Earplugs

[luca_79]

I know you can spend anything from 99p to hundreds of pounds on protecting your ears / sleeping better at festivals...just wondered what the best value for money ones are in people's opinion - in terms of comfort and effectiveness.

Would prob spend up to £10 or £20 if it's worth it. Cheers!

[jimmystobo]

got some from a pound shop last year and never used them.

got the same ones this year from a pound shop but came with an eye mask.

i can sleep no bother so probably wont end up using them.

i cant imagine there is much difference between the types tbh.

[ukslim]

The ones for sleeping in and the ones for listening to music are different.

For sleeping, I swear by Laser Lite foam earplugs. £30 for a massive box of them from Screwfix, or you can get smaller quantities from Amazon or eBay. They're more comfortable and do a better job than the foam earplugs you can buy in Boots.

Now, wear those and try to listen to music, and you'll have an awful time. They'll block out the treble completely, but let through a lot of the bass, and everything will just sound muffled.

What you need is reusable musicians' earplugs, which are designed to block all frequencies equally.

I have some like these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elacin-ER20-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B0013HJJZG/

they're OK, but even with these things can sound a bit bassy - maybe if you spend more you get even better.

Personally, I really need earplugs when music gets loud. I found that at loud gigs, I would think the PA was distorting the music so much that pitch and lyrics couldn't be discerned. Sometimes even the rhythm got lost. Then I tried blocking my ears with my fingers, and found that everything was clear. Earplugs are good finger substitutes -- and they protect you long term as well.

[robith]

ER20s

Can get them for about £8 on amazon. Comfortable and still clear hearing.

Though I find Glastonbury rarely gets loud enough for me to bother with them. Now ATP and Primavera on the other hand....

[Brave Sir Robin]

I've used quite a few over the years and have never found any better than Superdrug's own cone shape foam ones. Never spent a tenner mind!

[Spiky Mike]

I find the wax ones are much better than foam ones as they stay in your ear longer and also absorb more sound. I find the cider normally keeps me asleep for the first 3-4 hours and then staying asleep is a lot harder withour earplugs.

[ukslim]

Though I find Glastonbury rarely gets loud enough for me to bother with them.

[Douzeper]

Personally, I really need earplugs when music gets loud. I found that at loud gigs, I would think the PA was distorting the music so much that pitch and lyrics couldn't be discerned. Sometimes even the rhythm got lost. Then I tried blocking my ears with my fingers, and found that everything was clear. Earplugs are good finger substitutes -- and they protect you long term as well.

[MyTwistedWords]

for sleep try and get silicone ones or wax ones, they are the most effective, they are cleaner and more hygenic and you can still re-use them...

Bio Ears are the best silicone ones i think

For wax ones (green option!) i'd go with try these

[Mark E. Spliff]

I can't stand snoring, and if I've got someone snoring a few feet away from me then it will drive me insane. So if I'm near a snorer, I wear earplugs with proper ear defenders (cans) over the top. Sounds uncomfortable, but because I'm using a big double airbed, I can put my head down and the ear-defenders just sort of sink in and I don't end up with a crooked neck. I used them the weekend before last and it was fine - I could barely hear my mate Andy in the tent next to mine, even those his snoring is legendary.

[luca_79]

The ones for sleeping in and the ones for listening to music are different.

For sleeping, I swear by Laser Lite foam earplugs. £30 for a massive box of them from Screwfix, or you can get smaller quantities from Amazon or eBay. They're more comfortable and do a better job than the foam earplugs you can buy in Boots.

Now, wear those and try to listen to music, and you'll have an awful time. They'll block out the treble completely, but let through a lot of the bass, and everything will just sound muffled.

What you need is reusable musicians' earplugs, which are designed to block all frequencies equally.

I have some like these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elacin-ER20-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B0013HJJZG/

they're OK, but even with these things can sound a bit bassy - maybe if you spend more you get even better.

Personally, I really need earplugs when music gets loud. I found that at loud gigs, I would think the PA was distorting the music so much that pitch and lyrics couldn't be discerned. Sometimes even the rhythm got lost. Then I tried blocking my ears with my fingers, and found that everything was clear. Earplugs are good finger substitutes -- and they protect you long term as well.

[ukslim]

Oh, interesting point. That happens to me, I just assumed it was to loud!

[ethereal]

Alpine MusicSafe are great also, though easy to lose on the downside

[snipe]

There is usually a Dont Lose the Music stand between John Peel and the Pyramid which gives out free foam earplugs and in the past had semi decent ones available for a quid. They really need to bring a good selection of high quality ear plugs for sale though.

[ukslim]

There is usually a Dont Lose the Music stand between John Peel and the Pyramid which gives out free foam earplugs and in the past had semi decent ones available for a quid. They really need to bring a good selection of high quality ear plugs for sale though.

[rischbrit]

Got some great ones last year from lloyds chemist. A couple of quid for two pairs pink in colour and best ones I ever bought!!! Slept thru until I got too hot!!

[Homer]

Didn't they used to come free as part of your entry pack? I seem to remember them being in the lanyard?

[bumpy_capers]

Etymotic

[deegs]

Alpine MusicSafe are great also, though easy to lose on the downside

[neil999]

i HAVE to use earplugs to sleep, the thing that keeps me awake isnt music or general loud noises, but peoples conversation, dunno why that is but people chatting at a normal level just keeps me awake!

[r0cky]

It depends on your ear shape. The best will be custom moulded ones. Non-custom ones come in a range of shapes/sizes, you really just need to try them all to find which fit the best for you.

For sleeping I find those cone foam shaped ones useless, but the older style foam cylinder ones OK. I've just bought a box of EAR 3M classic earplugs from eBay.

The wax ones might be good, I found them a pain to apply, especially when tired/drunk.

Generally the sound levels aren't too high at Glasto, unless you're in one of the small venues and near a speaker-stack. I have some of those ER20music earplugs for that.

[outlinereality]

I also have Laser Lite for sleeping. Perfect for Saturday nights when you know you'll wake up on Sunday feeling a bit bad when you hear the hoover around the house!

[MummaMoto]

i HAVE to use earplugs to sleep, the thing that keeps me awake isnt music or general loud noises, but peoples conversation, dunno why that is but people chatting at a normal level just keeps me awake!

[mimp]

I've tried finding a scientific name for it, but the Internet failed me.

I think it's something that happens in the sound processing parts of the brain, rather than in the physical components of the ear. Like, the microphone is working perfectly but the amplifier is overloaded.

Also I scared the crap out of myself by getting tinnitus at a Meat Beat Manifesto gig in the 90s -- the moshers forced me out so I spent most of the gig stood next to the bass bin. For the whole of the next morning, it was as if I was hearing everything through an echoey drainpipe.

[neil999]

for sleep try and get silicone ones or wax ones, they are the most effective, they are cleaner and more hygenic and you can still re-use them...

Bio Ears are the best silicone ones i think

For wax ones (green option!) i'd go with try these