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The 8 Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones For Travel, Exercise, Focus, And Sleep

When we say silent, we mean SILENT.

One thing about me is I’m going to be wearing headphones. In the office, at the gym, working from home – you name it, I’ve got to have music on.

While I love picking an outfit out, if there’s one thing I wear more than anything else it’s my headphones, so having a comfy pair I can whack on, that looks cute, and won’t leave me with a burning headache at the end of the day is a must.

You’ve heard of cost per wear for clothes, but trust me, I really put my headphones to work for their money.

And I know I’m not the only one: headphones are a serious purchase, and one that folks don’t take lightly – as they shouldn’t because, well, they’re expensive!

To help you make your decision (or delegate it to someone else for a Christmas pressie) I’ve tested the best noise cancelling headphones on the market today.

Best noise cancelling headphones at a glance:

SONY 1000X series WH-1000XM6

Nothing Headphone (a)

How I tested the best noise cancelling headphones

As well as wearing headphones in every situation possible – at the gym, in the office, during my daily commute, while cooking – I wanted to make sure I tested the noise cancelling capabilities as fairly as possible.

I always listen to the same few albums on repeat, so this wasn’t a problem for me: I sat next to a fan on the same setting, listening to the same album on the same volume for each pair of headphones to rank each noise cancellation mode.

For those with multiple modes, I chose the highest level of noise cancellation possible to rate every pair on my list, while also testing the other modes and apps during my daily life to see how functional they were in different situations.

I also considered features such as battery length, price, app functionality, and overall how customisable the headphones were.

My favourites are rounded up below.

Best noise-cancelling headphones to shop in 2026

Bose QuietComfort Ultra

Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

In the box: Hard shell storage case, charging cable, audio cable, instruction manual, quick start guide.

Battery life: Up to 30

I’m so glad the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones came out top of my list for functionality, because they’re the most comfortable pair I tried by miles.

The newly-released second generation of these headphones, Bose has improved upon their offering by adding the potential for an extra six hours of battery life, and a metallic headband accent.

They arrive in a hard shell storage case, which means you won’t have to worry about tearing the soft padding by chucking them in your bag.

Connecting these to the Bose app is easy, and you’ll want to to unlock their full potential. There are a few built-in controls, including a bluetooth and pause/play button.

One of my favourite features while testing noise-cancelling headphones has been swipe features (don’t ask me why, it just feels high tech). These headphones have a volume strip on the right ear cap, which you only have to swipe your finger over to increase or decrease the volume, or switch between immersive audio modes.

Speaking of, you can change the audio to suit what you’re doing: still, for when you’re in one place, and motion, for when you’re on the mood, which adjusts the intensity of the audio. You can also change that control to sync with Spotify or use your voice assistant on your phone.

Then there are several pre-set audio modes to choose from, including quiet, aware, immersion, and cinema. But if you really want to get granular with it, the Bose app has 10 other modes to choose from, including focus, relax, and run, as well as an equaliser slider so you can mix your audio to your exact preferences.

In terms of noise cancellation, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra was the most effective I’ve tried. The level can be adjusted from 0 to 10 on the Bose app, and on the highest mode I can barely hear any outside noise.

The only caveat to this is that the headband isn’t adjustable, and because I have a small head, when I’m wearing these headphones lying down (at the gym or in bed) they tend to slip off a little.

I have an iPhone, and I love that when you search for Bose, it’ll let you switch your immersion mode to cinema or quiet from your homescreen.

If you’re willing to fork out nearly £400 for a pair of everyday headphones, these are well worth the investment. Keep reading for more affordable alternatives.

Extremely customisable audio, with tons of modes and motion settings to choose from. Doesn’t take a genius to connect them to your phone. The on-ear controls are easy, so you won’t always have to be on your phone. Noise cancellation is super effective (and the best I’ve tried). Comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Comes with a storage case and audio cable, in case you need it.- The headband isn’t adjustable.- Battery........

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