How To Choose Comfortable Headphones [8 Factors To Consider Before Buying]

Let’s face it, choosing headphones is not as straightforward as it once was.

Gone are the days where you had to simply choose whether you wanted a pair of on, or in-ear headphones, and from what brand.

Today you have to decide on factors such as noise cancelling, open or closed backs, and even the material.

This means literally thousand of headsets to choose from!

This can make for a laborious task when you want to choose a headset for a specific reason.

Here we will be focussing on comfortable headphones, and more specifically we will be guiding you through what to look for to find the ideal set of comfortable headphones for you.

There are a number of features which will determine whether a headset is likely to be comfortable or not.

We will look at these feature in more depth here, and also focus on the main differences between over-ear and on-ear when it comes to comfort.

1/ Earpads

Probably the two most important factors to consider with earpads is the amount of padding and material.

You want the pads to feel soft and comfortable, but also breathable at the same time.

Depending on how long you plan on wearing the pads for at a time, the longer you have the pads on, the better the ventilation you will need.

Velour is an excellent choice of material for earpads. As a material it is slightly textured for comfort but also more porous than say leather.

That’s not to say leather is a bad choice, just make sure you choose real leather and not PU leather or similar.

Leather is a great choice for durability, but doesn’t quite match the comfort of velour.

2/ Headband

Factors to consider with the headband are the size, the amount of support, but also the amount of give it has.

You want the headband to support the earpads to stay on your head, but not in a manner in which you feel the headphones are being clamped to your head.

Any numbness on the outer ear after use is an indication that the headphones are a poor fit, or have an overly rigid headband.

3/ Headphone Type

When speaking in terms of comfortable headphones this is typically a choice between over-ear or on-ear.

The popular opinion is that over-ear usually wins in terms of comfort.

This is because the surface area of the pad is usually bigger, spreading the pressure of the ear pad over a wider area on/around your ear.

With on-ear, the ear pads are generally smaller, focussing the pressure of the pads on a smaller area.

We will discuss this area later on in the article in more detail.

4/ Layout

The layout, or how other features of the headphones have been integrated, can affect the comfort of a headset.

For example, where the controls on the headphones are located, and if there is a mic and it’s relative position to your mouth.

5/ Weight

This is a nobrainer really. The lighter the headphones, the more comfortable they will be as you are not carrying a heavy weight on your head.

This will be a consideration if you are wearing the headphones for a long period, or use them on the move.

Don’t be so quick however to just buy the lightest headphones you can find, as this can sometimes be at the cost of reduced build quality.

Try to find a set of headphones which strike the balance of build quality but are not too heavy.

6/ Wireless

Not having wires can also be a consideration in terms of comfort.

Going wireless gives you that freedom to move around freely. Also the wire itself will add a slight weight to the headphones.

7/ Noise Cancelling

This might indirectly affect whether you consider a pair of headphones comfortable or not.

For example, if headphones have good noise cancelling technology you will have a more immersive experience, and therefore you will likely experience a more comfortable listening experience.

8/ On-Ear Versus Over-Ear

There are advantages to both of these headphone types. We will look at these in more detail now.

On-ear Advantages…

Portability – On-ear headphones are smaller and hence more portable. If you cannot fold an over-ear type then there is the risk they will break during transit.

Breathability – Because on-ear headsets cover a smaller area of the ear, this generally means air is able to ventilate from the ears easier.

Over-ear can close the ear off completely, contributing to the build up of moisture under the ear pads.

However both will likely cause a build up of moisture and sweat if used for long periods.

Weight – As on-ear headphones are generally smaller, they are also usually lighter and feel less heavy on the head.

Glasses – You will find it is easier to wear glasses with the on-ear style of headphones.

Over-ear headphones however generally provide too much of a seal around the ears, and tend to get in the way of glasses.

Over-ear Advantages…

Clamp-Free Ears – As over-ear headphones generally sit around the ears, there is usually no clamp on the ears. However you may still find this is the case if you have larger ears.

Overall though, over-ear is generally more comfortable than on-ear in that respect.

Noise Leakage – Over-ear is usually able to reduce this due to the seal they form around the ears (unless they are open back style).

Sound – You may find the over-ear provide a wider, more spacious sound. This is usually down a combination of the driver size, and the seal the ear pads form over the ears.

On-ear can sound more boxed in and narrow as a result.

Also a bigger driver means more bass potential. So if the amount of bass is a consideration then go for the over-ear variety.

Our Recommendations For Comfortable Headphones?

To save you time we have come up with a short list of our picks for comfortable headphones.

In no particular order we recommend you check out the following headsets…

Bose QuietComfort 35

These are just exquisitely comfortable and great at noise cancellation.

Click here for our full review.

AKG K702

Boasting huge ear pads and an adjustable head band, these definitely score highly in the comfort department.

Click here for our full review.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO

This headset comes with lovely velour ear pads as standard, and are great for long listening sessions.

Click here for our full review.