As much as we love the sounds of a new city—the church bells, the distant chatter, the waves—there are times when you just need to shut the world out. For me, that is always on an airplane and shared cruise spaces.
For this week’s lifestyle break, we wanted to talk about our most-used piece of travel tech: Noise-Canceling Headphones. Whether you’re on a long-haul flight with a crying baby or a crowded cruise pool deck where the music is just a little too loud for reading, these are a sanity-saver.
For us, we have tried several brands over the years, and we have a couple of options that work for us. For grab-and-go moments, we use the common air-bud style (we are Android users, and we both use the Pixel Buds Pro 2). For longer trips, like long plane rides, we often opt for the “over the ear” kind of earphones. Right now, we use the Sony WH-1000 brand for their comfort and longevity. Again, the key here is to find something that works for you, based on your budget. It’s one of those investments that felt like a luxury at first, but now feels like an absolute necessity.
Chris is the audiophile and will spend hours listening to music, discovering new artists. James is more the “noise” guys, and will listen to podcasts, non-verbal music, and some of the classics. Sometimes, we put them on with no sound at all just to create a little bubble of peace (using the noise canceling function alone). It’s the ultimate “do not disturb” sign for the modern traveler.
What is the one gadget that has changed the way you travel?