Let's talk earplugs.
I'm looking for the BEST earplugs. (Just kidding.)
I am, however, seeking recommendations for your favorite earplugs that:
1) you have been able to wear comfortably and sleep in while wearing;
2) actually kept noise out.
Not a big fan of foam and would prefer reusable ones. They are also NOT needed for the plane.
Also, even though I have a fat head I have suprisingly small ear canals.
Frank II, I use these: military style earplugs I think they are silicone. Even better is to use them with the over-the-ear headphones as well.
Yeah, the best you're going to get with any earplugs, I'm afraid, is about 25 db of noise reduction. I have two pairs of custom-molded earplugs, one pair supposedly designed especially for sleeping. They help quite a bit but they certainly don't block out all sound.
I like Loop Quiet earplugs. They come with four sizes so you can find a good fit and they are reusable.
For me they are comfortable and definitely keep out noise.
Frank II, I had custom made earplugs made a few years ago because my husband is a powerful snorer. I, too have exceptionally small ear canals (but a normal size head:-)). That meant normal size earplugs hurt when I would lie on my side. I had it done at a hearing aid place. Can’t remember how much it cost, but it was a great investment. I take them with me when I travel, and I must say it decreases noise by close to 90% while I’m sleeping, and the snoring is just a flutter until I get to sleep.
I use Mack's foam earplugs, which I think work rather well considering they're not made of silicone. They're inexpensive and lightweight so and I can take a number of pairs on any given trip. They also come in slim fit/sensitive ear style https://a.co/d/d7MV7UX
After several other earplugs proved unsatisfactory, Stihl silicone earplugs are my choice for travel and when around noisy machines. Bonus: they come tethered, so less likely to go missing.
I like Protechs "Quiet Contour", there soft and don't hurt my ears. On a plane I wear those with noise canceling headphones. If you have unusually shaped ears tubes and trouble with over-the- counter earplugs you can get custom ones made by an audiologist. They take a wax mold (or something like wax) of your tubes and then can make several types to your preference. J
I use Flents Protechs - the purple ones. When I roll them up tightly and insert all the way into my ear canal, the sound is greatly reduced. Sometimes I can use them more than once. They get me through the awful noise of a plane.
Here's ten pair of tethered silicone earplugs individually packeted for $7,
useful for riding (CE certified) and in combination with over-the-ear headphones at the range, too.
Thanks to all who have posted....
I changed the question above to emphasize the word "sleep" as that is my main objective.
So, wearing them with over the ear headphones, tethers, and having long ''poles" sticking out from them sort of defeats the purpose.
Any others?
Flents mold to your ear canal and were the ones I used for years
You have my sympathy. I have found that no earplugs work for me to keep out the sound of my husband's snoring. What does work (usually) very well is the LectroFan sound machine. I always take it with me when I travel to drown out any outside noises or noises in hallways, etc. I don't know if earplugs have the same side effect as Q-tips--driving ear wax into the ear canal, either. I know of one that is a moldable waxy material that stays on the outside of the ear canal, but it didn't work for me.
If you want to look into the sound machine, this is a link:
https://www.amazon.com/LectroFan-Fidelity-Machine-Unique-Non-Looping/dp/B019GAFJEG/ref=sr_1_35?crid=2SCRPRM7JU6K4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.upjxDMXl2zjHen1gK2reopgdL3K71orKrQ2YGdPzf6ib09xX1mYVs6tT4icr0HfGFVw2vpXjyx0YdF8obZc3NsB8OdbvQG88lyY89JNWLrjE_Fe-ysFKfZY1f4ySV4MLEDoe8YeLlhMa5Nci1Y5D5badOcOT3U4AWCz1E47lLnm2Lfwc4haXDtZ-VfB74vZiTM8AnO9F06jx_2jjSWJuaeWK-q_GADi1pehBm1vLw21CDorbe6xEmoHGldR-ttY0l8Y08bBbuKW4z8EXS6XP81w37TdvVgAdQ3ScUvFU1Jg.gcMZ4VXzIZMgW4bEhqeiZ2sDI16AnBFdrHscgril6vo&dib_tag=se&keywords=sound+machine&qid=1723465620&sprefix=sound+%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-35
I use this when traveling with snoring companions. It does not completely block sound, but by using a white noise or other "soothing sounds" playlist (I have several hours of rainfall "music") it distracts my brain enough that I can sleep. The headband is very comfy, and I am a side-sleeper. The earbuds are embedded inside the band, and are flat, so you barely feel them. There are other, higher-priced versions of this, but I was not looking for high fidelity and this does the job.
Another vote for Loop Quiet 2. I'm a side sleeper and they work great. They effectively block my beloved's snoring, don't fall out in the night, and don't irritate my ears. I believe they also make a 2+ option that blocks even more noise. They come with 4 sizes of eartips that go down to a teeny-weeny size. There are quite a few knock-off versions on Amazon. My first pair was from one of those companies and the material used in the plugs irritated my ear canals. When I later ordered a pair directly from Loop, it was clearly a different product, much higher quality, and no irritation.
Loop Quiet and I also a side sleeper. They don’t completely eliminate noise but help considerably.
Go to the local gun range. Ask around. Someone will let you know who, in the local area, does custom fitted ear plugs. That's what you want.
I also hate foam and have rather small ear canals as well.
I need them EVERY night and often for chores (hours of lawn equipment use or snow throwers).
I haven't found anything that sufficiently deals with the heavy snoring from my partner.
But... the "best" is often a child size silicone from Mack - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007P8CZS0?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I often like the full size silicone as long as it's "sticky" enough to adhere and stay through the night but firm enough that it returns to a slight semblance of it's original configuration. These brands and offerings come and go so quickly on Amazon so it's a crap shoot. If one doesn't work another will. This one I'm using right now is fairly quiet and stays put: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088B7XRW8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
These two are currently helping me keep my super sharp hearing and sanity.
Another vote for the Loop Quiet silicone earbuds with the four sizes. I find them comfortable for sleep. As others have mentioned, they reduce the noise a lot but don't completely block it out.
In really loud sleeping environments (like when our hotel room in Spoleto was right above the restaurant dishwashers), I use the SoundOff Sleep Ear Buds that play pink noise. They are not quite as comfortable as the Loops but I can still sleep in them. And nothing I've found masks noise better.
