Greetings, readers, and welcome to the second installment of our Summer Swim & Water Series: Choosing the Right Water Ear Plugs. Now that it's August, the days are long, the cotton is high, and the weather is the hottest it will be all year (at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere!). As people everywhere are seeking to cool off by swimming at the pool or beach, it's time to take a look at what kind of ear plugs are the best for safe, end-of-summer water fun.
Swim plugs -- that is, ear plugs that are actually designed to protect the inner ear from water – basically come in two flavors: moldable silicone and pre-molded rubber. But according to our customers and the buzz on the web, there are two other kinds of ear plugs people often try to use for swimming: wax plugs and regular foam plugs. Let’s compare these four kinds of plugs in terms of their pros and cons for swimming and water usage. I’ve assigned each earplug type a rating score of 1 - 10 (ten being the best, one being unsafe or totally ineffective).
1. Moldable silicone ear plugs. These ear plugs are just what they sound like: little balls of soft silicone putty that you can mold to fit the shape of your ear. These are the least expensive water plugs you can buy, but since they can’t really be cleaned and absorb ear wax over time, they have to be replaced after a number of uses. These let in the most sound out of any kind of ear plug, making them very safe, particularly for kids. And because they’re silicone, they won’t ever melt in the heat. These moldable earplugs come in a wide variety of types and sizes (though size is not particularly important, as you can tear off a little or add a little to make the plug fit just right) including anti-bacterial and floatable varieties designed for children. Pros: one size fits all, and since these soft silicone plugs fit gently over the ear canal, these are the absolute best choice for infants and toddlers (note: always supervise small children when they’re wearing ANY kind ear plugs to ensure the plugs aren’t swallowed!). These plugs won’t melt, they let sound in, and they’re great for kids. The only real cons are that moldable swim plugs have to be replaced after a few uses and are less likely to stay in place during vigorous activity. However, an Ear Band-it Headband or similar swim headband can help keep soft silicone plugs in place. Final Score: 10 / 10
2. Pre-molded rubber swim plugs. These ear plugs are made of man-made materials including both rubber and molded silicone. They are reusable and easily washable with a little soap and water. You can always tell whether a pre-molded ear plug is designed specifically for swimming and water applications by checking the plug’s title and description – don’t confuse water-specific pre-molded plugs with other reusable plugs that are only designed to block sound (though some, like Ear Seals, are actually designed for both!). Pre-molded swim plugs retain their shape, conforming just a little to the ear canal, so sizing is important. This sort of swim plug usually does block a little sound, but not enough to be dangerous; important sounds like voices and lifeguard whistles should definitely remain audible. Pros include durability, long life, ease of cleaning, and a good fit -- once you’ve chosen the proper size, these plugs aren’t likely to come loose or fall out, even with vigorous activity. The cons are that you do have to find the right size before these plugs will fit comfortably and effectively; there are several types of pre-molded swim plugs, each of which usually comes in a couple of different sizes, so you may have to try a few different kinds before you find the right one. Since there are a finite number of sizes, pre-molded swim plugs may not fit everyone. Final Score: 8 / 10
3. Wax ear plugs. Because moldable wax ear plugs share some of the traits of moldable silicone swim plugs, they appear to be a good choice for swimming. The truth is, they’re usually not a good choice for water. While wax plugs are excellent for study/concentration and for sleeping, we no longer recommend wax plugs such as Ear Stopples and World's Finest to be worn in a hot tub, sauna or at the beach in summer. Wax ear plugs are simply a bad idea for water applications for one simple reason: wax plugs are sensitive to heat and will actually melt! So wax earplugs should never be left in a car during the summer, and they should never ever be worn in a sauna. Overall, we have found wax plugs to be a poor alternative for trips to the beach, lake, or poolside during warm weather. Pros: wax plugs are moldable, so they’re one-size fits all; they’re inexpensive; and like moldable silicone plugs, they block water and let sound in. Cons: wax plugs will melt in hot water or hot weather, and this means they could conceivably melt inside your ears. Enough said. Final Score: 3 / 10
4. Disposable foam ear plugs. Contrary to good swim plug practices, I’ve read stories about people who claim to use plain old disposable foam ear plugs for water applications. Strangely enough, a few people out there actually claim to find these foam ear plugs helpful for swimming. But foam earplugs are just not designed to block out water, and are sometimes even absorbent, retaining water rather than keeping it out. Though they’re cheap, easy to fit, and fairly likely to stay in, it’s just not likely that foam plugs could ever keep water out of your ears for long. Too, foam plugs block a lot of noise, meaning they could pose a safety risk at the public pool or the beach. Pros: foam plugs are cheap, simple, and readily available. Cons: foam plugs are great at blocking sound but lousy and blocking water, making them a bad choice all around for swimming and water use. Stick with ear plugs that have actually been designed for swimming, and save the foam plugs for sleep, study, and other noisy (and dry) situations. Final Score: 1 / 10
For more information on specific models and brands of ear plugs for swimming, or to purchase any of the swim plugs reviewed in this article, you can always check out our Ear Plugs for Swimming page.
Until next time,
--The “Got Ears? Guru
