Home-Use Earplugs

Best home-use earplugs

As evidenced by how often they pop up in reviews by motorcyclists, earplugs by Howard Leight MAX, Moldex and E-A-R are mainly intended for exposure to constant loud noise (such as while cycling, in a club, on a shooting range, etc.). While these "industrial-strength" plugs can certainly be used at home, their snug fit (and high NRR rating) may prompt you to look for lighter, softer, more casual plugs, especially if you're just looking for relief from a partner's snoring or the sounds of music from the house next door.

In the two best mainstream (i.e., non-motorcycle) comparative reviews of earplugs, by Slate and The Wall Street Journal, Hearos Ultimate Softness (*Est. $15 for box of 40) emerges as the top pick. Writing for Slate, Ulrich Boser picks Hearos Ultimate Softness over Howard Leight MAX, saying "they are much softer and thus much more comfortable to wear…loud, shrill noises were muted, the background noises inaudible." The Wall Street Journal's Cynthia Crossen picks Hearos over competing earplug brands like Flents and Mack's (though not Howard Leight, which is not included in her review): "Although difficult to insert correctly, these were my favorite over-the-counter plugs because of their softness. They fell out more than the others, but I was less likely to pull them out because of discomfort."

Hearos Ultimate Softness earplugs are made of soft foam, and have an NRR of 32 decibels (slightly lower than Howard Leight MAX, but more than enough for most household purposes). As stated above, they don't fit in the ear as snugly as "heavy-duty" disposable plugs, but they're softer and more comfortable. They're also significantly more expensive, costing about 75 cents per pair in bulk, compared to one-sixth that for Howard Leight MAX. However, there's no rule that says you can't use disposable earplugs multiple times, especially if you don't share them with other people.

Both Slate and The Wall Street Journal compare Hearos favorably to two different varieties of Flents. Flents Ear Stopples (*Est. $5 for 6 pair) are made of wax and cotton, and have an NRR of 25 decibels. Slate says these reusable earplugs are "comfortable and effectively muted background noise," but are also sticky and collect dirt and dust after multiple uses. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal says the disposable Flents Quiet! Please (*Est. $5 for 6 pair) , made from PVC foam, have a "scratchy feeling" and are ineffective at muting nearby sounds (even with an NRR of 29 decibels).