Yes
Pros: Fantastic sound, Stylish appearance, Robust ear cups
Cons: Expensive
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 offer plush memory foam ear cushions that mold to the shape of your ears, ensuring a snug yet gentle fit even during long journeys. The headband is luxuriously padded and distributes weight evenly, preventing pressure points often associated with extended periods of wear that can cause discomfort. The Px8 also excels in performance, with adaptive noise cancellation that effectively blocks out ambient noise, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your favorite music or podcasts without distraction. The headphones pair easily with your devices via Bluetooth and have a stylish finish that makes them look more expensive than they are. Combined with a battery life that lasts up to 30 hours, the Px8 offers the perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and functionality.
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Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted contributor and the author of this guide, Bailey Berg, has extensive experience testing and evaluating travel gear (often while on the road). Her recent guides include reporting on the best TSA-approved travel locks and the best anti-theft backpacks, and beyond Forbes Vetted, her work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, Afar, Travel + Leisure, and beyond. This story was assigned and produced by senior travel editor Astrid Taran, a 7-year industry veteran who's visited over 35 countries and has used a variety of travel headphones on her journeys. To keep you up-to-date on the best selections (and prices) available, we refresh this roundup regularly.
Bailey Berg,Contributor