Always having a good pair of earplugs on hand, or even a stash with lots of earplugs, is a great idea for any drummer who consistently plays acoustic drums. Protecting your hearing is important if you want to avoid hearing loss and tinnitus over time.
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Sucks
Drummers are notoriously known for having hearing problems, like many other types of musicians. Acoustic drums alone are really loud, reaching up to 13o decibels under the loudest circumstances. Playing drums with a band can be even more loud that that, especially if amplification is used. Consistent use of earplugs while drumming will help save your hearing and prevent issues such as hearing loss and tinnitus. Trust me, you don’t want to get tinnitus if you can avoid it. I have it and it sucks. And there’s no cure. It can only get worse, it never gets better.
Here’s some of our recommendations for earplugs for drummers. These recommendations can also be suitable for any musician, for concert goers, or any other hobby where you’re around a lot of noise. For extremely loud environments we recommend the stronger dB reduction possibly even up to -32 dB. For less extreme noise environments the earplugs with 22-26 dB of noise reduction can be suitable.
Mack’s Blackout Foam Earplugs
Mack’s Blackout earplugs offer up to 32 dB of noise reduction, so they are better for extreme noise levels. They are made from a soft polyurethane foam and fit snugly in your ear canals. These are the types of earplugs I prefer for loud metal concerts and when I play live shows. They come in a pack with 7 pairs of earplugs and it also includes a sleek aluminum case that can attach to a key chain. For the low price, these are hard to beat for heavy duty noise reduction.
Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs
Mack’s ultra soft foam earplugs are an excellent, cheap option for high levels of hearing protection. They offer up to 33 dB of noise reduction, which is the most out of the earplugs we have listed here. They are very affordable and come in a bottle with 50 earplugs. They do muffle the sound, but that’s a fine trade off for excellent protection. I like earplugs like these for extremely loud concerts or when I’m jamming with loud live amplification. I always keep a bottle of these in my car as a backup, no matter what other earplugs I have at the time.
Eargasm High Fidelity Ear Plugs
The Eargasm high fidelity earplugs are quite popular and they offer up to 22 dB of noise reduction. They don’t muffle the sound and can be a good option for musicians or for other uses where you want to hear clearly while reducing the noise levels. They come with two different sizes of shells and a key chain case. There are also a wide variety of colors as well as different fit styles available.
Hearprotek Hi Fidelity Earplugs
The Hearprotek Concert Earplugs offer 26 dB of noise reduction, which is why I recommend this particular model over their other offerings. They are high fidelity and don’t muffle sound. They are made from a clear silicone material so they don’t stand out much visually, and they fit comfortably. These earplugs come in a set with two different sizes for different sizes of ear canals, along with a case and a neck cord.
Mumba High Fidelity Ear Plugs
The Mumba high fidelity earplugs offer up to 24 dB of noise reduction. They don’t muffle sound and they can be a good option for musicians and concert goers. They come in a set with two different sizes of shells for large and small ear canals. The shells are clear and there are several color options for the filters that go inside the shells. The price is reasonable and they also include a case.
Lysian High Fidelity
The Lysian High Fidelity earplugs offer up to 23 dB of noise reduction and don’t muffle the sound. They are made from a thermoplastic rubber and the manufacturer claims they can be used around 100 times before they’ll wear out. These earplugs come in a set with two pairs of earplugs which are the same size but different colors. There is also a case included.
Vibes High Fidelity Earplugs
The Vibes high fidelity earplugs offer up to 22 dB of noise reduction. They include a few different sizes and shapes of tips to fit different types of ears. There is also a plastic case included. They have a low profile, clear look to them and don’t muffle the sound, so they can work well for many types of noisy environments. There are some optional accessories available such as a neck cord and a key chain case.
DownBeats High Fidelity Earplugs
The DownBeats High Fidelity earplugs offer the least amount of hearing protection on this list with 18 dB of noise reduction. They are high fidelity earplugs and won’t muffle the sound. They are made from a clear silicon material and have a very subtle look to them when in your ears. They can be suitable for less extreme noise environments. I like to wear these types of earplugs when I’m at loud sporting events or in loud bars. They are available in a couple different sizes and come with a case.
Peltor Sport Corded Earplugs
The Peltor Sport eargplugs are made by 3M and offer 26 dB of noise reduction. They are designed sporting such as hunting and shooting, but can work well for drummers and are very affordable. They are made from a polymer material and have a permanently attached cord on each pair of earplugs. They come in a three pack (three pairs) and should fit comfortably in most sizes of ear canals with their design.
