Best Earplugs For Concerts In 2022

In our search for the best earplugs for concerts, we found that the majority of the options on the market will leave you with change from $30. Although on first appearance this might seem like a significant sum of money, when you consider you can reuse your earplugs time and time again, it’s actually very reasonable. You can’t put a price on health after all! The majority of options on the market come with a neck cord and carry case as standard. The real difference comes down to the fit, material and style of the earplugs on offer. These kinds of preferences will differ from each person, so, as always, we’re going to let you know how we choose our top picks and the features you should consider before making your purchase.

How We Chose Our Selection Of The Best Earplugs For Concerts

You might be surprised to see so many brands made it on our list, but there are a whole lot more out there selling earplugs. Our first consideration when creating our shortlist was to give you options from trusted brands and industry leaders, which is why we’ve bought you earplugs that are trusted by musicians and music lovers from all over the globe. Secondly, it’s always important that we bring you options to suit all budgets, although most of the options we featured sit at around $20 because that’s the standard price for good quality, we managed to find a couple steals for those looking to save a few dollars.

Last but certainly not least, we sifted through reviews for each and every pair of earplugs featured on our list to ensure they perform as well as they should do. When it comes to taking care of your ears, you can never be too cautious. We carefully scanned through hundreds of tried and tested reviews so that we can help you to find the very best earplugs for concerts to buy with your hard earned dollar.

With something as important as your health, it goes far beyond price, brand and reviews, there are a number of features that a good pair of earplugs should include so that you know you’re getting the best possible product. Read on to find out more.

Features To Look For In Earplugs For Concerts

As we mentioned, there are a number of considerations when you’re selecting the right pair of earplugs for you. In our opinion, finding the right pair of earplugs for your needs comes down to three major considerations.

Noise Reduction Rating - This is, of course, the key feature to look for in all earplugs. After all, it’s the only reason you’re buying them, to protect your ears. A lot of earplugs we came across on the market that were much cheaper weren’t too good at actually reducing noise and protecting you from harmful noise levels, which is why we bought you options that actually do. Depending on the environment you’re in, you can expect sound levels as high as 120 decibels, this obviously varies on how close you are to the stage and the direction of the speakers. The noise reduction rating on your earplugs will determine how long you can safely spend in these kinds of environments without doing any damage to your ears. So, this is an essential consideration to make. As a general rule of thumb, if a pair of earplugs have a noise reduction rating of 10dB, this will offer you protection for up to two hours, but the higher the better of course!

Design - When referring to design, we’re not simply talking about the way they look from the outside in, but their functionality. Granted, there are plenty of options on the market that look really great, so if you’re conscious of style this will be a consideration. But, more importantly, it’s important to consider how the design affects their ability to actually work. Dependent on design, some earplugs might simply block sound in a mechanical fashion whereas others will be much effective and safer.

What’s more, if your earplugs come complete with a handy storage case and neck cord, you’re more likely to make use of them for a long time, so it’s worth paying a little extra for these features.

Functionality - As mentioned above, the design that effects the functionality of your earplugs is more important than how they look. You want earplugs that work to protect your ears whilst preserve sound, kind of like lowering the volume rather than just blocking it out creating a muffled sound. It's worth investing in a pair of earphones that are actually functional so that you can wear them without them affecting your concert experience. Opt for the earphones that are crafted to filter sound and fit comfortably in your ear. These will usually be silicone opposed to foam.

Earplug For Concerts FAQ

Now that you’ve read through all of our top picks and know all the considerations you should be making when shopping for the best earplugs for concerts, it’s about time we answered some of those burning questions surrounding them.

Q: Why should i wear earplugs to concerts?

A: We’re not here to scare you but the WHO (World Health Organization) carried out a study in middle and high-income countries and found that nearly 40% of young adults and teenagers put themselves at risk for NIHL from damaging noise levels at entertainment value. Now, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s A LOT of people that might have permanently damaged their ears. Once you lose your hearing, it cannot be restored. That’s why you should take these kinds of precautions where necessary.

Q: How does loud sound damage the ears?

A: Over the years, experts have found that long exposure to sound levels 85dB and above can contribute to hearing loss. As most venues and clubs are 100dB, you could be doing damage without a second thought. The maximum time to encounter sounds at these levels is just 15 minutes. If you often find yourself at a concert, festival or nightclub for hours on end, you need to protect your hearing.

Q: Are foam ear plugs good for concerts?

Although foam earplugs can protect your hearing, they block sound rather than safety proof it. Foam earplugs block sound frequencies creating a muffled sound, whereas earplugs created with concerts in mind simply lower the volume. Although you might be inclined to buy foam earplugs because they’re much cheaper, they will take away from your experience, therefore you likely won’t wear them. It’s worth paying extra for earplugs that enhance your experience instead.

Q: What noise reduction rating is needed for concerts?

A: A pair of earplugs have a noise reduction rating of 10dB, this will offer you protection for up to two hours, but the higher the better of course! Particularly if you’re planning on sticking around for longer than this time frame. But as a minimum, opt for a pair that over a rating of 10dB to ensure you’re safe.

Q: How concert earplugs are different from standard earplugs?

Standard earplugs are usually crafted from foam and are simply created to block out sounds. Concert earplugs are high fidelity earplugs that take into account the frequency of the ear to ensure they preserve the original quality of the music, only quieter. Simply put, they enhance the sound whilst keeping you safe rather than blocking it out and spoiling your music experience.

Now that we’re confident that we’ve covered all bases and shared everything we know about the best earplugs for concerts with you, it’s time you got out and bought yourself a pair. We can’t express enough how damaging it can be to expose yourself to loud music and environments without proper protection. In our opinion, investing in a pair of earplugs that will leave you with change from $30 is a no brainer. As we said before, you can’t put a price on health. As a parting comment, if you’ve ever tried out regular earplugs at a concert and it’s put you off, give one of our top picks a go, you won’t be disappointed!