Check latest prices		Etymotic EtyCom Etymotic makes superior noise-canceling headphones, so we were eager to try its cell phone headset. While it has great audio quality overall, the earpiece (you get a choice of sizes and styles) fits inside your ear canal--way inside your ear canal. It's worse than having an otoscope shoved in your ear during a doctor's visit, and a lot of people may find it downright uncomfortable. It does block most ambient noise though, so it's good for outdoor use or in noisy environments, and we liked the flexible boom and the replaceable filter. Priced at $69.95, the EtyCom is by no means cheap, so you might want to try it first.
Check latest prices		FoneGear Cord Free headset  Envious of your colleagues with their Bluetooth phones and wireless headsets? FoneGear has a solution (sort of) for the Bluetooth-challenged. Working by magnetic induction, the headset is cordless, but you have to attach the charging base to your phone during use, so you're not completely untethered. The earpiece features a call-answer button, but audio quality is a bit fuzzy, and it gets worse the farther you move from the charging base. Promised battery time is 3 hours, but after regular charges, it climbs to a whopping 25 hours on one AA battery. You also get a choice of adapters, so it can fit almost any phone. But at $89.99, it will stretch your wallet.
Check latest prices		Jabra EarWave Boom  Resembling a blue shrimp, this headset wraps around the ear instead of pressing against it, and it's secure and comfortable to wear. Pivoting action also makes it wearable in either ear, while the little gel earpiece (you get two sizes) funnels sound for good clarity and volume. We tested a model with a Nokia plug, but you can buy it for other phones.
Check latest prices		Jabra ProBoom  You can wear the ProBoom either hooked over you ear with a standard ear loop or directly in the ear using one of the rubberized EarGels. We preferred the latter, as the EarGels come in six sizes and are designed to hug the contours of your ear (they're also washable). An amplifier boosts the volume of the earpiece, but it requires two zinc-air batteries, and there's no indicator light to inform you whether your cells are out of juice. Promised battery life, however, is 30 days, regardless of how much you jabber. The cost for the headset is high ($49.95), so the budget-conscious should take note.
Check latest prices		Logitech EasyFit Boom  This Logitech EasyFit Boom includes four rubberized, light-blue FlexLoops that fit over the earpiece, which fits snugly into the upper part of your ear. You also get a call answer/end/redial button, but as with other Logitech EasyFit models, the connector is sold separately.
Check latest prices		Plantronics M220  The M220 provides decent sound quality, but we had a hard time getting a secure fit. The ear cuff, which you can switch to fit over either ear, is tough to remove. Also, while it sports an eye-catching blue and silver color, its long boom means it's definitely not on the small side.
Check latest prices		Plantronics MX150  The MX150 features the same flexible grip under the earpiece as the MX100 but with a flexible boom mike. The headset has a comfortable fit, but even with noise-canceling abilities, the earpiece isn't the loudest, so you'll probably need to boost the volume a bit. At $44.95, the M150 also is priced on the higher side.
Check latest prices		Plantronics MX500  Callers appreciated the crystal-clear audio quality of the Plantronics MX500. The boom sits fairly close to your mouth but remains unobtrusive. The in-line call-answer/end/hold/redial button is a nice touch, but the unusual earpiece design--you flip the earpiece to a 90-degree angle, then cup the rubber strap underneath your earlobe--is uncomfortable for extended periods. Because it's difficult to position the earpiece properly, the incoming audio on this $45 unit isn't loud enough for outdoor use.
Check latest prices		Shure QuietSpot QSH-3  This Shure QuietSpot model features the same sound-isolating earphone as the QuietSpot in-line version but with a flexible boom mic. Although very lightweight, the boom makes this unit a little more ungainly than the in-line unit, but it also improves the outgoing sound quality. It's a good choice for use in an office, but it might be a bit too unwieldy when you're on the go. Shure also offers the QSH-HB4 for Nokia handsets. Both models retail for $40.
Check latest prices		UmeVoice TheBoom Though its style is more apt for a telemarketer, TheBoom has a remarkable noise-canceling feature. No matter our surroundings--indoors with the television and the radio blaring or outside with loud traffic--callers said they could hear only our voice. It also was louder than any other headset we tested. That said, its size makes it a bit unwieldy to use while walking around, and though the flexible earpiece fits snugly in your ear canal, the wraparound ear loop and rear stabilizing brace are difficult to slip on and off with ease. And at $150, it'll cost you some serious coin.