Consider it my true Editors' Choice—I use it every day. The Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth headset ($99 list) is one of my choices for testing Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones. It's extremely comfortable, widely compatible, and works well in almost any environment.

Comfort, in a Bluetooth headset, is largely a matter of taste. Too many headsets either fit too loosely in my ear or hang off it. The Voyager's flexible clip goes over your ear snugly, and the padded earbud tucks securely into your ear canal—this will infuriate people who hate earbud headphones, but I've found it comfortable even after a full day's worth of use. Weight distribution is key: The Voyager's design spreads its 0.7-ounce weight over your whole ear, so it doesn't feel like the top of your ear is about to peel down. The microphone boom is adjustable, so you can wear the Voyager on your left or right ear.

Tiny power and volume buttons run along the top of the headset, and a single call-control button fits on the boom's hinge. The call-control button is easy to find, press, and use—one short tap to hang up, a long press to voice dial, and two taps to redial the last-called number. The volume/mute buttons are harder to recognize with your fingers, but it's not impossible to do so. The teensy little power button is infuriating, but I have learned to live with it. Pairing is relatively easy—hold the volume-up and call-control buttons until the headset kicks into pairing mode—and I've successfully paired the Voyager with literally dozens of phones.

Sound quality and range indoors are both excellent, even in PC Magazine Labs, where several Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices compete for the 2.4-GHz radio band. Voice quality is loud and clear on both ends of a conversation. I got 25 feet away from Motorola and LG handsets before hearing pops and clicks. Conversations were manageable for up to about 40 feet, and the headset held its connection (albeit a severely deteriorated one) for up to 65 feet. The headset's range became even longer in an outdoor area with no interference, where I made clear transmissions 50 feet from my phone. I got 7 hours 7 minutes of talk time and about four days of standby in my tests.

The Voyager is terrific at blocking background noise, such as passing trucks or overhead trains. It's not as good with wind noise, though; you have to talk very loudly and precisely to be heard through a strong breeze. Air-conditioning, on the other hand, is not a problem. The worst interference is wind blowing directly into the microphone.

Make sure you get the latest model, though. I tried both the Voyager 510 version G and the year-old version A. Version A's battery life was about an hour shorter, and its performance in noisy situations was much poorer, because of differences in the firmware. Any new headset you buy from Plantronics will be version G, but double-check if you're purchasing a used headset or buying through a third party.

The Plantronics Voyager 510 comes in three varieties. The reasonably priced $99 standalone version, which is the one I tested, works with Bluetooth mobile phones. The 510S system ($299.95 list) includes a base so the headset can pair with both your corded office phone and your mobile phone. The 510SL version ($379.95 list) adds a robotic handset lifter for your office phone. I'm happy to travel with this reliable, extremely comfortable headset.