There's a lot more to ear plugs than the usual foam! If "regular" ear plugs haven't been working for you, you might find some inspiration in this customer's recent Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplug Review:
Look unusual. Work well!
These are a little unusual if you're used to foam or soft plastic plugs to protect your hearing. These come in small wafers that you roll onto balls, flatten over the inside of the the ear, press into place, and go. Might sound fussy but once you try them, you'll be impressed with how easy they are to use and their effectiveness. One of my ears won't hold standard plugs so these have been a great find. They work especially well under ear muffs as well as under more elaborate head gear. After 5 uses or fewer, replace with new ones. And if you need something to drown out noise when you sleep, these are comfortable and will still be there when you wake up. Long review but it's from someone who's hearing loss has been attributed to use of power tools. I believe the lack of an effective second layer of hearing protection figures in. These work.
Pros: Effectiveness, comfort, adaptability to difficult-to-fit ears, adaptability to almost any headgear, do not need to be pushed into ear canal. Cleanliness - replace after a few uses.
Cons: Pricey. Take a little getting used to.
If you've never encountered a moldable silicone ear plug before, you may feel a little thrown for a loop - but if you need ear protection for water, or you find that typical foam and rubber ear plugs don't work for you, these moldable plugs are the way to go. Moldable earplugs are made of a soft putty-like material that can form completely to fit the shape of your ears, making these plugs ideal for folks who have different sized ear canals (more common than you might think!) or cannot tolerate having things inside their ears. This is possible because moldable silicone plugs are shaped into a ball and then pressed down over the opening of the ear canal to form a seal against sound and water: the ear is blocked and protected without the ear canal actually having much of anything inside it. Moldable earplugs are a great solution, and can be made out of a variety of materials ranging from silicone to wax and cotton.
Mack's White Pillow Soft Earplugs are some of the most popular moldable ear plugs in the world - and for good reason. They're perfectly smooth and soft, hypoallergenic, easy enough for kids to use (always supervise the little ones with plugs!), perfect for both water and moderate noise, reusable, easy to store, safe for use in hot weather and warm water, and relatively inexpensive. They're a top choice for float spas worldwide, where blocking out the noisy world (and the salt water!) in the most comfortable way possible is paramount.
Macks's silicone earplugs are a little more expensive than a pair of traditional foam ear plugs, but they'll also last several uses before needing replacement, as this customer found out. Unlike foam earplugs, which are designed to be thrown away after every use (a rule you don't have to follow, but deviating can put your ears at risk in more ways than one!), silicone plugs are actually intended to be multi-use, so they'll usually save you some money in the end. How long a pair of Mack's Silicone Earplugs lasts depends on a lot of factors, like your body's personal rate of earwax production and the environment in which the plugs are used. Never use a pair of earplugs that looks or feels dirty or grimy, or that isn't soft and pliable anymore.
Good luck experimenting with moldable ear plugs! And until next time, be safe and do the right thing.
Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore
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