Review of renowned manufacturers
When choosing high-quality earplugs, it is recommended to pay attention to domestic and foreign manufacturers of anti-noise products. Today, there are a large number of inserts on the market, but the products of the following companies are more popular.
Travel Dream
A well-known domestic manufacturer of medical products. The company offers budget models of earplugs for adults and children made of silicone (can be used for swimming) and foam. The products are of high quality and affordable prices.
Moldex Spark Plugs
A German company that represents on the domestic market high-quality reusable earmolds made of polyurethane. Products from this manufacturer are soft, elastic and able to quickly transform, closing the ear canal. The earplugs of this brand do not create discomfort, are easy to clean and, with proper care, retain their functionality for a long time.
Hush Plugs Pink
English earmolds made of high quality silicone. The material is characterized by ergonomics, does not cause allergic reactions. Models of this brand do not need to be inserted into the ear canal. They are fixed in the auricle. At the same time, their sound insulation characteristics are maintained at the highest level. In terms of softness, earplugs are not inferior to wax ones and do not create discomfort.
Calmor
Swiss made disposable earplugs made from natural wax. The dome is coated with petroleum jelly to facilitate insertion into the ear canal. The hygienic cleanliness of the product is ensured by a thin layer of cotton wool. The earplugs are comfortable to use and provide excellent sound insulation.
Ohropax classik
German disposable earplugs made from a mixture of high quality paraffins and natural wax. The inserts are covered with cotton wool. They do not cause allergies, are soft, do not create a feeling of discomfort during use.
Alpine Sleep Soft
Reusable earplugs made in the Netherlands are made of hypoallergenic silicone. The earbuds are supplied with special filters, thanks to which they have the unique ability to drown out not all sounds. Earplugs will protect against street noise or snoring of a sleeping person, but will not allow you to miss the alarm clock. In addition, the earbuds are well ventilated. The ear canal with them does not sweat and does not rot.
Moldex comets
German-made reusable earplugs made of silicone sheet. The earbuds are shaped like fungi, which allows you to hermetically seal the ear canal and provide a comfortable sleeping environment. The products are distinguished by a high degree of softness and elasticity. The material used has hypoallergenic characteristics and a long service life.
Uneed
Earplugs, made in the form of comfortable headphones for sleeping, allow you to lie in any position and not experience discomfort. They use a special filter that neutralizes loud sounds with the help of quiet pleasant music or natural noises.
Design and dimensions
Design and color solutions of earplugs can be very diverse. For example, there are spherical, arrow-shaped, bullet-shaped, stamp-shaped options. On sale there are models with both a translucent glossy and matte structure. The color of the ear tabs can be saturated or muted, neutral (white, gray), pink, yellow, green, olive, orange, blue, blue, red, brown.
Among the models, there are products with a white base and multi-colored stains in the form of wavy stripes and spots. The colors of other modifications are reminiscent of the texture of marble.The produced assortment can have “adult” and “child” sizes. For example, depending on the variety, the ratio of length, diameter at the base and diameter of the tip of foam models can be:
- 22.8x11.2x9.9, 21.1x14.6x8.5, 20x14.2x9.7, 20.5x11.7x11x7 mm - for women;
- 23.7x11.6x10.9, 23x12.5x10.7, 22.5x12.5x11, 24x16x10.8 mm - for men.
Adult sizes are divided into 3 types: small, medium and large. They refer to the outer parts of the earplugs that are fixed on the auricles. The gradation can take into account not only the shape of the models of a particular brand, but also the type of ears. For example, today you can buy two- and three-level options for people with wide ear canals. Height less than 2.5 cm corresponds to size S (Small), a parameter of 2.5 cm fits size M (Medium), if the height is larger, it is already size L (Large).
How to wear foam earplugs correctly
Before you start sharing the wisdom on the correct use of earplugs, it is worth noting one important detail - incorrectly worn earplugs completely lose their usefulness, and their owner acquires great disappointment, relying on this or that product.
Foam earplugs are made of polyurethane foam, a soft material with reduced elasticity. It is thanks to this property that we have time to put on earplugs until they have not returned to their previous sizes.
When using earplugs for sleep, you do not need to adhere to complicated instructions or have special knowledge, I will say more - earplugs are a purely practical thing. Let's practice and move on.
First of all, it is worth making sure that your ears are dry - this is important if you put on earplugs before going to bed after taking a shower.
To insert earplugs into the ear canal, you need to roll them into a thin tube or, if you want, into a "carnation". It is convenient to do this between clenched index and middle and thumb.
Roll the earplugs slowly and gradually. It is worth doing this in order to avoid wrinkling and twisting - otherwise, when the earbuds are in your ears, the unaligned folds will become excellent conductors of sound.
When rolling out the earplugs along their entire length, it is worth, however, to leave their upper part uncompressed - the resulting "hat" will serve as a kind of stopper. This is especially true for those who are afraid to insert earplugs too deeply, fearing that they will not be able to pull them out later.
Then, without wasting time, place your hand behind your head and pulling your ear back and up, insert the earplugs into your ear canal. If you didn't manage to do this quickly enough and the earplugs have returned to their original shape - do not try to push them in. Just repeat the procedure.
It will take about 15-20 seconds for the earplugs to completely fill the contours of the ear canal. At this time, it is advisable to lightly press on the liner with your finger, since it can move outward a little as it returns to its original shape.
Correctly worn earplugs should not be visible from your ears when you look at yourself in the face-to-face mirror. However, do not insert the earplugs too deeply - they should protrude from the ear canal just enough to be easily removed with the thumb and forefinger (ladies can use their nails) without resorting to tweezers.
There are several ways to check if you are wearing your earplugs correctly. For example, this one:
While in earplugs near the source of noise, tightly cover your ears with your palms - if you hear noise with the same volume both with and without covered palms, then you are doing everything right.
Here's another way, visual:
Pull the earplugs out of your ears and examine them until they return to their original shape. If the bend of the earbud is something like a zigzag line, you are using the earplugs correctly and this article was not in vain for you. If the insert with its curves resembles the letter V, it is worth practicing some more.
Types of tabs
If you decide to use earplugs for sleeping, which ones are best, you will have to choose yourself by trial and error. The comfort and effectiveness of using these devices depends on the individual characteristics of each person's body, the structure of his ear and the level of noise that needs to be eliminated.
Good tabs are produced by domestic and foreign companies. They can be disposable and reusable, have different shapes and levels of sound absorption. Consider what types of these devices are on the modern market, and what features they have.
Foam-propylene
One of the most popular types of earplugs. They do an excellent job with their tasks - they protect against extraneous sounds in the range from 28 to 33 dB. The tabs are very soft, in their shape they resemble bullets or cone-shaped tampons. For installation in the ear canal, the product must be narrowed as much as possible at the edge, after that it completely fills the space allotted to it, since polypropylene (parolon) tends to expand over time.
Liners are used no more than 1-2 times, since they quickly lose their original shape, and accordingly, tightness. However, these are the cheapest earplugs available to all consumers, they are perfect for those who need to create individual noise isolation in rare cases.
Anatomical
These are the best earplugs for sleeping, as they completely follow the anatomical shape of the ear canal. To make this type of earbuds, you need to contact a specialist who will take an imprint of the shape of the ear, and later transfer this form to the factory that produces the earplugs. It takes a certain amount of time, so you don't have to wait to receive the finished product the same day you order it. However, the time and cost spent will fully pay off when you start using the anatomical earplugs.
Silicone
Silicone is a hypoallergenic and non-toxic material that is often used in medicine, food processing and other industries. Silicone sleep earplugs are a great solution for those who do not have time to make anatomical inlays.
The material can be thermoplastic and sheet. Thermoplastic models are softer, they take the shape of any ear canal, but require special care. Silicone sheet is more durable, earplugs need to be selected according to the shape of the ear, but this type of raw material is highly durable.
Wax
Natural wax ear plugs are perfect for consumers who prefer to use environmentally friendly materials. The products can only cause allergies in people who have a personal intolerance to bee products. These tabs are made of natural wax, and are covered with cotton on top for ease of use. They fully adapt to the anatomical shape of the ear canal, since when in contact with the body they heat up and become very plastic.
Also, this material tends to attract dust particles and other small fragments, since it is quite sticky. These factors make reusable earplugs impossible.
Reusable models
Manufacturers offer reusable earplugs that are made from silicone or polyurethane sheets. These materials are durable, easy to clean and have excellent sound insulation. True, they are not as soft as disposable models, but they absorb extraneous sounds well.
Some devices are equipped with sound filters, they allow you to hear the sound of the alarm clock, the crying of a child, but drown out snoring and other annoying noises.
The shape of such products can be different (cylinders, T-shaped earplugs, pointed, etc.) and you can purchase the one that will ideally suit you.
How to choose good earplugs
Sleep headphones must meet several requirements: reliably protect against extraneous noise and provide full sound insulation, be harmless and safe, and provide maximum comfort. When choosing, you need to be guided by several criteria, and they will be considered in detail.
Varieties of earplugs
Depending on the terms of operation, reusable and disposable are distinguished. The latter types are not intended for long-term use, because they quickly lose their original shape and sound insulation properties. Reusable ones can last longer because they retain their basic characteristics well.
There are universal earplugs and individual ones. The former have standard shapes and should suit everyone. Individual earplugs are either made to order after measuring the auditory openings (usually casts are taken), or after being placed in the passage, they take its anatomical shape due to the special properties of the material.
On sale you can find earplugs for adults and children's models, which are small in size and made of high quality, hypoallergenic and safe materials.
Variety of materials used for manufacturing
Various materials are used to make modern earplugs:
Expanded polypropylene foam or foam rubber - soft porous material
In shape, the earplugs resemble small bullets, which must be narrowed as much as possible at the edges with your fingers, and then carefully placed into the ear canals. Such devices are simple and comfortable to use, but they will not protect against loud noises, since they have a porous structure. Foam earplugs wear out quickly and are considered unhygienic, since pathogenic microorganisms and dirt particles can penetrate into the pores
Foam earplugs wear out quickly and are considered unhygienic, since pathogenic microorganisms and dirt particles can penetrate into the pores.
Polyurethane is an elastic, soft and dense material that has a long service life and excellent characteristics. Earplugs can be washed, they have moisture-proof properties and are almost not subject to mechanical damage, do not deform. But in order for the devices to serve for a long time, it is necessary to provide proper care.
Wax. Earplugs made of this material take the shape of the ear canal and completely fill it, providing an anti-noise effect and preventing the penetration of even loud sounds. Wax earplugs are disposable: these models are covered with a layer of cotton wool and thrown away after several uses. The reusable types are uncoated, smooth and reusable, but still have a short lifespan.
Silicone is a high-quality and fairly expensive material, characterized by elasticity, durability, deformation resistance and softness. It is used for medical purposes, as it is completely safe and hypoallergenic. Silicone earplugs are one-size-fits-all and fill the ear holes almost completely without causing discomfort.
Important selection parameters
To choose high-quality and suitable earplugs, you need to be guided by the following criteria:
- Elasticity. The more elastic the earplugs are, the easier they will fit into the ear canals. This quality will ensure complete filling of the holes and reduce the noise level to a minimum.
- Softness. This property will make the application comfortable and minimize the likelihood of discomfort and squeezing of the ear canals.
- Soundproofing characteristics. If you need effective protection against loud noises, then choose earplugs with a noise isolation level of at least 30-35 decibels.
- Simplicity and comfort of use. The devices should fit into the ears without any problems and can be removed just as easily and quickly from them. They cannot cause discomfort that will interfere with sleep.Ideally, the earplugs completely fill the passages, do not protrude beyond the ears, and are almost invisible.
- The size should fully correspond to yours: large earplugs will hardly fit into the holes or squeeze them strongly, and small ones will not provide a full-fledged soundproofing effect.
- The form. Earplugs are made in the form of cones, bullets, fungi (with one or more tiers), cylinders. The anatomical shape is complex and follows the natural curves of the ear canal.