The Loop Quiet 2 look almost identical to the Loop Experience earplugs, but there are two crucial differences: With no acoustic filter, they’re capable of blocking out more noise—24 dB rather than 18—and they’re made entirely from soft silicone, including the round protrusion that sits almost at right angles to the interchangeable tip. That means these silicone earplugs fit right inside the concha of your ear, entirely flush with your head, so when you lie on your side there is very little force applied to the earplug and also less chance of inadvertently knocking them loose. That makes the Loop Quiet 2 the most comfortable earplugs for sleeping.
The loop itself is made of silicone, but it’s rigid enough that putting the earplugs in or taking them out is easy. They feel nice and snug when in situ without giving you that bunged-up feeling that comes with some pairs. You get four different-sized sets of ear tips (though actually changing the ear tips can be a pain), and the whole thing is washable in warm water. They even come in four colors, so you can match them to your bedsheets. —Parker Hall
Best Earplugs for Concerts
When I went to see my wife’s favorite band, the opener was a doom-metal duo with full stacks of amplifiers. I grabbed some foam earplugs from the bar, but I’d have fared much better if I’d had the Earpeace Music Pros on my keychain.
These NPR-backed earplugs fit perfectly in my ears and come with a small aluminum carrying case. They’re super comfortable and can pull a solid 13 decibels from noisy signals—often the difference between some hearing damage and none—in a way that doesn’t suck all the high end out of the sound. Don’t just take my word for it. Legendary NPR music critic Bob Boilen says he has worn his at thousands of shows. —Parker Hall
Best Cheap Earplugs for Shows
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Eargasm
High Fidelity Earplugs
These super-comfortable earplugs can reduce noise by up to 22 decibels, and they won’t irritate your ears even if you wear them for 18 hours at a time. The silicone shell is easy to clean, and you’ll get three sizes to ensure a proper in-ear fit, plus a handy metal keychain case where you can store them. I frequently wear them at some of the loudest bass music festivals in the world, and they do a good job at filtering out extreme highs and lows without muffling the sounds I paid to hear. My only complaint is that the silicone shells can get yellow over time, but the attenuators on my oldest pair are still kicking after five years. —Louryn Strampe
Photograph: Louryn Strampe
I keep these on my keychain and wear them almost every weekend, whether I’m watching live dubstep or live hardcore. I love them. They’re tiny, looking almost like jewelry when they’re sitting in my ears, and they stay comfortable once they’re seated properly (which does have a bit of a learning curve, so try them out at home before heading to the show). I like how visible they are when I’m wearing them, which serves the purpose of educating the youth on the importance of hearing protection and preventing my friends from thinking I’m ignoring them when I really just can’t hear them. I also really like the limited-edition Swarovski style, but be aware that the metal can feel quite chilly if the environment is cold (and they’re often sold out). I also like that the included case flips open, which is easier to use if you’re in a crowd getting jostled trying to cram in your hearing protection compared to a metal case that unscrews. I’ve handed a couple of pairs of these earplugs out to my friends and they’ve echoed my approval. —Louryn Strampe
Best Adjustable Volume Earplugs
These earplugs from Loop look like the brand’s other doughnut-shaped buds, but with a special trick up their sleeve. You can toggle the outside of each bud between three positions for variable sound reduction. You can switch between a lot, a little, and nearly no noise, which makes these great for live festivals, where artists can vary in volume from “just a little loud” to “dear Lord, I might never hear again.” I also like that they’re light and comfortable, with easy-to-clean silicone ear tips and plastic outer shells. You can even get them in cute colors like blue and salmon pink.
