As a music producer, former touring guitar player, and music fan, I’ve been to countless concerts over the past decade. One thing I’ve learned through the years is how important proper hearing protection can be. Growing up, I never wanted to be the person with ear plugs in at shows. However, after some bouts with tinnitus, I started taking my hearing health seriously. That lead me to the big question: what are the best ear plugs for concerts?
Contents
Note: We will update this post as we try out more ear plugs!
An average concert is be between 110 and 120 decibels. According to the experts, we should try to keep our average noise level exposure at or below 85 decibels. However, you still want to be able to enjoy the show, and exposure to sounds around 85 decibels is still safe for short periods of time. That means we’ll be looking at ear plugs that offer around 20 decibels of noise reduction.
Best Ear Plugs for Concerts:
Our top pick: Loop Experience Pro
- Noise reduction of 18-23 decibels
- 4 different sizes, so you can always find the perfect fit.
- Package includes 1 set of Loop Experience Pro earplugs, 4 sizes of soft silicone ear tips (XS-L), 3 sizes of foam ear tips (S-L), 2 sets of Loop Mute filters and 1 handy carry case.
Loop Experience Pro offers the best combination of adjustability, noise reduction, and comfort.
The Loop Experience Pro offers adjustable sound reduction via the removable ring mute, several sizes and two different tip materials, all in one convenient package!
Hearos High Fidelity Ear Plugs
- Smaller size for comfortable long term wear. 1 pair plus the new HEAROS Pop case
- Up to 20 decibels of reduction
- Reusable, washable plus comes with free case.
These silicone earplugs were my go-to choice for many years, mainly because you can grab them quickly at most Guitar Center stores. They are rated at 20 decibels of noise reduction, which is enough to bring most concerts down to a safe enough level. The best thing these have going for them is the price, typically coming in at under $10 a pair. The best pair of earplugs is the one you have on you, and these are cheap enough that you can buy a few sets. Grab one set for your backpack, another for your guitar case, and throw a set in your glove box too! That way, you’ll always have ear plugs around in case you end up needing them.
As far as negatives go, they are more comfortable than the classic foam earplugs you might see being sold for a dollar at the back bar of a show, but they’re not the most comfortable pair I’ve ever used. These are also a one size fits all product, so they may not be a perfect fit for your ears.
Overall rating: 7/10. A better choice than foam earplugs. These may not be the best ear plugs for concerts, but they’re better than going without any ear plugs at all!
Eargasm High Fidelity Ear Plugs
- Get up to 21 dB of noise reduction
- Attenuation filters allow you to hear the world around you, just at a lower volume
- Two pairs of different sized earplug shells made from hypoallergenic silicone are included with every unit
- Waterproof metal case
I would consider the Eargasm earplugs the more premium version of the Hearos ear plugs. They’re similar in material and design, but with more bells and whistles. Eargasm includes two shell sizes in each purchase, so those with more narrow ear canals still wear these comfortably. They also come with a much nicer case, including a key ring, so you can keep your plugs handy.
These Eargasms ear plugs are rated at 21 decibels of noise reduction, which is slightly more than the Hearos. Realistically, you won’t notice a difference. However, being able to choose the fit of your ear plugs does mean you can ensure a tight fit, which lets you have confidence in the noise reduction rating.
To me, the only downside is the multi-layer design. As with the Hearos, I find these a bit more difficult to keep clean. If you’re a fan of the more inconspicuous, clear silicone style ear plugs, like the Hearos, but want a better fitting or more premium product, I suggest the Eargasm High Fidelity Ear Plugs as your top choice.
Overall rating: 8/10. The best clear, silicone choice.
And the best ear plug for concerts: Loop Experience Pro
My personal favorite ear plug for concerts is the Loop Experience Pro. The Experience Pro come with 7 tips (4 silicone and 3 foam), meaning you can choose your preferred size and material. As far as I know, this is a feature that’s unique to the Loop Ear Plugs. The Loop Ear Plugs have an acoustic channel, allowing sound to enter your ear after reducing it by 20 decibels.
They also include the Loop Mute, letting you add 5 db of noise reduction by inserting a small band into the acoustic channel.
- Noise reduction of 18-23 decibels
- 4 different sizes, so you can always find the perfect fit.
- Package includes 1 set of Loop Experience Pro earplugs, 4 sizes of soft silicone ear tips (XS-L), 3 sizes of foam ear tips (S-L), 2 sets of Loop Mute filters and 1 handy carry case.
They’re not so expensive that you’ll regret losing them for the rest of your life, but they’re premium enough that you’ll do your best to keep track of them. The case is sturdy and will keep them safe in your purse or backpack, and the sound reduction will keep your ears safe at concerts!
Overall rating: 10/10. Super adjustable and extremely comfortable. These are the best ear plugs for concerts that I’ve tried!
Why are ear plugs important?
It’s important to wear ear plugs to preserve your ear health! While the science of hearing injury recovery is still developing, hearing damage is hard to recover from. Exposure to high levels of sound is the quickest way to damage your hearing, and concerts are just one example of high volume experiences that may require ear plugs.
When should I wear ear plugs?
As an audio engineer and producer, I find it a high priority to preserve my ear health for the long term. While wearing ear plugs to a concert sometimes feels cumbersome, I’ve come to appreciate the lack of ear ringing after the show. I’ve met engineers who wear ear plugs to the movies and sporting, but I find that concerts are the most important events to wear ear plugs.
I also wear hearing protection while working with power tools and outdoor lawn equipment. I always wear ear buds when mowing the lawn or while operating a my chain saw. You may not realize just how loud these weekly occurrences can be!
We hope this list helps you find the perfect ear plugs for concerts! All of these choices will do a solid job at keeping your ears from taking too much punishment at gigs. It’s important to avoid ear fatigue, especially if you’re a someone who works in music. If you’re experiencing hearing loss or ear pain, please see an audiologist! But, with proper hearing protection, you will be able to preserve your sense of hearing for years to come!
If you liked these reviews, check out the rest of our music gear reviews here!
Best earplugs for concerts – roundup:
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our top pick for its variety of included tips and comfortable wearing! | Check Price | |
| Two included sizes and a metal case! | Check Price | |
| An affordable choice that's a step up from foam earplugs. Grab a few pairs to keep as spares! | Check Price |
