Foam earplugs are hard to beat when you need to mute loud noise. They’re practical, and the price is right. But their sound-reducing power is too much for conversing in noisy rooms, enjoying live music, or simply lowering the volume of the noise around you, not turning it off.
I want earplugs that do these things and five more, namely, earplugs that —
- Don’t stick out from my ears (because the ones that do catch the wool of my winter beanies)
- Are discrete (not DayGlo bright)
- Are versatile, not specialists (e.g., for music only)
- Provide documented sound reduction in decibels
- Cost less than $25.00
The search
A web search for earplugs will turn up hundreds of choices, but two products from HearProtek met all my requirements.
- Sleep Earplugs — reviewed in this post. Don’t be fooled by the name; these earplugs are wonderfully versatile.
- Soft Moldable Silicone Earplugs. This model surprised me with their comfort and price. I’ll review them in Part 3.
Using the Sleep Earplugs
This product offers impressive options for customizing the fit and the amount of sound reduction. The illustrated instructions make it easy. Let’s start with fit.
1. Customizing the fit
The Sleep Earplugs come with small and large ear tips (they fit into the ear canal) and ear wings (they sit in the outer ear).
- The smaller ear tips (foam and silicon) were the best fit for my ear canals, providing a comfortable seal.
- In my case, the larger ear wings fit better than the smaller ones — secure without a hint of pressure.
- It pays to experiment: Try the different size ear tips and wings. Don’t assume you know what will work best.
2. Customizing the amount of sound reduction
This valuable feature lets you adjust the volume to suit your mood, activity, and environment.
- Use the foam ear tips for maximum sound reduction (33 dB).
- Use the silicon ear tips for less sound reduction (30 dB).
- Both ear tips are easy to attach and remove from the noise-reducing filters.
My experience
- I found the silicon ear tips better for conversations. They lower the volume of ambient sound but keep you connected to it. For conversations in noisy rooms and live music, they’re my choice.
- The foam ear tips get high marks for sound reduction. Even though they’re rated to reduce sound by only 3 dB more than the silicon tips, I perceived them to be substantially more effective in lowering ambient noise. They’re my choice when using power tools and for maximum quiet.
- That’s why I like this product: Options.
Takeaways
The HearProtek Sleeping Earplugs protect your hearing because they reduce sound effectively in many conditions. Depending on the situation, you can configure them to create a pleasant listening experience, from dining in restaurants, surviving loud events, to using power tools.
- They provide a comfortable fit. The materials are soft and pliable.
- They fit flush with your head, nothing sticks out. Great under a winter hat that covers your ears or sleeping on your side.
- They’re easy to clean: Disconnect the ear tips from the sound-reducing filters, wash in warm soapy water, and thoroughly dry before reinstalling.
- At Amazon for $19.99
In Part 3, we’ll take a look at HearProtek's moldable silicon earplugs.
