I Test Headphones For a Living — And These 5 Headphones Have The Best Protective Cases

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The last thing you want for your headphones is for them to break when you put them in your backpack. To make sure that they don't get damaged, wireless headphones tend to come with a protective hard case that you can fit the headphones into.

Sadly, not all protective cases are created equal. Even some of the best headphones you can buy today have lackluster cases (I'm looking at you, AirPods Max). So I've made a list of the best protective cases that come with headphones.

These models have cases that are strong enough to stand up to the dangers of daily life and won't break anytime soon.

1More Sonoflow Pro

While most headphones that cost under $100 don't have any kind of protective case, the 1More Sonoflow Pro buck the trend with an excellent hard case that keeps the headphones safe from harm. It seals shut with a zipper, and the cans fit nicely inside.

Unfortunately, there aren't any cutouts inside for the headphones to secure themselves into, but you can't really expect more for the price.

The headphones themselves are a sub-$100 hero. They sound pretty good for the price, and thanks to some great padding, they're comfortable too. There's great battery life on offer that goes all the way up to 100 hours, and the ANC is plenty for blocking out those annoying travelers on your morning commute.

Marshall Monitor III

Marshall had to bring some its design prowess to the Monitor III ANC headphones, and it didn't disappoint. While the headphones are already a handsome set, the case that comes in the box oozes personality. It's very compact and covered with a leatherette finish to echo guitar cases and the outside of Marshall's amplifiers. The inside is lined in red velvet-like material — again like a guitar case. The headphones fit snugly inside, and there's a useful compartment into which you can fit all the cables.

The headphones that fit inside the case are great. They're very light and comfortable, and feature more of that retro Marshall style. They sound good, and block out plenty of noise with their ANC. They're a bit more expensive than the 1More Sonoflow Pro, but they're well worth their asking price.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3

Bowers &amp; Wilkins PX7 S3 — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 shrank the case of the previous model, and in the end created a great protective enclosure that's both solid and compact. The headphones have secure sockets inside so that they don't shake around, and there's a magnetically closing compartment to keep your cables in. It's a very premium-feeling case, so you'll never worry about putting your headphones in your backpack.

The headphones are a Tom's Guide Audio Awards winner, and for good reason: They sound incredible, while offering solid ANC and great battery life. They're very comfortable as well, thanks to some lovely thick padding in the headband and on the earcups.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones' case is one of the more compact options on the list. That doesn't make it any less protective, with its sturdy outer keeping your headphones safe from harm. There are shaped inserts inside to make sure that the headphones don't shake about when you put the case in your backpack, and a pocket in the lid to keep your cables in.

The QuietComfort Ultra themselves are our pick for the best noise-canceling headphones, thanks to their incredible ANC. It blocks everything out, from bus engines to city scapes and everything in between. Like the rest of the models on our list, they sound good too, and they're very light and comfortable.

Sony WH-1000XM6

The Sony WH-1000XM6 stepped up their case game over the XM5 — it's a well-sized and very protective model this time around, with useful compartments for the cables and headphones inside. The magnetic clasp that keeps everything in place is a surprise masterwork in design as well, and I appreciate its simplicity. There are still some concerns I have for its longevity, but I'm enjoying it at the time of writing.

The headphones inside are a good ANC option as well. They block out loads of noise, and the sound is pretty good to boot. They're relatively comfortable and extremely light.

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Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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