The Ear Plug Super Store is an excellent place to learn about and buy ear protection. The have a huge variety and have good
recommendations for uses.
I wear both earplugs and ear muffs at work and have done so for the last 28 years (I work on jet A/C).
Currently the earplugs I use are Howard Leight
Max. They have a NRR of 33, which is the highest you can get. The higher the number, the better the protection. I don't know why anyone would want to use a plug that protects less than NRR 33.
I used to use them all the time for sleeping (I sleep during the day) but I recently bought an air purifier machine which does double duty as a white noise machine. I now only use the plugs for sleeping when the lawn is being cut.
For sleeping use, make sure you get the style without the cord.
I have found that the material that the Max is made of is resilient, allowing reuse. My work plugs get changed every day but my sleeping plugs would last a week or so. The
foam style plugs would hold the shape of my ear canal and not be effective for reuse.
I've noticed a lot of people don't know how to install earplugs correctly. They have to go in deep to be effective. I see people who should know better with the plug half hanging out of their ear.
Before fitting any ear plugs, make sure your hands are clean! Hold the earplug between your thumb and forefinger. Roll and compress the entire earplug to a small, crease-free cylinder. While still rolling, use your other hand to reach over your head and pull up and back on your outer ear. This is important! This straightens the ear canal, making way for a snug fit. Sometimes it helps to hold your mouth and throat open whilst inserting the earplugs.
Insert the ear plug and hold for a few seconds. This allows the ear plug to expand and fill the ear canal. When properly inserted, the ambient sound level should drop way down as the earplugs expand. You'll feel like the "world's closing in on you" as some have mentioned. If you can cup your hands over your ears and the noise seems to decrease, your ear plugs are probably not fitted properly. Remove and refit following instructions.
After a while you'll be able to do it correctly one-handed.
To check if the plug is in correctly I rub my fingers together right next to my ear. If I can hear the noise, they are not in properly.
I also used them for mowing the lawn, riding motorcycles, anything that will damage my hearing.
I recently upgraded to the
muffs the Ear Plug Store recommended. I notice the difference over the
David Clarks I used to wear.