The Best Hearing Aids (2026)

The Loop Quiet 2 looks almost identical to the Loop Experience Earbuds, but there are two key differences: Without an acoustic filter, it can block more noise—24 dB instead of 18—and is made entirely of soft silicone, including a round pattern that sits almost at right angles to the adjustable tip. That means these silicone plugs fit inside your ear, completely clear of your head, so when you sleep on your side there is very little force applied to the earplugs and less chance of accidentally dropping them. That makes the Loop Quiet 2 the best headphones for sleeping.

The loop itself is made of silicone, but it’s hard enough that putting the earplugs in or out is easy. They feel good and comfortable in the sitting position without giving you that feeling of confusion that comes with some pairs. You get four different sized sets of ear tips (although actually changing the ear tips can be a pain), and the whole thing is washable in warm water. They even come in four colors, so you can match them to your sheets. –Parker Hall

When I went to see my wife’s favorite band, the opener was a duo with a bunch of amplifiers. I grabbed some foam earplugs from the bar, but I would have been better off if I had Earpeace Music Pros on my keychain.

These NPR-supported plugs fit snugly in my ears and come with a small aluminum carrying case. They are very comfortable and can absorb 13 decibels from noisy signals—often the difference between some hearing damage and none—in a way that doesn’t absorb all of the loudness. Don’t take my word for it. Famed NPR music critic Bob Boilen says he’s worn his to thousands of shows. –Parker Hall

Photo: Louryn Strampe

Attention

High Fidelity Earbuds

These super comfortable earplugs can reduce noise by up to 22 decibels, and won’t irritate your ears even if you wear them for 18 hours at a time. The silicone shell is easy to clean, and you’ll get three sizes to ensure a comfortable ear fit, as well as a metal chain case to store them. I regularly wear them to some of the loudest bass festivals in the world, and they do a great job of filtering out the highs and lows without squashing the sounds I paid to hear. My only complaint is that the silicone shells can get yellow over time, but the controls on my oldest pair are still kicking after five years. –Louryn Strappe

I keep these on my keychain and wear them almost every weekend, whether I’m watching live dubstep or live hardcore. I love them. They’re small, they look like jewels when they’re in my ears, and they stay comfortable once they’re in place (which has no learning curve, so try them on at home before you head to the show). I love how they look when I wear them, which serves the purpose of educating young people about the importance of hearing protection. and to keep my friends from thinking I’m ignoring them when I can’t hear them. I also really like the limited edition Swarovski stylebut be aware that metal can feel very cold if the environment is cold (and is often sold outdoors). I also like that the included case flips open, which is easier to use if you’re in a crowded crowd trying to hold on to your hearing protection compared to a metal case that flips open. I have gifted several pairs of these earbuds to my friends and they have seconded my approval. –Louryn Strappe

These earbuds from Loop look like the brand’s other donut-shaped earbuds, but with a special trick up their sleeve. You can turn out each bud between three positions for reducing the volume variation. You can switch between high, low, and almost no noise, which makes these great for live concerts, where performers can vary in volume from “a little too loud” to “dear Lord, I may never hear you again.” I also like that they are light and comfortable, with easy-to-clean silicone ear tips and plastic outer shells. You can even find them in beautiful colors like blue and salmon pink.