Have you used custom earplugs?

[PecanPiez]

I’ve tried lots of types of earplugs - foam, silicone, memory foam and others, and they either don’t work, or come loose, or hurt my ears. I’m thinking about trying these custom earplugs: www.acscustom.com/uk/products/sleep-sound

As they’re so expensive, it would be frustrating to buy them if they don’t work. If anyone here has used them or similar, I’d be really grateful to hear whether they worked.

Mine are from Ultimate Ear. They are worth every penny!

I don't use custom ear plugs but just popping on to ask if you have tried Ohropax mini soft ear plugs, they are the only ones I have ever used that are comfy and don't fall out. They are cheap so could be worth a try in meantime.

I have them but made for motorcycling. They are excellent well worth it.

@Kleo I have not tried those. Thanks for link - I’ll give them a go!

@Whoarethewho Thank you very much for your reply. Do you find they cut out noise generally, or just certain frequencies? A friend of mine who works in a concert venue has a type of earplug that cuts out very high and low sounds, so that her ears are not damaged by the music, but they don’t cut out general sounds, so she can still talk with customers. I wonder whether that’s the type you have for motorcycling? I need earplugs for sleeping, so need them to cut out general sound!

@Waveafterwaveslowlydrifting Thanks for your reply. That’s great to hear! Do you use them for sleeping?

Yes, also great for noisy airports, cinema, soft play!

I got the squishy ones which are great for sleeping in.

Thanks! Are these the ones you got? ultimateear.com/product/sleeping-earplugs/

If they’re ok for wearing to the cinema, does that mean they let in a fair bit of sound? Presumably you need to hear the film! Or do they block sound out as long as it’s not super loud?!

Hope you don’t mind all the questions! It’s quite a lot to spend, but if they work they’d be totally worth it!

No worries. Hopefully they are useful. I use them for sleeping they block everything it's great.

I find the cinema really loud without earplugs! They do block most sound though

If it's just for ambient noise I use Flare Audio Calmer. They are £20 a pair and honestly life changing.

Thank you so much for the replies. If I find earplugs that can get me a good night's sleep, it would be life-changing!!

@Waveafterwaveslowlydrifting That is good to hear. I am a bit baffled, as I just spoke to Ultimate Ear and they said the earplugs reduce sound by 25 decibels. I googled examples of sounds at different decibel levels and apparently a whisper is 30 decibels... which would mean the earplugs don't even block out a whisper!! But from what you say, it sounds as though they're better than that?!

@OneRingToRuleThemAll Thank you for your post - that's really interesting. As it happens, I've just tried a different pair of Flare earplugs (the Sleeep ones) and they came loose overnight. The Calmer ones look as if they might stay in better, but I hadn't tried them as from the description it sounded as though they wouldn't actually block sound. Do you find that they do? Do you use them for sleeping, if you don't mind me asking?! Thanks!!

I find they make sound bearable rather than block it out. So it's there but not annoying.

Marking my place as I live on a road where traffic starts earlier than I want to wake every day.

I use wax earplugs at the moment, which are generally comfortable to sleep in (I have small ears, so the foam ones never fit), but do come loose as the night draws on. They don't fall out, but loosen to the extent that I hear the morning traffic.

I'd be so interested to know if these custom earplugs stay in all night, and are comfy.

@Esca the foam ones I linked in my earlier post fit me really well, I also have small ears and they are specifically designed for that. They don't fall out.

I also invested in secondary glazing made out of acoustic glass for my bedroom window due to traffic which has been a lifesaver.