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It took me years to invest in earplugs for concerts. Now I never go to shows without them. I loved the immersiveness
of booming sound (enough to put up with ringing ears afterward), but recurring tinnitus and premature hearing loss led me to finally invest in some of the best earplugs for concerts.
At a Glance: The Best Earplugs for Concerts
Loop Switch 2
Loop Experience 2
Vibes
Decibullz Moldable Earplugs for Concerts
Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs
Walker's Pro-Tek Passive Hearing Protection
The big discovery, for me, was how good earplugs for concerts have gotten. Today, there are many high-quality options that partially block harmful volumes, letting you fully enjoy the music and even hold conversations without taking your ‘plugs out. In other words, there’s no reason not to wear earplugs to shows. In fact, I’ve started bringing them out with me everywhere for bars and other loud spaces, as well as concerts.
However, not all earplugs for concerts are worth your money. To help find the best ones, our team of experts reviewed several popular options to find the best earplugs for concerts.
How We Tested & Selected The Best Earplugs for Concerts
To find the best earplugs for concerts, another product editor and I brought several best-selling pairs to different concerts and compared their performance, comfort/fit, and in-ear aesthetics.
All earplugs also have a noise reduction rating (NRR), which indicates how many decibels the earplugs block. For example, if you’re at a 100 dB concert and you use earplugs with an NRR of 20 dB, the sound will be reduced to 80 dB. For most people, the best earplugs reduce the volume but still allow all components of the music (and any friends in your ear) to be clear and intelligible. That means you’ll want a lower NRR — around 20 dB is generally ideal. In my testing, I used each pair of earplugs at shows playing different genres at different volumes, including quieter, intimate house shows, loud rock concerts, and even noisy bars blasting hip-hop. The best earplugs let me comfortably hear the music and (in most cases) my friends as well.
Fit and comfort are also crucial. Proper fit helps improve noise reduction, as too-small ‘plugs won’t filter sound as effectively. Earplugs should also be comfortable enough that you all but forget about them (and don’t need to adjust at any point). The best earplugs for concerts offer different ear tip sizes in one package so you can test all of them to find your Goldilocks fit.
Lastly, I considered how the plugs look in your ear. No one wants plastic jutting out — both for aesthetic reasons and so that they don’t get accidentally swiped out by dancing shoulders.
The Best Earplugs for Concerts
Below are some of the best earplugs for concerts, after our editors’ testing.
EDITOR’S PICK
Loop Switch 2
NRR: 20-26
Ear tips: XS, S, M, L
Over the last couple of years, Loop has established itself as the leader in universal-fit earplugs. Most of our staff (myself included) have extensively tested the brand’s best-sellers and can confidently say the hype is real. I love their metallic, jewelry-like design, which makes them better-looking than most earplugs (unless you want total discretion), and you get a great range of colors to choose from. More importantly, I love Loop’s excellent noise-reduction, which turns down the volume without sacrificing audio quality.
The Loop Switch 2 is our top pick from the brand. Unlike most earplugs, you can adjust how much volume is let in by shifting a dial (no need to swap tips). The plugs have three modes: “Quiet”, “Experience,” and “Engage,” ranging from almost full quiet to noise-dampening. The former is great for non-concert activities, as well as extremely loud shows, while the “Engage” option is ideal for full immersion and occasional conversations.
RUNNER-UP
Loop Experience 2
NRR: 17
Ear tips: XS, S, M, L
Loop’s Experience 2 is also worth considering. It’s $25 cheaper than the Switch and offers top-tier sound reduction designed specifically for concerts, music festivals, and similar environments. They’re exceptionally comfortable, largely thanks to the namesake loop that fits snugly in your ear to lock them in place. Sound quality is as good as you’ll get with universal-fit earplugs, and the three eartip sizes offer a good fit for almost everyone. Just like the Switch 2, the Experience 2 comes in a range of stylish colors, including ones co-designed by Harry Styles’ Pleasing, Coachella, and Tomorrowland.
BUDGET PICK
Vibes
NRR: 15
Ear tips: S, M, L
As much as we wish hearing protection was cool, the truth is that most people would probably rather not advertise that they’re wearing earplugs at the concert. Vibes gets it, which is why these earplugs are incredibly discreet, with transparent stems that are nearly invisible in the ear. In our testing, we found that they sufficiently reduced loud noises without music sounding overly muffled, and they were comfortable enough to wear for a whole concert. They feature replaceable ear tips and come in a small case that’s easy to take on the go, making them the ideal companion for venues with no-bag policies.
MOLDABLE
Decibullz Moldable Earplugs for Concerts
NRR: 12
Ear tips: S, M, L
If all earplugs don’t seem to fit properly, try these semi-custom plugs from Decibullz. The eartips are moldable; just soften them in hot water and push them into your ears while they cool down (like a mouthguard). The molding process is very easy, and the result is a pair of earplugs that stay extra secure (and comfortable) through any headbanging. They do have a slightly lower NRR than others (12), which means music will sound slightly louder than the options above.
DISCREET
Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs
NRR: 21
Ear tips: S, L
Eargasm’s affordable earplugs were the first pair I used after a friend gifted them to me. With an NRR of 21 dB, they’re good for even the loudest shows and offer very good value at $44 for the basic colorway. They’re very discreet, sitting deep in the ear with a pull tab to get them out after the show. I’m also a big fan of the small metal keychain case, which is easy to slip on a keyring and carry everywhere. The one downside is that you only get two size options, which can mean a poor fit for some ears.
DISPOSABLE
Walker's Pro-Tek Passive Hearing Protection
NRR: 25
Ear tips: one size
Most disposable earplugs offer too much sound reduction for concerts. This is sometimes a shame, since earplugs will get a decent amount of wax on them, and getting a fresh pair after a few uses can be nice. These Walker’s Pro-Tek earplugs will work, however. The disposable earplugs have an NRR of 25, which is slightly higher than is ideal, but still usable for loud shows. The pack, which includes a neckband and two pairs of ear tips, normally costs less than $10 but is almost always discounted for around $5 on Amazon. The neckband is also great for concerts, letting you pull out one earplug to talk or order a drink without holding a ‘plug or sticking it into your pocket.
How Do Noise Reduction Earplugs Work?
Noise reduction earplugs are designed to reduce the volume of outside noise instead of simply blocking it (like foam earplugs do). They do this using filters that allow in some but not all frequencies.
These types of earplugs are “passive,” which is different than the “active” noise cancellation you find in most earbuds and headphones, such as AirPods. Active noise-canceling earbuds and headphones pick up outside noise and emit a frequency opposite to the one coming in, which “cancels” out that incoming noise. Noise reduction earplugs, on the other hand, filter outside sound to reduce the overall decibel level that reaches your ears. Foam earplugs are an example of this, since they create a physical barrier between your ear canal and the outside sound, but they don’t have a filter that lets in some sound, like the earplugs above.
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1. Vibes High-Fidelity Earplugs
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These reusable earplugs are buIlt to reduce harmful decibel levels (by up to 22 decibels) without hurting sound quality. They won’t muffle sound, meaning you can have a conversation with these earplugs, and you’ll be able to listen to every lyric of your favorite The Weeknd song at his upcoming concert.
You’ll get multiple ear tip sizes included as well, allowing you to customize your fit. And, the minimalistic clear design is barely visible, not compromising your festival fit. You’ll even get a portable case, allowing you to carry these earplugs with you while you travel, to your next concert, or when you’re riding your motorbike down the road.
2. Loop Experience Noise Reduction Ear Plugs
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Available in four colors and designed to reduce noise by up to 18 decibels, the Loop Experience Ear Plugs are a great fit for concert-goers and festival lovers alike.
You’ve got four ear tip sizes, including XS for individuals with smaller ears. Each earplug has a round shape, that the brand says should fit comfortably in your ear. You’ll be able to use them at a concert or any live event, without compromising sound quality. You can even use them if you suffer from noise sensitivity or are a new parent looking for some reprieve.
Customers say they’re comfortable for long term wear and the brand claims they’re both durable and long-lasting. You’ll get a carry case too, allowing you to take your new earplugs on the go.
3. Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs
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With two different sized earplug “shells” included with each set, you’ll be able to find a pair of plugs that fits your ears more effortlessly and comfortably.
These earplugs are made from a soft and flexible silicone, that’s comfortable for prolonged wear (say, at a music festival, or to sleep). The material is also hypoallergenic and won’t cause itching. A waterproof rubber seal keeps out moisture, dust and debris.
This set includes an aluminum case with a keyring for easy attaching to your keychain or bag.
