My non-negotiable for any kind of trip is a good pair of headphones. Public transport without a way to zone out from my surroundings? Unthinkable. A good podcast, playlist or audiobook can make any tediously long journey pass in double-quick time. Day-to-day, my over-ear cans are my playlist-deliverer of choice, and so far I've been lugging them around on my vacations too, but I've decided it's time to invest in some earbuds for travel. The main benefit of an in-ear option is that it's significantly more compact for packing, but in hotter climes, I've also been struggling with overheating ears (it's a privileged problem, but a problem nonetheless, okay?) — and I'm concerned about what the sweat and suncream is doing to my earcup padding. Luckily, the talented TechRadar Audio team has been busy testing dozens of pairs of earbuds, and I have plenty of well-reviewed options to choose from — I've rounded up my top contenders below. All of these come highly recommended, but the top three are 5-star buys. Click the 'View details' button for more info about each one, and why I'm considering it. For more options, head to our general roundup of the very best headphones for travel.Brilliant travel earbuds Nothing Ear (a) Wireless Ear Buds Top contenders because they're both very good and very affordable — I personally find it stressful to have any of my pricier gadgets with me when I go away, and it wouldn't be a disaster if I left one of these in a hotel room or dropped it in a pool. We called these headphones "a sure-fire hit". The noise cancellation, sound quality, comfort and battery life are all far better than we'd expect at this price point. Read our full review ProsFun, zealous, expansive sound Vastly improved active noise cancellationSmaller, more pocketable case ConsNo wireless charging supportNo flagship sound profile curation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) The main reason I'm considering these earbuds for travel is because the noise cancellation is second to none. We said: "These buds are the most sonically exuberant listen I've heard to date in this type of form factor, a fact only enhanced by their rock-solid, near-impenetrable active noise cancellation (ANC), which you can usefully tweak on a slider when creating Bose's hugely successful 'Modes'." Read our full review ProsBose's noise cancellation is still top of the classTailored immersive profiles add valueExcellent device agnostic spatial audio with head trackingConsEarbuds are still a touch bigNo guided hearing testsEQ tweaks limited to three tabs Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear Wireless ANC Earbuds We called these "a highly competent set of earbuds and a joy to wear". They're especially great for using on flights, because you can plug the case's USB-C port into the headphone jack on an in-flight entertainment system, and it'll work as a wireless audio transmitter. The ANC is also great.Read our full review ProsIncredible levels of detail and dynamismVastly improved comfort; better staminaEffective ANCConsLacks ear-tip or fit tests No proprietary spatial audioBattery life can still be beaten Apple Airpods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds Another noise-cancellation hero — we called the ANC "truly remarkable". These also stand out for offering extra perks like Live Translation, which will come in handy on further-flung trips. A potential down-side is the slightly limited battery life when making use of all those extra features.Read our full review ProsWall-of-silence active noise cancellationMuch comfier and more secure fitHeart-rate monitor adds valueConsStill questionable stamina (with all features deployed)Case button will be missedLive translation requires work to set up HUAWEI Freearc Open-Ear Earbuds These are a little different, because they're open-ear headphones. While I love all-encompassing noise-cancellation, there are situations — particularly when traveling alone — where I want to be more aware of my surroundings, and these would work well for that. They're also nice and affordable, with good sound and fit.Read our full review ProsTop-tier soundCompetitive priceComfortable fitConsApp download painsMiddling battery lifeWould benefit from ANC SoundPeats Clip1 open-ear earbuds Like the Freearc buds above, these open-ear headphones are designed for times when you want to be aware of what's going on around you. We're also fans of the performance — our reviewer said: "The buds nail the basics; they’re comfortable to wear, grip reliably in the ear... and don’t weigh too much." They also praised the "hardy" build — a bonus for travel. Read our full review ProsFantastic listening testComfortable buildCompetitive valueConsLow max volumeCheap-feeling caseTouch control issues