Ever since Sony launched the Walkman in 1979, headphones have become an almost indispensable travel accessory, helping billions of people through tedious train commutes and mind-numbing long-haul flights. For many of us, it’s hard to imagine embarking on any journey without a pair – but some are better suited to the job than others. The best headphones for travel combine – and nail – several things.
Firstly, they have class-leading sound quality, which is always our primary concern when it comes to reviewing and curating Best Buys like this one. They also nail aspects related to travel, such as noise-cancelling performance, design portability and battery life. After all, the best travel companions for your ears must limit distracting crowd and engine noise, pack nicely, and not require constant charging.
We have reviewed thousands of headphones over the years, from budget earbuds to premium audiophile headphones and everything in between, so we know a good pair when we hear them. Every pair on this list has been extensively reviewed by our expert team who has team 150 years of collective experience, and tested against the current leader in its class, so you can be sure they represent fantastic value for money. You can read more about , or scroll to start your journey towards finding your next travel headphones.
Whether you’re boarding a plane, train or bus, one of the things that is most likely to interrupt your listening is noise. Engines, announcements and fellow .