Ear Plug Superstore - Official Blog

How to Ease Itching Ears from Daily Earplug Use

Do earplugs make your ears itch or feel "scaly" if you use them every day? It's not a common reaction, but it definitely happens to some folks - and if you're one of them, you need a good solution ASAP. Fortunately, there are some great solutions out there, if daily earplug use is making your ears itch. One person found great relief thanks to Hocks Ear Balm; here's their story:

Finally, relief from the itching caused by ear plug overuse!

I live in a city, so unfortunately use ear plugs regularly. fyi - I used to use the round waxy version, recently switched to plastic inserts that can be regularly washed. After using either ear plug type for a while, I would get some sort of scaly skin by my ears that was really annoying, building up to mild inflammation, and nothing seemed to help aside from just not using ear plugs for a length time... until this!

Within two applications, I noticed the scaly skin and itching had stopped. WHOO HOOO! this stuff is magic. ;). I haven't had any issue since purchasing this balm a few months ago.

Thank you!

If your ear plugs are hurting your ears or making your ears itch, the first thing I'd actually recommend is trying some other ear plugs to see if that works better - just like this customer did. The most important thing we teach people about ear plugs is that there's no such thing as "the perfect earplug for every person." Every set of ears is unique and individual, and so are each person's needs when it comes to texture and material, size, noise reduction rating, and more. Because what works great for me won't necessarily work well for you, there's always some trial and error involved in finding the right earplugs.

This goes doubly if the plugs are going to see daily use: if you're putting them in your ears for hours literally every single day, you really need to do due diligence and try as many kinds of plugs as you can until you get the best, most comfortable ones. Look for a soft, smooth skin on foam plugs for a silky feel and lower irritation. Try UF foam instead of PVC. Switch to moldable silicone or wax-and-cotton plugs if foam plugs feel uncomfortable. Try a smaller size of those reusable silicone/plastic plugs if your ears ache. (And in all cases, if you think there's something wrong or you may have an ear infection, get to a doctor right away!)

But what if you've found the perfect earplugs for your needs, and they only hurt or itch or feel uncomfortable if you wear them every day?

That's where the ear balm comes in.

Ear balms and lubricants aren't a great solution for making uncomfortable ear plugs fit more comfortably, at least in most cases - but these lubricants are excellent if you do have comfortable ear plugs and your ears are just getting irritated by constant contact and pressure. Originally developed for use with custom-fitted earpieces, hearing aids, and custom-molded earplugs - all meant to be worn daily for hours on end - these earplug gels, ear balms, and other earpiece lubricants were created especially for easing this kind of earplug itching or other skin discomfort. It's a great solution to the problem, safe and relatively inexpensive too.

Do ear balms work with different kinds of ear plugs? Absolutely. Surprisingly, they even work with foam earplugs, despite the slightly porous nature of the foam material. But because most balms and lubricants are designed for use with a particular type of plug (reusable pre-molded silicone rubber, or medical-grade lab-molded silicone, for example) it may be a good idea to plan to try multiple types, if your ears are especially irritated or your skin is particularly sensitive.

As an added benefit, a lot of these lubricants can also improve the fit and noise blocking of your ear plugs, too.

We offer a few different kinds of ear lubricants and balms -

• Hocks Ear Balm - 4.2 star rating, $9.99 for 0.5oz/15mL. A popular choice, Hocks Ear Balm isn't just lubricant, it also contains a small amount of hydrocortisone antipuritic solution to stop itching right away and soothe your ears with each use. For itching in particular, Hocks is a lifesaver.
• Westone Oto-Ease - 5 star rating, $7.06 for 0.5oz/15mL. Developed for custom-molded ear plugs, our customers use Oto-Ease more than any other type of ear lubricant. This one comes in tiny single-use packets if you'd like to test it out; consider throwing it in with your next plug order to save on shipping.
• Crescendo Ear Balm - 4.6 star rating, $5.99 for 0.24oz/7mL. The newest item on the list, this gel contains aloe and other soothing natural ingredients to soothe skin and make daily earplug wear more comfortable. (Be aware this one contains coconut oil.)

Note: All prices are as per the time of this writing and are subject to change in the future; star ratings are submitted by our customers, not determined by us.

So that's the breakdown. If your ears itch or hurt, first make sure you're using the right ear plugs for your ears (right material, right style, right size), and if you're sure the plugs are good, it's time to explore some ear balms and lubricants.

With the right combination of plugs and balm, even those with sensitive skin can get relief from noise without the irritation. Ultimately, you should never have to choose between itchy, scaly, or painful ears and getting the peace and quiet you need.

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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Better Hearing: What Is Bone Conduction?

Did you know: not all sound you hear comes in through your ear canals! It's true - and one of the major factors in sound transmission for human hearing lies well below the surface. Like this customer who tried out Walker's Raptor, one key to effective hearing is actually bone conduction. Take a look:

Love it. I have only one ear that hears. The other ear has inner parts but that's all. This bone conducting hearing aid allows me to hear stereo for the first time. I can hear what direction sound comes for the first time ever and they work great with earplugs in my industrial work environment. I'll be buying another pair for backup.

How can bone conduction help you hear better? Simple: it can bypass many of the structures of the ear, channeling sound into and through your skull, and the inner-ear components therein.

Here's how it works.

To take it back to science class for a second - we know sound is energy that travels as a vibration. This vibration carries differently through different states of matter. Sound in the air is audible for a few feet, as the molecules of air are very spread out and moving chaotically; vibration doesn't transfer cleanly from one air molecule to the next, so a lot of the sound's energy is lost. Compare this to sound underwater: the water molecules are much closer together than air molecules, so the sound vibration transfers more easily from one molecule to the next. The result is that the sound vibrations are maintained so well in water, that whales can communicate and hear each other across miles of ocean distance. So we know that sound can travel through different states of matter - gasses like the air, and fluids like the ocean. Following this logic, solid objects also transfer sound more effectively than the air does -

And that's where your bones come in.

A good portion of the sound that reaches our inner ears and gets translated into signals our brain can understand actually comes through our bones. This is called bone transmission, and it can be an unexpectedly effective way to transfer sound. If you've ever tried to sleep with a neighbor listening to loud music, and you've found it impossible to escape the pounding bass no matter what you tried, you've experienced bone transmission. After passing through your neighbor's walls, that deep bass sound then transfers through the air, and then through your very bones - so it doesn't matter if you put your hands over your ears or wear fantastic ear plugs, you're still hearing the music. Through your bones. Via bone conduction. Which is a little creepy, and sometimes inconvenient - but we can also make bone conduction work for us.

Walker's Raptor is a bone conduction headset that can amplify ambient sound or let you listen to music. What does "bone conduction headset" mean? Well, first, the headset doesn't have normal earpieces. In fact, it doesn't go into your ear canals at all. Instead, the audio sits approximately over your temples. Instead of the sound entering through your ear canals, it travels through the bones of your skull, reaching your inner ear without going through your outer ear at all. It's a little like sending the sound straight to your brain. In fact, bone conduction bypasses your ear canal so completely that you can wear a bone conduction headset for music listening at the same time you wear ear plugs for hearing protection.

Obviously, bone conduction like the Raptor offers isn't going to be the solution for everyone with a partial hearing loss. But for some folks, like the customer who wrote in above, bone conduction is a way to listen to music and other audio in a way you simply cannot experience with any other type of headset. And if you're in that latter category, you should really consider giving it a try.

And for anyone who needs headphones but cannot tolerate having earpieces in their ears, bone conduction is a smart solution.

If you'd like to try bone conduction for yourself, you can check out the Raptor from Walker's Game Ear right here.

And until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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Can Ear Plugs Save Your Marriage (from Snoring)?

If you're struggling to sleep with snoring, and you're at your wit's end, you're not alone. Millions of folks are out there, sleep-deprived and desperate, just fighting to sleep next to the person they love - like this customer who sent in a recent Flents Quiet Please Ear Plugs review:

Ear plugs save my marriage from snoring wife.

My wife snores. I've become so used to wearing these ear plugs to bed at night that I can't sleep without them. Easy to insert and remove. Good job of noise reduction though not as effective as noise canceling head phones. But, I can't sleep with head phones, so these are my first choice.

Pros: Good noise reduction
Easy to use
Relatively inexpensive
Enables sleeping in any position

Cons: Not as effective as noise canceling head phones

Sleeping with a snoring spouse can ruin your marriage (and your life). Full stop.

That might sound like an overstatement, but when you consider that sleep is tied to our ability to work effectively, think clearly, and even regulate stress and emotions, it's easy to see why snoring takes a big toll. There's no escape; the snoring happens every night, and every day you get out of bed exhausted; your health suffers. Enough missed sleep affects mood, damages relationships, and can put your career and health at risk. It is no exaggeration that some marriages end in divorce simply because one partner's snoring meant the other could not sleep, night after night, year after year. It adds up. Eventually, when it comes down to choosing between a good relationship or a good night's sleep, something's got to give.

It's probably no surprise that a lot of individuals and businesses have tried to solve the snoring problem, then, with so many relationships on the line. And there are a lot of snoring relief solutions out there: strips, sprays, and even surgeries that all claim to be the next big "cure for snoring." Some work better than others, some folks have better luck or worse, but none are guaranteed. Be careful and think critically about the snoring solutions you're willing to try: some of these "miracle cures" are incredibly expensive, and a few are downright dangerous. Of course, you HAVE to sleep, so if the snoring will not stop, you may find yourself willing to take some drastic measures to save your marriage and/or sanity, right?

Well, before you do anything drastic: try ear plugs.

Like this customer pointed out, a solution like noise canceling headphones is a great way to block out unwanted noise in the daytime - but at night, when you're lying in bed, you need something that will stay put even if you toss and turn. Ear plugs are the best for sleeping with snoring. They're simple, they're far safer than drugs or sprays, and even the most expensive custom ear plugs you can buy are still a tiny fraction of the cost of a surgery. Just as important, ear plugs have no weird side-effects and no risk; they can't interact with your medications or make you groggy in the morning. They're not habit-forming. And ear plugs also come in a wide range of shapes and feels, ranging from super plush foam to smooth silicone to soft wax and cotton - so if you've only tried one pair of plugs for sleeping and didn't like it, good news: every type of plugs has a very different feel, and there's probably another earplug out there that will help you block out that snoring, comfortably and safely.

If you're struggling with a snoring spouse, don't give up. You're not alone, and there are good answers right at your fingertips. This customer found Flents Quiet! Please Ear Plugs to be an excellent solution, but your mileage may vary. Our Ear Plugs for Sleeping department is a good place to start browsing. Consider adding a background layer of white noise in your bedroom and also wearing ear plugs for a double layer of snore-blocking - this is always our best tip for those sleeping with constant hard-to-filter snores. Or if you know your spouse's snoring is just really, REALLY loud? An in-ear white noise generator might be right for you, combining both into one device.

Too exhausted to browse? Go get our Snoring Relief Kit for a quick collection of the ear plugs that are most likely to solve your snoring problem. (We made the kit for you and folks exactly like you: no time, no energy, and in need of relief ASAP.)

Don't lose hope. Try hearing protection to block snoring, improve your sleep, and ease your relationship stress. Because as it turns out, ear plugs actually can save your marriage - assuming your marital problem is snoring, anyway.

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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Sonet White Noise: From the Office to the... Bedroom?

From the boardroom to the bedroom: the Sonet QT was designed for corporations and medical professionals to achieve sound masking and speech privacy in a business environment, but with a little out-of-the-box thinking, that same technology can be used at home to improve sleep and concentration. This bit of wisdom actually comes from one of our customers:

Started at work moved to bedroom.

I had originally purchased this device in 2004 to mask external sounds in my work environment but shortly found that it works great in the bedroom helping me stay asleep and get to sleep faster. I placed the emitters on each side of my bed. Unlike some devices, like a fan or others that simulate sounds mechanically the Sonet QT, with the ability to easily adjust the volume sounds like a high quality AC unit. For the most part it is a vary reliable device, it was running non-stop (16+ Years) up until December 30, 2021 when my home burned in the Colorado Marshal fire. I tried purchasing a cheaper unit for my new location but quickly found the Sonet QT worked the best for me and quickly purchased a another one. Purchasing a unit for my son, he found it easier to focus and study, being less distracted by surrounding apartment noises.

When it comes to white noise, it's hard to find a better option than the Sonet QT from Cambridge Sound Management. This system of speakers and controllers is meant to be installed in your ceiling or walls to provide a blanket of white noise sound masking for an office or other workplace environment. Medical professionals, office staff, and students all rely on systems like the Sonet QT for speech privacy, confidentiality, and concentration in professional settings. The Sonet QT is accessible and affordable enough to bring this class of professional white noise to personal office and small business settings.

But this customer took it a step even further:

To the bedroom.

Using a pro white noise setup in your own home sounds daunting, but as this reviewer writes, it's possible to use the Sonet QT as a high-end desktop white noise solution in your own home. Nothing says you HAVE to mount the speakers in the ceiling or on the walls; instead you could simply set them up on opposite sides of the room - or on both sides of the bed. The result is a full, thick curtain of white noise protecting you from disturbing nighttime sounds that would otherwise ruin your sleep. Do the same thing in your office or around your desk for a work-and-study-bubble of quiet, so you can concentrate - without hearing every little thing your neighbors are doing.

Ultimately, noise blocking and sound masking are all about inventive problem-solving. Using more noise (specifically white noise) to block out disturbing or irritating background sounds may seem like fighting fire with fire - but it works. Big businesses use Sonet QT white noise systems to improve work and focus, but there's no reason you can't get innovative and use the same technology to solve your own personal problems. When you find a noise solution that works? You go with it.

So here's to the problem-solvers and innovators out there.

And until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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Finding the Best Noise Cancelling Earplugs for Sleeping

When you need noise cancelling earplugs for sleeping, you need the best. Few things are more important than getting a good night's sleep, and blocking out noise at night is just as important as blocking out light. But how do you find the best sleeping earplugs? What do you look for? A customer who's been using noise LaserLite noise cancelling earplugs for sleep for twenty years has some advice to offer:

I’ve been using these for more than 20 years.

I’m a light sleeper. In college I had a large-ish apartment and used to move from one room to another at night depending on which room was quietest from neighborly noise. It wasn’t until graduate school that I discovered the wonders of ear plugs. Finally I could sleep through the night in an apartment building.

I also soon discovered, however, that most earplugs made my ears hurt after a day or two of use. After much trial and error, I discovered these earplugs, the perfect combination of comfort and highest noise reduction capability.

Now, after more than 20 years, and now that I don’t need to be vigilant to children’s cries at night, I can once again enjoy the comfort and quiet of these earplugs.

When it comes to finding the best noise blocking earplugs for sleeping, the search isn't always easy. The hearing protection that works well for a friend or co-worker might not work well for you, even if you're approximately the same size and sleep in similar circumstances. To find the right plugs, you have to consider a few factors: noise blocking, comfort, and time.

NRR

NRR, or Noise Reduction Rating, is a measure of how much sound a hearing protector is able to block out. More noise blocking means a higher NRR, with the upper limit capping out at around NRR 33. If you sleep with a lot of noise, like snoring or honking traffic or loud neighbors, a higher NRR will be important. But on the flip side, there is absolutely such a thing as too much noise blocking! If you have kids you need to hear, or if you're a heavy sleeper who needs to wake up to an alarm in the morning, it may seem counterintuitive, but try the lowest-NRR plugs you can find first. Peace and quiet are essential - that's why you need noise cancelling earplugs to sleep in the first place - but remember that your safety is just as important.

Comfort

Ear plugs that block sound perfectly and hurt your ears might as well block no sound at all: you're just going to take them out. When it comes to industrial noise, we often say "the best hearing protection is the one you actually use," and that's just as true with sleeping. Soft foam is going to be the key here: look for earplugs with very soft foam construction, usually UF rather than PVC material is softer. Thermo-reactive material may be a great feature to keep an eye out for, as the heat from your body passively softens this kind of foam so it conforms to your ear and stays soft through the night. A smooth-skinned coating also helps to ensure the plugs won't irritate your sensitive ear canal skin after hours of wear.

Also consider the shape of the plugs when you're considering comfort. The material isn't everything. A slightly smaller size is likely to be more comfortable, especially if you're a side-sleeper; just keep in mind that a smaller ear plug with a narrower diameter is likely to block less noise than a fatter plug would. Similarly, if your foam earplugs are too long to sleep comfortably on your side, many of our customers have reported that you can trim the plug down to be shorter, so it won't stick out! This is a perfectly good solution for fit and comfort, but note that this will dramatically reduce the amount of sound your plugs are able to block: cutting them up takes the NRR way down. That said, if you're trying to find the best sleeping ear plug, comfort is just as important as noise cancelling, and you're probably not at risk from hazardously loud noise - so if you're feeling the urge to grab some scissors and experiment, it won't hurt to give it a shot.

Time (and Cost.)

If you're using earplugs for sleeping every night, congratulations: the hardest part is done. You found the right plugs for your ears. But they say time is money - and wearing earplugs every night can add up. To start, if you're using foam sleeping earplugs, you should really change to a new pair every night. Almost all foam earplugs are designed to be disposable - that is, thrown away after a single use. This is primarily to prevent wax and bacteria from building up on your plugs and in your ear canals, and also to ensure the plugs are soft, comfortable, and effective every time. You need to keep your ears clean and safe, while also having the noise cancelling you need in the night.

The customer above found one excellent answer: buy in bulk. Many popular foam earplugs for sleeping can be found in local pharmacies and grocery stores in small packages containing just a few pairs. These are handy, but can also mean you're paying up to 10x as much per pair of plugs. The trick is that those same plugs are often available in other packaging intended for industrial customers. The hearing protection you use for sleeping might also be popular for blocking out jackhammers and heavy-duty machinery. And that means you can buy a full box of foam plugs just once or twice a year, get exactly what you know you need, and have a fresh pair to use each night... for a fraction of what the consumer packs of plugs on the shelf would cost you.

There's also a note to be made here about custom sleeping earplugs. The best noise cancelling earplugs for sleeping will be, hands down, a professionally custom fitted pair. These are made by taking an impression of your ear canal and using that to custom-craft a set of earplugs that fit your ears perfectly. And when you're using earplugs for sleeping every night, for years, moving to a custom set designed to be reused over and over again brings huge savings: less waste, and less money in the long run. Pro custom earplugs are very expensive compared to foam plugs, though, so unless you're sure you'll need noise cancelling earplugs for sleeping in the long term, it may be wiser to keep experimenting with disposable foam.

Where to Start?

Don't get frustrated with yourself if it takes some trial-and-error to find the perfect sleeping earplugs for your unique ears. Like this customer writes, it may take several tries before you find the right balance of sound blocking and comfort - but don't give up! Once you find the right sleeping plugs, you can stick with what you know and what works - potentially for years. Many of our customers do.

To start the search for the perfect noise cancelling sleeping earplugs for you, try these handy links.

• LaserLite Foam Earplugs - the ones from the customer review above, in a bulk box.
• Just the Smallest - a selection of super soft, smaller-sized foam plugs to try for those with sensitive ears.
• Just the Highest NRR - if you're sleeping with loud noise like snoring, start here.
• Foam Earplugs in Box Quantities - if you know which plugs you need, stock up and seriously save.
• Pro Custom Sleeping Plugs - if you're ready, you're ready.
  
  

And as always - until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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Challenger Custom Earphones for Motorcycle Riders: A Perfect Pair

Any motorcycle rider will tell you - it's not the engine noise that gets to you, it's the wind noise. Few solutions are better for blocking it out than custom-molded earpieces, and for many folks, the ability to listen to music is just as critical as fighting the unwanted noise. When you get it right? You stick with it - like this customer who's been using our Challenger Custom Earphones for over twenty years:

Challenger for Motorcycles

This is my 3rd pair within the last 20 years, which states my satisfaction with this product. For me, these are very comfortable. They stay sealed even when talking or eating. The audio, with single drivers, is quite good for me. I get wind noise over my bike fairing, my lawnmower is a loud diesel. I set my volume with a dead engine, and rarely need to make a volume increase. These have proven to be very durable, as to the wires being snagged or sharply pulled. I'm very content.

Pros: Quality product, w/ good service if needed.
Cons: I don't have any complaints.

People always tell us: when they find exactly the right earplug, earbud, or earphone to fit their unique ears, they keey coming back, year after year. And for a lot of folks, our Challenger Custom Molded Isolation Earphones fit the bill (and their ear canals) exactly.

Challenger Custom Earphones for Motorcycle Riders

Challenger Custom Molded Isolation Earphones are our own creation, in collaboration with professional custom earpiece molding labs, and one we're proud of. Over the years, we've learned a lot about what folks want in an in-ear headphone: a fully-custom fit for comfort and security, great-quality sound for high-fidelity listening, and durability to stand up to years of on-the-go wear and use. You can get most of these features from some of the highest-end products available, like Westone's famous pro custom earphones. People love them! But those get pricey fast.

For folks who just want good-quality music while riding their motorcycles, we wanted to create a solution that brought all the custom-fitted quality - but without the big brand price tag.

These are the result.

While Challenger Custom Earphones work great for a variety of uses and applications, they're an especially smart choice for motorcycle riders. For starters, the Challenger Model MH's low-profile design fits flawlessly under any helmet - unlike non-custom earbuds that can stick out and get snagged. The custom fit ensures the earpieces won't move or fall out, so you don't have to worry about your headphones on rough roads.

Challenger Earphones' sound quality is excellent: a combination of noise blocking (thanks to a full ear canal + a good acoustic seal) keeps unwanted background noise out, while the high-fidelity drivers deliver premium sound quality. The ~25dB of noise isolation on its own is enough to kill the wind while leaving alarms, sirens, and other critical sounds audible, so even when you're between albums or podcasts, you can enjoy more peace while you ride.

Challenger Motorcycle Earphones come in a huge variety of colors and styles

Of course, our Challenger motorcycle earphones are packed with additional features that are less specific to motorcycle riders, but still of interest here. The model option is an easy one: choose MH for "motorcycle helmet" and the low-profile fit we designed especially for motorcycle riders. For drivers, make your choice of single drivers (customer-reviewed as rich and robust) or upgrade to dual drivers for an audiophile experience. Add a braker vent if you'd like clearer hearing with adaptive defense against noise: as engine noise, wind noise, traffic noise, and other sounds around you increase, so does the amount of hearing protection you get. And an in-line mic turns a set of Challenger earphones into a fully-functional hands-free headset for call and talk.

Of course, you can also add colors, glow in the dark, glitter, or swirls to make your custom-fitted Challenger earphones truly customized to suit both your needs and your personal style.

If you start using Challengers for frequent motorcycle rides, you may eventually find that they get damaged; they're durable, but nothing lasts forever. The 6-month manufacturer's warranty has your back, and later on, we offer a unique Challenger Custom Earphones Repair Service, so you can fix the problem for a fraction of the cost of a new pair if they break years after the warranty has expired. And then those repairs are then backed with another 90-day warranty, for real peace of mind. These aren't another pair of cheap earbuds you'll throw away or wear out in a couple of months.

As this customer found - Challengers are in it for the long haul.

Check out Challenger Earphones for Motorcycle Riders here.

And until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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New Dynamics Sound Guard: Military Ear Plugs... For Sleeping??

When it comes to comparing foam ear plugs, different plugs are typically recommended for different applications. The earplugs designed and sold for blocking noise while riding a motorcycle, for instance, usually aren't the same plugs suggested for use while studying in a noisy dorm room or working on a construction site. But despite what the product names and packaging might suggest, you can get some great results by using foam plugs intended for one purpose for another application entirely, as this customer recently found by using their New Dynamics Sound Guard Foam Ear Plugs - a long-standing favorite of the US Military - for a totally different purpose:

I have issues waking up to the littlest noises. I’ve tried all different ear plugs over the years and they either don’t work with blocking sounds or fall out. My friend is in the Air Force and when I was visiting her she gave me a pair to use. It’s what they use around aircrafts. Well, I was amazed! Never fell out and I slept like a log. Nothing woke me up and I was even sleeping on her couch when she got ready and left for work. I would always wake up if she was in the kitchen but nope, slept right through. I’ve used anytime I travel now. They look regular but are highly effective. I’m guessing this is why they use in the Air Force!

From the Air Force to crashing on a friend's couch - that's a pretty big leap!

It makes sense though, if you think about it. The military requires superior noise blocking to protect against the massive noise from gunfire, vehicles, and explosions. And while the circumstances are totally and completely different, the noise itself is the same: it's just vibrations in the air. The same foam will work the same way regardless of the characteristics of the noise itself, at least for the most part. And ear plugs that can take the hazardous edge off of military-grade blast noise would certainly be effective against snoring - or a friend's morning coffee grinder.

New Dynamics Sound Guard Foam Ear Plugs come individually-packaged in tiny boxes.

In fact, there are only a few differences between types of foam ear plugs. The type of foam material (UF or PVC, which determines stiffness and exterior texture), the size of the plug (diameter and lengthwise), and the shape (bullet, bell, or cylinder) can all differ, as can color, but that's about it. Different combinations of these factors produce different Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR's), and determine how comfortable each person will find each set of ear plugs to be - a highly subjective determination that is legitimately unique for each individual. Exceptions to this guideline exist, but the core idea and general construction of regular disposable foam ear plugs are, for the most part, extremely similar.

This is actually pretty great news - because it means you can can mix-and-match, like the customer above did. Why not go for the military's preferred foam earplug for sleeping?

Now, New Dynamics Sound Guard ear plugs are a stiffer PVC foam, and they're sized for medium-to-large adults. So this is a slightly unusual plug to see someone choose for sleep. But one great thing that does make these plugs unique is that they're multi-colored not for decoration but for usability. When inserted properly, only one color of the Sound Guard foam should be visible externally. This special dual-color design the guesswork out of making sure your earplugs are inserted properly - which is critical, or you won't get the rated protection, and your ears will remain vulnerable to damaging blast noise. But there's no reason you can't use the same guideline to make sure your ears are diligently protected from snoring or roommates or any other unwanted nighttime noise.

Sound Guard's dual-color design helps ensure proper (effective) insertion.

All in all, kudos to this customer's friend for introducing them to an excellent hearing protector! I love the thinking here, genuinely. A military hearing protector to help a guest sleep: an unusual choice that, on second thought, makes absolute sense.

You know, thinking of creatively using foam ear plugs out of context - you can get our Industrial Disposable Foam Ear Plugs in single-pair quantities, and they work every bit as well for blocking all kinds of noise as the consumer-packaged five-packs of disposable foam ear plugs "for sleeping" or "for shooting" etc do... only with industrials, you can get single pairs, and you don't have to pay for the pretty packaging. Most shops don't break bulk to let you buy industrial ear plugs in such small quantities, but we've always wanted to make more types of ear plugs available to more people! So if you're on a quest for the best foam plugs, you might start thinking outside the box. And when it comes to regular foam ear plugs, as long as the NRR is high enough and they fit properly, you cannot go wrong.

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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Ear Plugs for Smaller Ears: The Best Way to Find The Right Ones

Finding the right ear plugs is a challenge, especially if you have small ears. You can end up with aching ears, or a whole box of ear plugs you just plain can't wear - and neither is good! Our Ear Plug Assortment Packs can help take the pain out of this process, as this recent Just the Smallest Ear Plug Assortment Pack customer discovered:

Thanks for taking the work out of trying out earplugs.

I have small ears and all plugs I've tried left me sore. I'm still working my way through this pack to find a good fit. A couple have still been too big/ill-fitting and leave my ears sore. There are a variety in there, some seem good for workplace safety and some better for sleeping (which is what I need them for).

Pros: Don't have to scour the internet to find small-fitting ear plugs.

Cons: For me, there are many options in the pack that don't work for me.

This customer really nailed the whole problem with foam ear plugs: with so many choices, it's hard to figure out which ones are the right ones!

Even if you already know from previous experience that you need hearing protection for smaller ears, it can be hard to know what to choose. Big brands like 3M and Honeywell and Macks have a ton of selection to choose from, and it's all there right alongside a huge range of smaller companies you've never heard of with plugs with dedicated cult followings. We know two things are absolutely true here:

One, it's hard to figure out which ear plugs work well for your ears.

Two, there is an ear plug out there that will work for almost everybody - if you can figure out which one it is.

That's why we created our ear plug assortment packs (sometimes we call them "trial packs" but it's the same thing). We break bulk and put a pair of a whole variety of different ear plugs together into one pack - at a nicely discounted price, too - so you can try the most likely solutions quickly, easily, and without ending up with bags and boxes of plugs that just don't work for you. Our Try 'Em All pack lets you sample one of every popular industrial foam ear plug we carry, so you can really find out what the very best solution for you is. The only downside, as this customer pointed out, is that finding the right plugs means finding a lot that just don't work for you. Maybe they're the wrong size, or the wrong texture, or shape, or just don't block enough noise.

Happily, the more you know about your hearing protection needs, the better you can narrow down the search. The Try 'Em All pack has an impressive 31 different types (as of this writing; our assortment packs change as the manufacturers change their product lines!), while the Just the Smallest pack has just 8 pairs. If you know you have smaller ears, you can check out our Just the Smallest Ear Plug Assortment Pack, which is what this customer bought and reviewed, and you'll be likely to find exactly what you need with minimal waste.

Ultimately, there's no taking the trial-and-error out of finding the right earplugs. There are just too many factors to consider. But when you need to find a solution, and you don't want to spend a bunch of time and money to do it, our Ear Plug Assortment Packs are the best way to find the perfect ear plugs for smaller ears - or any ears.

Some ear plug assortment pack quick links, if you're interested:

• See All Ear Plug Assortment Packs
• Just the Smallest Ear Plugs
• Just the Largest Ear Plugs
• Just the Highest NRR
• Try 'Em All

Please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you need help figuring out the best ear plug or assortment pack to try - we are here to help!

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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Your New Go-To Ear Plugs for Sleeping (May Not Be What You Expect)

What kind of ear plugs do you like best for sleeping? Every type has its pros and cons. Moldable silicone is low-profile with a very shallow, comfortable and customizable fit, but not everyone likes the feel of the material; foam is classic and tends to offer the highest noise protection, but you need to use a new pair every night; and pre-molded reusables offer the most unique features and the best price savings over time, but can be the trickiest to get a comfortable fit to sleep with.

We got some excellent - and unexpected - feedback about how an industrial hearing protection ear plug used for high-noise manufacturing and motorcycle noise, the Howard Leight Quiet Reusable Ear Plug, actually hit several of those sleeping targets in one shot:

My Go-To Earplugs for Sleeping

I like to wear earplugs when I sleep but for years was looking for a pair that blocked the noise like I wanted, were comfortable when sleeping, lasted for several nights, and weren't messy like the silicone gel plugs. These were the only ones that I was ever satisfied with and I've used them now for over 12 years. I used to get them at my local supermarket but they stopped carrying them. I was trilled to find these guys had them, and in a bulk pack too! I also use them when I'm travelling and want to have some quiet in the airplane or train.

Pros: Comfortable
Effective in keeping out noise.
Reusable (for a few nights at least)
Cost effective
Compact, so you don't get poked when sleeping

Cons: None that I can think of!

Honeywell's Quiet Ear Plugs are a great choice for sleeping, but not the most common choice! For one, Quiet is primarily marketed as an industrial noise protection plug. For two, reusable plugs usually aren't the first choice for folks looking for noise relief at night, since the firmer material and pre-set shape can get uncomfortable over the hours. This is especially true for side sleepers, who get a lot of success with very soft foam, or moldable silicone or wax and cotton. 

Honeywell Howard Leight Quiet Reusable Foam Ear Plugs (NRR 26)

The key is that Quiet is a hybrid type ear plug - and that's why it's such a genius choice for snoring and sleeping. It's got a firmer central stem and a washable and reusable design, which makes it easy to insert and very cost-effective like a resuable ear plug, but it's a resuable foam plug, which means it's also very soft, smooth, and non-irritating. It's comfortable enough for sleeping, with the perks of an extremely inexpensive industrial reusable. With a balance of features and its big potential for cost savings, Quiet is a plug anyone who needs hearing protection for sleeping should take a look at.

Of course, which type of ear plugs for sleeping works best for each individual is very subjective, and can involve some trial and error to figure out. Unfortunately, there's no quick rule to tell what will feel the best and work most effectively for each person. But once you know what you prefer, you can scale up like this smart person did and buy in bulk to save a ton over time. (The Quiet is indeed available in boxes, so you can stock up and then forget about it for a while.) When you need ear plugs to sleep, there's no reason not to have exactly what you need on hand.

Unexpected as it is, Howard Leight Quiet Ear Plugs may actually be the next sleeper hit for sleeping with noise.

(Though if you'd like some other sleeping ear plug options to browse, we've got you covered.)

And until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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How Many Times Can You Reuse Cirrus EarPlanes Ear Plugs for Flying?

When it comes to flying, the engine noise in the cabin can be a big drag - but the real ear pain comes from air pressure changes inside that pressurized plane. Few things are as effective in helping to manage the pressure as a pair of earplugs designed to do exactly that. One passenger found Cirrus EarPlanes in particular to be a real game-changer - check out their experience and advice from this recent Cirrus EarPlanes Review:

Reduced My Ear Pain Significantly!!

I am adult have severe ear pain on landing on flights, because of narrow eustachian tubes in my ears. These are the best earplugs I have tried in the past years. They are so very comfortable, and really help reduce the ear pain on when landing on flights. I used them the entire flight. I am ecstatic to learn that they are also reusable, however, I wonder how many times one can reuse them, as it does not say on the package.

Pros: Easy to install in the ear. Comfortable to wear. Come in a convenient plastic case. Reduce the ear pain on landing on flights. Reusable.

Cons: It does not state on the packaging how many flights one can use the same pair, before replacing them for effectiveness.

Cirrus EarPlanes were arguably the first, best flying earplugs to hit the market, and their updated design, the EP2, continues to make flying a lot less painful for a huge crowd of dedicated users. EarPlanes work by using a ceramic internal filter to regulate air pressure in and out of the ear canals, which keeps your ears from getting stopped up and hurting. The updated EP2 design is more comfortable than the original, but the mechanics are the same on both sets of earplugs. They provide some protection from noise, a nice amount for reducing fatigue while still retaining situational awareness, but pressure regulation is where EarPlanes do their heavy lifting and earn their devotees.

So, we know they work great - but how many times can you reuse EarPlanes ear plugs?

The answer is: it depends, but at least a few. EarPlanes are reusable several times with frequent washing and storage, using common sense as a guide. Wash Cirrus EarPlanes ear plugs with a gentle non-abrasive hand soap and lukewarm water. Make sure to rinse them completely so no wax, soap, or debris remains. Keave the plugs somewhere clean and well-ventilated to dry completely before you store or reinsert them. Keep them somewhere dry, ideally somewhere out of the sun where they won't get covered in pet hair or dust or pollen. (EarPlanes come with their own small case, to help make that easy.) The plugs themselves are made of silicone rubber and ceramic materials, so this process of washing and reuse can likely be repeated for months or even years, depending on how often you travel, what environment(s) you're traveling in, etc.

That said, it's worth noting that the manufacturer advises that you treat EarPlanes plugs as disposable, as dust and particulate from normal wear can eventually clog up the filters. It's never a bad idea to listen to the manufacturer. Still, practical experience has taught us that washing and reusing these plugs works fine, if done with care. Ultimately, it comes down to trusting your own common sense here: if they're still soft and flexible, and look and feel like they did when you got them, you're probably fine to gently wash off that ear wax and use your EarPlanes again on your next trip. If the plugs are stiff or shredded or obviously hopelessly clogged, though, give it up. When in doubt, though, please do err on the side of caution and go for a new pair.

If you're uncertain, it's better to be cautious. You'll definitely have a better flight if you can be sure your EarPlanes are in good condition!

Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.

Tom Bergman, Vice President
Ear Plug Superstore

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