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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
Editor’s Pick Loop Switch 2
BUY NOW $59.95 Jump to Details Runner-Up Loop Experience 2
BUY NOW $34.95 Jump to Details Budget Pick Vibes
BUY NOW $38.95 Jump to Details Moldable Decibullz Moldable Earplugs for Concerts
BUY NOW $39.99 Jump to Details Discreet Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs
BUY NOW $43.95 Jump to Details Disposable Walker’s Pro-Tek Passive Hearing Protection
BUY NOW $4.99 Jump to Details View more +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.
The Best Earplugs for Concerts
Below are some of the best earplugs for concerts, after our editors’ testing.
Editor’s Pick Loop Switch 2
$59.95
Buy Now at loop Buy Now On AmazonNRR: 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
$34.95
Buy Now at loop Buy Now On AmazonNRR: 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
$38.95
Buy Now at AmazonNRR: 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
$39.99
Buy Now at AmazonBuy Now at decibullz
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
$43.95
Buy Now On AmazonNRR: 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
Buy Now on amazon $4.99
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.
