Back in the 1990s, when I was traveling on my airline pilot father’s standby passes, there weren’t many ways for passengers to cancel ambient noise while in flight. I remember squishing and twisting little yellow pairs of foam earplugs with my fingers and letting them rise in my ears while I swirled ice around in my Pawberry Punch and ripped open a cold pouch of Delta-branded Biscoff cookies. Much has changed in travel technology since those days; and although I’ll forever miss Dusty the Delta Air Lion, I’m happy to report no more need for plastic ear foam.

Today the noise-canceling and noise-enhancing options for in-flight usage have never been better, as even the most basic earbuds now often have sound-muffling capabilities. Most noise-canceling headsets and earbuds work to eliminate background noise through the use of active noise cancellation (ANC), in which tiny, built-in microphones first isolate ambient noise and sound waves before blocking them out with their own internal sound waves. Some newer models now use adaptive noise cancellation, a version of ANC with the added benefit of being able to automatically change and adapt in real time to reduce noise in environments with inconsistent noise levels.

Although most headsets nowadays function with some level of ANC — with some even including features like passive noise canceling so it’s safer to wear them while walking alone and easier to hear important airport announcements such as boarding calls — not all noise-canceling headsets are created equal.

From a noise-reducing headset designed to make you sleep better to a nondescript pair of powerful noise-blocking earbuds that won’t take up space in your carry-on, we’ve tested and reviewed our favorite noise-canceling headsets so you can choose the right pair for your travel style.

© Bowers & Wilkins

IF YOU’RE A FREQUENT FLYER
In the same way a run-of-the-mill suitcase wouldn’t meet the demanding needs of a frequent flyer, an average pair of headphones won’t hold up to the wear and tear of airplane mileage. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 is designed for longevity and features soft leather ear cuffs that mold and soften with each use. The battery lasts for 30 hours on one charge, whether using the headset for noise canceling or not, and even just a short 15-minute charge will give the headset another seven hours of playback. The Px8 also includes a hybrid noise cancellation system, which includes ambient pass- through (great while walking through the airport) and a wear-detection sensor that automatically shuts off the headset and its ANC features when not being worn to save the battery. It includes an optional stereo jack audio cable for an easy connection with in-flight entertainment systems but also operates with Bluetooth capabilities.

Specs:
Weight: 11.2 ounces (without carry case)
Carry case dimensions: 7.44 by 2.48 by 9.17 inches
Microphones: Four for ANC, two for telephony
Playback: 30 hours
Bluetooth: Yes
Price: $749

© Bose

IF YOU’RE AN EARBUD LOYALIST
Comfort and quality come together in the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. This small but mighty sound system comes with the signature Bose “fit kit” to make sure they are the perfect size before ever delivering a single sound. The sound quality is incredible, with high-fidelity audio that’s completely adjustable via the coordinating app, so users can control bass, mid-range and treble levels for a customized listening experience. The app also controls the adjustable noise-canceling features, offering options such as “aware mode,” “quiet mode” and “off.” Although the earbuds only last roughly 8.5 hours on a single charge, they are great for in-transit use, like on a train, in an airport or for light travel, since they take up virtually no space in a carry-on. These earbuds do a great job tuning out background noises and ambient sounds to deliver a quiet and peaceful environment, but they also have a superior sound system built in for music and video entertainment use.

Specs:
Weight: 0.38 ounces (without carry case)
Carry case dimensions: 2.76 by 1.9 by 1.38 inches
Microphones: Built-in microphone
Playback: 8.5 hours
Bluetooth: Yes
Price: $179

© Beats by Dre

IF YOU PREFER OVER-EAR

Frequent travelers often prefer over-the-ear styles since they offer a superior level of noise cancellation. The cups surround the ear entirely, combining passive noise isolation and active noise cancellation in a way that blocks out more background noise than
in-ear models are able to detect. A comfy, dependable headset with a strong battery life is the way to go, why many travelers trust Beats by Dre’s Beats Studio Pro. It comes with ultra-plush leather cushions, and the entire headset can fold into itself for easy portability (without taking up much space in a carry-on). The noise canceling is controlled via Bluetooth in a corresponding app with which users can select from transparency mode (letting in some background noise) or full noise cancellation mode. The set comes with an optional 3.5mm analog input, so it’s possible to connect easily to in-flight entertainment.

Specs:
Weight: 9.1 ounces (without carry case)
Carry case dimensions: 3.1 by 7 inches
Microphones: Four for ANC, two for telephony
Playback: 40-plus hours
Bluetooth: Yes
Price: $359.99

© Mantasleep.com

IF YOU NEED TO GET SOME SLEEP
Not all flights are movie-watching flights, and every traveler knows there are times when sleeping in the air is necessary. Noise-canceling headphones come in handy, but there are other factors in play that determine a good flight’s sleep, and no other device can black out sight and sound better than the Manta SOUND Sleep Mask. This sleep mask blocks out 100 percent of light with its C-shaped eye cups, but this model also features a band with built-in, ultra-thin Bluetooth speakers (designed with side sleepers in mind) that allow the use of white noise, music or meditation. When used with the Manta Sleep Earplugs, the mask blocks out both light and sound since the earplugs were designed to stay in all night in any position.

Specs:
Weight: 4 ounces (without carry case)
Carry case: Drawstring mesh pouch
Microphones: 0
Playback: 24 hours
Bluetooth: Yes
Price: $159

© Sony Electronics

IF YOU WANT CINEMATIC SOUND QUALITY
For some noise-canceling headphones on the market, it’s not so much about muffling sound as it is about making it easier to enjoy the sounds the user wants to hear. A headset that does this well is the new Sony WH-1000XM6, co-created with mastering audio engineers to fine-tune the sound capabilities of this headset to offer studio-quality clarity. This model includes 12 internal microphones which employ adaptive noise cancellation in real time to make sure the sound quality stays consistent in any environment. This new model from Sony also comes with an analog headphone cable that connects easily to in-flight entertainment and features a three-minute quick charge option to extend the device’s charge for up to three hours.

Specs:
Weight: 8.9 ounces (without carry case)
Carry case dimensions: 8.3 inches by 8.3 inches by 3 inches
Microphones: 12
Playback: 30 hours
Bluetooth: Yes
Price: $459.99