Ear Plug Superstore - Official Blog

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Mark's Racing Hearing Protection: A Letter From One of Our Customers

Mark Writes: You have made my day. The race on the weekend of October 3-5 will be my only chance to see if your product gives me the solution I need for next year (I will be driving a much louder car starting Spring '09). I've attached a photo of the car I currently drive to show you what I have to deal with - The new car (a Nitro Funny Car) is currently being assembled. I am very impressed with your company's Customer Service, and I promise you that I will drop the name of the Ear Plug Super Store to my fellow drivers. Thank you again! Best regards, Mark of Chicago, Illinois Custom Ear Plug Customer

Thanks for writing, Mark! We're rooting for you.

Until next time,
--The "Got Ears?" Guru

Gianna's Ear Muffs: Photos from our Customers

Patty just sent us some awesome pictures of Gianna, 18 months, wearing our ear muffs for kids & babies!

Patty Writes: Hello, I purchased the Peltor Jr Ear Muffs for my daughter when she was an infant as we go to many different concerts all over the US thanks to my husband! WHAT A GREAT BUY!!!! My daughter is now 1 1/2 and they have been SO useful! Everywhere we go, everyone asks me where I got her ear muffs and I plug your website EVERYTIME!!! They are great and so perfect for the concerts we go to :) We get to go on stage and backstage. The music can be so loud and it doesn't even fade her. (I have attached a photo of her at a recent concert in San Francisco.) You guys are AWESOME!!!! Much love, Patty

Patty was also kind enough to send us more great photos of Gianna, looking adorable in her Ear Muffs for Kids:

Thanks for writing, Patty!

Until next time,
--The "Got Ears?" Guru

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All About Moldable Ear Plugs

Everybody has seen or heard of foam ear plugs – but did you know that moldable earplugs are actually the oldest kind of earplugs? Moldable plugs started humbly, with a wad of cotton or any other fiber the individual might have had at hand to use to plug the ears for noise protection (we are guessing that most of the time it was for relief from snoring).

Wax Moldable Ear Plugs: How They’ve Evolved

Early ear plug users (we are talking about Aristotle-and-Plato’s times!) favored moldable earplugs made of wax. This was because wax has fairly good noise blocking properties, it can be molded to fit any ear comfortably, and it has several fortunate properties. For one, wax is a naturally occurring substance that is inexpensive, hypo-allergenic, and benign if you (or your pet) happen to eat a little of it. Too, wax is just the right stickiness to adhere to the skin without leaving a residue when removed. And wax happens to soften very nicely, but without melting, at normal human body temperature. This means that any pressure you may feel from the plug when it is first inserted eases completely after wearing the plugs for a little while, because a short time after putting the wax earplugs into your ears, they soften and move to conform exactly to all the unique curves and contours of your ears. All these properties make wax a terrific substance from which to make moldable earplugs, especially for sleeping.

Wax does have two disadvantages, however. First, when wax is at room temperature or below, it can tend to crumble, and second, when it’s warmed above body temperature, wax can become a runny liquid -- not good! To address the crumbling issue, Ohropax, Quies, Flents and other manufacturers long ago discovered that mixing a little cotton fiber into the wax not only reduces the crumbling problem, but also improves the ability of the wax to block noise, making the wax-with-cotton a more effective plug than can be had with wax alone. This made wax ear plugs better all around. But to cure the melting problem, manufacturers had to abandon wax and substitute another product: silicone putty.

How Silicone Ear Plugs are Different from Wax Ear Plugs

Silicone putty was initially produced and sold as the venerable Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone ear plugs. The Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone ear plugs sold today are virtually identical today to the original plugs first sold over 60 years ago! In the intervening years, many imitators have come to the market with silicone putty plugs, with innovative features such as different sizes for children and adults, all kinds of different viscosities of material, and even floatable silicone plugs designed for swimmers like Putty Buddies. All silicone putty plugs (or all least all of them that we know about) share the same great properties: just the right stickiness, a very high melting temperature (they can sit out in the sun without damage), high resistance to drying out over time (a problem with some wax products), low cost, and great colors. Silicone putty plugs are hypo-allergenic to boot!

A New Kind of Moldable Ear Plug

Moldable wax and silicone ear plugs are usually the first choice of swimmers, because they both make a perfect seal against the entry of water into the ear. The trouble with both wax and silicone putty ear plugs is that in some situations, you need to be able to hear while you are in the tub, shower or pool, and these plugs block most of the sound you would normally hear. And with wax plugs, there’s always the problem of the wax melting in hot weather. But the clever folks at Ohropax, a company located in Germany, have come up with a new kind of earplug: wool fiber plugs.

These “Climate Wool” plugs are simply a small wad of natural lamb’s wool fibers that have been treated with a mild water repellent. You stuff an appropriate-sized ball of the wool into each ear, and voila -- you can hear perfectly, and yet water, cold winter wind, rain and snow cannot get into your ears. Climate Wool ear plugs are made to wear for swimming (but not for diving), bathing, showering and for general wear in the winter, especially for those who must work out of doors. These are brand new to the US and we look forward to hearing from you about how they work for your particular situation. (Please send pictures!)

In summary, moldable ear plugs come in a variety of styles and materials, and are great for water protection. If you do not want to stick regular foam earplugs into your ear canals, but you need relief from noise or protection from water, moldable wax, soft silicone or wool fiber plugs may be just the right solution!

Until next time,
--The “Got Ears?” Guru

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Jack's Ear Muffs: A Letter from One of Our Customers

Elizabeth just sent us this great letter about our ear muffs for kids & babies:

Hello, The Peltor Jr. Muffs I bought for my son have been terrific! We attend college football games and wanted to be able to take our 5 month old. He is not bothered in the slightest by the loud cheering of the crowd (and the fog horn they set off every time our team scores). He is even able to sleep at the games! And they must be comfortable, he seems to love wearing them! Thanks a lot for a great product. We've been raving about these muffs to all our friends and family! Elizabeth Beaverton, Oregon