As a truck driver, I rely on my headset to make phone calls, receive route updates, and transmit messages. So I tested and ranked the best options on Amazon.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. BlueParrott - Upgraded Design for Improved Comfort
Highlight: Extra comfort, plus it blocks out almost a hundred percent of the background noise.
Helpful review: Wow on the sound on these! I’m not even kidding. You can be standing right beside a compactor truck doing its thing, and a person across the driveway can still hear your voice. I’ve actually tried it. Not kidding.
I've also tried about nine other really popular similar headsets, and while I liked some of them for their weight and lightness, I just really love them for so many reasons. A lot of the other kind really absorb a lot of the background noise, and that's even more the case if you’re someone who wears hearing aids. But honestly with these things, you seriously hear absolutely no background noise, it’s just amazing!
PROS:
– Sound is loud enough to hear in a noisy car.
– Awesome battery life.
– Controls have a learning curve but are pretty good to use once you figure it out.
– Love the voice feature.
– Noise canceling mic blocks out external noise.
– Ear piece has great sound quality.
CONS:
– Ear cushion has a rectangle shape and can be a little uncomfortable because it doesn’t go over the year.
– Head band is on the tight side and yet somehow still manages to slide off when I look down.
Last month, in between traveling, I was in security, waiting for my flight, and talked to my mom for over fifteen minutes without ever having to hit mute. My mom said she heard zero background noise—no airport announcements, no conversations from the crowd around–nothing. People around me were loud too (the plane was late and the line long, so you know how it goes). And yet I was happy because I didn’t have to listen to any of them complain haha. Love this thing.
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
I’m a truck driver and needed a new pair of noise canceling headsets after my last set of headphones stopped working–the pairing essentially broke. I’m on a budget and didn't really want to spend a ton of money, so I tried out a few different earbuds and found that most of them didn't work near what I was hoping for. After doing a bunch of research and devouring all the positive reviews I could, I settled on these, but I honestly can’t even call them settling, because wow, these are just the best. I even tried them out when I was outside next to my buzzing air conditioning unit, and my mom couldn’t even hear it–she said that my voice was completely clear. Naturally, the same was the case when I was driving my truck–she could hear me with no interference. I also love how the headset came with a full battery, and after almost twenty four hours of using it in two days, it only lost 30 percent battery.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
I freaking love these things and use them at my home office almost every day. They’re just amazing. The battery is freaking awesome if you ask me, lasting almost two days. It only died on me once because I didn’t charge it for over a week haha. The only thing that would be cool is if it showed the battery life on my phone, but other than a little small thing, I just love it so much and I know other people will too! — Lindsey Holsinger
Get it from Amazon now: $169.99 & FREE Returns
2. Jabra Evolve 65 - All-Day Battery
Highlight: With an impressive battery, you can get up to fourteen hours of talk time!
Helpful review: Yeah, I got these for my Birthday, but let’s be real, this more felt like an X-mas gift straight from Mister Claus himself! They’re on the pricey side, yeah they’re expensive, but you’re getting what you pay for. The quality is so worth it. I really like ear pads that are dual over single style, and I love how light the headset is, although I’ve seen lighter ones, but not the kind meant for this. I don’t use these at the gym, but they’re great at work.
They also connect to my phones and computers which is just awesome. At first, I couldn’t figure out how to switch between all of them, but the customer service was awesome and they taught me how to install the new software and that worked great. The battery life is freaking amazing. I still don’t understand how even after a full twenty four hours, it still said the battery was full.
The head set is also comfortable to wear for a longer time, but my ears do get a little sweaty if I wear them for a little bit.
I love how the mic is clear, and noise in the background is barely noticeable. The boom mic swivels and has a magnet to clamp to the headset when not in use. The mute button works during calls, but not otherwise.
I love how long the USB cable is and works really great with my computer, but it’s not the best if you wanna walk around with it. It would be nice if you could see the percentage of the battery from the software, but it is what it is. It’s definitely on the pricier side, but it’s super high quality, so I think it’s worth it. I love how solid the quality of sound is, and that you can connect to it easily and still have good conversations.
UPDATE:
I think I’m gonna give this four stars, mainly because the battery status was a little on the misleading side. When it said the battery was full, it dropped down to five percent by the next day. Yet, it’s still pretty solid, and a great product and I love it. — Joe McNulty
Get it from Amazon now: $254.99 & FREE Returns
3. Plantronics Voyager 5200 - Ideal for Work with Teams & Zoom
Highlight: Amazing for Zoom calls and lets you roam to almost a hundred feet.
Helpful review: After using air pods for a while, I finally decided to switch it up and go with something new. And yeah, the noise canceling isn't the greatest for calls when I’m at home in my office, but it worked. When I switch between my phone and my computer, it’s kind of a pain and I was worried about the battery dying, but the Voyager has seriously fixed all of these issues. It has such a long battery life and I had zero issue switching between different devices.
SOUND QUALITY:
It’s not actually design for music listening, and the speaker is better for voices, but it works both ways. I have zero issue hearing people on phone calls. You can also browse the web with it without issue, and that’s great.
MICROPHONE:
The mic is seriously great. Love the noise canceling and how well it works. It filters out all background noise, so no one can hear your surroundings, so that’s nice. I use it on Zoom calls all the time and it’s awesome, and I definitely have the best mic of anyone in my company.
GET THE “UC” VERSION:
Out of all the different types, I recommend the “UC” version. Essentially it comes with a USB transmitter that you can plug into your computer. It’s worth the extra cost if you ask me. Definitely awesome. You get better reception and range and it lets you use the app, plus it comes with a charging case which is awesome.
CONNECTIVITY:
I keep mine connected to my Mac computer, and I love how easy it connects with Bluetooth. It just works great, zero complaints.
BATTERY LIFE:
After four to five hours of non stop video calls, the battery finally gets low, but it charades so fast, you barely ever notice it.
CHARGING CASE:
Game changer right here. Love the charging case. I can just pop it in for a quick recharge. You can fold the head set into the case or you can attach it to the outside. It’s another reason I recommend the “UC” option because charging goes faster. The case is like the airpods, and has a battery inside so that’s pretty cool. My only issue is that it takes a few attempts to get the head set to click where its charging. The blue charging lights are convenient though!
BUTTONS AND CONTROLS:
I love how the buttons are in the best spots and I have no issue finding them. I can adjust the volume and answer or end calls with it, which is so easy to use. Oh, and the mute button is freaking awesome. Makes it easy to quiet my mic when I’m on a conference call.
PLANTRONICS HUB APP:
If you got the “UC” option, then definitely download the Plantronics Hub application. With it, you can see the battery status of the headset and play around with sound quality, ringtone, and battery life. The app also lets you sync the mute button to your computer which is awesome.
COMFORT AND FIT:
Keep in mind, this is gonna be subjective! I like over the ear type headsets, especially when I’m wearing them all day. It’s light enough that it doesn’t make my ears hurt which is awesome. They’re so much more comfy than my air pods, I just love them so much.
OVERALL:
Yeah, definitely the best you can get if you ask me. Def the best pair for conference calls, and I tell all my coworkers about them. — Chris P. O'Keefe
Get it from Amazon now: $122.20 & FREE Returns
4. Leitner - 2-in-1 Wireless Headset with Mic
Highlight: Warranty lasts five years and love that it’s wireless.
Helpful review: I spend just under a hundred percent of my days on my phone–at least I’m being honest. I typically get new ones every two years or so. I really like wireless, single ear that connect to my computer, and I love how there’s a five year warranty just in case anything happens.
SET UP:
Setup was soooo easy. You can even contact tech support for help with any issue but there’s also a bunch of YouTube videos out there that are helpful.
IN USE:
I love how lightweight this headset is. The range of this thing is seriously unbelievable. I even walked through my whole home and in the front and back yard and still didn’t lose connectivity.
Customer service is seriously the best. The tech support even called me to make sure I’d figured it out, which was just a nice touch.
SUMMARY:
Twelve out of 10, not even joking. Would have been a 15, if I had gotten the model that connects to my cell, but I plan to get that next time!
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
Right around the time of Covid, I started working remotely and I knew I needed a good headset, because my dogs can get rowdy. Man, I’m so happy I went with these. The value for money is seriously up there. The outbound audio quality is so amazing, and I love how the range lets me wander to the kitchen and bathroom while still staying connected. After four years, I can officially say the battery life is still just as amazing. Even when I broke the ear pads,customer support quickly shipped replacements. Can’t recommend enough.
A FRIEND’S REVIEW:
Just such a great head set. The sound quality is better than the handset or speaker, and it’s just so comfy, even to wear all day long. My main issue was with the manual, not a lot of instructions, but whatever it still works. Calling tech support helped, but I don’t think I should have necessarily had to do that to figure it out. Either way, honestly it worked great, and I still give it five stars. — Mark Leney
Get it from Amazon now: $265.00 & FREE Returns
5. EKSA H1 - AI-Powered ENC Headphones
Highlight: AI powered and can be paired with two devices at the same time.
Helpful review: I've seriously been looking for a pair of comfortable, noise canceling headsets that don’t cost a fortune. As a truck driver, I need them.
My ears start to hurt haha. And man, this is it! Not only can I answer a call super fast, but the noise in my truck doesn't affect the call quality at all. Everyone I’ve talked to reports seriously crystal clear sound, almost like I'm alone in a quiet room. The battery life is one of the best I’ve seen, and I’ve owned a lot of head sets. I’ve used this for over a week straight and still didn't have to charge it.
UPDATE:
I'm not usually one to write reviews, but these are so worth it. After over a week of use, I still haven't charged them once. When they finally said low battery, they only needed a quick five minute charge and then they kept them going. The battery lasts forever, and I just can’t recommend them enough!
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW:
I love this headset so freaking much! I bought it for my fiancé who drives semisand and they’re just seriously life changing. We’re able to stay connected without any background noise, and our conversations are so smooth now that he doesn't have to keep repeating himself. The battery life is great and I only have to charge it every few days. A plus, plus, and triple plus!
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND:
I’ve tried all the headsets out there, at least that’s how it feels. This pair is by far one of the best I’ve ever tried. It’s super affordable and works so great. I tested it in my semi with the window down while on the phone with my wife and she couldn't hear the wind or the truck engine which was shocking. The battery lasts fifteen freaking hours, with like five hours of talk time. For the price, it's unbeatable. Just love them so much! — Levi Jacobs
Get it from Amazon now: $109.99 & FREE Returns