Best Traveling Headphones in 2025 – Comfort, Style & Battery Life
Traveling can be an exhilarating experience, but it also comes with noise, distractions, and long hours on the move. Whether you’re catching a long-haul flight, commuting daily, or exploring bustling cities, a good pair of headphones can make all the difference. In 2025, the best traveling headphones combine comfort, exceptional sound quality, active noise cancellation (ANC), and long battery life — plus smart features for on-the-go convenience.
This guide highlights the top headphones for travelers this year, catering to different preferences and budgets, from luxury over-ears to compact wireless earbuds.
Best Traveling Headphones in 2025
Sony WH-1000XM5
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Industry-leading noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
- Weight: 250g
The Sony WH-1000XM5 continues to dominate the travel headphone space with superb ANC performance, plush comfort, and an immersive sound profile. The adaptive sound control adjusts automatically based on your surroundings, making it perfect for moving from a quiet lounge to a noisy aircraft cabin.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: CustomTune adaptive noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 24 hours
- Weight: 254g
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra delivers pure comfort with its signature soft ear cushions and exceptional noise-blocking. Audio is rich and detailed, and the Immersive Audio feature provides a spatial listening experience ideal for movies on the go.
Apple AirPods Max
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Active noise cancellation with Transparency mode
- Battery Life: Up to 20 hours
- Weight: 385g
The AirPods Max offers Apple’s premium build quality, excellent ANC, and seamless integration with Apple devices. The memory foam ear cushions and breathable knit mesh canopy make them comfortable for extended use.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Adaptive noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 60 hours
- Weight: 293g
Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless offers stellar audio clarity with a natural soundstage. The impressive battery life makes it a top choice for international travelers who don’t want to worry about frequent charging.
Bowers & Wilkins PX8
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Advanced noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
- Weight: 320g
The PX8 stands out for its luxurious design, crafted from premium materials like aluminum and Nappa leather. It combines style with audiophile-grade sound, making it perfect for travelers who want both performance and aesthetics.
Shure AONIC 50 Gen 2
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Adjustable noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 45 hours
- Weight: 334g
Shure’s AONIC 50 Gen 2 brings professional studio-quality audio to the travel scene. The adjustable ANC and environment mode give you full control over how much of the outside world you hear.
Technics EAH-A800
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling
- Battery Life: Up to 50 hours
- Weight: 298g
Technics delivers a balanced sound profile with superb comfort. The long battery life is ideal for frequent flyers, and multipoint connectivity makes switching devices seamless.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Specs:
- Type: In-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Industry-leading noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 8 hours (24 with case)
- Weight: 5.9g per earbud
For those who prefer compact earbuds, the WF-1000XM5 provides top-tier ANC and sound quality in a small package. Perfect for travelers who value portability without sacrificing audio quality.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Specs:
- Type: In-ear, Wireless
- ANC: CustomTune adaptive noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours (24 with case)
- Weight: 6.2g per earbud
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds bring their acclaimed noise cancellation technology to a truly wireless form factor. The fit is secure yet comfortable, ideal for long travel days.
Beats Studio Pro
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Active noise cancellation with Transparency mode
- Battery Life: Up to 40 hours
- Weight: 260g
The Beats Studio Pro blends punchy bass with clean mids and highs, appealing to listeners who enjoy energetic sound. The sleek design and foldable build make it a travel-friendly choice.
JBL Tour One M2
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: True Adaptive Noise Cancelling
- Battery Life: Up to 50 hours
- Weight: 268g
JBL’s Tour One M2 offers balanced sound and impressive ANC at a competitive price. The lightweight build and comfortable fit make it suitable for extended listening sessions.
Anker Soundcore Space Q45
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Adaptive noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 65 hours
- Weight: 295g
For budget-conscious travelers, the Space Q45 delivers strong ANC and remarkable battery life. A fantastic value option for frequent flyers.
Marshall Monitor II ANC
Specs:
- Type: Over-ear, Wireless
- ANC: Active noise cancellation
- Battery Life: Up to 30 hours
- Weight: 320g
Marshall’s Monitor II ANC combines retro design with modern performance. It’s perfect for travelers who want a distinctive style alongside powerful sound.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, travelers have a wealth of headphone options, from high-end luxury over-ears to compact earbuds with exceptional ANC. Your choice depends on whether you prioritize portability, battery life, style, or pure sound quality. Frequent flyers may prefer the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum 4 for all-around excellence, while style-conscious travelers might opt for the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 or Marshall Monitor II ANC.
FAQs
Which headphones are best for long flights?
The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra are top choices due to comfort and ANC performance.
Do earbuds work well for travel?
Yes, models like the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer great portability and noise cancellation.
Are there budget-friendly travel headphones?
Yes, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 offers strong performance at a lower price.
Should I choose over-ear or in-ear for travel?
Over-ear headphones generally provide better ANC and comfort for long periods, while in-ear models are more compact.
