Earplugs Archives - Page 5 of 6

How to Put in Foam Earplugs and Test Their Fit for Optimal Noise Reduction

Updated on May 4, 2019 by Helmut

Learning how to put in earplugs isn’t rocket science, or is it? Sadly, in multiple studies, fitted earplugs did not even provide half the noise reduction that was printed on the package. The striking difference between the noise reduction rating (NRR) obtained in the lab and real-world noise reduction prompted the National Institute for Occupational …

Alternatives to Earplugs for Sleeping That Work

Published on April 22, 2019 by Helmut

Foam earplugs are very effective at reducing noise across the whole frequency range. Unfortunately, not everyone can tolerate foreign objects in their ear canal. Other people like me, sometimes need or want to give their ears a break from earplugs without completely giving up on noise reduction when going to bed. Others yet may be …

Foam vs Wax vs Silicone Earplugs: How Do They Compare and When to Choose One Over the Other

Published on April 15, 2019 by Helmut

Wax earplugs, invented in 1907, and virtually unchanged to this day, and moldable silicone earplugs have a huge following, and for good reasons. Still, foam earplugs are the most popular earplugs today. They come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. On average, they are also the most effective for blocking noise: I am a huge …

Are Earplugs Good for You? Side Effects of Using Earplugs and How to Overcome Them

Updated on April 5, 2019 by Helmut

I have worn earplugs for a few years’ worth of nights and while there was nothing major, I have had to deal with a few side effects. The most prominent one was ear pain—mainly when I had gotten earplugs that weren’t a good fit for my ears or when I hadn’t inserted them properly. But …

Aftershokz Sportz Titanium Bone Conduction Headphones: Review and Favorite Uses

Published on March 12, 2019 by Helmut

I recently got myself a pair of bone conduction headphones, the Aftershokz Sportz Titanium and put them through some good testing. In this post, I am reviewing the Sportz Titanium for various applications, including listening to audio while keeping an open ear and awareness of my surroundings, and the opposite: using them together with the …

How to Block Out Noise When Trying to Sleep?

Published on September 12, 2018 by Helmut

I have a history with sleeplessness caused by night-time noise. It started a few years after I had moved to Asia to take on a new job. The first four years everything went well, but then I had the idea to upgrade and get myself a nicer apartment. It was right in the city center, …

ISOtunes PRO Review: Bluetooth Earplug Earphones with a 27 dB NRR

Updated on March 13, 2021 by Helmut

Many companies advertise their in-ear headphones as noise isolating or noise cancelling. Often though they are not very specific as to how much noise reduction you will actually get. Haven Technologies, the company behind ISOtunes specializes in earplug headphones that have been lab-tested and given a noise reduction rating as a hearing protector. To qualify …

Are There Any Earplugs or Earmuffs That Block All Sound?

Published on August 26, 2018 by Helmut

This post is about what amount of noise blocking you can expect from the best earplugs and earmuffs, and what you can do to push the boundaries. Are you trying to sleep while the folks next door are having a party or concentrate while your coworkers are raving about their weekend? Feeling tortured by the …

Earplugs vs Earmuffs: Which Type of Protector Is Better?

Published on July 31, 2018 by Helmut

Earmuffs and earplugs both have a place in my hearing protector arsenal because they offer unique benefits. With good earmuffs you generally get good, reliable noise reduction. You put on the muffs, adjust the headband, and can expect decent noise blocking. On the other hand, earplugs are more troublesome to fit properly, but can provide …

Using a Lubricant to Insert Earplugs: The Secret Sauce to Getting the Perfect Seal

Updated on August 10, 2018 by Helmut

No two ears are the same. For example, I find it much easier to insert earplugs into my left ear than my right ear. Somehow my right ear canal is slightly twisted. I consider myself an experienced earplug user; I have used them for years and I know how to roll them up and insert …