Flying can be downright painful if you’re not prepared.
The roar of the airplane’s engine, the immense crowds, crying babies, and more can hurt your ears or be a nuisance when trying to fall asleep on a long flight.
So if you’re going on a trip soon, it’s worth getting a pair of earplugs to protect your ears from all this noise and changes in pressure.
In this article, we’ll give you some advice on earplugs that you should consider for your next flight, as well as list some of the best earplugs for flying that were rated as people’s favorites.
In This Article:
- The Best Earplugs for Airplane Travel
- Types of Ear Plugs for Flying
- Top Airplane Earplugs
- Alpine Flyfit Earplugs
- Mack’s Flightguard Airplane Pressure Relief Earplugs
- Flents Flite Mate Pressure Reducing Ear Plugs
- Eargasm Aviation Earplugs
- Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pair
- Flents Quiet Please Foam Ear Plugs Value Pack
- Mack’s Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs 6 Pair Value Pack
- EarPlanes Ear Plugs
- Do EarPlanes actually work?
- The Ear Buddy Premium Soft Foam Ear Plugs
- Even More Options
- Alpine FlyFit vs Earplanes Earplugs
- Flying Earplug FAQ
- Conclusion
The Best Earplugs for Airplane Travel
It’s essential to keep track of your health your whole life; this process starts when you’re young. This especially applies to your ears. You may not know it, but the way you protect your ears now will impact your hearing later on. This is why it’s essential to find great earplugs for hearing protection.
Types of Ear Plugs for Flying
Even though you might not think that there’s too much to an earplug, there are a few different types that you have to choose from.
Disposable vs. Reusable:
You can choose to get headphones that are disposable or ones that you will be able to use over and over again. Disposable ones usually come in jars with multiple pairs. You may also be able to find reusable earplugs that come in a few pairs if you lose one. There isn’t much difference, but you will want to consider that disposable earplugs are much more sanitary than reusable ones. You might need to wipe or wash your reusable earplugs every so often due to earwax.
Material:
You can also purchase earplugs made out of different materials. There are silicone ones, foam ones, and wax ones. Wax earplugs tend to be the most expensive, and foam earplugs tend to be the cheapest.
Brands
Another essential feature you will want to consider when purchasing airplane earplugs is the manufacturer of them. Here are two brands that have popular earplugs.
Mack’s:
Mack’s is one of the most popular brands on the market for earplugs. They’re approved by doctors and are the number-one sellers out there. You can purchase earplugs for many different purposes, including travel. We have included a few options on this list that got many good reviews.
Alpine:
Alpine hearing protection for flying is highly convenient, and you have plenty of different options. They’re also incredibly cheap, and you get a carry case to protect and clean them. In addition, you can choose to get multiple pairs, disposable ones or silicone ones. The brand has specifically created these headphones for travel, so they’re worth considering if you’re going on a trip soon.
Top Airplane Earplugs
The Alpine Flyfit earplugs are the best silicone earplugs for flying, designed especially for this purpose. They are made from a special thermoplastic material that provides excellent noise reduction to block noise. The universal thermoplastic hearing protectors come with two acoustic soft filters that regulate air pressure from altitude changes. Alpine hearing protection is a well-known brand of earplugs safe for your ears.
Alpine FlyFit Airplane Pressure relief Earplugs are made of reusable, hypoallergenic material designed to protect your hearing while flying. The unique design allows you to hear conversations clearly without muffling or blocking out sounds. These earplugs are reusable and hygienic. They come in a convenient compact carrying case.
Alpine hearing protection makes all its earplug products from soft hypoallergenic silicone material. Their proprietary filter systems allow you to hear speech but block ambient noise. Now the Flyfit earplugs also account for air pressure changes.
Product Features:
- It helps prevent airplane ear pain
- Unique soft filters so conversations can be heard
- Absorb and filters annoying plane engine noise
- Extremely comfortable Alpine ThermoShape material
- Alpine Cleaner included for easy cleaning
Mack’s Flightguard® Airplane Pressure Relief Ear Plugs are the only earplugs that have been clinically tested and proven to relieve ear pressure and prevent ear popping during flights. They are the only earplugs that are FDA approved for commercial airline travel.
These silicone earplugs have Aero filter technology which blocks ambient noise with noise-cancellation filters, making them the best earplugs for flying long distances on overnight flights. Cabin pressure changes during take-off, flight, and landing can be distracting; you may even be risking ear damage.
Product Features:
- Ultra-Soft Silicone Flange Flexes To Provide Maximum Comfort
- Firm Stem Allows For Easy Insertion And Removal
- In-Flight Noise Relief Reduces Aircraft Engine And Cabin Noise With A High Noise Reduction Rating Of 26 Decibels
- Consumer & Pressure Chamber Tested And Proven To Reduce Ear Discomfort During Commercial Airlines Flights
- Clinically Tested And Approved By Doctors
Flite Mate earplugs ensure you get a snug fit when looking for hearing protection for airplanes. The best earplugs for flying have noise-cancellation filters; these are the very same.
Flents Flite Mate is a good pair of earplugs, ideal for flying or mountain driving. They reduce pressure and background noise while providing safe, washable and reusable protection. The unique design allows them to be used as regular earplugs when needed but can easily be removed and stored in their own carrying case.
These are ideal for frequent flyers who wear earplugs often and need reusable earplugs that won’t cause ear discomfort. Wearing earplugs when flying helps give the Eustachian tube time to account for differences in cabin pressure.
Product Features:
- Reduce pressure and background noise
- Safe, washable and reusable earplugs
- Contains a storage case
- Ideal for flying and mountain driving
Eargasm earplugs are well-known for being the best earplugs for concerts, but they also make noise-cancellation silicone earplugs specifically for airplane travel. When buying earplugs for flying, the extra cost of special earplugs with filters is completely worth it. These are the right earplugs to block noise on your next flight.
Eargasm Aviation Ear Plugs are made from hypoallergenic silicone, which is safe for sensitive ears. The unique design allows them to stay comfortably in place while providing maximum protection from aircraft cabin noise. They are reusable and have an ergonomic case that makes storing them on your key chain easier. These are the best earplugs with noise-canceling and air-pressure-reducing filters.
This jar comes with many pairs of earplugs, so you won’t have to worry if you accidentally lose one earplug. They’re comfortable, conform to your ear shape and are meant to protect your ears from pressure and noise. These earplugs come in a neutral color, so they aren’t as noticeable when wearing them, which could be a vital feature for some people.
In addition, they have a noise reduction rating of 32 decibels, one of the highest dB reduction ear plugs which makes them perfect earplugs for flying. The brand Mack’s has been highly recommended for those who want to sleep well. So, these are worth considering if you’re on a noisy trip.
Foam earplugs are great for larger ears and even smaller ears because they conform to the ear shape. This design keeps them from having noise-canceling filters, but they are quality hearing protection.
You get 25 pairs in this pack, which is more than enough to last a long time or replace them if you lose one earplug. These ear plugs are fabulous for many situations where you would need hearing protection, but they’re especially great for travel due to how small and easy they are to use.
They’re great for making everything silent so you can sleep or focus, which is excellent if you have work to do on the plane or want to sleep. They have a noise reduction rating of 33 decibels and are comfortable enough to wear without any issues.
They’re easy to insert, and the foam conforms to the shape of your ears, including small ears. These earplugs are also very cheap, so you get a good deal.
As we’ve established, Mack’s is one of the top brands for moldable earplugs. They’re incredibly cheap, and upon reading flying earplugs reviews, many people have agreed that they work well to reduce the amount of noise you’re exposed to.
These are non-allergenic, waterproof, and made of non-toxic materials, so they’re great for anyone to use. This moldable wax ear plug molds to the shape of your ear, making them great for small ears. They are generally safe for many different purposes, including travel, flying, concerts, sleeping, swimming, and more.
So, you can even use them when you’re not traveling. In addition, this brand is highly trusted by doctors. You get six pairs in this pack, and they provide a noise reduction rating of 22 decibels.
EarPlanes is a brand that specializes in earplugs for flying. Navy pilots use these, so it’s worth knowing that you’re getting something highly trusted by the best professionals. Upon ordering, you will have the option of choosing how many pairs you purchase- you can choose between one pair and ten pairs, so you won’t have to worry about being out of luck should you accidentally lose them. They’re made of silicone, so you can use them again and again if you want to.
Do EarPlanes actually work?
Earplanes do work to remove ear pressure and prevent pain in your ears when you’re high up in the air. In addition, they work to decrease the amount of noise you’re exposed to, so whether you’re sitting near a crying baby or you’re sitting near the wings of the plane, you won’t have to worry about having an unpleasant flight.
Earplanes use a CeramX filter which slows the shift of air pressure entering your ear. This makes them some of the best earplugs for ear pain on airplanes.
With this option- 50 pairs- you get lots of foam earplugs- with so many earplugs they will last a long time. You can use them to protect your ears and create a quiet environment to sleep better. No matter what type of activity you’re participating in, you’ll be able to use these earplugs for protection.
These fit comfortably and conform to the shape of your ear canal, so you won’t experience any pain or discomfort when wearing them for long periods. In addition, they have a noise reduction rating of 32 decibels, so you will be highly protected from loud sounds during take-off.
The downside to foam earplugs is they don’t account for air pressure changes, so you may still feel inner ear pain caused by that.
Even More Options
Alpine FlyFit vs Earplanes Earplugs
Alpine FlyFit and EarPlanes are both earplugs designed to alleviate ear discomfort during air travel by regulating air pressure.
Alpine FlyFit earplugs feature a unique Alpine Thermo Shape material that molds to the wearer’s ear canal for a custom fit, and they come with acoustic filters to reduce noise while allowing conversations.
EarPlanes, on the other hand, have a ceramic filter explicitly designed for air pressure changes during takeoff and landing. They are disposable and have a softer, silicone-based construction.
While both aim to provide comfort and reduce ear pain on flights, the FlyFit offers reusability and noise reduction, whereas EarPlanes are a single-use solution focused on pressure changes.
Flying Earplug FAQ
With all that being said, there are some things that you will want to consider when you purchase earplugs for flying. They all serve the same purpose, but some might have slightly different features.
Do earplugs work for flying?
Earplugs for flying serve one primary purpose- protecting your hearing while traveling- but some may be multifunctional. For example, suppose you find that you’re frequently exposed to situations where there are loud noises. In that case, you might want to look into earplugs meant for various purposes, including construction, concerts, and more.
Some are more tailored towards traveling specifically, so you will want to check this out. You will also want to consider why you need them- to concentrate, to cancel out noise, etc.- so you can get ones that suit you the best. The best earplugs for planes have noise-cancellation filters.
Do earplugs help with airplane pressure?
There are also airplane earplugs that protect your ears from pain caused by changes in air pressure, so make sure to look into those, too, if that’s something you suffer from.
They regulate air pressure, allowing your Eustachian tube to adjust to changes.
Will they cause ear pain in my ear canal?
Airplane earplugs are designed for long-term comfort and should not cause any pain in your ear canal. If you feel discomfort, you can remove them and let your ears relax momentarily.
What is the noise reduction rating?
Noise reduction rating is critical because it determines how well the product will protect your ears. The higher the NRR, the more protection you will get. This goes hand-in-hand with the last point because getting a pair of earplugs with a higher NRR means using them for different purposes.
Do any earplugs work for airplanes?
As we said before, these earplugs come in different types. If you don’t like how foam feels- some people think foam doesn’t conform to your ears as well- you can look into wax earplugs or silicone ones. If you have sensitive skin, make sure to look for earplugs that are hypoallergenic. The best earplugs have noise-cancellation filters that account for pressure changes.
Are foam earplugs good enough?
Foam earplugs provide a high noise reduction rating and will block out enough noise so you can get some rest on an airplane. They do not have noise-cancellation filters for altitude changes which cause pressure on your inner ear.
How do you prevent ear pressure when flying?
Use the Valsalva maneuver on take-off and descents. Shut your lips and plug your nose, then blow up your nose while keeping the pressure in. Repeat this several times to increase pressure on your ears while in your seat, especially when flying.
Conclusion
Protecting your hearing when flying is one of the most important things you can do for your health, even when traveling. Some of the loud noises you’re exposed to while traveling, such as crying babies, the noisy airplane engine, and large crowds, can impact your hearing or cause an inconvenience for you when you want to concentrate or sleep.
This is why it’s worth considering purchasing airplane earplugs. They’re incredibly cheap, so you won’t have to spend too much to protect your precious hearing.
Also Read:
Best Flying Headphones for a Baby
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