Earplugs : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentIn this thorough roundup, Ulrich Boser rates eight earplug brands and types for effectiveness, comfort, durability and value. Only two perform above par: Howard Leight MAX, which Boser says did an "excellent job of reducing sound" and were easy to use, and Hearos Ultimate Softness Series, which are just as effective as MAX, but even softer. The most expensive earplug -- the white-noise-producing Sleep-Eze -- gets low scores for poor design and performance.

Our AssessmentIn this impressive roundup, motorcycle enthusiast Ian Johnston rates 14 brands of earplugs according to four criteria: packaging, expansion speed, pressure and comfort (oddly, however, he doesn't consider effectiveness; if he had, we would have placed this review in the top spot in our chart). His top-rated brand is Moldex PuraFit, followed by three Howard Leight brands: Laser Lite, MAX Lite and MAX (he complains that Howard Leight plugs are generally too big). Hearos Super Soft loses points for packaging, which may not be a consideration for most people. Johnston calls Aearo/E-A-R Classic "among the worst earplugs I've ever tried." In a May 2006 update, Johnston says he has returned to using 3M 1100 earplugs because they fit his ears best, although he still recommends the Howard Leight MAX plugs.

Our AssessmentMotorcycle enthusiast "R.K." tries out six different brands of earplugs and reports his impressions. His top choice is Moldex Pura-Fit 6800, which do "a great job of attenuating noise" and only cost about 10 cents per pair, but he says E-A-Rsoft Grippers are even better; "I don't even notice that they're in my ears." Howard Leight plugs are dismissed as uncomfortable and ineffective.

Our Assessment"Ironchef," an Australian motorcyclist, takes eight brands of earplugs for a test drive. It's not clear if he'd recommend any of these plugs; like other reviewers, he highly rates Howard Leight MAX, but says they're too big to insert comfortably.

Our AssessmentEdward J. Murphy, writing on Kevin Kelly's blog, says, "I've tried every kind of earplug, from balls of silicon to wax and cotton, and these [Howard Leight MAX] work best for me." We'd rate this blurb higher if the author explained what he found lacking in other earplug brands.

Our AssessmentShu rates and reviews seven noise-protection products, including five earplugs. The fairly expensive HearTech SilentEars are top-rated, partly because they "look cool," while Hearos Extreme are praised for their comfort. Oddly, Cirrus EarGuards -- which are meant to prevent "swimmer's ear" -- are downgraded for being ineffective on land.