Traveling is an exciting experience regularly punctuated by long, boring stints on planes, trains and automobiles. Entertainment is essential for these typically dull moments in otherwise inspiring adventures, especially when you visit a crowded locale. Just because you’re off to see the world doesn’t mean you need to hear it.
There’s a lot that goes into finding the best pair of headphones for traveling. Plus, you probably want to make sure the pair you choose is also great for daily use on the bus, at work or around the house. Sound quality is important, but there are many more factors to consider.
Before you even start thinking about sound quality, you need to consider battery life and active noise-cancellation (ANC) performance. Battery life is particularly important as you don’t want your headphones to die partway through a long travel leg.
That doesn’t mean you should dismiss sound quality, of course. But a slightly lower score in this area may be a worthwhile compromise for particularly good battery life and ANC.
Comfort is also very important, but it can be subjective. As such, these results in our test are best used as a general guide. Durability is a big factor too, as your headphones are going to get banged around when you’re living out of a backpack or suitcase.
Consider which accessories come with the headphones as well. Look for a sturdy travel case, a detachable cable (to switch between wired and wireless connectivity) and a plane adaptor to access in-flight entertainment. Some of these accessories are sold separately.
Bigger, better battery life
We measure battery life with ANC turned on, but you can stretch it even further by turning this feature off. Most headphones give you the option to toggle it on and off using touch controls or via an official smartphone app. This is covered in the instructions included with the headphones.
Though this is largely a question of what you prefer, over/on-ear headphones (aka cans) are usually the better option. If they’re well-made, they’ll have considerably longer battery life with better sound and ANC quality, compared to buds.
However, they’re not exactly compact. They take up more space in your bag, they can’t fit discreetly in your pocket and may even weigh a lot more. In these respects, earbuds are a step ahead.
Earbuds are convenient, but on/over-ear headphones usually have better sound quality and battery life.
Comfort is a tricky one, simply because everyone’s ears are different. For example, earbuds might feel lighter and more comfortable in the short term, but would you want them sitting in your ear canals for an eight-hour flight?
Ideally, you want a pair of headphones that strikes the right balance across these categories. Aim for products that earn good results or higher in our comfort tests.
It’s worth paying for coverage if you’re traveling with headphones that cost more than $150–200. Most standard travel insurance policies include electronics up to a certain amount but you may need to provide the brand and model info so the insurer can determine the payout in the event of a claim.
This is because claims often factor in the age of the electronics to pay out a depreciated value. In other words, your insurer is unlikely to replace four-year-old headphones with the latest model (or equivalent value).
Most insurers offer additional levels of electronics coverage for a fee. This could be worth it if you’re traveling with lots of tech (laptop, headphones, smartphone) that’s no more than three or so years old. Remember to read the terms before paying for extended coverage.
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Below are the best earbuds and on-ear/over ear headphones for traveling.
Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses.
Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions.
Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong. LinkedIn
Peter Zaluzny is a Content producer in the Digital home team. He covers everything from home entertainment and personal safety devices to tech for your car and mattresses.
Peter enjoys cutting through the nonsense to help people understand the products they’re considering to buy. He helps consumers make educated, informed decisions.
Peter has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong. LinkedIn
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