I bought a pair of Mack's Ear Seals a few years ago at a local drug store, and they are some of the best reusable earplugs you can buy -certainly the best I've ever used. They have a neon yellow rubber base topped with four graded silicone flanges. From tip to end, they're about one inch long.
The NRR (noise reduction rating) of these earplugs is 27 decibels, and man, do they work well. I wear them primarily at concerts and find that they allow me to hear the band clearly, but they reduce the noise level to a comfortable volume.
I also wear these earplugs while traveling (a godsend in planes, trains, and youth hostels), and sometimes while sleeping at home to block out the really loud chirping birds that have nested in the tree outside our bedroom window. These earplugs cancel out small sounds entirely.
The grippy silicone flanges keep these earplugs in place. The fit is pretty comfortable, much more so than I find memory foam earplugs to be, and I have average-sized ear canals. (For those with smaller ear canals, I would recommend Etymotic's Baby Blues Earplugs.) Wearing Mack's Ear Seals while sleeping works fine for me because I tend to sleep on my back; however, those who sleep on their sides or stomachs may not find these earplugs comfortable against a pillow because the yellow ends stick out past the ear.
Mack's Ear Seals are made of silicone and rubber, so they are perfect for those with latex allergies and are waterproof. They come in a clear rectangular snap case, which is handy for traveling. In addition to the plugs, you also get a thin detachable cord. I have personally never used the cord, but I see how it could be useful for sporting events, etc. Recommended!
If you gently twist them into your ear, you can hear NOTHING other than the buzzing in your own head!
These are probably the best I've ever tried.
2 drawbaks:
1. they have a stem that sticks out too much to make them appropriate for sleeping with
2. they are slightly big, which means that you constantly feel them in your ear, if you're on the small side. No way you can avoid that completely with any plug, but it is a bit uncomfortable.
When you take them off, though, you just suddenly realize you were sitting in a room full of noises you never even noticed--until you saw what real silence is about!
Remember to always TWIST them out, not pull them out, as they may make your ears pop badly...
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These are pretty good for lap swimming. I am admittedly not very fast, but I didn't need any Swimmers Ear drops or the like after my work out today.
I like the cord on it because I think it would be awkward to try to chase down one that happened to fall out. There was no danger of these falling out, though, when they were inserted and there was no pain or pressure. It was an added bonus that it made things even quieter and more serene.
I recommend these!
Update 10/31/10: I think I have used these approximately 10 times and the cord pulled out of the plug on one side today. They are still keeping water out, though.
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I've been told I have small ear canals but these still fit great. I had considered noise cancelling head phones but these are so much more ecconomical and portablitiy is a no brainer. If you are looking for something to help quiet your environment for a little while, please don't spend your money on electronics, try these first.
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I have used many different brands of earplugs as I am a light sleeper and often have had no choice if I wanted to get any decent amount of sleep. These earplugs are hands down the best on the market. I hear nothing and for me they are very comfortable to sleep with all night.
I do not twist them in or out. I simply grab my ear with the opposing hand, reaching from behind my head and tug on my ear to open more and push in the plug with the other hand and do the same in reverse to remove. The cord is also great as anyone who is a frequent user of earplugs know they can come up missing very easily. Still using a pair that were purchased well over a year and a half ago!
If you try these you definitely will not be disappointed. If you are still worried about the minimal amount of noise that does get through, you need to sleep in a vacuum chamber.
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