Headphones that won't make you look like geek
What to wear when tuning in that on-flight movie
For the privacy hound Looking for a headphone that will make the rest of the world disappear? Try the Able Planet NC300 Soft Touch. We tested it on a cross-Canada flight – the rest of the cabin faded to nothing. In a regular office setting, though, that nothingness is too much: Two testers found their ears popping. Who knew a headphone could be that effective? Ableplanet.com or at major retailers; $149.99
For younger jetsetters The iFrogz CS40 foldable headphones fit both the comfort and cool categories – especially the latter category, if you’re under 30. Reaction from the tween set: “Those are so beast! Are they for me?” You’ll like how they feel like big marshmallows hugging your ears with good-quality sound. The background noise on board won’t disappear, but watching a movie on WestJet, while other passengers are watching the hockey playoffs on live TV, you won’t mind being alerted by their cheers to a home team goal so you can flip the channel to watch the replay. iFrogz.com; $39.99
For the fashionable flier Funky Swedish fashion brand WeSC’s Bassoon headphones are a high-design alternative to flimsy buds. Outfitted with a cushiony leather headband and ear pads and a 180-degree rotating ear cap, the snow-white listening device has a detachable cord that can give the average music lover a cool DJ look. Forty-mm titanium drivers and a frequency range of 20-20 000 Hz means that it can masterfully handle high volumes. $235; wesc.com/in/canada