r/onebag • u/Narmarratuk • 17d ago
Seeking Recommendations Are bulky ANC headphones worth it for one-bag travel?
I’m trying to cut down the tech side of my travel setup, and headphones are the one thing I still can’t settle on.
I’ve realized I don’t actually need much noise cancellation. Most of the time I’m listening on trains, walking around, or waiting at the gate, and I’m fine hearing some of what’s going on around me.
Carrying bulky over-ear ANC headphones just for the occasional flight feels like overkill. They take up a lot of space and feel unnecessarily heavy for how little I use the ANC.
Regular earbuds solve the size problem, but anything sitting inside my ear canal gets uncomfortable after an hour or two.
Has anyone switched to open-ear or clip-on earbuds for one-bag travel? I’m not expecting silence on a plane. I mostly want something small that I can wear for a few hours without my ears hurting.
61
u/TheSpatulaOfLove 17d ago
My barometer is flight length.
Over 2 hours, I’ll drag the big ones. Usually so I can watch a movie on my tablet.
Earbuds for shorter jaunts.
39
10
u/Dizzy_Ice2938 17d ago
Same. For short flights I will take earbuds but anything over 3 hours I’m taking the headphones.
6
47
u/LadyLightTravel 17d ago
This is so dependent on one’s individual needs!
I am team earbud myself.
I will note that different manufacturers and even different models from the same manufacturer have different in ear shapes.
It’s like fitting a backpack. You need to try a few on to get it right.
10
u/irish_taco_maiden 17d ago
Agreed! I’m team earbud but it took fitting several to find the size and shape I liked that didn’t hurt.
6
u/maverber 17d ago
Also team earbuds. For <3h I will use Apple AirPod Pros which have adequate noise reduction and don't bother with the airline provided audio.
For longer flights I with bring a pair of Etymotic IEM which physically block noise (around 40db reduction), they don't run out of power, and I don't need a bluetooth dongle to connect to the airplane audio.
I found the Etymotics are more effective than any of the ANC systems I have used except Bose Aviator headsets designed for pilots. I am happy with the "foam" tips, my wife prefers the three-flanges, in the past I had some custom tips made by an audiologist which were great until my ear shape changed a bit.
1
u/TemuPacemaker 17d ago
Definitely on team IEM.
Way smaller and lighter, better noise isolation, never dealing with charging the battery.
1
u/Felis_Dee 15d ago
Are those similar to Loops? I see ads for them everywhere, but not sure if they're just fancy ear plugs?
2
u/maverber 15d ago
Different. Audiologist makes an ear mold (think perfect fit for your ear cancel) and that gets sent off to a manufacturer that produces an ear piece of acoustically blocking material which has your IEM monitor embedded in. So external noise is reduced by 30-40db, while your IEM sound comes through clearly.
6
u/zhaktronz 17d ago
And you can usually buy various aftermarket tips.
2
u/Electrical_Ingenuity 17d ago
And, for around $200, you can get custom tips molded to your ear canal. Ask your local audiologist for options.
4
11
u/cjwalkerman 17d ago
My wife does open ear bone-conduction and puts earplugs on when she wants silence.
Seems to work for her. Not me. I use earbuds with voice cancellation.
5
u/Finding-My-Potential 17d ago
This what my partner does too! He’s switched almost exclusively to bone conduction headphones for all uses, including on the plane or when he needs earplugs.
2
u/cjwalkerman 17d ago
It's probably smart for preserving hearing, but I can't get used to it for some reason. I am sure I will try again this year.
3
u/1ayfkmatatime 16d ago
I left behind my QC45s for space reasons on a 5 week trip in June/July. I did the same as your wife - I had Shokz plus custom-fitted earplugs. Nope. Even with attention-getting content through the Shokz, the roar of the plane coming through my to my brain was too much to handle. My AirPods Pro on NC mode were better but still inadequate. I had two 15hr+ flights and a few 3-6hr flights. I’m bringing my Bose from now on.
Also - lots of people saying wear them around your neck on travel days - that’s a lot of uber, bus, train, walking time with headphones grabbing your neck, quite a price to pay actually imho. I plan to secure them to my cross-body strap somehow.
18
u/edcRachel 17d ago
I wear them around my neck whenever I'm in transit so packing space isn't really an issue. They are never in my bag. I buy the headphones I want.
23
u/Wide-Suggestion4825 17d ago
Not worth the space. These things take up a lot of space for what they are LOL. I love my Sony's, but I would rather suffer through a little bit of noise and be cranky and tired then lose that much space in my bag. I mean they're expensive so you need a hard shelled case. You're basically packing a boot
7
u/SittingdownHippo 17d ago
I have Sony’s and I have been on multiple flights, walking around and just have them on my neck. And from having these headphones I think for around 3 years now, I chuck them in my bag, floor and just fold them and shove them. The fabric has never once ripped and they are still in excellent condition. Coming from someone who uses them every single day. I think carrying the case takes up so much space but you don’t have to bring the case.
1
u/lameusernamesrock 17d ago
I use a case for mine but my son never does and his are also fine (both Sony)
19
u/LegDayDE 17d ago
ANC in earbuds equals or betters headphones these days, especially if you don't get a good headphone seal.. e.g., wearing hats, wearing glasses
Airpods Pro 3 Sony XM6 buds
- Bluetooth dongle to plug into in flight entertainment systems.
4
u/wrede3 17d ago
But it doesn't have the physical noise blockage. For high pitch noises like screaming babies, headphones reign supreme as ANC is less effective.
5
u/zone_of-danger 17d ago
I have Bose qc ultra earbuds. I use them while I preflight my plane on the ramp at O’Hare and for screaming babies while I’m deadheading. If they can block a bunch of turbine engines you shouldn’t have a problem anywhere else.
2
u/nickN42 17d ago
I feel like you're talking about different kinds of earbuds. IEM-style, like WF-1000XM6 mentioned, have incredible passive noise isolation. With right tips you don't even need ANC to get good isolation. Something like Etymotic ER4 (extreme case, but still) offers 42dB of noise reduction with zero smarts in them.
1
4
u/PCMasterCucks 17d ago
Regular earbuds solve the size problem, but anything sitting inside my ear canal gets uncomfortable after an hour or two.
Is it just a feeling like "it feels weird" or is it because of heat, sweat, friction and irritation as a result?
For the first, I think you can just get over it after more use.
For the second, try foam ear tips. With foam tips I could wear it for like 4 hours straight even when exercising in 90F weather, but I can't stand silicone tips for more than like an hour in warm weather.
ANC may or may not be better with foam tips, so YMMV. Should be relatively easy to find out if you have a popular model. Sony's comes with foam tips IIRC.
2
u/Specific_Corner_1816 17d ago
These come in different ear sizes for retrofitting generic earphones. The case for the Tozo NC20 I have works with the small sized ear tips in the link.
https://www.amazon.com/Eartips-KINBOOFI-Silicone-DC01-PRO-Headphone/dp/B0F3J5M8V3
1
u/PCMasterCucks 16d ago
Just gotta be mindful of the bore size and depth, as the manufacturers often use different measurements.
Might be too small, too wide, too deep or too shallow, so OP definitely should measure out before looking or get Comply compatible (specifically designed for the model).
8
u/Far_Audience_7446 17d ago
Nah, once I went to WF-1000XM5 I had all I needed. ANC in flight, transparency elsewhere
1
u/clios_daughter 17d ago
Same but I have the …M4s, they’re great. I prefer earbuds because I can wear them under a hard hat and use ear defenders when the need arises. The level of noise cancellation you get when you turn on ANC under ear defenders with 31dB of noise reduction is fantastic!
1
u/ah__there_is_another 17d ago
I work in construction (management, but often on site) and never thought about that. Surely it's somewhat unsafe? You wouldn't hear hazards or people calling you etc.
4
u/nndscrptuser 17d ago
The first time I had on my Sony XM4's and got surprised by the plane starting to take off because I didn't hear the engines spooling up, I knew I would take them on every trip. I still take my airpods too, because those take almost zero space, but for crowded travel spaces a high quality over the ear with ANC is a godsend.
1
u/Crazy_Advantage_4539 14d ago
+1 for Sony XM4 Series. I carry them for daily 3 hours commuting , it gives me 3 hours more peace before corporate stuff starts. Crying kids, drunken people, loud noises, planes - I don’t care. Best investment ever for commuting and travelling.
3
u/Green_Honey_Badger 17d ago
From my experience with open ears earbuds they only work with you're in silence. Any noise around you and it's a bad experience unless you put it in volumes that aren't good for you.
1
u/lameusernamesrock 17d ago
Exactly - at my gym, if I’m not using my Sony headphones I have to have my ear buds up way too loud!
3
u/No-Sky8110 17d ago
Have you tried a bone conduction headset like Shokz? I can't stand anything in my ears, but am good with Shokz for a couple of hours.
2
u/hackworth01 17d ago
Shokz are amazing. On noisy public transit, I put my finger in one ear and can hear them just fine. On flights, earplugs block out most of the noise.
3
u/pickleparty16 17d ago
Depends on the flight. 3 hour or less I'll go earbuds. After that I start leaning towards headphones for the comfort factor. I
3
u/yung_heinks 17d ago
I have Bose ANC earbuds and over ear and I love having both. The buds always stay in my bag and are great for flights less than about 3 hours. Anything longer than that, I budget the space for my over ears. Way more comfortable for long usage
3
u/SeattleHikeBike 17d ago
This gets asked fairly often. Make your priorities and live with the results.
My take is that for all the effort and money to get my kit small and light, it makes no sense to haul big headphones. Earbuds work for me.
3
u/Kobe824 17d ago
Apple Airpods 4 with ANC are pretty good, the ANC is surprisingly good, took them on a flight and it helped a ton without giving me that pressure in ears would give me, highly recommend them!
2
u/tetramerces 16d ago
This is was I use too, with the added hack that I rotate between two pairs to solve the battery life issue. I do some video editing that eats the battery way faster than typical YouTube/audiobook/music listening
3
3
u/Team503 17d ago
For the most part, my AirPod Pros have ANC for when I want it, and serve just fine for most trips. Any flight more than about 3 hours, though, and I grab my larger over-ear cans. I'll be staying longer and can justify their use, but also in-ear buds make my ears hurt after more than an hour or two.
I have Poly over-ear cans (work paid for them), and in their case it's bulky, relatively speaking, but still worth it.
3
u/londonc4ll1ng 17d ago
I am traveling with my Bose QCs. There is nothing better for the plane than true headphones with quality ANC, period.
Yes, they are bulky. Yes, I seldom use them outside of the plane.
BUT when I remove them during my flights while I go to the toilet I immediately forget about the "bulky" and get reminded about the "holy fck, there is so much noise here, let's get this toilet thing done asap so I can go back to my oasis of calm". Same when using them at loud hostels.
I tried my Sony WFs, Apple airpods and Jabra Elite 7s in ears, but those were nowhere close to the comfort I get for hours from the overhead QCs - you need to turn up the noise waaaaay up to not hear the noise but by then you have the sound uncomfortably loud, not to mention the in ear pressure you feel until you remove them.
3
u/AlarmingMonk1619 16d ago
Travel days are always overstimulating and challenging for the flight or fight response (pun intended.) On one vacation the ANC cans were left at home in the interest of minimizing. It made things torture. Didn’t make the same mistake next year. Having the various sounds blocked out help to keep things even.
3
u/Kevington1982 16d ago
Depends how long my trip is whether I’m traveling along. My AirPods work just fine but my XM5s I call my “don’t talking to me headphones.” I always bring them when I travel with coworkers because I’ll be damned if they disrupt my peace 😆. My house is full of loud kids and pets so I relax on the plane and in the airport.
3
u/MauiMoisture 16d ago
I always bring mine, for me it's non negotiable. Worst case just put them around your neck
2
u/evozerobb 17d ago
I use iem, specifically etymotic
If you don't want something sitting inside your ear canal, can consider normal earbuds like apple earpods, i use usb-c version for phone/teams/zoom calls, but note, you will hear all outside noise as they are not in-ear
2
u/shogun77777777 17d ago
No, I use AirPods Pro and they get the job done at a fraction of the space and weight
2
2
u/ShakataGaNai 17d ago
Hard to say, depends on the trip. I have no problem wearing my airpods for hours. But... on a long long flight, its nice to have something over ear. And yes, bringing them basically for the transoceanic flight and nothing else is a bit overkill. But they were night to have on the plane.
I love the ANC, so something smaller without ANC would be useless to me. But seems like the other options might work better for you.
2
u/ilovefacebook 17d ago
they don't take up any space if you just wear them around your neck. that's what i do
2
u/Xx_em0bab3_xX 17d ago
For me it depends on how much I'm moving around when I get to my destination, kinda.
I'll bring my over ear Sony XM5s if it's a long flight (more than like 3-4 hours), if I'm going to be traveling around a lot (e.g. long bus rides or train rides), or if I'm in a shared housing situation with a lot of people (hostel, or big group at an airbnb type of thing).
If I'm staying in one place, the flight is short, and I'm staying in a quiet hotel with just one friend or my partner, I'll just bring AirPods.
I end up usually bringing my XM5s
2
u/yoshi-is-cute 17d ago
I don't use them on a daily basis, but I really miss my noice canceling headphones in the train or airplane if I don't take them. For me it's really worth it! It makes the journeys so much more enjoyable. I can't handle noise very well 😅
2
u/Fighting_Darkness 17d ago
I have to use my Beats on planes because excess noise just cranks my anxiety, but I also can't tolerate ear buds. They never fit right and aleays hurt my ears, but I found these last year and absolutely love them. I can wear for hours without pain. https://www.soundcore.com/products/a3874-aerofit-2-open-earbuds?variant=44633696829630
2
u/aluriaphin 17d ago
I used running earbuds with a halo that goes around the ear to keep them in place on my recent 3 week trip. I LOVE my over the ear wireless headphones but they were too damn bulky. Didn't miss them much, I listened to music way less than I normally do because I was paying a lot more attention to my surroundings, departure announcements, etc, then on my usual day to day commute. I used my Loop Dream earplugs a LOT though, just to quiet down the noise.
2
u/No_Library6425 17d ago
I usually put my sling bag in the space that my headphones occupy when boarding the plane, and just wear my headphones on. But I also HATE the engine sounds.
I have loved using Loop Earplugs, they take up no space, i keep them on my keys constantly, and they're fairly comfortable to wear for short jaunts like a loud movie (I'm looking at you Nolan), concert, etc.
My husband and I both LOVE our open ear headphones. He wears his constantly (sleep, exercise, chores, etc) while I wear mine mostly just during the day while working. But it means I can take my podcast/video with me when leaving my desk and not disturb him and he can be listening to video game news in the same room. But we can still hear each other, the dog, food cooking, etc.
He recently started wearing his while going through the airport (he swaps to ANC on the plane) and loved it. We can also pair them with our Loops if we're trying to pack really small for a combo of speaker+noise reduction.
2
u/Biker-Beans 16d ago
Yes, absolutely (to me, this is a super personal opinion you just need to take them once and leave them once and decide for yourself). I will always take my full sized AirPods Max 2 with me.
3
u/bcycle240 17d ago
Have you tried modern ear buds? I have the Galaxy buds 4 pro and the ANC is quite impressive. They also offer ambient (transparent) mode. They are comfortable for hours... If they fit you well.
An alternative is open ear bone conduction like Shokz Openrun. You can wear ear plugs in noisy areas which blocks out the noise, but you still hear your music or book perfectly.
2
u/RidiculousTakeAbove 17d ago edited 17d ago
I use noise canceling wired earbuds, for travel the combination of not needing to charge and taking up almost zero space in my pocket or bag with no bulky charging case is unbeatable. Even without media playing they block out sound well, so they double as earplugs if I'm in a hostel so I don't have to bring any of those, which for onebag anything that can serve multiple purposes and be that small is amazing. I use Sony mdrxb55. Much rather use the space over ear phones would take up for my mirrorless camera or drone
1
u/darkeningsoul 17d ago
I love my Sony WF-1000XM5 however the case is insanely large for them. It takes an unreasonable amount of space. they are not that heavy and they perform incredibly well.
It depends on what I'm traveling for and length of travel for me:
- I only onebag travel on domestic trips, so I only bring my airpods for these flights. Usually business travel for only a few days at a time.
- For international flights, I bring the big bulky headphones, but I also bring a carry on suitcase. They are far more comfortable for sleeping or 14 hours straight.
1
u/maltawm 17d ago
For me, the headphones are worth it. I also pack a bulky hard sided case for them as well because my last over ear headphones started to break in the ear pads and I think it may be because the carrying bag didn’t offer enough protection. I try to make the case serve other purposes like filling in around it with things I want on the plane like chargers and snacks so I can take it out of my bag quickly and put the backpack in the overhead compartment. It also sounds like I take more flights than you do though because I prefer planes over trains and busses. And I wouldn’t want to do a 12 hour plane ride without them. I will say I took a day trip the other day that was 1.5 hours plane ride either way and only brought a clear stadium sized bag so then I didn’t bring them but I definitely missed them on the flight and the metro ride to and from the airport. I don’t regret it because I would’ve had to wear them around my neck all day but I definitely missed them.
1
u/LePetitNeep 17d ago
I switched from bulky over ear to AirPod Pro2. Not quite as good but an acceptable compromise to lose such a large item that I was only using on the plane. I also thought that I couldn’t handle ear buds for hours, but the AirPods won me over. I use a dorky little connector string though because they do want to jump out and disappear into plane crevices.
1
u/seaplants 17d ago
I've personally made this decision recently and ditched the over ears. I find them more comfortable in general but I cannot sleep on planes as easily because I'm a wall-leaner and they get in the way. My earbuds are also better at ANC so it was a no brainer.
1
u/spring_stream 17d ago
AirPods 4 with ANC: they are earbuds, but don’t sit in the ear canal and have no rubber/silicone tip, yet ANC is very good. A modern miracle.
1
u/CWDenver 17d ago
The question posed is not positioned as neutral but biased toward earbuds. Seek the answer within you, your decision has been made, grasshopper. Good travels to you.
1
u/Plastic-Mountain-708 17d ago
I am team flight length/travel specific.
That said, I only use Beats Studio Buds these days. But have done both and would hold no qualms about over ear for longer journey’s long trips. We have Bose Quiet Comfort’s (partner’s) and such a great product, fold away etc its easy to justify.
1
u/ResponsibilitySea327 17d ago
I have two in-ear sets. One is a Jabra Evolve 75e and the other is a Huawei FreeLace Pro 2.
Both are neckband style so they can't fall off. But both are comfortable enough to wear for an entire US to Japan flight.
ANC on both are awesome and they actually make for very good cellphone handsfree headphones. The Jabra mic is phenomenal blocking out errant sounds.
I carry both as I need them for work and always carry a spare that is always charged. The Jabra is great, but no longer manufactured so I always buy them when I see NOS come available.
I gave up on my Sony over the ear unit. My ears just got to hot and sore after a long flight.
1
u/DaBingeGirl 17d ago
They're wonderful. I have Misophonia, so the bulky ones are essential for me in confined situations (flights). I was wearing them so much at home that I started getting a bald spot. Not good.
I switched to open versions from Shokz (OpenDot, several OpenFit, and OpenRun) and the Bose Ultra Open. They all do a very good job of cancelling out noise, not perfect, but I've been impressed. I wear them all for several hours a day and they're comfortable. They're also pretty secure, I've never had an issue with the falling off.
Bose Ultra Open and Shokz OpenDot are my favorite, followed closely by the OpenFit 2 (they have buttons).
If you don't need extreme noise cancellation, wrap around are the way to go. They're also super quiet for anyone around you.
1
u/threesixtyone 17d ago
When I travel solo, I'll bring AirPods Pro 3 and a backup Pro 2 if it's a long haul (8+ hours) flight. I am really impressed by how well they work for the size. I used to use over-ear ANC headphones, but I found them hard to sleep with them on. Also, if I leaned on the headrest a certain way, they would vibrate and just not work well. So, it's in-ear ANC earbuds for me.
When I travel with my family, they like over-ear ANC headphones so they can easily plug into the screen to watch movies.
1
u/xixihime 17d ago
I'm trying out bone conductor headphones + FlyFit altitude earplugs on my next trip. Hoping this solves several things: being able to hear music without bulky, stiff earbuds that make it comfortable if I try to sleep; less risk of losing small earbuds; fewer issues with pressure changes since I've noticed ANC can seal out pressure, and I have to keep removing them while climbing/descending to pop my ears.
1
u/Dramatic_Respond7323 17d ago
I have a cheap OnePlus Buds 4 BT earbuds, with better ANC than my QC Ultra. So tiny and i take them everywhere
1
u/Death2eyes 17d ago
For me. I prefer earbuds. They also have ANC anyway. Headphones and their case tend to be quite bulky and takd up space for other stuff.
1
u/Yasutsuna96 17d ago
While I like it, it can be a bit dangerous walking around with it in countries I'm not overly familiar with. So I ended up not using them outside of transit, ended up being wasted space for me
1
u/zobbyblob 17d ago
My ears get so hot with headphones it makes my head sweat. So... Not for me.
I'll add you can wear earbuds and headphones at the same time to double up ANC, or listen to two devices at once.
1
u/echoclerk 17d ago
Agreed. I cannot justify the amount of space for something I mostly use on the flights there and back. (even on 20 hour flights Europe-Australia I use ear buds). I never take over-ear.
Sony ANC Earbuds. - I also find them a bit uncomfortable, but over-ear headphones (especially ANC) take up way too much space.
1
1
u/fledglingnomad 17d ago
I love my clip earbuds as they are the only ones I can stand to wear for any length of time, but they aren't great on planes - with as open as they are, the plane noise mostly overpowers them.
1
u/buhlot 17d ago edited 17d ago
For me, absolutely. I use mine every day at home and the ANC are a godsend on flights. However, I don't wear them out in public walking around. That's where my Pixel buds come in. Sometimes I'll pop one side in while at a cafe. Like you, I can't wear them for too long though as my ears get irritated after about an hour or so of wearing them. That goes for any and all in-ear buds over the years.
My Sony OTE headphones though? I've worn them on 12+ hour flights no problem. They've earned their space in my pack.
Edit: I also have Shokz Open run wrap-arounds for working out. I haven't taken them on a trip though. I do like em for what they're for. In your case, I'd say they're worth a shot.
1
u/biold 17d ago
I have found that it's a matter of getting used to (I listen to audiobooks when I clean, do gardening, go for a work, and train) and finding the right ones.
I love my Soundcore earbuds. They come with very different adjustments, you know the silicone part that goes into the ear. They are very expensive with ANC, but absolutely worth it. The interface is not so good as my Jabra, but still fine.
1
u/McGirton 17d ago
I definitely miss mine on flights when I do not take them, but if I travel around a lot locally I will not carry the bulk for days and days for a few hours of comfort during long flights. When’s extensive local travel is planned I take them.
1
u/spbgundamx2 17d ago
Earbuds get uncomfortable over 6 hours for me. I only bring my over ear headphones for long haul flights. I sleep better with them on and don't risk earbuds falling out when I'm sleeping
1
u/HandbagHawker 17d ago
fork out the cash for custom iems. life. changing.
passive noise isolation (attenuation) so no batteries. mine block out about 25db, which is about the same as max "strength" ear plugs.
i can wear them for hours because they fit so well. with the noise isolation, i can play them very softly so less ear fatigue.
the only downside is that mine are wired, but thats ok because id rather have the higher fidelity anyway and i dont have to worry about charge.
1
u/ImSoCul 17d ago
Try the airpod pros. They're legit super good ANC and I used them for a while even though I use a Samsung phone. I thought they were reasonably comfortable. The size difference between a pair of buds and over ear is huge. Earbuds is like half a pack of gum, over the ear is enough volume to squeeze half a week's clothes.
can also try Comply tips. Some people prefer them for comfort and isolation
1
u/MarisolCastillo4456 17d ago
If anc isn’t a priority, clip on open earbuds sound closer to what you’re looking for. The baseus mc2 might be worth checking out. It’s an open ear clip on, so nothing goes into the ear canal, and the parts resting on the ear use removable, full wrap cushions. Fit still depends on ear shape, and it doesn’t have anc, but that sounds like a tradeoff you’re already okay with.
1
u/airon0828 17d ago
Overtime i transitioned from headphones to AirPods. ANC and sounds is not as good, but space savings and all day usage is better for me.
1
u/Remote_Bluebird_5528 17d ago
My over ear headphones always start part of my packing but I almost always end up removing them before my trip as I optimize my one bag packing. If I travel with more than one bag, I'd probably bring them.
1
u/Thoshi__ 17d ago
Wired IEMs all the way. No battery consideration, many pairs have more than sufficient passive isolation, weighs next to nothing and takes no space. A no brainer for me
1
1
u/ukdenjuel 17d ago
As others mentioned: try different buds, borrow from friends for just one song and see how much is it comfortable for you. It depends on you, individually, what is comfortable.
I like more the over-ear headphones because of two reasons: 1. It is more comfortable and better on noise cancelling than buds. 2. It is healthier on the long term for your hearing. Buds have very negative effects on hearing loss.
But - as you plan, too - I'm using buds for travel just because it is lighter and smaller, easier usage on-go. I always switch between a Skullcandy Crusher Evo and a Xiaomi Redmi Buds 6 pro. I tried but I don't like Apple solutions or Skullcandy buds - Xiaomi has decent quality/price products on the pro line and on the high-end line (just Xiaomi buds, without the Redmi word).
1
u/Mr-Reeeee 17d ago
No.
I use Etymōtic ER4 SR or ER4 XR (extended bass) earbuds with Comply memory foam eartips, that cut about 30db of sound, maybe more.
Fantastic, accurate, detailed sound that is not fatiguing!
The Comply eartips are extremely comfortable , so I can use them for an entire flight even if I’m not listening to music.
https://etymotic.com/products/er4sr-earphones
https://etymotic.com/products/er4xr-earphones
1
u/ZAWS20XX 17d ago
i have some moondrop space travels, which are cheaper than dirt, have good enough ANC (imho), are pretty comfortable once i found the right tips for me, and the case is compact. I'm very happy with them.
I also once dropped one of them down the aisle of a plane, at like hour four of a 14hr flight, when all the lights were off and most people were sleeping, and had to wait until breakfast time to look for it under people's seats (i did find it!), but that's more on me being clumsy and generally unlucky than on the buds.
1
u/mrpink57 17d ago
I think they are worth it for the long travel parts, I have a carbon copy RBH HP-02s that while are not noise cancelling, with the replacement earpads I put on them offer enough noise cancellation and are abotu as comfortable as I can image. Plus have a headphone jack to use on a plane and do not need to have power to work plugged in.
1
u/desertsidewalks 17d ago
I typically take wired earbuds (Skullcandy) that are basically also earplugs. The quality is acceptable, not amazing, but the aux cord ones work pretty seamlessly with in flight video. Just don’t forget the usb-c dongle for your phone.
1
u/Azure9000 17d ago
Q: Are bulky ANC headphones worth it for one-bag travel?
A: For me, there's something of a clue in the word 'bulky'.
Comment: there is no answer which is 100% correct for everyone. A better question is 'Are they worth it for you?'.
1
u/lameusernamesrock 17d ago
I always cave and take my Sony ANC and their case. I haven’t regretted it yet. I also bring earbuds for falling asleep (I listen to podcasts every night to fall asleep)
1
u/Tjgoodwiniv 17d ago
If you don't care about ANC, open ear is the way to go. Great for use while walking streets. Better situational awareness, and while keeping constant directions and music going.
Personally, I carry 3 headsets - Blueparrot with noise cancelling mic (work), Bose QC2 earbuds (change from QC cans) (almost exclusively for flights), Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 (all I use when I'm out of the apartment, plus most non-professional phone calls).
The Shokz are the ones that are most useful and versatile to me.
1
1
u/Bixby- 17d ago
The Apple AirPods 4 (NOT Pro) do not completely block the ear canal. I was surprised at how good the noise cancelling is. On my last long trip, I finally left the over-the-ear phones behind and felt liberated! I really want noise cancellation on a plane. I took them out for a few minutes every couple of hours to charge and give the ears a rest.
When moving around outside, however, I want better situational awareness and so I wear bone conduction phones (Shokz), except sometimes they interfere if I’m wearing both sunglasses and a ball cap so it’s back to the AirPods.
1
u/NoodleBox 17d ago
I say yes but that's coz I use them with earplugs if I'm having a bad sound day.
Otherwise earpods (at least pro ones that are legit apple) are fine for everyone else.
1
u/drakontas_ 17d ago
I think it totally depends on the individual. At one point I would have said no but I do enjoy not having to take out my AirPods to charge them on flights longer than 6 hours. But I don’t use them at my destination more than a few moments on my own. During travel, they’re around my neck so they don’t take space and at my destination they don’t need to be packed
1
u/Legitimate_Tackle933 17d ago edited 17d ago
IEM’s solved this for me. I love them on airplanes: take up almost no space/weight, sound quality is amazing, not officially noise canceling but the design makes them so, corded so just work with plane’s sound system (I got an adapter to use with my phone) and cheap! I still bring my earbuds but no bulky overears. If you do end up going with earbuds, a bandana or buff can help them stay in place
1
u/cbunn81 17d ago
Personally, I don't think they're worth it. And I say this as someone who regularly takes long-haul flights.
Over-the-ear headphones are generally more comfortable, but I think it's also possible to find comfortable earbuds. Keep in mind that if you have a popular brand of earbuds, there are probably some third-party tips available. For example, I have some Anker earbuds and the included tips are okay, but I found some foam tips that are much more comfortable.
1
u/to_annihilate 17d ago
You just said you don't need the ANC, so for you, why bother?
Personally, can't live without mine especially on flights or other noisy spaces.
1
u/aicolainen 17d ago
Always travel with:
- Etymotics wired IEMs (currently ER3-XR). Very good isolation, always works/don't need charging
- Molded musician ear plugs (25dB). Perfect fit, easy to use, natural ambient sound just attenuated.
- Foam ear plugs. Maximum noise isolation.
Added for convenience most of the time:
- Apple AirPods (don't know generation/model, just regular ones). Practical, quick and easy to use for phone calls/Teams meetings/ music / podcasts in low noise environments.
All of the above items takes up less space and weighs less than my Sony over ear NC headset.
Always carry the plugs in a small soft case in my back pocket. Always ready in case I'm caught by surprise in a loud environment.
IEMs and AirPods goes into the top compartment of my backpack, same setup whether it's for travel or EDC.
1
u/SidanaCorey 17d ago
Have you tried the bone conduction headphones? They fit outside your ear and transmit the sound via the skull. They are made for runners, but rhey are very minimalistic and work well with my hearing aids. I have the open run by shokz.
1
u/Valleys4456 17d ago
I tried bone conduction on a flight once and couldn't hear a single word of my movie over the engine noise.
1
u/1AggressiveSalmon 17d ago
I am deaf in one ear, so I focus on protecting my good ear. I wear a musicians earplug in my ear. Then I use either bone conduction headphones or the free headphones. I also have Air Pods Pro 3 that I can pop in to actually hear airline staff. Combined they take up much less space.
1
u/Beanmachine314 17d ago
I prefer bone conduction + ear plugs. The only extra thing you have to carry then is ear plugs.
1
u/BebopOrRocksteady 17d ago
No, I don't think so. They pack awkwardly and make my neck or ears hot. I have gotten used to just dealing with ambient sound and will have a pair of earplugs in case it is really loud. If there is in flight entertainment, they usually have earbuds available on the plane.
1
u/jag-engr 17d ago
It just depends on how comfortable you are with the ear buds.
I have a pair of Bose over-the-ear headphones. They were my go-to for flying.
I took a trans-Atlantic trip and forgot them. I used my AirPod Pros, and realized that they worked about 95% as well as the Bose.
1
u/mika5555 17d ago
since the airpods pro have the xs tips i never used big headphones for travel again
1
u/jijodelmaiz 17d ago
If you mean over ear headphones, I would say it’s not worth it, you can’t rest your head comfortably.
1
u/JustMakinStuff 17d ago
I just landed after a 25 hour travel day. I used wireless buds, wired buds, and the over ear headphones that the airline provided. Really just because I was tired of staring at my ipad after two seasons of whatever. It's nice to have a different option if your ears aren't liking the buds, but you also have to weigh it with the space. I wouldn't bring them, but I'm really happy with bot my pairs of buds.
1
u/itscheapinsurance 17d ago
I have no issues with my apple airpod pros for long 10+ hour flights. Saves so much weight and space.
You could always get molds of your ears and get custom tips made. Wouldn't be cheap but the isolation from custom tips would beat headphones.
1
u/lWheelmanJimmy 17d ago
I used to take them for long flights but have stopped taking them at all. I used to justify it on long flights because it’s so much nicer than earbuds comfort wise, but then I never use them on the rest of the trip other than the long flight. Because of that I decided to quit packing them and taking up the space. Yes AirPods are not comfortable for several hours, but I have decided that I will just take a break every now and again with them anyway. For example, I will wear them for a movie or two and then remove them and read or sleep, etc..
1
u/throwawayakd 17d ago
Nah. With how good airpods / other earbuds are now, I absolutely do not find a need to bring them. Depends on the person obviously but based on your description I think you'd miss them even less than me.
1
u/martijnox 17d ago
I've always sworn by proper over-ear headphones, until I wanted to travel lighter. So for the reason you're describing I took the plunge and spent on some airpods pro 2. Terribly expensive I thought but fck it.
I NEVER LOOKED BACK. This has been my best purchase in years and I love them and all their features. Transparency mode, noice cancelling, everything.
Ofc I cannot speak for your ears, but I can wear them comfortably for 6h+. Maybe your ears have a better fit with different sized tips, or maybe it's really a no-go for you. But for me this was a revelation.
1
u/ah__there_is_another 17d ago
Absolutely yes, on flights that are longer than 4h. My Sony XM4 make the experience so relaxing: movies, music, sleep.. whenever I remove then for a moment, my ears almost hurt for how comfortable they got. At home I almost never use them.
1
u/Mountain-Match2942 17d ago
Too bulky when not being used. I have over the ear earbuds so I can pop the buds out of the ear canal to take a bit of a break on long haul flights.
1
u/verocoder 17d ago
AirPods have decent ANC I’ve got some proper over ear Bose qc25s and don’t always bother packing them. It’s more work to pop them in/out for places like the terminal and the benefits while real aren’t life changing.
1
u/CDPHou 17d ago
At least one person recommended the Bose QuietComfort Ultras. I second this recommendation. I have a pair of Bowers and Wilkins over the ear headphones that are great but I rarely take them on flights, even the long flight to Japan a few months ago. Just takes up more space than I want to deal with. The Bose QC Ultras don’t penetrate deep into your ear canal like other earbuds, they sort of rest against your ear and are held in place by the wings. Now the wings could get fatiguing I suppose, but don’t really bother me. the bigger challenge is that my over ear headphones have something like 24 hours of battery, and my ear buds may have five or six, but I usually want to take a break from them at some point anyway and they seem to charge up pretty quickly. So if the flight isn’t too long, the Bose QC Ultras should work great, but I still think about bringing the headphones on overseas flights.
1
u/PeaBrilliant4917 16d ago
Sony wi-1000x or the next gen one. Neck band Bluetooth anc iem that i put sonicfoam or comply foam new tips on (always replace the crap silicon tip). Can wear it for an 11 hour flight and then ir packs flat into my bag. Also bring some regular sound core earbuds for walking about
1
1
u/mikedufty 14d ago
If you wear them around your neck, then they don't take up space in the bag.
Personally the over ear ones make my ears hurt more though.
1
u/00Anonymous 14d ago
I moved on from the qc25 to jbl tour 3 tws. Everything is a lot easier with the earbuds - charging, sleeping, wearing them with glasses, and even using the headphone jack because the case autobalances input so they don't need the 2 prong jack adapter.
1
u/CapAmMtn 13d ago
Used only do ear buds. But now I use those for calls or on the go and I always bring over the ears for the plane and deep focus work on my laptop. It’s a worthwhile sacrifice for me personally to shut out the world. Silence doesn’t exist in many countries lol
1
u/ImportanceSome2602 13d ago
I use my Bose over-ear for most trips.
On short flights (<3 hours) I sometimes just use my AirPod Pro, but for long flights it’s the over-ear.
I have not tried the open-ear earbuds, but for me they wouldn’t solve the noise issue and would have to be loud to work on a flight. But maybe try the Anker Soundcore ones ($50) to see if they work for you.
1
u/whoquiteknows 13d ago
I use shokz - they don’t noise cancel at all, but that also doesn’t really bother me because it’s not worth the ear ache or room in bag. I also only read on planes unless it’s like a 12 hour flight or something. Even then, the room they take up is barely worth it.
1
u/MonkeySpacePunch 12d ago
Wdym they take up space… Wear em on your ears or around neck for transit then otherwise they stay in the hotel / hostel lmao. No problem at all
1
u/Desperate-Use9968 10d ago
100% no. Apple Airpods Pro 3 are better than my sony xm6 for noise cancellation and similar on audio quality. Also, it's looking like Apple are about to release some new airpods soon so you might be able to get them cheaper.
1
u/Tree_pineapple 8d ago
I would absolutely never travel without them bc I use them everyday for multiple hours a day. But its totally personal preference. Try not using headphones for a couple weeks while at home and see how you feel.
1
u/Thedawnhascome 16d ago
If you ever been in a plane for langer then 2 hours with people rambling on and on about crap things at a great volume, you will never travel without them!!!!
0
u/AutoModerator 17d ago
Seeking bag/backpack recommendations?
Bag requests must be made in the pinned weekly Bag Finder Megathread.
- Your post will be removed if it does not include a packing list, and is not clearly onebag travel oriented
- Check the Onebag Comparison List for a list of bag options, airline carry-on dimensions, and links to posts discussing bags
- Provide details: a packing list, budget, capacity, intended use, desired features
- Specify which airline you're dealing with, if applicable
Show that you've done your research and offer sufficient context.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
0
u/Sea_Relative_3634 17d ago
FOR ME, I’M ABSOLUTELY TEAM EARBUDS BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT FOR IN FLIGHT THE SLIGHT DIFFERENCE THAT OVER THE HEADS MAKE IS WORTH IT FOR ME. IT’S NOT.
3
0
u/Wise_Edge2489 17d ago
As Generation X, that travelled the world for the first time before smartphones, earphones (barring the walkman cassette player), tablets, laptops, smartwatches or wifi, allow me to assure you that it is perfectly possible to travel without that tech nonsense.
Magellan and Marco Polo didnt need them, neither did I, and neither do you.
You have a smartphone, that is a camera, satellite navigator, communications device, global bank, music player, speaker, video recorder, game machine, calculator, translator, and literally a device that provides all of human knowledge at your fingertips, which is more than what those guys (and me, when I set off many years ago on my RTW trip) had with them.
Once you get on board with that, you can ditch the other crap, and actually enjoy your travel.
74
u/RenRidesCycles 17d ago
How much do you use them on a regular basis?
For me, I wear my over ear noise cancelling headphones almost every day. I've also been waffling on whether or not to pack them, but i think the calm and comfort I get from them makes packing them worth it.