Mario Petkovski
Any gamer who spends long sessions with a headset knows that getting the right headset is half the battle. Nobody wants to game away when their entire head feels uncomfortable, after all.
It’s not the end of the world, though! There are some headsets made with comfort as their main concern, ensuring that they don’t bother you even during long gaming sessions.
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In this article, we’ll cover 5 of the best gaming headsets, focusing primarily on how comfortable they are to wear.
Most Comfortable Gaming Headsets for Long Hours
One important thing to keep in mind when dealing with gaming headsets and comfort is that you have to give them time.
Headphones and headsets are generally pretty tight out of the box, which can be uncomfortable for sure! However, just keep using them and they will break in and loosen up.
If they’re too uncomfortable to wear while you wait for them to loosen up, you can put them on something else that’s wide enough to stretch them. The headset’s box itself might do the trick!
Anyway, now that you know that little trick, let’s take a quick look at the headsets we’ll be covering in this article.
| Gaming Headset | Supported Platforms | Earcup Cover Material | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| HyperX Cloud II | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones (Wired) PC, PS4, PS5, Phones (Wireless) | Faux Leather | |
| Sennheiser GAME ONE | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones | Velour | |
| Drop + EPOS PC38X | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones | Mesh Knit Microfiber / Velour | |
| Logitech G PRO X 2 | PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Phones (Wirelessly) Xbox One, Xbox Series (Wired) | Faux Leather / Velour | |
| SteelSeries Arctis 1 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones | Fabric |
| Gaming Headset | Supported Platforms | Earcup Cover Material | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| HyperX Cloud II | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones (Wired) PC, PS4, PS5, Phones (Wireless) | Faux Leather | |
| Sennheiser GAME ONE | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones | Velour | |
| Drop + EPOS PC38X | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones | Mesh Knit Microfiber / Velour | |
| Logitech G PRO X 2 | PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Phones (Wirelessly) Xbox One, Xbox Series (Wired) | Faux Leather / Velour | |
| SteelSeries Arctis 1 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Phones | Fabric |
Best Overall: HyperX Cloud II
The HyperX Cloud II headset does three things that earn it the top spot on our list: being affordable, being comfortable, and being versatile.
Being affordable speaks for itself, really. It’s a fairly priced headset, considering the quality of what you’re getting!
This headset isn’t just comfortable, it also has really good audio quality optimized for gaming. It’s not the best, but it’s pretty good nonetheless.
The boom mic, on the other hand, is excellent! It sounds crisp, handles noise well, and doesn’t sound too quiet or too low. Surprisingly good for a gaming headset, all things considered.
Being comfortable comes from the design of the headset prioritizing comfort. As such, it has some fantastically comfortable foam and faux leather ear cushions.
The headband is also pretty comfortable, of course! It’s cushy and light, so you won’t even notice that it rests atop your head at all.
Lastly, being versatile comes from the fact that this specific headset is available in both wired and wireless variants.
The wireless variant is noticeably more expensive and only available in one color, however! That’s pretty much our biggest complaint with this headset, too, which is a shame.
Pros
- A perfect balance of quality and price
- Very comfortable for long gaming sessions
- Available in wireless and wired variants
- Surprisingly good mic quality
Cons
- Wireless variant is a lot pricier than the wired one
Alternative Choice: Sennheiser GAME ONE
The Sennheiser GAME ONE headset would be our top pick if it weren’t beaten by the HyperX Cloud II in some key areas.
Nonetheless, this is a fantastic and comfortable headset that deserves the number 2 spot!
Its earpads are made with foam covered with velour, which is considered one of the most comfortable earpad materials. And for good reason!
These earpads feel quite cushy and the velour should keep your ears cooler than standard faux leather earpads. Sweating your ears off while gaming sucks, so this is a godsend!
The headband is also notably comfortable, as it has an extremely thick cushion. Not much to say, it’s simply good and comfortable.
Of course, we should bring up the audio quality. Sennheiser is a brand known for high-quality audio equipment and this headset is no exception! It has superb audio quality for a gaming headset.
However, it’s not all perfect. The main notable flaw is the microphone’s low volume. While the mic’s audio quality is decent, it’s just too quiet. You might have to yell at your teammates during gaming sessions!
If you value your listening quality more than your recording quality, though, this is perfect for you.
Pros
- Premium-quality velour earpads
- Extremely comfortable build
- Superb audio quality for a gaming headset
Cons
- Microphone is far too quiet
- A tad more expensive than similar headsets
Premium Wired Headset: Drop + EPOS PC38X
Want to invest in a premium-quality wired headset? The Drop + EPOS PC38X is for you. But does the comfort fit the price?
We would say that, yes, it does! They’re extremely comfortable thanks to their lightweight and soft cushy ear pads.
The PC38X has a high clamp force, but you won’t even notice due to how light the headset feels, which is honestly impressive in its own right.
You even get two pairs of ear pads with this headset. The default ones have microfiber mesh knit cloth, while the alternate ones have velour instead.
Both of them feel very comfortable, but which one is better is up to your preference. It’s nice to have options, that’s for sure!
Keep in mind that swapping the earpads will affect the audio somewhat, though. Each material provides a different audio signature, but this is up to your preference as well.
As for the audio quality, it’s superb and fits the price. It’s one of the best audio qualities you can get with a gaming headset without going into audiophile territory! The mic is also quite good, so we have no complaints there either.
We do feel that the price is just a tad too much for what you’re getting, though…
Despite their impressive comfort and fantastic audio performance, the overall build quality doesn’t feel quite as solid as it should be at this price range.
Pros
- Comes with two sets of high-quality earpads
- Premium audio quality
- Perfect mic quality
- Very comfortable
Cons
- Overall build quality feels a tad weak for the price
Premium Wireless Headset: Logitech G PRO X 2
Wired headsets shouldn’t get all the fun of having a premium pick, right? Worry not, we have the Logitech G PRO X 2 to cover as the premium wireless headset!
This headset comes with two pairs of memory foam earpads, just like our previous pick. In this case, the default is covered with faux leather while the alternate one is covered with velour.
It doesn’t matter which one you prefer, though, they both are extremely comfortable! They’re large and very well cushioned, so they should rest comfortably on your head without feeling uncomfortable.
That said, we recommend the velour pads, especially if your ears tend to sweat during long gaming sessions.
The earcups themselves are also pretty versatile and have a nice range of motion, which allows them to easily fit many head sizes. Comfort for everyone!
Audio quality is pretty great, though we honestly expected a bit more from a headset this pricey. That said, they do come with a companion software that allows you to EQ sound more to your liking.
On the other hand, the microphone is honestly just average. It has a nice volume and your voice should come out clear, but it might have an unnaturally bass-heavy sound.
Despite these grievances, this headset performs well! While it’s primarily intended for wireless use, it can be plugged in and used wired as well. The battery lasts quite a good while, too!
Pros
- Includes two pairs of high-quality earpads
- Very thick and cushy earcups
- Long-lasting battery
- Low latency when using the bundled dongle
- Can be used wired as well
Cons
-
· Microphone and audio quality could be better
Budget Pick: SteelSeries Arctis 1
You shouldn’t be uncomfortable just because you’re on a tight budget! SteelSeries seems to agree, so they manufactured the affordable Arctis 1 headset just for you.
First and foremost, the Arctis 1 has a much more affordable price than the others on its list. This is mostly due to it being an older model in SteelSeries’ line of Arctis headphones.
Nonetheless, this model stands the test of time as a comfortable budget gaming headset! It’s very light and has thick ear pads with breathable fabric covers, making it nice for long gaming sessions.
Despite its budget price, it’s also full-featured and has compatibility with every modern gaming system
The audio quality is not particularly impressive, but it’s pretty good for this price range. Audiophiles might turn their nose up at this headset, but the average consumer should find them good enough.
Surprisingly, the mic on this headset stands out quite positively! The audio is crisp and has decent volume, so it should easily allow you to communicate with others while gaming.
The caveat is that the build quality feels rather plasticky and finicky, though that shouldn’t be surprising at this price range. They had to cut costs somewhere, it seems!
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Perfect for gamers on a tight budget
- Decent audio quality for the price
- Surprisingly good mic
Cons
- Cheap, plasticky build
To Sum Up
The HyperX Cloud II earns its rightful spot as our top recommendation due to it just covering all the bases. It’s a fantastic, comfortable, and affordable headset. It just sucks that the wireless variant is so much more expensive!
However, the Sennheiser GAME ONE comes in close second. Its audio quality is particularly superb for the price, but the mic is disappointing.
In the premium range, the Drop + EPOS PC38X is a fantastic wired headset that is extremely comfortable and has fantastic audio quality. If you got the dough, this headset will do you right.
Similarly, Logitech’s G PRO X 2 Lightspeed is a great choice for a premium wireless headset. Audio and mic quality could be better for the price, but the headset is still overall fantastic.
Lastly, SteelSeries’ Arctis 1 is a great pick if you’re on a tighter budget. They’re comfy and have good audio and mic quality for the price. However, the build quality really does feel quite cheap.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What headphones won’t hurt your ears?
A comfortable headset is considered to be the one that has a soft and flexible design, and it is also padded and lightweight.
2. Why is my headset uncomfortable?
It isn’t built with comfort in mind, or it is not the right fit for you. Even choosing a headset made with soft padding and flexible design might be uncomfortable if it is not the right size for your head and ears.
3. How to make your headset more comfortable?
In order to make your headset more comfortable consider changing the padding around your ears to a more breathable velour.
4. What are the best ear pads for comfortable gaming headsets?
The ear pads are most important when it comes to headset comfort. Make sure you choose ear pads that are thicker and softer. Also, make sure that they are made with natural materials that are more breathable.
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