The 9 Best Headphones That’ll Make a Long-Haul Flight More Bearable

ProsGreat sound qualityThe best in noise cancellingLightweight, padded, and comfortableEasy snap travel caseTouch controls we likeConsImprovements over the cheaper XM5 are marginalStill no USB-C audioThe current flagship model in Sony’s massively popular noise-canceling headphone line, the XM6 offers superior ANC and comfort. Soft and pillowy ear cushions combine with some of the best noise cancellation in the biz to make for a headphone I love wearing for hours on end. And up to thirty hours of battery life on a single charge will get you anywhere you need to go. Plus, it’s one of the rare headphones with touch controls that I actually like using. Tapping to pause and swiping up or down for volume control feel intuitive and natural.My favorite little detail here, and its biggest improvement upon the WH-1000XM5, is the travel case. Instead of a zipper, like most have, the XM6 case has a magnetized snap lock. It's super secure and super easy, and it makes me never want to fuss with a zippered case again.The only real flaw here is the lack of audio playback over USB-C. It's not really a feature I ever find myself needing (Bluetooth serves me fine when connecting to my phone), but it is notably appearing in more and more competing headphones. It does still include a 3.5mm jack and cable for your wired playback needs.ProsFoldable and compactSuper lightGreat sound and noise cancelling options for the priceUp to 70 hours of battery life ConsNo travel caseLower quality plastic than the multi-hundred dollar optionsYou can currently find a lot of different JBL Tune headphones on Amazon for a pretty reasonable price. Of all of the ones I’ve tried (and it’s a good number of them), these hit the sweet spot of portability and quality. The small ear cup design makes folding easy, and compared to the travel cases of the bigger headphones, these barely take up any bag real estate.The sound is pretty good too. The dynamic highs and lows definitely get flattened when you turn on the ambient and talk-thru modes, but having both options at the push of a button is becoming the norm. JBL delivers the options, even if this particular pair of headphones falls somewhere in the middle of what the brand can deliver soundwise.On a single two-hour charge, you can juice up these bad boys with nearly 70 hours of continuous playback. That's enough to get you from any airport on Earth to another.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsEasy connection with iPhones and iPadsUSB-C audio playbackGreat noise cancellation ConsHeavyStill don't love the Smart CaseIf these are already your daily commuter headphones, you’re in pretty good shape. If not, consider them one of the top viable options. For the discerning listener who wants something reliable, easy to connect to their phone, and with noise-canceling options when they need it, the AirPods Max deliver. There’s more than one reason you’ll see half the people on your plane wearing them. You can get better-sounding cans for less money, but convenience and comfort trump all for most users. Who can blame them when they are this comfortable and this convenient?I do have to take these down a peg, mostly because Apple failed to address any of the issues people (myself included) had about the first generation. They are not only the heaviest of these headphones at 13.6 ounces, but also the most awkward to travel with due to the Smart Case. The new generation of AirPods Max comes with the same case that doesn’t protect the mesh band. Easy to carry, yes, but it’s not the most logical to pack away in a bag.ProsEasy to connect to your phoneGreat call qualitySmall charging caseConsThe arguments about whether they are comfortable will never endWhile I’m on the topic of Apple, I can’t not talk about the classic earbuds. And while I’d argue the big headphones’ place is mostly on the plane, I get that some of you don’t love them. Others just want a backup in case they find their over-ears suddenly out of charge (not a problem if you shop from this list). Point being, the most reliable earbuds on the planet are going to be a must for many travelers. Are they comfortable? Not the most if you ask me, but for most people the answer is “comfortable enough” or “I’ve never really thought about it.”Beyond that, the cult of AirPods speaks for itself. These are the ones with ANC—that’s the bare minimum you need out of a pair of travel earbuds.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsBetter sound quality and ANC than standard airpodsAll-day comfortComes in stylish colorsConsAt the price you may as well buy the over-ear onesPersonally, I vastly prefer these to any AirPods I’ve ever tried. They are really damn comfortable and come in all kinds of stylish colors—like this classy burgundy and gold—instead of a sterile white. Comfort goes further than style, but what trumps both for me (in earbuds I’m taking on the plane) is the ability to sound great while drowning out the sound of a jet engine. This does it all in a charging case that, all things considered, isn’t that much bigger than the AirPods.What’s the catch? Well, they are $500, which is on par with most of these over-ear headphones. In some ways, though, they might be a better investment. You will wear these every day, not just on long-haul flights.ProsSuper comfortable for long sessionsLightweight, with a small caseQuick charge turns 15 minutes into multiple hours of playbackConsDon't love the touch controlsIf you're in it for the long haul, you'll want to prioritize two things—comfort and battery life. You don't want to be needing to charge in the middle of your in-flight Marvel marathon and you certainly don't want to take a long break because your glasses are rubbing the tops of your ears.When it comes to comfort and noise-canceling, the QuietComfort line from Bose is the only one that really competes with what Sony is doing. The second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones come with a snazzy new metal headband, longer battery life than before, and more options than ever for spatial and immersive audio modes.For me, none of that really makes Bose worth it. For me, it’s the Quick Charge. In just about 10 minutes of charging, I can get between an hour and two hours of playback (depending on whether I need ANC on). Meaning if you do a quick charge every time you're taking a bathroom break, you can keep these charged full for an entire international flight from N.Y.C. to Japan—just make sure you have a power bank you trust.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThe Best Travel Headphones for Music LoversSonos AceThe Best Travel Headphones for Music LoversSonos AceProsMusic can't sound much better than thisSimple black or white color scheme is great for travelPhysical button controlsUSB-C to 3.5mm jack includedConsCan only choose normal listening in the appBose and Sony do better noise cancellingIf the plan for your trip is to use your headphones for music listening, go for the Sonos Ace. We’ve been able to try the debut from the makers of the Arc soundbar (one of our personal favorites) and have been thoroughly impressed by the comfort and sound quality. When we use these, it’s safe to say we don’t believe that music can sound much better. The ANC creates absolute silence and allows us to hear those high trebles and truly feel bass notes. The headphones themselves feel sturdy and high-quality, with special emphasis on the adjustable steel headband (a key feature it shares with the aforementioned Apple product). It also has physical buttons, which we still vastly prefer over touch controls. The latter system is way too unreliable.The only thing we can reasonably complain about with these is the regular listening mode is controlled in the Sonos app. With the on-headphone control button, you can cycle between full-on ANC or transparency modes. To have a normal headphone experience, you have to drop into the app and toggle. Not a huge deal, and it's standard within the industry, but we’d love to quick cycle between all three.ProsHigh quality metals and materialsSounds great, with noise cancelling that's good enoughLightweight, despite all of thatConsSome travelers may desire more from the ANCI love the Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsens of the world. These two companies are makers of the best-looking, best-sounding cans you can buy, but most of them have one downside—the more luxe they are, the heavier they tend to get.Bowers & Wilkins solved this with its third-generation Px7 over-ear headphones. The S3 is the lightest, longest-lasting version yet of the brand’s second-tier headphone. Really the only thing it lacks is noise-cancelation that stacks up to competitors like Bose, Sony, and Sonos. In the grand scheme of things, that’s me picking nits, but at the end of the day it’s the kind of thing that makes a difference when comparing all the options at this price point.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsNo worries about battery lifeCord is detachableProfessional-level audio made by musiciansGreat valueConsRequires adapter for use with smartphonesNoise cancelling is passiveTechnically, the best way to avoid forgetting to charge your headphones is to buy ones that don’t need charging. That's where Audio-Technica enters the conversation. The brand is a favorite of audio engineers and especially popular with people who think their taste in music is way cooler than yours. Pretentious? A little, but at least the brand doesn’t overcharge for it like every other one.The M50X headphones are the best wired option Audio-Technica offers. The audio quality shines (especially on bass-heavy tracks), and the detachable cord is beyond convenient. Really the only downside is that most modern smartphones don't have a 3.5mm-headphone headphone jack. If you’re still rocking an iPod classic or MP3 player, or don't mind buying a dongle, these affordable wired headphones are a no-brainer.What to ConsiderOf course you want headphones that sound good. That's a given. When purchasing headphones specifically for travel (or just living the jet-set lifestyle), there's a bit more to it than that. These are the most important factors to consider.Comfort: When you plan on wearing your headphones for hours at a time, they need to be comfortable. Or else what is the point?Active Noise Cancellation: Active Noise Canceling (ANC) is a popular and common feature. Often it is available to toggle on and off and is usually paired with a "transparency" or "ambient aware" mode that lets outside noise get through. Every pair of headphones on this list (with the exception of the Audio-Technica wired) has toggleable ANC. The Sonos, Sony, and JBL headphones offer more ANC options via their respective apps.Battery life: If you're going on a ten-hour flight, you don't want headphones that are going to die 85 percent of the way to your destination. Sure, most trains and planes have charging outlets these days, but in our experience they are never there when you absolutely need them the most.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowFrequently Asked QuestionsAre earbuds or over-ear headphones better?Generally, this comes down to personal preference. For travel, over-ear headphones are often the more comfortable option, but they take up more space in your bag. Earbuds are compact and easy to use, but many people don't like having something inside their ear canal for hours on end. For travel, I tend to prefer over-ear headphones, but I recommend a couple of earbuds here just in case.What about open-ear?If both of those options sound like they have drawbacks that would impact you, it's also worth looking into open-ear headphones. In terms of form factor, these have the best of both worlds, but audio quality often suffers as a result. For running outside? Perfect. But for this purpose, I would recommend avoiding them.Does noise canceling drain the headphones' battery?Yes. Across the board, turning on ANC will ensure that your headphone battery drains faster. On average, headphones will consume 25 percent to 35 percent more battery when turned to noise-canceling mode. This can cut short your total battery life by hours.Does noise canceling impact sound quality?Oftentimes, yes. Especially on lower-end and budget ANC headphones, turning on noise-canceling can flatten the sound. ANC works differently depending on the tech, and some work better than others. This can subtly impact timing and rhythm to make songs sound imperceptibly off. In higher-end headphones like the Sonos Ace, the impact is much less perceptible.Do you actually test all these headphones?Yes. During my time at Esquire, I’ve spent time using all of these headphones and earbuds, and more. Remember, these are the best of the dozens upon dozens I test each year.