Other Types

Other types of earplugs

Not all earplugs are made of soft, squeezable, disposable polyurethane or various types of fabric, either natural or artificial. Plugs can also be composed of more rigid (yet still easily molded) materials like rubber or silicone. Unlike foam plugs, these earplugs can be used indefinitely, and the tight seal they form in the ear makes them especially effective at blocking noise -- but it also makes them more uncomfortable than foam plugs, and they can create an unpleasant "suction" sensation when they're taken out.

Silicone or rubber earplugs by Mack's are included in roundups by Slate and The Wall Street Journal. Mack's Pillow Soft silicone earplugs (*Est. $5 for 6 pair) have an NRR of only 22; Slate says they do an adequate job of muting noise, but become too dirty to use if they fall out (not to mention that you need to visit an ear specialist if one gets stuck in your ear -- apparently not an uncommon occurrence). Mack's Ear Seals (*Est. $4 per pair) have an NRR of 27 and are made out of rubber; The Wall Street Journal calls them "uncomfortably rigid" and says they grow more uncomfortable with increased wear time.

Professional musicians sometimes wear earplugs, but need plugs that preserve the natural balance of sound (i.e., that don't cut off a disproportionate amount of high frequencies). One popular musician brand is Etymotic Research ER20BP High Fidelity (*Est. $12 per pair) , which receives excellent reviews from users posting on Amazon.com, who praise these earplugs' effectiveness and lack of distortion. The ER-20 plugs also get a positive review from the website Guitar Master Class, though the writer wishes they lowered sound by more than 20 decibels.

It's also possible to invest in custom-molded earplugs, which are more expensive than disposable or reusable plugs but fit perfectly into your ear canals. Some companies will send you a home molding kit (which involves pouring a fast-drying plastic substance into your ears, whereupon you send them back the molds and they send you back your custom earplugs). This is an expensive proposition, however -- costing anywhere from $100 to $200 -- and The Wall Street Journal says these type of plugs can be uncomfortable to remove. Slate's writer wasn't impressed by his custom-molded pair, saying they weren't particularly comfortable or effective.