Earplugs for gigs?

[M.Hopkins]

Cool thanks, those Loop look pretty good. I'll pop them on the maybe list

[StoutAndAle]

I saw D'addario dbuds recently. Anyone used them?

https://www.daddario.com/products/accessories/hearing-protection/dbuds-premium/

Those D'Addario ones look interesting.

They're on Amazon for far less than the official site. Reviews are mixed.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DAddario-Accessories-Premium-Hearing-Protection/dp/B09TQ7K99R

[Trev]

I got a pair of Loop earplugs for heading to Damnation last weekend, and forgot to pack them. Ears are in bits today, but I met a few people there who had them and said they were working great

[ochoill]

I lost the little plastic insert off one of my earplugs at the siege.  Drunkenly tried to replace it with a tightly rolled roach.  It didn't work

[Hambeast]

Loop earplugs are currently 30% off on Amazon. Looks like the entire range is on sale but the Experience plugs are the only ones I've used and reccommend

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loop-Experience-Noise-Reduction-Plugs/dp/B08TCH6CVB

[Mooncat]

I would also recommend the Loops. The thing with ear plugs is that they often don't attenuate all the frequencies evenly, most often cutting out most of the highs and leaving in all the bass, so you get this kind of muddy, muffled mix. Especially for genres like metal and rock it sucks to barely hear the guitars. The Loop ones are the best I've found so far for providing a clear mix. They don't quite decrease the volume as much as other plugs, so if you're in a tiny cavern with ridiculously extreme volume you may still get some ringing afterwards (and I do band practice in a small room with very loud volume and it's fine), but for 99% of gigs they provide a nice clear and even sound. Best ones I've tried so far.

[StoutAndAle]

Loop earplugs are currently 30% off on Amazon. Looks like the entire range is on sale but the Experience plugs are the only ones I've used and reccommend

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loop-Experience-Noise-Reduction-Plugs/dp/B08TCH6CVB

Thanks for the heads up on this. I was intrigued by these Loop units - probably from the CONSTANT Instagram advertising - but didn't fancy dealing with their customer service after reading reviews here and elsewhere.

 Glad to pick up a pair. £20 is worth a punt on them.

[Necro Red]

I've been wearing ear plugs for around 10 years now. I have tinnitus from years of not wearing them. Strangely enough when I got my hearing tested its actually fine, but the ringing is there forever.

[ochoill]

I'm not quoting it because it will only drag it back but that post above is absolutely a promo bot and it should be blocked and deleted

[Hambeast]

Yup, deleted.

[StoutAndAle]

The Loop Experience ear plugs are on sale on Amazon today - £25.

I picked up a pair a few months back - I am very impressed with them so far.

[Pagan Saviour]

Strangely enough when I got my hearing tested its actually fine, but the ringing is there forever.

I'm in the same boat! If you're at these things regularly it'll catch up with you eventually.

[M.Hopkins]

Took a punt on a pair of the Fender musicians ear plugs ages ago but they didn't get an outing until Bell Witch during the week. They stood up well to the heft. Comfortable enough to wear for the night and no ringing in the ears after. Cost less than €15 I think so well worth it imo. Found them better than the Etymotics so far I think

[ochoill]

Picked up a pair of Loop Experience recently and gave them a fair run this week - Bell Witch / One Leg One Eye, a practice with the band, then Sathamel / Sacred Noose / Ourselves.  Best earplugs I've ever used.  Sound quality stays completely clear, nothing muffled or bassy like other plugs I've used, no adjusting volumes during band jam to work with them.  Very comfortable too.  Have recommended them to basically everyone I know that uses plugs regularly.

[StoutAndAle]

Picked up a pair of Loop Experience recently and gave them a fair run this week - Bell Witch / One Leg One Eye, a practice with the band, then Sathamel / Sacred Noose / Ourselves.  Best earplugs I've ever used.  Sound quality stays completely clear, nothing muffled or bassy like other plugs I've used, no adjusting volumes during band jam to work with them.  Very comfortable too.  Have recommended them to basically everyone I know that uses plugs regularly.

Yep. As mentioned previously - they are super impressive.

Have you noticed though that if you are talking to someone (a person not also wearing Loops I suppose) that they can't hear you at all because you've lowered your voice almost to a murmur with them on? I thought it might be just me - a mate of mine said to me at a gig recently "I can't hear a word you're saying" - to be fair, he should have known what I was saying because I only say 4 things during gigs;

• "Pint?"
• "Hold my pint while I go to the jacks."
• "They're good."
• "They're shit."

However, the other night at a show another buddy of mine had Loops too. To test the theory - we both spoke at what we considered normal volume and could carry on a chat for a minute but the lad who wasn't wearing any ear protection couldn't hear a word that we said.

Apparently Loop also do a set of earplugs which filters out background noise allowing you to be more focused and present. I might get a pair of those too.