1243by John Kennedy / photograph by Claire BenoistSTANDING TOO CLOSE TO THE SPEAKERS
at a concert or heavy machinery at work can permanently
damage your hearing. A solid set of plugs will protect your ear-
drums, but ensuring you have enough noise reduction is crucial.
Consider these options—each blocks an increasing number of
decibels—for everything from flying to wielding power tools.RANKEDHEAR
NO EVIL
1
17 decibels
From crying babies to the
drone of the engines, an air-
plane cabin is loud. Alpine’s
FlyFit thermoplastic plugs
include valve-like internal filters
that absorb ambient noise and
may help regulate pressure
during ascent and descent.
Fortunately, they’re not so
powerful that you’ll miss an-
nouncements or the chance to
finally order that soda.2
22 decibels
Noise above 105 dB can cause
hearing loss within minutes,
and live music can easily hit
that mark. A metal filter inside
Vibes lets in a safe amount of
sound without skewing
frequencies and ruining the
clarity of the tunes. Polycar-
bonate tubes and washable
medical- grade silicone tips
make the buds easy to clean
and extend their lifespan.4
33 decibels
Mack’s earplugs are minimal-
istic orange nuggets of
squishy, dense urethane foam
that expand to fill any gap
sound waves could sneak
through. Their tight seal is
secure enough to dull the
cacophonies of a jackhammer
on the street or a chainsaw in
the backyard. Plus, at less than
$1 per pair, they’re cheap
enough to stash everywhere.3
31 decibels
If you’re at a shooting range
or working in an industrial
setting, you’ll need protection
that stays put. Submerge
Decibullz (seen here in their
unsculpted state) in boiling
water for five minutes, wait
30 seconds, then mold them
into your ears while the
thermo plastic is still pliable
and toasty. The final product
should fit chafe-free.GOODSPR
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POPSCI.COM•WINTER 2019 37