Earplugs Reviews

Earplugs aren't the sort of product you can evaluate simply by sticking a pair in your ears for a few minutes, judging the sound level and moving on to the next brand. Choosing the right earplug is as much a matter of comfort, fit and ease of insertion as noise reduction, which is why we give added weight to reviewers who take these factors into account.

The best reviews of earplugs divide into two rough categories. The first are comparative roundups by motorcycle buffs, who (because they're exposed to high decibel levels while riding) take their earplugs very seriously. We were especially impressed by Ian Johnston of Obairlann.net, who thoroughly tests 14 earplug brands, as well as motorcyclists posting in-depth comparative reviews on Motorcycle.com, webBikeWorld, Ted's House and Motorcycle Paradise. All of these sources test (more or less) the same brands, and all come to similar conclusions.

For the non-biker crowd, the most impressive reviews are by Slate and The Wall Street Journal, whose writers try out the most widely available earplugs and report their impressions. These sources are especially important when it comes to identifying the best earplugs for everyday use, since not everyone needs tight-fitting plugs that won't pop out when you're riding a motorcycle.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

Most of the picks for Howard Leight earplugs come from motorcyclist websites, while Hearos Ultimate Softness is the top choice of general-interest reviewers like Slate and The Wall Street Journal.