Which Are The Best Earplugs?

Deciding which are the best earplugs depends on what you are planning to use them for. There are several reasons why you may wish to wear a pair; you may want to simply block sound from your ears but you may also need to keep water out. Sometimes people want to exclude water but not sound, for instance if you are surfing you don't want to get surfers' ear but you want to be able to hear a speedboat coming. There are several types available, including foam, wax, molded, silicon and plastic.
For occasional everyday use the foam variety may be suitable but if you are using them frequently then these are less suitable as they are uncomfortable and unhygienic with frequent use, they are also unsuitable for use in water as they are made of sponge and will soak up water readily. They can also be abrasive on the ear canal and so are not recommended if you are prone to otitis externa.
Moulded earplugs are very good at keeping both sound and water from the ears and they tend to be more comfortable and longer lasting than other types. The main disadvantage is the initial price. However with frequent use they become more economical because of the number of times you can reuse them. If you are a frequent user it may be worth calculating the cost per use of different types. You may find that it is less than a penny per use for a good molded pair. There are several different types of moulded earplugs available, you could visit an audiologist and have your ear canals moulded from an impression, this can be expensive and time-consuming. The alternative is to buy a kit allowing you to take moulds at home, this can be much cheaper and you will be able to remould them if they don't fit the first time.
The thermoplastic type can be remolded, unfortunately silicon cannot be remolded. With these you only get one chance to get it right; if you get it wrong the first time or if your ears change shape over time you need to throw them away and start again. The reason that the moulded ones tend to be more comfortable than other types, particularly foam earplugs, is that they exert very little pressure on the delicate skin lining the ear canal. Foam earplugs, however, expand and cause pressure and discomfort. Some thermoplastic molded earplugs may contain an antibacterial compound which makes them more hygienic as they actively kill bacteria which can cause infections.
Silicon versions and most other types do not contain an antibacterial. Wax pairs have the advantage that they are waterproof, fit tightly as they are very sticky and are effective at blocking sound. The disadvantages include the fact that only last for a few uses as they tend to become dirty and break up, sometimes leaving pieces behind in the ear canal. People with long hair find them a problem because their hair often becomes caught in them.