Effective Noise canceling headphones that don’t hurt

TLDR: Recommendations needed for noise canceling headphones that don’t squeeze my brain.

I went to a movie last night and my noise cancelling earbuds crapes out twice during the show.

Movies are hard anyway because the flashing screen, the chance of perfume from other watchers and the noise level. So I wear a brimmed cap I can angle down and wear earbuds for “turning down the volume”.

These earbuds are going downhill fast and I need something else but of course it’s complicated.

I’d prefer the headphones that fit over your ear, but I can’t handle the headband pressure or the tension that squeezes them to my ears. Sadly, they work so much better for noise cancellation than earbuds.

So I’m hoping there’s an option for a style that goes behind the neck and the ears will stay in place without a lot of pressure. Or even earbuds that I can wear around my neck so I don’t have to fumble with getting individual pods in and out of my pocket or their case.

I don’t need them to be good for phone calls. Just noise canceling and listening to audiobooks/music/podcasts.

In the meantime I think I might grab some Loop earplugs.

Do you have anything you love?