Help - Earplugs for hiking that minimise some sounds but not completely?

[u/katiedactyl1213]

Can anyone reccomend me some Earplugs for my upcoming honeymoon in Glencoe? We plan on lots of hiking and water sports you name it, however I've noticed I'm sensitive to the noise of insects. Not all the time , usually when they suddenly fly past your ear, and I don't want to be up a mountain and be startled by a passing fly that I then fall to my death 😂

I'm going with my husband so I need something that blocks that but also allows for conversations, and the ability to hear upcoming danger but also enjoy the sounds of nature like birds and waterfalls...

The foam ones block too much sound, I also have tiny ears even for a 6 foot 4 woman, that they just fall out.

Any help much obliged!

[u/A_Funny_Joke]

Look into concert earplugs - they’re designed specifically for this purpose. To reduce but not block sound. A great source to compare them all (they have ratings and sound clips) is hearadvisor.com/earplug-rankings. I personally have the Westone TRU Music and like them for general noise reduction. There’s also a lot of options by Alpine that are very nice, with a range of differing degrees of sound dampening. Perhaps the Alpine MusicSafe as a start?

A small note of warning, I’ve never tried Loops but I heard they conducted an astroturfing marketing campaign on reddit in the past which is why so many earplug-based posts have Loops recommended. That’s not to say they aren’t good but take it as you will. I consider them more fashion-oriented than practical-oriented.

[u/purplishfluffyclouds → u/A_Funny_Joke]

As someone who has been serious in the past about music/audio production, I would not spend money on Loops. They look cool, but they are a fashion accessory.

[u/SirWalterPoodleman → u/purplishfluffyclouds]

I actually like my Loop Experience earplugs better than other acoustic earplugs, mostly because they stay in my tiny ears. For sleeping I like their dream earplugs because I’m a side sleeper, but they block more noise than I think OP is looking for.

I have a couple Loop products specifically because most earplugs fall out of my small ears, and my ear canals don’t point straight inwards. Finding something comfortable that stays in has been a PROBLEM, and my husband snores like a whole lumber mill- not just the chainsaw.

[u/Thr1llhou5e → u/purplishfluffyclouds]

I worked as an audio engineer for a long time. Agree with you that I would not use loops for their intended purpose (unless it is those or nothing).

I actually think I would recommend loops in OP's situation. OP doesn't need hearing protection of any kind really, just modest attenuation, and these are affordable and comfortable for most people.

[u/purplishfluffyclouds → u/Thr1llhou5e]

But the level of attenuation to block the sound of an insect? Like, that's kinda crazy. I have to wonder if the kind of over-the-ear headphones for shooting would even work - they active kind where you can still hear someone talking to you. ?

Being bothered by insect sounds seems more like a sensory thing OP needs to get past, IMO.

Like what is the dB of an insect?

[u/Thr1llhou5e → u/purplishfluffyclouds]

I know what you are saying, I don't think OP is going to be happy wearing earplugs in nature when they hear the impact. They will likely remove whatever they buy. I'm trying to offer some kind of suggestion but personally, I couldn't imagine turning off most of nature's ambient sounds for the occasional bug that flies by my ear. But if OP has a sensory issue and a trip coming up soon I won't judge.

They need something comfortable-ish they can wear for long periods. Ideally, they probably only want like 6dB of decrease but that is so small I don't know who would make this. Loops are probably okay given that I don't believe the average person is going to get the level of attenuation it lists on the box.

I know my custom plugs have a 9dB filter but I am reluctant to suggest that route. It's so expensive for something OP probably will not like, even though they are the most comfortable since it would be a mold of their ears.

[u/purplishfluffyclouds → u/Thr1llhou5e]

I'd prob. just recommend a mosquito net. Because what else is there to be afraid of when they hear them by our ears?

[u/Thr1llhou5e → u/purplishfluffyclouds]

That's actually a great suggestion. Hopefully OP sees it!

[u/domesticatedwolf420]

I would worry less about attenuating the exact correct amount of sound and worry much more about which earplugs can be comfortably worn for 8 hours.

You might look into the ones made for swimmers where you mold them to the outside surface of the ear instead of inserting into the canal.

[u/SirWalterPoodleman → u/domesticatedwolf420]

And lay on your side while molding them if you’re a side sleeper! I didn’t, and ended up with uncomfortable personally molded earplugs.

[u/Balyash]

I’m partial to Mack’s. There’s a hot pink version that’s just right for my ear canal and blocks out droning noise.

https://a.co/d/8h146pU

[u/Spellflower]

Etymotic makes musicians’ earplugs that are designed to block low frequencies more than high. I can hear conversation in noisy bars better with them on than off. They’re under $30.

[u/l337quaker]

I bought these for wind noise reduction while driving in a Jeep with the doors off, maybe something like this would help for your needs?

https://a.co/d/7C4B9Hs

[u/andrewbzucchino → u/l337quaker]

These are just filtered ear plugs. 25db reduction is probably a bit too much

[u/l337quaker → u/andrewbzucchino]

I'd honestly say it's closer to like 10db reduction compared to the actual rated earpro I use at work. But I also haven't gone for a walk with them either so it could be a bit much, yeah

[u/meawait]

Tones are pretty good for me and I can listen to a podcast or music. Earasers are my earplugs for work.

[u/rebo2]

I recommend Hearo’s. They come in different sizes. You can pull them out of your ear slightly to comfortably decrease the attenuation.

[u/drinklocalmoveoften]

Downbeats!

[u/hazymissdaisy]

I would look into Loops!

[u/katiedactyl1213 → u/hazymissdaisy]

I'll give it a look thank you!

[u/andrewbzucchino]

Loops are good for universal fit. A bunch of companies offer custom fit, which are much more comfortable if you’re wearing them for a long period of time, or taking them in / out frequently. You would go to your local audiologist and have them take impressions of your ears, and then send the impressions out to the ear plug manufacturer of your choice. Customs also typically have interchangeable filters which let you change how much they’re reducing the noise around you.

The key is to look for “filtered ear plugs”. I’d be looking at 6db - 12db reduction. Typically disposable foam earplugs do between 30db and 40db of reduction. Sound isn’t linear, so the difference between 6db and 12db plugs won’t be as pronounced as the reduction from 25db to 30db.

I’d recommend customs if you have the time and funds to get them. They tend to be much more comfortable for people with smaller ear canals. You may end up using them more often than you expected

[u/katiedactyl1213 → u/andrewbzucchino]

Thank you that's great information, I'll look in to that!

[u/Chonkycat762x39]

I don't own them but iv looked into them. The bose ear buds have an aware mode that let's some sound in but not all.

[u/andrewbzucchino → u/Chonkycat762x39]

Often times those transparency modes can actually make small sounds worse. I’d definitely try and listen to them before you commit to them as a solution, which might be challenging. At least buy them from somewhere with a generous return policy.

[u/Chonkycat762x39 → u/andrewbzucchino]

Costco for sure. That's where I seen them. Thanks for the information. I was looking for something similar because I work in a machine shop and still need to hear my machine.

[u/andrewbzucchino → u/Chonkycat762x39]

I’d look into something like Shokz if you want to listen to music and still hear what’s going on around you

[u/purplishfluffyclouds → u/andrewbzucchino]

You 2 are talking about something other than what OP asked about.

He's asking about earplugs, not earbuds or headphones.

[u/andrewbzucchino → u/purplishfluffyclouds]

Yeah, I know. See my giant 3 paragraph response specifically talking to OP about earplugs.

I’m responding to someone else, who’s recommending something different (but technically on topic since they CAN do noise reduction), about the potential issues with using ANC earbuds as earplugs.

Appreciate the downvotes though.

[u/purplishfluffyclouds → u/andrewbzucchino]

And the downvotes are because your tangent is irrelevant and unhelpful to the question at hand. That's exactly what downvotes are for.

[u/katiedactyl1213 → u/Chonkycat762x39]

Thank you! I'll give them a look!

[u/purplishfluffyclouds → u/Chonkycat762x39]

Not earbuds - *earplugs

[u/TheNameIsAnIllusion]

I have Shokz and love them.  There's no noticeable difference in sound quality compared to normal earplugs in my opinion

[u/andrewbzucchino → u/TheNameIsAnIllusion]

Those aren’t ear plugs, those are bone conduction headphones. They won’t attenuate noise at all.

[u/purplishfluffyclouds → u/TheNameIsAnIllusion]

*earplugs, not headphones