“We need earplugs? I don’t think so!” Listen up – no pun intended – because it turns out that earplugs can help you enjoy concerts more, sleep better, protect your ears during swimming and even comfort children on those first traumatic airplane flights. If you want your hearing to stay finely tuned as you grow older, you really do need to be using earplugs in certain situations. Thankfully, we found some great options for four important cases where earplugs would come in handy.
It’s all about the music
Where were these earplugs during my concert-going years? My ears have never been the same since an AC/DC concert in early 1982! I had always resisted the pressure to wear earplugs at concerts because I thought they’d muffle the sound. Not true with these numbers from Vibes. Unlike foam plugs, they’re built to let the music in but keep the ear-screeching decibels out. This set comes with a variety of ear tip sizes that can be easily interchanged – along with a hard pocket-sized case so you don’t lose them on the way back to the car after the show.
Catch some Zzzzs
The only thing better for a good night’s sleep than a pair of Mack’s earplugs is a jar with 50 pairs of Mack’s earplugs. Keep this in your nightstand for nights where your surroundings are trying your patience. They have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 32 decibels so they’re also great for motorcycle riders, noisy workplaces and air travel.
Dive into a pair
Unlike foam plugs, these silicone earplugs have a spiral design, so they’re meant to be inserted into the ear while slowing rotating them. Though they’re obviously designed with water uses in mind – it even comes with a waterproof pouch – they still can offer impressive noise reduction outside the pool; they have a 32 noise reduction rating.
Help out the kids
Adjusting to cabin pressures and noise while flying can be a challenge to young travelers. These “EarPlanes” by Cirrus were designed to help. There are very specific instructions on the back of each package to guide parents through their proper use. When used as directed, these plugs have a NRR of 20 decibels.
