Buying your first aviation headset can be one of the more daunting purchases you make as a student pilot. After all, you have likely already committed to spending a sizable fortune on training alone, and now a headset too!?

Rest assured, you don’t need to spend $1,000 to find a decent headset. There are several affordable options that can serve you well during flight school! Check out these five, which we believe, are the BEST, affordable, headset options, perfect for Private Pilot Training.

David Clark H10-13.4 Headset

David Clark headsets are one of the most popular headsets used by flight schools nationwide. At around $300 each, David Clark’s are more affordable than many aviation headsets you will find, offering a nice compromise between comfort, durable construction, and reliable function.  It is perfect for the student pilot who wants an economic yet lasting headset.

Rugged Air RA200 Headset

By far the least expensive option, the Rugged Air RA200 headset, is around $100. Stepping into the aviation market with their experience making race gear, Rugged Air offers an extremely cost effective solution for pilots. While this definitely isn’t your Bose A20, the RA200 is great for those on a budget who want a quick solution to get them started. It even makes a great spare for those off times you may have a 3rd passenger!

Kore P1 Series Headset

The Kore P1 Series Headset has been my  personal headset for almost 5 years now!  At around $90, it is on the affordable side, but offers a bit more comfort relative to others in its class. The gel ear cups make a big difference on longer cross countries. The only take away on this particular headset is the wire-boom mic, which can sometimes have adjustment issues. The KA-1 series improves on this flaw by offering a Flex Boom mic, though, this version is a bit more expensive at $250.

ASA HS-1A Aviation Headset

Around $150, the ASA HS-1A leads in the way of audio quality. While not the most comfortable fitting, the mic quality and overall audio are better than most other economic headsets. The ASA HS-1A headset is also one of the more popular headsets, as would be expected from the trusted ASA brand.

Faro Stealth 2 ANR Headset

If you’re looking for quality, stop at the Faro Stealth 2 headset. As a competitor to the Bose A20,  this stylish headset comes in at half the cost–just below $500. If you want the high-end features, like Bluetooth input and active noise reduction, this is the headset for you! 

When it comes to your first headset, don’t spend more than you have to. Save your money and spend it where it matters most: on your training!  You don’t need the latest and greatest tech to get the most out of learning to fly. Save the Lightspeed Zulu 3 or Bose A20 for when you’re flying everyday as a profesional and can better benefit from the use of the pricier headsets.