Travel Technology - Noise Canceling Headphone Recommendations

Going to Europe for my first time next month - 25 hours total flight time on the trip. I'm looking to pick up a nice pair of noise canceling headphones (without spending $300). Something in the $150 or under range is preferable. Anyone have any good recommendations?

Thanks for the help!

I have tried at least 4 different types and styles of headphones and all I can tell you is do not buy something based on recommendations from here, Amazon reviews or any other online source. I will now only buy headphones after physically trying them on personally. There is nothing worse than being mid flight and figuring out that the great headphones that got 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon don't feel good on your particular head / ears and begin to ache after a short amount of time. My most recent pair of headphones (Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B) are now on eBay as I type this after using them on the way to Dubai. I took advantage of the massive amount of electronics stores at the Dubai Mall and used a new pair on the return trip that I personally tried on at the mall.

Going to Europe for my first time next month - 25 hours total flight time on the trip. I'm looking to pick up a nice pair of noise canceling headphones (without spending $300). Something in the $150 or under range is preferable. Anyone have any good recommendations?

Thanks for the help!

In addition to active noise cancelling, keep passive options in mind. I stopped traveling with my Bose QC and relegated them to the office. I switched to in-ear models from Etymotics (ER 6i) and later Sennheiser (ie6).

Passive models are a lot smaller in your bag, don't require batteries, and work well if you like to sleep on your side. But you definitely need to try them - not everyone likes the feel of ear plugs.

Here are a few threads on the subject from the last year or so:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1330756-alternative-noise-cancelling-headphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1176527-noise-canceling-headphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1280923-best-noise-cancelling-headphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1283094-whats-best-noise-blocking-headphones-not-noise-cancellation.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1257802-ear-noise-cancelling-vs-noise-blocking.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1228107-noise-cancelling-headphones.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1218453-looking-inexpensive-noise-isolating-earbuds.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1214083-sound-cancelling-headphones.html

There is nothing worse than being mid flight and figuring out that the great headphones that got 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon don't feel good on your particular head / ears and begin to ache after a short amount of time. My most recent pair of headphones (Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B) are now on eBay as I type this after using them on the way to Dubai.
I would second this - try them on and see what is comfortable - I have the opposite experience with my Audio Technica ATH-ANC7b's. I'm very very happy with them, and have gotten lots of use out of them.

I preferred them to the Bose QC series - fit, sound and price wise - but YMMV

Cheers! Appreciate all the feedback.

In addition to active noise cancelling, keep passive options in mind. I stopped traveling with my Bose QC and relegated them to the office. I switched to in-ear models from Etymotics (ER 6i) and later Sennheiser (ie6).

Passive models are a lot smaller in your bag, don't require batteries, and work well if you like to sleep on your side. But you definitely need to try them - not everyone likes the feel of ear plugs.

X2 - I had the custom ear molds done, and don't think I will ever use anything else.

Before the Etymotics, I used the AblePlanet noise canceling, and they took up a lot of space and had a hard time sleeping with them on

I would second this - try them on and see what is comfortable - I have the opposite experience with my Audio Technica ATH-ANC7b's. I'm very very happy with them, and have gotten lots of use out of them.

I preferred them to the Bose QC series - fit, sound and price wise - but YMMV
+1 for the ATH-ANC7Bs. I prefer them to Bose, at a bargain $129 on Amazon right now (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWJT1A/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=someiwritstuf-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002HWJT1A) they're much cheaper too :-)

I dislike in-ears or over-the-ear headphones like the Bose QC's (my ears/head gets too hot).

I have Sennheiser PXC150 and find them perfect, my ears are cool and they fold down flat (can place next to laptop without too much bulk). They are not perfect (1. not passive/requires 2 AA batteries, 2. interference sensitive, 3. annoying side unit), but it fit my budget at the time (<$100). I've used them for the past 15 years and I have used them for every single train or flight without any problems. Highly recommend.

+1 for the ATH-ANC7Bs. I prefer them to Bose, at a bargain $129 on Amazon right now (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWJT1A) they're much cheaper too :-)I have a pair of these. I agree that this is a great price. In general, I'm happy with them. I have found them to be a little uncomfortable after a while. It's the way they squeeze my fat head :)

Prior to this, I had a pair of PXC-250's. They were lighter, smaller, more comfortable, but as they were not over-the-ear, they also didn't do nearly as good of a job of noise cancellation. And similar to the 150's that choijw mentioned, they do have an annoying side unit.