Mack’s ThermaFit have been my backup earplugs for reducing low frequency noise (LFN) at night for more than two years now.
Lately, my go-to low frequency noise earplugs have undergone such substantial changes that they now feel like entirely different earplugs.
Consequently, ThermaFit have moved to the top spot. It’s good to have options!
In this post, we are looking at how potent these earplugs are at reducing low frequency noise and what you have to do so that they do more for you than only muffle higher pitched sounds.
I mostly use these earplugs during nights where I need to block the noise of trucks, music bass, stomping, generators, and hums from AC units, etc.
In a nutshell, Mack’s ThermaFit are excellent low frequency noise reduction earplugs for sleeping (detailed results below). I find them comfortable for sleeping on my side and can use them for a whole night without issues.
How come we have porous, barrel-shaped earplugs?
ThermaFit are made of PVC foam, which is the same material the first foam earplugs to ever come out, 3M’s E-A-R Classic, are made of. In contrast, tapered earplugs made of PU are a more recent thing.
Classic are a bit shorter but have about the same diameter as ThermaFit. Classic are a bit stiffer though. Personally, I prefer ThermaFit.
But, E-A-R Classic, the original foam earplugs, still have a large number of fans all around the world! E-A-R did a lot of research on the ideal diameter for their barrels.
Both earplugs have an NRR of 29.
To avoid irritation and pressure points and test new models, I vary the type of earplug I use. When LFN is not my main concern, I like Moldex Pura-Fit (a tapered PU plug) a lot.
I know it is tempting to stick with one model, but to give your ears a break and to give you options, consider varying the type of earplugs you use as well.
Noise Reduction
Note: The following discussion pertains to my experience using these earplugs against everyday noise. (e.g., at night in my bedroom). It is not meant to assess suitability as a hearing protector. For hearing protection, please refer to the published noise reduction ratings and use instructions on the package.
I consistently get a reliable, deep seal with the barrel-shaped ThermaFit.
As mentioned in previous posts, when in doubt, I slam the freezer compartment door of my fridge to quickly determine whether I have got the insertion right.
It would be good if you could find a similar quick-assessment test in your home as well: something that makes a “bassy bumm sound.”
There are a few tapered PU earplugs with which I can achieve a comparable effectiveness against low frequency noise, but they are much less forgiving when it comes to insertion depth.
Moreover, when I insert these PU plugs sufficiently deep, they tend to be less comfortable than ThermaFit.
Please check my comparative review and test of other LFN earplugs if you are looking for alternatives or no-roll options for use during the day.
Here is how ThermaFit perform in my ears (against pulsed noises, 1/3rd octave steps) and compare to my previous favorites (Flents Protechs Quiet Please before the recent formula change):
The higher the line, the better.
As you can see, in terms of noise reduction, there is not much of a difference between ThermaFit (red line) and Flents Protechs Quiet Please v1 (blue line).
Low frequency noise reduction (noise <=250 Hz) is mostly around 35 decibels for both earplugs, which is excellent. Quiet Please (blue line) appear to be a tad more effective in that range.
I believe that difference is real (in particular since the original QP performed even a bit better), but it is small.
ThermaFit very effectively reduce all noise, not only LFN. I am getting >30 decibels reduction across virtually the entire tested frequency range.
And, importantly, the noise reduction is even. These earplugs don’t shift the tonal balance by muffling higher frequency noises and letting more of trucks and low frequency hums pass through.
With most foam earplugs, even noise reduction is hard to achieve.
How effective are ThermaFit compared to my favorite tapered foam earplugs?
The following chart includes the noise reduction curve (again my ears) for one of my favorite tapered foam earplugs, Moldex Pura-Fit (NRR 33).
Against LFN <160 Hz, ThermaFit (NRR 29) are quite a bit more effective than Pura-Fit (NRR 33), which is why I choose “the barrels” when I am bothered by LFN.
Overall, however, Pura-Fit block more noise.
For example, barking dogs, shouting and crying, and honking all are more effectively reduced by Pura-Fit.
That said, ThermaFit help a lot against these kinds of noises as well, so you don’t have to forgo good overall noise reduction just to get an LFN benefit.
Pura-Fit are designed to have a higher noise reduction rating (33), so it is to be expected that they attenuate mid and high frequency noise more effectively; ThermaFit have an NRR of 29.
Insertion and Wearing Comfort
To achieve optimal low frequency noise reduction, ThermaFit need to be fully inserted. Here is a photo showing them in my ear:
“Fully inserted” looks quite deep, doesn’t it?
But you have to consider that these earplugs are shorter than most tapered earplugs, and my ear canal is quite long. I can insert them even deeper but then it becomes a hassle to remove them.
In any case, I can comfortably wear ThermaFit like this for a whole night.
When you insert them (like with any earplugs), you have to be mindful of your own ear canal, so don’t just ram them in.
I roll them into a tight cylinder between my thumb and index finger (using progressively increasing pressure), pull up my ear a bit to open the ear canal, and then slide them in.
For additional guidance, also check my post How to Put in Foam Earplugs.
They should go in easily.
At most wiggle them in, but don’t try to force them.
If they have expanded too much for them to go in easily, take them out and roll them some more to compress into an even tighter cylinder.
Initially, these earplugs may appear a bit stiff; they will become soft in the ear.
It is important that you take your time when rolling them up. If you compress them too fast, you might end up getting creases or deform them, which can lead to sound channels and poor noise reduction.
They are more forgiving than tapered earplugs when it comes to insertion depth.
But, if you only insert them 75%, chances are they will not offer even noise reduction across the frequency range, but only muffle higher-pitched noises instead.
If you want relief from stomping and heavy traffic, it is the last few millimeters that can make all the difference.
These earplugs exert less pressure in my ear than many other earplugs. They are, however, a bit denser than my previous favorite barrels, the original formula Flents Quiet Please (unfortunately replaced by the soft formula), in particular during the first night.
Note: The current incarnation of Quiet Please, “the soft formula,” exerts a lot more pressure in my ears than ThermaFit, and the soft formula doesn’t perform particularly well for me either.
Tip:
Should you find ThermaFit too dense, simply roll them up as you would for insertion but don’t use them right way; instead, store them in a container. The following night, roll them up again (their PVC foam requires less finger pressure the second time) and insert them in your ear.
Durability
Technically, these earplugs are disposable, so for hygienic reasons you would ideally use them only once. This applies in particular if you want to use these earplugs for hearing protection.
In the past, I too only used earplugs once and then tossed them out.
These days, to economize and reduce waste, I re-use them for a few nights, unless it’s for hearing protection.
I can use ThermaFit for a max of 5 to 6 nights. After that they don’t expand enough to completely seal my ear.
For optimal low frequency noise reduction, I may change them earlier, perhaps after only two days if they don’t perform anymore: As soon as they fail the fridge door slam test, they are out.
I know people who wash their earplugs, and I have tried to clean ThermaFit and other plugs as well.
But so far I haven’t been able to get them back to their original “springiness” and noise reduction performance.
This brings us to the end of this review. I hope it contributes to reducing stress and improving sleep for you!
Thank you for this post. My spouse walks loudly and seems incapable of refraining from closing doors by slamming them so your reviews have been a sanity saver! I’m quite fond of the (non-soft) Quiet Please so I will give the ThermaFit a try when I’ve used up my current canister.
Hello E.C.,
many thanks for your feedback.
I hope ThermaFit will work out for you as they have for me. All the best.
Thanks for this review, Helmut! I’ve also found these to be a worthy successor to my former “go-to low frequency noise earplugs” — extremely effective, comfortable, and non-intrusive for nighttime/sleeping wear.
Hello Jonathan,
Thank you for your feedback. Good to hear they work for you as well. It would be nice if the manufacturer brought back our former go-to earplugs. I like having more options, but if not, so be it.
Have a good weekend.
Hi, first of all, you’ve done a wonderful job with this website, thanks for that.
I can’t sleep on my back neither with sounds.
I was wondering if you’ve already tried balls of wax or silicone that don’t really go inside your ears; and if the addition to earplugs would work ?
Hello Thomas,
Thank you for your encouraging feedback.
“I can’t sleep on my back neither with sounds.”
I assume you mean that you usually sleep on your back and can’t sleep when you hear any kind of noise?
I have used wax / silicone putty earplugs in the past and still do at times. They are good for giving the ears a break. Depending on the type of noise you have in your bedroom, they can work quite well.
The main downside for me is that they don’t block nearly as much low frequency noise as for example ThermaFIt. Also, they are more prone to amplifying body-generated sounds (like breathing and movements).
I have so far not tried to combine them with foam earplugs (such as ThermaFit):
(I assume you mean inserting foam first and then flattening the wax ball on top of the foam earplugs.)
(It is an interesting idea though. I have considered this a long time ago, but never put it to the test.)
The main issues I see with combining the two:
*Wax earplugs are somewhat sticky. They might leave a residue on the foam earplugs.
*Using both foam and wax/silicone would get quite expensive over time.
But it could potentially be a solution for extreme situations.
Perhaps I can test the combination to assess whether this leads to better (or worse) noise reduction. This will take a while though.
You could give it a try as well.
All the best.
Hello,
I’m going to try some Mack’s ThermaFit based on your reviews and I saw that Mack’s do loads of different types of earplug. I’m intrigued by the snore block ones, which claim a higher noise-blocking level yet bizarrely have a hole down the middle. Do you know anything about them?
Also, for many years I swore by Moldex Pura Fit, but I recently ordered about 200 to last me the rest of my life and there’s something wrong with them, it’s almost like I’m wearing no earplugs at all. Do you know if earplugs have an expiry date or something? Or are fake versions infiltrating the market? Have you ever experienced this? Trying to find a new type of earplug is what led me to your site and I love it. I have become obsessed with earplugs. Boots in the UK do a wax earplug, and the instructions say you should make it into a cone and put it in the ear canal, which seems to go against the recommended use for other wax earplugs. I have found it very effective – it’s similar to Ohropax but doesn’t turn into a mushy, sticky lump of chewing gum.
Anyway, thanks for the site. You should organise an international earplug convention.
Hello Daniel,
Thank you for stopping by and your encouraging feedback.
If you are looking for maximum low frequency noise (LFN) reduction, I would first try ThermaFit.
Mack’s Snore Blockers, I have yet to try.
Based on what I am seeing, they are made of PU-foam (like most other Mack’s foam earplugs). ThermaFit (PVC) are the exception.
Against low frequency noise (in my ears), I would expect the cylindrical ThermaFit to perform substantially better (I have tried many other tapered PU foam earplugs distributed by Mack’s).
Overall, Snore Blockers are rated higher. If they fit your ears, they (as well as Pura-Fit), should perform somewhat better against mid and high frequency noise than ThermaFit. That said, ThermaFit do well against mid and high frequency noise as well.
I have yet to receive fake Pura-Fit, but I wouldn’t completely rule fakes out. Perhaps contact Moldex. They might be happy to get notified.
I can see them deteriorate if you store them for long periods of time in a hot climate. I have not had this issue with Pura-Fit, but with some other foam earplugs.
Finally, I would err on the side of caution. I would not roll wax earplugs into a cone and not insert them into the canal. I only use wax earplugs at the ear canal entrance (as recommended by Ohropax).
All the best.