The Best Earplugs for Protecting Your Hearing (2026)

The Loop Quiet 2 look almost identical to the Loop Experience earplugs, but there are two key differences: without any acoustic filters, they’re able to block out more noise – 24 dB instead of 18 – and they’re made entirely of soft silicone, including the rounded protrusion that sits almost at right angles to the interchangeable tip. This means that these silicone earplugs fit right inside your ears, flush against your head, so there’s less force applied to the earplugs when you’re lying on your side and less chance of them accidentally coming loose. This makes the Loop Quiet 2 the most comfortable earplugs for sleeping.

The loop itself is made of silicone, but it’s rigid enough that it’s easy to put earplugs in or out. When they’re in a healthy place they feel nice and comfortable without giving you that bumpy feeling that comes with some joints. You get four different sized sets of ear tips (although actually changing ear tips can be a pain), and the whole thing is washable in warm water. They also come in four colors, so you can match them to your bedsheets. —Parker Hall

When I went to see my wife’s favorite band, the opener was a doom-metal duo with a whole stack of amplifiers. I picked up some foam earplugs from the bar, but I would have fared much better if I had the Music Pros earpieces on my keyring.

These NPR-endorsed earplugs fit perfectly in my ears and come with a small aluminum carrying case. They’re extremely comfortable and can pull a solid 13 decibels out of noise signals – often the difference between some hearing damage and nothing – in a way that doesn’t suck out all the high end of the sound. Just don’t take my word for it. Famed NPR music critic Bob Boilen says he has worn it to thousands of shows. —Parker Hall

Photograph: Laurin Strampe

ear juice

high fidelity earplugs

These super-comfortable earplugs can reduce noise by up to 22 decibels, and they won’t irritate your ears even if you wear them for 18 hours at a time. The silicone shell is easy to clean, and you’ll get three sizes to ensure a proper in-ear fit, as well as a handy metal key chain case where you can store them. I often wear them to some of the loudest bass concerts in the world, and they do a good job of filtering out extreme highs and lows without crowding out the sounds I pay to hear. My only complaint is that the silicone shells can yellow over time, but the attenuators on my oldest pair are still wearing out after five years. —laurin stramp

I keep these in my kitchen and wear them almost every weekend, whether I’m seeing live dubstep or live hardcore. I love them. They’re small, look almost like jewelry when they sit in my ears, and once they’re seated properly they’re comfortable (which does have a slight learning curve, so try them on at home before going to a show). I like how visible they are when I wear them, which serves the purpose of educating youth on the importance of hearing protection. And To keep my friends from thinking I’m ignoring them when I can’t actually hear them. I also really like the limited-edition Swarovski styles, but keep in mind that the metal can feel quite cold if the climate is cold (and they often sell out). I also like that the included case pops open, which is easier to access if you’re in a crowd and trying to cram your hearing protection in, compared to a metal case that pops open. I have passed on a few pairs of these earplugs to my friends and they agree. —laurin stramp

These earplugs from Loop look like the brand’s other donut-shaped buds, but they have a special trick up their sleeve. You can toggle the exterior of each bud between three positions for variable sound reduction. You can switch between a lot, a little, and almost no noise, which makes it great for live festivals, where performers can vary the volume from “just a little louder” to “Dear God, I may never hear that again.” I also like that they’re lightweight and comfortable, with easy-to-clean silicone ear tips and a plastic outer shell. You can also get these in beautiful colors like blue and salmon pink.