Best Headphones for Travel 2025

As we move through 2025 and many travellers look forward to escaping to new destinations, one of the best ways to enhance your comfort on a long-haul flight is with the perfect pair of headphones. Whether you’re heading to a tropical paradise, exploring bustling cities, or visiting family abroad, quality headphones can transform your journey. Here’s our comprehensive guide to help you find the ideal headphones for your travel needs this year.

For Comfort: Our Pick is Sonos Ace

Our Thoughts on Sonos Ace:

The Sonos Ace headphones remain our top choice for comfort in 2025. These headphones are wrapped in plush memory foam and soft vegan leather, which minimizes contact with your ears and provides an exceptionally cozy listening experience. They’re also remarkably lightweight, so they don’t press down on your head, making them perfect for those marathon flight sessions. Whether you’re binge-watching your favorite series or listening to music for hours on end, the Sonos Ace will keep you comfortable throughout your entire journey.

For Noise Cancelling: Our Pick is Beoplay H95

Our Thoughts on Beoplay H95:

Choosing the best noise-canceling headphones continues to be a tough decision in 2025, with so many excellent options available. While we didn’t conduct scientific measurements to determine our favourite, our extensive experience with the Beoplay H95 in noisy environments remains consistently impressive. The robust design and premium build quality of the H95 create an excellent seal around your ears, allowing the active noise cancellation (ANC) to work its magic effectively. These headphones truly envelop your ears, successfully blocking out the ambient noise of airplane cabins, busy airports, and urban environments, so you can enjoy your audio content without any interruptions.

For Battery Life: Our Pick is Momentum 4 Wireless

Our Thoughts on Momentum 4 Wireless:

The Momentum 4 headphones from Sennheiser continue to be our top pick for battery life in 2025. These headphones deliver an outstanding 60 hours of playtime on a single charge, making them absolutely perfect for extended trips where recharging opportunities might be limited. What’s more, the Momentum 4 provides excellent sound quality and features advanced noise-canceling technology, ensuring a premium listening experience throughout your journey. The sleek, refined design and comfortable fit make them suitable for extended wear, allowing you to enjoy your favourite audio content without any discomfort, even on the longest international flights.

While the Momentum 4 excels in battery life and overall performance, there are other outstanding headphones we also recommend considering in 2025. The Beoplay H95, Accentum Plus, and Marshall Major V each offer a unique balance of features and capabilities. Whether you prioritize noise cancellation, comfort, sound quality, or value, these alternatives ensure you can find the perfect pair of headphones to suit your specific travel preferences and needs.

For Audiophile Travel: Our Pick is Focal Bathys MG

Our Thoughts on Focal Bathys MG:

For audiophiles who refuse to compromise on sound quality while traveling, the Focal Bathys MG represents the pinnacle of wireless headphone engineering in 2025. These premium headphones feature pure magnesium drivers crafted in Focal’s French workshops, delivering a more dynamic, refined, and detailed listening experience compared to the already excellent original Bathys. The enhanced midrange performance and improved precision make these headphones truly exceptional for discerning listeners. With the same outstanding 30-hour battery life, USB-DAC mode supporting up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution, and effective active noise cancellation, the Bathys MG bridges the gap between audiophile-grade wired headphones and wireless convenience. The luxurious chestnut finish and premium materials reflect the sophisticated engineering within, making these the ultimate choice for travellers who demand the very best sound quality on their journeys.

Conclusion

Selecting the right headphones for travel can dramatically improve your overall experience, especially during those long-haul flights that define modern travel. Whether you prioritize ultimate comfort, superior noise cancellation, exceptional battery life, or audiophile-grade sound quality, there are outstanding options available in 2025 to suit every preference and budget. The Sonos Ace, Beoplay H95, Momentum 4 Wireless, and Focal Bathys MG each excel in different areas, providing travellers with a diverse range of choices to enhance their journey. As you prepare for your next adventure this year, consider investing in a pair of high-quality headphones to make your travel time more enjoyable, productive, and comfortable. Safe travels and happy listening!