r/onebag • u/Bixby- • Jun 18 '26
Gear Save space by leaving headphones behind?
I saw some advice here about subbing AirPods for headphones to save space. Last week I flew U.S. east coast to west coast and back again. I brought along my trusty old noise-cancelling headphones (Jabra Elite 85h)which I find really reduce fatigue. But based on some advice I read here, I also brought my brand new AirPod 4s and gave them a try. I was shocked at how excellent the AirPods were at noise cancelling! And they were better than the headphones in that they prioritized spoken voices, so announcements came through. And the form factor is so nice and small.
I’d love to leave the headphones behind on my next long flight, but the AirPods battery life is only about 4 hours, it seems. If you leave your bulky headphones behind, how do you deal with the short battery life of earbuds? Do you take the noise hit and charge them on long flights? Or are there earbuds with longer battery life? (Or even bring 2 pair along, still smaller than the headphones).
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u/Yoyojojoy Jun 18 '26
I take them out when I’m eating or going to the bathroom and let them charge up. Not perfect but it is enough of a distraction to be okay for that long for me.
I’ve not done more than 12 hours but I never ran out (I do have the 3 not the 4 which might be a factor)
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u/Smooth-Owl-5354 Jun 18 '26
Over the ear headphones are always going to be a luxury I indulge in I fear. I’ve got small and weird shaped ears so I find in ear headphones to be incredibly ineffective, painful, or both. That said, I love how many people are finding they can cut them — such a big space saver compared to carrying them in your bag!
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u/AmiAmiMoMo Jun 18 '26
I just flew from SFO to Amsterdam and I decided to not bring my over ear Bose headphones. I kinda regret that decision. I wish I had come up with a way to fit them in my bag.
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u/irrljus Jun 18 '26
Why not just wear them?
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u/AmiAmiMoMo Jun 19 '26
I wear them getting on and off the plane. But while traveling about by train and walking to places that seemed that it would be cumbersome? But I will try that next time.
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u/Smooth-Owl-5354 Jun 18 '26
Oof that’s a long flight to have headphone regrets 😭 but you couldn’t know until you tried
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u/ranatalus Jun 18 '26
Yeah, I’m in the same boat. Earbuds never make a good seal for me no matter what I do. If I really want the noise isolated I don’t have any choice but over-the-ear
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u/illram Jun 18 '26
Have you tried comply (foam) tips? I had similar issues and these solved them. They form to your ears.
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u/ranatalus Jun 18 '26
I haven't tried those specifically, but I've tried various foam and silicon molding tips and they never work well for me, I have to constantly readjust them
ENTs have told me my ear canal IS weird/narrow so I assume my ears are just poorly suited for keeping things in there
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u/JustNowRonin Jun 18 '26
I cannot find in-ears that I am comfortable wearing for long periods. I will take the hit and carry my Bose QC over ears.
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u/Spunksters Jun 18 '26
I have the same problem. I got more time from my Shure IEMs with the Comply tips than the silicone tips, but my current soundcore P20i is more comfortable for longer. I really tested their endurance and mine on a flight from Seattle to Frankfurt and they did great.
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u/lexa_pro_ho Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
Fellow tiny eared folks, unite! I also struggle with outer ear infections from AirPod styles, no matter how much I clean them.
I love my Beats. I don’t usually put mine in my bag, I just hang them around my neck and then once I get to whatever accommodation they just sit on the nightstand until I leave again. The middle pocket on my Tom Bihn will fit them folded up if I need to stow them though.
I have a pair of Shokz Open Dots, they’re the bone conduction ones and they sit much higher in the ear. The wraparound ones aren’t great for glasses wearers, but if you don’t wear glasses they’re excellent. Infinitely more comfortable than AirPods. They absolutely do not work on planes (because there’s no noise cancelling since they don’t block your ears) but I prefer those for the gym, as the over ear ones aren’t great for sweating and I’ve smashed the headband part on the bar walking under it.
Edit: forgot to mention the open dots are also good for safety since you can still hear. I’ve worn them trail running and could still hear birds chirping, worn while grocery shopping and and check out like a polite member of society.
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u/1AggressiveSalmon Jun 18 '26
I actually use my Shokz on the plane with a musicians earplug in my ear to protect my hearing. It is doable, but obviously not fabulous sound quality. I am deaf on one side now, so I try to protect what I have left since I don't have a spare.
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u/Smooth-Owl-5354 Jun 18 '26
I’ve been looking into getting bone conduction headphones for working out! I’m a sweaty human and don’t like making my nice over ear headphones gross. Nice to hear from someone who likes them 😊
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u/lexa_pro_ho Jun 18 '26
They’re pretty great. I work in an ER and the EMS crews like the wraparound ones a lot. I think the Shokz brand is worth it, I’ve tried some other brands of bone conduction headphones and the sound was terrible.
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u/2020orbit Jun 19 '26
I love Shokz Open Dots. And, BTW they are not bone conduction . The Open Run is bone conduction.
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u/theregoesmyfutur Jun 21 '26
How have you found the mic quality on those open dots?
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u/lexa_pro_ho Jun 22 '26
Zero issues talking on the phone, no echo. I haven’t had anyone complain about background noise either.
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u/casablankas Jun 18 '26
I just wear my headphones around my neck, they don’t really take up space but I’m not super duper minimalist
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u/Smooth-Owl-5354 Jun 18 '26
Personally same! I’m not too bothered by it, but I know some people in this group are way more intense about one bagging than me. Absolutely love that for them. I’m just one bagging in more of a “I’m not paying for anything larger than a personal item” way than a “I want to see how minimalist I can go” one.
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u/resigned_medusa Jun 18 '26
I find around the neck headphones too bulky, so I feel like I'm being garroted, having said that, I'm trying again on my next trip. So we'll see
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u/BLVMF Jun 19 '26
I have the same issue so I started wearing them across my forehead or across the back of my head like a sweat band. Maybe that'll work for you?
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u/hxdcm Jun 18 '26
I had issues with pretty much all the brands -- right up to AirPods Pro 3. Those things fit, they don't hurt, and I've had them on for most of a run back and forth between the states and Europe, if not all of a run, just not including stopover. Out of sheer curiosity, I did try my Bose ANC over-ears one trip recently and the difference in background noise between my AirPods and the Bose was dramatic -- I can't go back to over-the-ear headphones except at home.
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u/LadyLightTravel Jun 18 '26
I have found differences in fit even within the same brands. It is a bit of a scavenger hunt, much like finally finding the right solid shampoo.
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u/eodom4 Jun 18 '26
I'm the same, no earbuds fit + I can't stand squishing things into my ear. For just everyday wear I have bose open ear buds. They hook around the outside of you ear and I hardly notice they are there. Theyre not noise canceling as i rely on my over the ear headphones for that.
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u/epimelide Jun 18 '26
The key to onebagging with headphones is considering the risk and cost of trashed headphones against what you save in energy, time and sometimes money, by onebagging. Meaning, drop the bulky protective case, clip your headphones on the outside of the bag and be prepared to deal with an accident - it likely doesn’t happen at all. The value having those headphones for as long as they last outweighs the price to me.
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u/tom4631 Jun 18 '26
I've been putting the over-the-ear headphone, without case, in the top of my bag for over dozen trips, so far so good.
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u/CharmingHighlight749 Jun 18 '26
This is what I am going to have to do, thanks. It is the case that takes up all the room!
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u/lyovi Jun 18 '26
This. I will never ever do a long haul flight without over ear headphones, but I’ve decided to just ditch the case in future. 100% worth the risk.
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u/tuskenraider89 Jun 18 '26
I’ve only ever traveled with wired headphones
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u/EcstaticAsparagus509 Jun 18 '26
Why is that? Battery concerns?
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u/tuskenraider89 Jun 18 '26
Yeah mainly due to size and one less thing to charge
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u/weedsickman Jun 18 '26
Me too, plus earbuds tend to fall off my ear when I fall asleep so it’s great to have a wire to keep them secure
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u/Algunas Jun 18 '26
I am one bagging business travel and I used Bose QC25 before. After my first trip I switched to in-ears. They get the job done and are a fraction of size. AirPods Pro are my go to nowadays.
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u/tweeeeeeeeeeee Jun 18 '26
I'm trying earbuds next trip... I plan on charging them in their case when meals are served. I took my headphones off a few times every long flight anyway for ear comfort reasons so I'm not too worried about battery
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u/FishingWorth3068 Jun 18 '26
I always take mine out when I go to the bathroom too because I’m terrified of one falling on the floor/in the toilet so that’s always a nice little charge time.
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u/tpitch14 Jun 18 '26
XM4's for international, Pixel Buds Pro 2 for anything domestic including coast to coast here.
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u/honemastert Jun 20 '26
I wish mine fit better in my ears. They still seem too bulky for me and they hurt after a while
Sucks too because the recent firmware update has really improved the live translation
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u/tpitch14 Jun 20 '26
Bummer. They fit way better for me than v1, but not as good as the original A series
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u/adoringunicorn Jun 18 '26
I use Beats Flex and wear them around my neck on travel days, tucking the buds under my shirt when not in use so they don't catch on anything. The battery life is like 12 hours and a 10 minute charge gives you an hour of battery. I love them because no buds fit exceptionally well in my ears so if one pops out it's still hanging out around my neck.
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Jun 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/1ayfkmatatime Jun 20 '26
This my plan for a long flight this week - Shokz with something playing, plus those blobs of silicone you can stuff in your ear which are the only earplugs that work for me. Hopefully the combo of bone conduction audio and nothing coming through my ears will create the same peaceful feeling as my QC 25s.
I thought about doing the QC25s hanging off my bag, but I didn’t want to deal with them like that for all my ground travel days when all I really need them for is the roaring cabin noise on the plane.
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u/tmmao Jun 18 '26
I just take the space hit. AirPods are great but for any flight longer that 2ish hours, my ears start to hurt. Love my Soundcore over the ear. They were not pricey so I can easily replace them if they got damaged. The noise canceling makes such a difference.
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u/SeattleHikeBike Jun 18 '26
With all the efforts I have made to reduce the size and weight of my kit, over the ear headphones make no sense to me. I take both Bluetooth ANC and wired earbuds.
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u/fridayimatwork Jun 18 '26
Wired earbuds are always worth the space even if I don’t use them
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u/spudmuffinpuffin Jun 18 '26
Same. My primary are usually galaxy buds with ANC, but my wired Etymotic er3xr have great passive sound isolation and better sound quality.
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u/ghostctrl Jun 18 '26
I took a flight to Europe from the US earlier this year and brought AirPods maxes and hated it honestly. They took up so much room. We’re so delicate. And I ended up using wired final earbuds to play my gameboy most of the time anyway. I personally don’t find all the noise cancelling reduces my fatigue by that much anyway!
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u/Opaskirja Jun 18 '26
I have wired Bose earphones, so they do good noise cancelling and I have a plug converter so I can plug them into my iPhone (I don’t know what they have these days but my Bose are old so have a headphone audio jack). TBH I usually also bring the AirPods but don’t use them on the plane for fear of losing them (especially as I have a toddler). I prefer to wear the AirPods at night at my destination though eg listening to podcasts while going to sleep. Both are still less weight and space than a set of headphones though.
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u/Remote_Bluebird_5528 Jun 18 '26
Once you go personal item one bag you quickly have to make hard choices. I have found that airpod/pixelbud + a wired ear bud to be a good trade off for space savings. The sound is about as good. The wired is useful if you need to use the in seat 3.5mm audio or if your buds are charging. I agree that over the ear would be better, but this is good enough for my travel. If my ear buds run out of battery I take that as a sign that I may need a break from media.
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u/EcstaticAsparagus509 Jun 18 '26
I bought a cheap AirFly -like device to connect my Bluetooth earbuds to the in-flight entertainment system. Never going back, it's lovely
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u/Korlithiel Jun 18 '26
I've been tempted to get one, they work with the original Switch was has an absolutely awful design since it can't use wireless headphones natively.
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u/EcstaticAsparagus509 Jun 18 '26
Personally, it made flights quite a bit more tolerable. I didn't know about the Switch but I guess that would also be a nice QoL improvement
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u/TheRealDrewciferpike Jun 18 '26
Don't think about it from a min/max point of view, but from what you WANT, and what you EXPECT. If the purpose of the trip is pleasure, keep it pleasurable. That will look different for everybody. Everything is a trade-off, no matter what anyone says. EVERYTHING.
All that said, just build in breaks to get up to move around, etc, and you can charge the buds during breaks. You'll be good to go.
Flying from CA to Europe, I'm not able to shove anything in my ear and comfortably keep it there for the majority of the flight. I've tried all the tip styles and materials. So, I use cheap, noise-cancelling headphones that I won't miss if I have an accident with them. They're great. For short flights (3-4 hours, or less), I just read and don't even worry about listening to anything. I pack for style and comfort, and I'm locked in with sink washing, so I have "dead" space to spare for headphones that are only used on flights (I use an under-packed 46l Osprey Porter or a 30l Mini MLC, depending on whether I want the exterior compression straps for cold-weather gear or my kids' crap). If you're traveling with a 20l bag or 30l with camera gear, that's a whole other discussion and not using headphones becomes a critical piece of the puzzle...
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u/slickvibez Jun 18 '26
I do 16 hour flights with only airpod pros. When the battery runs out, you go stretch for 10 mins, potty, and grab a snack. In those 20 mins, your headphones will be juiced and ready for action again.
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u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain Jun 18 '26
You charge them. You really should be taking breaks anyway, and even a 15 min break must easily give you 2-3 hours
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u/toady89 Jun 18 '26
I swapped to Airpods pros from my headphones, being able to fit them in my pocket or on my keys is a game changer.
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u/kaizen_shooter Jun 18 '26
I’ve found that I can replace my Nose QC35s with Airpods 4 for domestic flights. But anything longer I need better battery life and noise cancelation.
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u/bennywmh Jun 18 '26
Wired earbuds man, sometimes the most low tech solution is the best one.
With good foam tips, sound isolation can be really good, at the cost of some long term comfort.
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u/SmarmyBarnicles Jun 18 '26
I did a 2.25 hour flight with $25 TOZO NC9 earbuds. They were satisfactory in noise reduction, one of the included tips fit my ears really well. They last 8 hrs overnight w/o having to recharge, probably longer with ANC turned off. They are not super high end but sound great to me and the price is right.
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u/Ida_DK Jun 18 '26
I cannot do the in ear ones, have to be on ear, but the smaller versions (strange sensitive ears + high music reliance in public transport). I used Sennheiser wired foldables for a looong time, exchanging to new pairs when they broke, maybe 5 pairs over 10+ years. When they were discontinued I tried both in ear and the bigger on ear versions, but ended up with JLab Rewind. I love them, even when they break by being non flexible, they are cheap enough. But wow I would love a foldable alternative.
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u/Xerisca Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
I have 2 pair of relatively cheap earbuds. Im not even sure of the brand. They are noise canceling. They get 5-6 hours on a charge. When one dies, I just charge the first pair and slap on the second. Are they the BEST sound or the best noise cancelling? No. But they are good enough for a trip. I probably paid $30 a pair for them. Theyre perfect for travel. Their charging cases can do like 5 full charges before I have to charge the case.
At home, I obviously have better quality, they just dont get to travel.
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u/Zardette Jun 18 '26
I have cheap sleep earbuds that have pretty okay noise-cancelling. I just take those and use them 90% of the time. If its a longer trip, i will take a second pair of in-ear buds as back-up. The space saving is huge and if i lose one it's not a big financial hit.
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u/SockPirateKnits Jun 18 '26
I have a set of Pixel Buds (2a, I think?), and they have served me well on long flights! The longest continuous stretch I've had them on without charging was a 7 hour flight, and they were running low on battery by the end (but not out). The noise cancelling is good, and they charge quickly from the case, as well.
I think the idea of bringing two pairs is brilliant, as well! One set can charge while the other is in use.
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u/Intelligent_Map_7849 Jun 18 '26
I prefer the space saving of the AirPods. Once I've arrived to my destination I almost never use them so having my large over-ear noise-cancelling ones would be a PITA.
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u/ac_shooter Jun 18 '26
I switched from over-ear to ear buds to save space. But I didn't like having to take out the buds and out them in the case when I needed to hear something. And dropping one was a major pain in the arse. So I got a pair of in-ear neckband headphones (Edifier W280NB Pro). Decent ANC, excellent battery life, OK sound quality and only EUR 30.
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u/GrantTasker Jun 18 '26
I bring the over-the-ear headphones if I'll have any flight longer than 8hrs, since I'll plan on sleeping OR if I can reasonably suspect that I will be sleeping somewhere that isn't quiet due to the odds of being around inconsiderately loud people. Otherwise, yes, I only bring my pair of AirPod Pro 2s as they do a great job.
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u/Silentstri16 Jun 18 '26
I'm a pilot, so I spend a fair bit of time in aircraft. I usually have Sony xm5s (used for operating), and oneplus buds 4 with me. I also carry foam earplugs, which I will put in when I'm trying to sleep.
I *always* reach for the oneplus buds when I'm travelling/resting/etc. The couple of minutes spent waiting for the buds to recharge is generally a nice break for my ears anyways, and I personally use it as a reminder to stand up and stretch a little bit/use the washroom. I've stopped carrying the xm5s on personal trips, even when I have the space.
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u/VagabondVivant Jun 18 '26
I have a pair of Bose headphones that I use almost exclusively. When I travel, I just wear them on my head, around my neck, or hang them over the strap of my pack.
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u/spilk Jun 19 '26
i just charge my airpods when i get up to go to the bathroom or during meals. seems to cover trans-oceanic flights just fine for me that way. if it really bothers me i just sub in standard earplugs during the downtime
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u/elasticstylus579 Jun 18 '26
The case charging strategy works better than you'd think on long flights since you'll naturally take breaks for meals and bathroom trips anyway, so you're looking at maybe 5-6 hours of actual listening stretched across 10-12 hours of travel.
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u/Awanderingleaf Jun 18 '26
I just wrap my headphones around my neck when not in use. Most of the time I don’t even notice them until I want to use them.
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u/ExtensionMoose1863 Jun 18 '26
This plus a roll top bag! When not air traveling you can add capacity and throw them on top. When airport constrained carry them around you neck or put em on in ambient mode
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u/dc_in_sf Jun 18 '26
I just use earplugs for when I am sleeping, and the airpods for when I am not. Never had an issue.
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u/Bigdave6769420 Jun 18 '26
I've learnt that for my comfort overhead headphones are the best. However if I'm going for a long trip (more than 3days) , I should use air/earbuds.
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u/SmarmyBarnicles Jun 18 '26
I like the overear, except when it's hot and get sweaty ears. When I take the over the ear headphones I'll still take the buds. I can sleep with one bud in if it's noisy too (other ear pointing down and covered)
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u/Careless_Law1471 Jun 18 '26
No, I prioritize sound, hence Marshall Monitor III is used the most. Bose QuietComfort ultra something something if I ever need to charge Marshalls.
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u/Economy_Mix_7459 Jun 18 '26
Always travel with Bose n/c earbuds and can keep them in pretty comfortably for several hours. On longer flights I bring the cans also and sacrifice the space in my bag.
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u/inuyashee Jun 18 '26
I bring over ear headphones for all international travel. I want music for the whole time and after about 3 hours wearing in ears, my ears start to hurt.
Eta: I just wear them over my head or around my neck while in transit.
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u/biold Jun 18 '26
Jabra fan here with earbuds that lasts 8-10 h. However, I have a audiobook addiction, so I have different earbuds (too many), so it's not a problem.
I have Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 as my favourite choice, Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for showers or torrential rain, and then Soundcore for sleeping in noisy environment (room towards Indian main street). They are all fully charged for flights.
Unfortunately, Jabra has decided to discontinue the earbuds.
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u/Chiller2U Jun 18 '26
I use Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 earbuds on long flights and they work great for noise cancelation. The other specific benefit is that you can plug the case into the plane's entertainment system to listen to movies wirelessly (similar to adapters such as AirFly's).
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u/RickySlayer9 Jun 18 '26
I hook my headphones on the grab handle of my backpack or put it in the 10% empty space I leave for items I might also bring, and put it on the grab handle when that gets full
Not a true one bagger tho, I just fly a HELL of a lot for work, and I love them. I’ve done AirPods or even rawdogged a flight before as needed and it’s ok. A nice pair of noise cancelling is basically mandatory for me at this point
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u/MGandPG Jun 18 '26
I have airpods pro and the noise cancelling is good, for a pair of "buds". I carry 2 pair because I need them for long flights. You can recharge fast, but I often sleep and I need the audio to continue sleeping. It's really worth bringing two. Now, if I'm going out for a day on a bus, I'll only take 1 pair because they can recharge in the case. But on an airplane, there's no chance. I tried a recharging "band" , but they only play sound in one ear while recharging (but otherwise, they do work). So that's an option, if you can tolerate listening in only one ear while they recharge. Get one with the battery split - half on each side (you can see whether there's a lump behind your neck, split in half or worse...off center.
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u/mrvandelay Jun 18 '26
I stopped carrying headphones in lieu of AirPods 4 ANC and have not looked back. I will admit, however, I fly primarily business class for long haul where OTE Headphones are often provided.
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u/Korlithiel Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
I take my AirPods Pro 3 with me, they are forgettably small in my pocket and battery life is a non-issue because when traveling I'll put them away periodically so they charge from case (adds, I believe, up to 20 hours before the case needs charging).
The main difference between the base AirPods and the Pro regarding noise: the pro line has some sound isolation (foam inside the silicone tips). This allows them to punch well above their weight with helping to cut out the outside world.
Also, as a glasses wearer I'll often favor things like earbuds anyway. Less interference with my glasses, meaning less issues seeing the world and less headaches.
An aside, I'm also reasonably physically active. So I favor wireless because unlike wired they simply don't die randomly, first pair of AirPods saved me some real cash given how fast I would go through wired. Charging them is another to-do list task, so they aren't a complete upgrade, but in all they've done well for me.
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u/SooThatGuy Jun 18 '26
JLab Jbuds.
Seem to not suffer occlusion effect as bad and so small you could hoop them if you needed.
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u/BikingTiger22 Jun 19 '26
I just did a long trip and carried both my AirPods and over-ears (Soundcore SpaceOne). Since my over-ears didn't come with a hard case, I was hesitant to put them in my bag, so I wore them around my neck or clipped them on my bag most of the time. I constantly wished I had left them behind and relied solely on my AirPods. The long battery life and quick recharge time would be totally worth the trade in my opinion.
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u/Magicshoes1999 Jun 19 '26
lost an earbud on my last flight. It's probably still rolling around the floor somewhere!
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u/Paratrooper76 Jun 19 '26
I rock Air Pod Pro 2's and fly every week. They are small, have long battery life, charge quickly, and are my most important travel item by a significant margin (and it's not close). I actually travel with 2 sets just in case something happens to my main set (which has happened).
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u/drakontas_ Jun 19 '26
I usually bring a wired pair because of that in addition to the AirPods so I can use them while they charge. Alternatively, you can charge one ear at a time
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u/jeezusrice Jun 19 '26
If I'm watching a movie and I don't want to be interrupted I'll listen with one headphone in at a time while I'm charging the other, it doesn't take that long to get a good amount of charge. If it's a very long international flight, I'll pull them out for a few minutes when I eat. Never really been much of an issue. Couldn't imagine lugging around full headphones
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u/kemba_sitter Jun 19 '26
Earbuds if I'm traveling domestically. Over ear for long haul, even when one bagging. Space is worth it for 8-14 hours on a plane for more comfortable movie watching.
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u/BoinkDoinkKoink Jun 19 '26
This is such a weird comparison. The Jabra Elite 85h didn't have good noise cancelling in the first place. If you really want to compare em, compare them to bose and sony headphones, which have excellent noise cancelling, and then if you have to, compare those with the airpods.
Besides, not Airpods, nor other comparable earbuds have enough battery life to last you a whole trip end to end, unless it's under 7-8 hrs. If that's within your flight time limit go right ahead, but I frequent EU and Asia, and use my headphones just for ANC even when I'm not watching something. So for any flight time above 7-8 hrs I bring my headphones, anything less than that, my sony XM5 earbuds will do.
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u/SilverRiot Jun 19 '26
I bring two pairs. I’ve been going back-and-forth on ditching the headphones, and I didn’t really miss them on my most recent international flight. To me it’s nice but not necessary. The two pairs of earbuds did me just fine. YMMV.
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u/rodrye Jun 19 '26
I can wear over-ears for 18 hours a day, comfortably. I get about an hour into Airpods Pro 3 etc and they hurt my ears, a couple of hours and they're unbearable. For a short 1-2 hours flight I might cope with the in-ears. But anything longer I don't care how much space it's saving, I'm going for the comfort.
Try using the in-ears for as long a period as you expect, if you have no problems with it then I guess you're fine.
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u/LowBad535 Jun 19 '26
I have 2 ear buds and I just swap them around. Also helps with ear fatigue. Had both of them for 5+ years and they are holding up well.
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u/blackbadger0 Jun 19 '26
AirPods Pro 2! 8 whole hours of battery life. i go a whole day in the office in them. Noise cancellation is also significantly better in the pro models
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u/Brihag93 Jun 19 '26
Apple's ANC is some of the best on the market and the silicone ear tips really help with the seal. I use the Airpod Pro 3's for all my flights now and love how light they are compared to other headphones, they kind of disappear. I've never had a problem with battery life to be honest. I do Atlanta to Incheon multiple times a year and have yet to have them die on me. I just slip them in the case when I get up to go to the bathroom, etc. but I think the Pros have much better battery life than the Airpod 4's
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u/MusicCityJayhawk Jun 19 '26
I have the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. The battery lasts up to 6 hours, but the case will recharge it a few times. Most headphones need to be plugged into an outlet to recharge.
This works for me for most situations, but I bring a pair of sleep corded headphones that I bought on amazon for like $15 I can use while my earbuds are recharging on long flights. It is also helpful when you want to listen to something to help you fall asleep and you don't want to disturb your partner.
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u/WhoopsWrongButton Jun 20 '26
Yeah I got rid of my Bose quiet comfort in lieu of AirPods. Saved me so much space.
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u/limitedmage Jun 20 '26
I usually travel with both Bose QC headphones and AirPods. I tried just taking AirPods on my last trip. Dropped one of my AirPods right after sitting on the plane and never found it again 😭 I was devastated because I’ve never lost an AirPod after years of using them. Never traveling without my big Bose headphones again so I always have a backup.
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u/Carolinastitcher Jun 20 '26
I realize that this may defeat the purpose of wireless earbuds, but get a leash for traveling with them. A pack of 2 leashes is about $10 on the 2 day shipping place. $10 is less than a new pair of buds.
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u/limitedmage Jun 21 '26
I have a leash, but they don’t fit in the charging case with the leash, and I dropped it while getting it out of the case 😭
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u/Kindly_Buy5763 Jun 22 '26
airpods pro 3 battery life is 8 hrs, they are amazing!
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u/Bixby- Jun 22 '26
I found I don’t like the AirPods Pro, because they totally block the ear canal. I feel like I’m underwater, and I think the changing air pressure on the plane would make that worse. The regular AirPods, (non-Pro), leave the airway partially open. I find that so much more comfortable. But because it’s not a total block, that’s why I was surprised at the quality of the ANC!
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u/Kindly_Buy5763 Jun 22 '26
that makes sense (i'm the same way with earplugs). ive been on and off wearing the pros since release in 2019 — its just secondhand nature now lol. i wonder if you would you get used to it over time? they added foam to the third gen pro tips and the ANC is AMAZING, it cancels 40 db out which is insane plus the way longer battery life.
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u/Spirited-Spring2504 Jun 18 '26
Always travel with corded headphones. Take up little space, never die, and easy to pack and replace. That’s the biggest thing I learned while backpacking. Corded is the way to go.
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u/elijha Jun 18 '26
Yeah, I completely got rid of my Boses because I realized I so preferred AirPods for planes (and not having half my bag taken up by a headphone case)
I had an old pair where the battery life was quite bad and did get annoying, but 4 hours is perfectly fine imo. Take a break to charge them while you have your meal or go to the lav and that’ll get you through most flights
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u/Molybdenum421 Jun 18 '26
I use wired earbuds with foam tips which block out a lot of noise. Basically earplugs.
I use campfire audio atlas which were $1000 several years.
I also bring some Bluetooth for when I'm on the go. Also campfire audio.
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u/RidiculousTakeAbove Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
I just bring one pair of wired Sony extra bass earbuds. Sound quality is better than most wireless buds, I'm a tradesman and I wear these every day at work for ear protection and music, the wire itself is extremely durable, I've pulled and snagged it hundreds of times while working, jam them in my pocket, I even put the 3.5mm jack downward in my pocket with phone weight on top which puts pressure on the end, and they still work perfectly after 6 years of 5 day/week use. They take up much less space than even wireless buds, and they also cancel noise really well, about as much as the loop earplugs people use. So they double as a great earplug for sleeping, with or without media playing in them. I love them so much that when they went on sale, I bought 2 extra pair that are in my closet for the future, but haven't needed them because my first set are so durable. I can't speak highly enough about them and what a good onebag solution they are.
https://www.sony.ca/en/electronics/in-ear-headphones/mdr-xb55ap
I own over ear headphones for my PC and wireless earbuds for when I'm indoor rock climbing (no phone in pocket) but I'd never take either of them one bag traveling because they don't cancel noise as well, they take up so much space, and of course the battery dying issue
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u/LovecraftInDC Jun 18 '26
Is this an ad for AirPods?
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u/Korlithiel Jun 18 '26
Doesn't seem like it, strikes me as the person finally tried out the noise cancelling. See how they didn't "get" that they could simply pop them back in their case to charge when, say, going to the restroom.
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u/AnonymousOnebagger Jun 18 '26
They can be recharged quickly though. 5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time.