The highest rated ear plug in the market has a noise reduction rating (NRR)
of 33, and the plugs with that level of rating are not made of wax.
The only way you can get higher than NRR 33 is by using ear muffs and ear
plugs at the same time, and only then can you achieve an NRR of 34 or greater.
An NRR of 34 requires NRR 20 ear muffs worn over NRR 33 ear plugs.
You can get to an NRR of 36, but that requires
the highest rated muff (NRR 30 or 31) and the highest rated plug (NRR 33) to be
worn at the same time.
What about beeswax plugs? We do not
recommend them because contrary to some claims, beeswax is not nearly as good a
noise insulator as even the cheap foam plugs available at the drug store, and
none of the major companies specializing in ear plugs accept the claim of NRR 34
as valid.
We offer products from more than 20 manufacturers including the highest rated
and the widest selection of hearing protection products available in one place
anywhere on the planet. To get an idea of the range of possibilities, browse the
different types below, or choose your application from the buttons on the left.
If you know the brand or name of the plug you want, choose the “shop by brand”
button or use our handy search button at the top right of the screen to go
directly to your item.
Hearing protection devices include disposable
poly urethane foam plugs,
disposable PVC foam plugs,
moldable silicone plugs,
moldable wax plugs,
pre-molded silicone rubber plugs,
banded ear plugs, and
ear muffs.
NRR and Hearing
Protection Basics . . .
Poly Urethane Foam Ear Plugs are the softest foam plugs available. They are
available in a limited range of sizes because they are designed to be rolled
into a thin cylinder, then inserted deeply into the ear canal where they expand
to fit most ears. These plugs are very soft and so are a good choice for
sleeping, studying, riding a motorcyle, attending the races, or when working on
the job or around the house. Most are available with a neck strap (corded) to
help keep them handy between uses. Most Urethane foam plugs are tapered, so they
fit more comfortably and they have a thin smooth skin that helps them stay clean
longer than PVC foam plugs.
MAX (NRR 33) (Average
to Large)
LaserLite (NRR 32) (Average)
MaxLite (NRR 30) (Small
to Average)
3-M 1100 (NRR 29) (Average)
EarSoft Yellow Neon Blast (NRR 32) (Average)
Sleep/Rest EAR plugs (NRR 32) (Average)
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PVC Foam Plugs (Disposable)
PVC foam plugs were the first kind of foam plugs available. These are punched
out of a sheet of foam so the only shapes available are round and hexagonal
cylinders which cannot be tapered. PVC plugs offer the advantage of being stiffer than the urethane foam
plugs and so they are easier to get inserted. Also, because they are not tapered
as are most urethane plugs, the PVC plugs tend to stay in better, even when not
deeply inserted. This sometimes means the wearer can be misled into thinking she
has more protection than she does, so care is needed in getting these plugs
deeply inserted for maximum rated protection.
Classic (NRR 29) (Choice of Small, Average and Large)
SuperFit 33 (NRR 33) (Average)
Quiet! Please--Industrial (NRR 29) (Average)
Quiet! Please--blister pack (NRR 29) (Average)
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Soft, moldable silicone plugs are best for water protection and moderate
noise protection in clean environments such as found in sleeping, studying and
biking. They are tacky and form a seal against the outer surface of the ear
instead of being inserted into the ear canal as is the case with foam plugs.
This makes moldable silicone plugs the best choice for young children. Because
moldable silicone plugs are not inserted, many people find them more comfortable
for sleeping and studying as well. Moldable silicone plugs offer an NRR of about
22, so they are good for moderate noise protection. The main problem with them
is that they can get dirty and they cannot be cleaned effectively, so they are
not a good choice for the workplace, yard or shop.
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone (NRR 22) (Choice of Child and Adult Sizes)
Putty Buddies
(Not Rated) (One size fits all)
Flent's
Sealrite (NRR 21) (One size fits all)
Wax plugs contain cotton fibers which hold the wax together. The oldest ear
plug material, wax is ideal for sleeping and studying. Body heat is just enough
to soften the wax, letting it conform perfectly to the shape of your ears for
noise protection with virtually no pressure. Because it is not stable around
heat (saunas, sunshine and in cars in the summer) wax is not a good choice for
water protection.
Flent's Ear Stopples (NRR 25) (One size fits all)
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Pre-molded silicone rubber plugs come in a variety of shapes and sizes
designed for noise, water, music, flying pressure, and shooting. Because these plugs are not very
pliable, fit is important. Start with the average size for your age (adult or
youth) and see how they fit. We offer an exchange policy that lets you keep
trying until we get you a set of plugs that you can live with. Pre-molded plugs
are designed to be washed and reused for extended periods of time. With only a
couple of exceptions, they are not quite as effective as are the best foam
plugs, but they can last for years under normal conditions, and with NRRs of up
to 33, they are good enough for even the most demanding noise situations. If
you are going to wear ear plugs a lot, pre-molded plugs offer the best buy if
you can find some you like.
For General Noise Protection:
Howard Leight
AirSoft (NRR 27) (Small to Average)
Heartech
SilentEar
(NRR 33) (Choice of Small, Average and Large)
E-A-R Express Pod
Plugs (NRR 25) (Small to Average)
E-A-R Ultrafit 25
(NRR 25) (One Size Fits All)
E-A-R Ultratech
12 and 16 (NRR 12 and 16) (One Size Fits All)
Mack's Ear
Seals (NRR 27) (Average)
Mack's Hear
Plugs (NRR 20) (Small and Large)
AOSafety Swim
Plugs (Not rated) (Youth and Adult)
Mack's Aqua
Block (Not rated) (Small to Average)
For Water Protection:
Mack's Ear
Seals (NRR 27) (Average)
AOSafety Swim
Plugs (Not rated) (Youth and Adult)
Mack's Aqua
Block (Not rated) (Small to Average)
For Music and Minimal Sound Distortion (Less Muffled
Sound):
Heartech QuietEar
(14-33 dB depending on frequency) (Choice of Small, Average and Large)
AOSafety
Sports/Concert plugs (NRR 27) (One Size Fits All)
Mack's Hear
Plugs (NRR 20) (Small and Large)
Etymotic ER-20
(NRR 12) (One Size Fits All)
Mack's Hear
Plugs (NRR 20) (Small and Large)
For Ear Pressure Problems When Flying:
Heartech FliteMate
(14-33 dB depending on frequency) (Choice of Small, Average and Large)
AOSafety Travel
Filters (NRR 27) (One Size Fits All)
Cirrus Earplanes
(NRR 20) (Child and Adult)
For Shooting and Hunting:
AOSafety Indoor
Outdoor Range Plugs (Variable)
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Foam plugs mounted on ear bands are a great solution for offices and other
situations in which you need to take the plugs on and off frequently during the
day. Ear bands are hair-do friendly and cooler than ear muffs.
QB1 (NRR
29) (Average)
QB2 (NRR 25)
(One size fits all)
QB3 (NRR 19)
(One size fits all)
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Ear Muffs are best for short-term wear when you need good protection that is
reliable. Sometimes foam plugs, banded or loose, take a bit of doing to get
inserted, so sometimes the protection they provide in the real world is
variable. With ear muffs, you put them on and they work like they are supposed
to. They do make your head sweat though if you wear them for a long time, and
they are the devil to sleep in. All muffs are adjustable to fit nearly everyone
and we even have small muffs for babies and other small people. For details,
please visit our ear
muff page.
If you do not find what you are looking for on this page, please try a
search if you know the name of the product, visit our "Search by Brand" page
(see menu on the left), or if all else fails, contact Tom Bergman, Customer
Service Manager at tom@earplugstore.com
See the industrial section for large quantities of many of these products.
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| The Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is a standard measure of the sound
blocking abilities of any ear plug. The higher it is, the greater the
protection it can provide when properly used. To use the NRR, you need to know two things: the noise level
in the environment from which you want protection and the maximum safe
noise level at your ear. See
also: Our
Recommendations
|
Examples of Noise
Levels You Might Encounter |
|
Decibel
Level
(dB) |
Source |
| 140 |
threshold of pain: gunshot, siren at 100 feet |
| 135 |
jet take off, amplified music |
| 120 |
chain saw, jack hammer, snowmobile |
| 100 |
tractor, farm equipment, power saw |
| 90 |
OSHA limit — hearing damage if excessive exposure to noise
levels above 90 dB |
| 85 |
inside acoustically insulated tractor cab |
| 75 |
average radio, vacuum cleaner |
| 60 |
normal conversation |
| 45 |
rustling leaves, soft music |
| 30 |
whisper |
| 15 |
threshold of hearing |
| 0 |
acute threshold of hearing — weakest sound |
NRR is a "C" rated scale mandated by OSHA for workplaces in the U.S.A., but to accurately determine the effects on human hearing, an "A" weighted scale should be used. To convert from the "C" scale to the "A" scale, just subtract 7. So, to determine the results to expect from an ear plug, first subtract 7 from the NRR, then subtract
that result from the dBA (average noise level from which you
need protection). For example the noise of a chain saw
at 120 dBA would be reduced to 98 dBA by an NRR 29 plug (120-(29-7)=98),
which is still moderately dangerous. A better choice would be an NRR 33
plug which would reduce the noise level to a safer 94 dBA (120-(33-7)=94).
The duration of the sound exposure is also important. The shorter the
time you are exposed, the less the danger to your hearing, as shown in
the following table.
|
OSHA Standard for
Maximum Safe Noise Exposure Times |
|
How Long You Can Safely
Be Exposed to Sound Level
In Cumulative Hours Per Day
|
Sound level
(dBA) |
| 8 |
90 or less |
| 4 |
95 |
| 2 |
100 |
| 1 |
105 |
| 1/2 |
110 |
| 1/4 or less |
115 |
|
Never |
more than 115 |
Keep in mind also that the NRR is a laboratory value, and most of the time you will not achieve that level of protection in practice because to achieve that level the plugs must be fitted perfectly and that just does not often happen in the real world. NRR is just a guide. Use your common sense. If the sound is still loud to you with plugs in, no matter what the NRR rating, get more protection and/or limit the duration of exposure as much as you can. Be safe. Once your hearing is damaged it cannot be repaired.
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